Two high frequency, field-deployable and low power CO2/N2O analyzers

Description

The requirements call for two high precision, high frequency field-portable and low  power  CO2/N2O  analyzers  to  operate  in  field  environments  including  in remote  tropical  environments.  A  single  tender  action  is  requested  for  the following key reasons:

•N2O Sensitivity: The instrument must be able to resolve N2O at the parts per  trillion  level.  This  requires  that  the  instrument  operates  in  the  mid infrared (Mid IR) spectral range. MID IR based instruments such as the Aeris MIRA ULTRA have orders of magnitude greater sensitivity for N2O than  alternative  technologies  utilised  by  all  competing  manufacturers (near IR - Licor/Picarro/Los Gatos; FTIR: GasMet).

•Field  portability:  The  analyser  must  be  weather  resistant,  capable  of operating  in  humid  environments  (>90%  humidity)  and  weigh  no  more than 6 kg as analyzers will be routinely carried to and operated around remote  field  sites.  The  only  alternative  field  portable  analyzers  that measure  N2O  are  substantially  heavier  (Gasmet  GT5000:  9.4kg,  Licor LI-7820: 10.5kg) and have inferior weather resistance.

•12  hr+  run  time:  No  alternative  analyser  can  satisfy  the  low  power requirement  and  thus  long  run  time  required.  The  only  alternative instruments that measures N2O with a similarly low power draw (~25W) the Licor LI7820 does not measure CO2 and has inferior N2O sensitivity. The  Aeris  MIRA  Ultra  has  the  added  advantage  that  any  portable external battery can be used to power the instrument allowing for long run times (up to 24 hours using commercially available portable battery banks) without the need for additional, expensive proprietary batteries.•Lead time: This purchase is funded by a UKCEH capital award and must be  receipted  before  the  end  of  2022. Other  manufacturers  (ABB-LGR/Picarro/Licor/Gasmet)  cannot  supply  analyzers  in  a  suitable  time frame (6-13 months as opposed to 6-8 weeks for Aeris). The Aeris MIRA Ultra   analyzers   are   based   primarily   on   commercially   available components  rather  than  custom  parts  and  are  thus  less  vulnerable  to current supply chain disruptions.