“Agilent Technologies is the Japanese branch of the US firm Agilent which manufactures and markets gas chromatography (GC). Agilent Technologies is again reviewing plans to market the gas analyzers CG7820 and CG7890 for use in filling stations and at gas plants. These analyzers are used for safety purposes when hydrogen is used.

With GCs, in addition to helium, also nitrogen and hydrogen can be used as carrier gas. When GCs analyze, however, they have a configuration like an oven to warm the column, and add heat with a heater. When hydrogen is used, there is the danger of the hydrogen leaking into the open area if the column is not sufficiently attached, and causing an explosion if it comes into contact with the heater.

GC7820 and GC7890 are used as a means to prevent this. They shut down the supply of gas or restrict the gas flow when they detect a gas flow, or a drop in pressure. When the power source is set to “off,” they ventilate inside the oven with the inertia revolving of the cooling fan. It has been verified through tests that the components do not scatter if by some chance an explosion does occur. Regarding these safety features, both GCs have been certified under the international safety standard IEC61010-1 for electronic devices used for measuring.

The number of these 2 GCs sold worldwide in 2012 amounted to about 12,400, of which about 620 were sold in Japan. They were sold chiefly for use in the petrochemical sector and at universities. The company would like to expand sales to include use for pre-sales inspection at gas plants and filling stations. As a spokesman for the company put it, “There are instances whereby GCs at gas companies have been in use for over 20 years, and we feel that there is a demand for replacements. In the winter of 2012, we made a sale to a gas distributor in Japan. Because of this, we now firmly intend to sell these to industrial gas companies.” They are targeting sales of 50 units a year to gas companies.”