Current research projects

Image High Capacity Pulse Tube Cooler
Image Performance tests of condensing units
Image Calibration of Low Temperature Sensors
Image Pulse-Tube-Refrigerator with sealed compressor
Image In-situ investigation concerning the swelling behaviour of polymer materials under elevated pressures and temperatures
Image All-in-one device for freeze-drying and production of biomaterial
Image IO-Scan - Integral measuring optical scanning method
Image CFE-Test of Cooker Hoods
Image Swirl-free on the move...
Image Hydrogen and methane testing field at the ILK
Image Energy efficiency consulting - cogeneration systems
Image Combined building and system simulation
Image Lifetime prediction of hermetic compressor systems
Image Non- invasive flow measurements
Image Electrochemical decontamination of electrically conducting surfaces „EDeKo II“
Image Low temperature – test facilities

You are here:   /  Home


Mass Spectrometer

Industrie und Forschungsinstitute

Gunar Schroeder

+49-351-4081-5129

Determining the composition of gas mixtures in the high or ultra-high vacuum range

Mass spectrometry is a method for determining the composition of gas mixtures in the high or ultra-high vacuum range. It can be used to carry out qualitative and quantitative gas analyses and leak detection or to determine trace contamination.

The individual neutral gas particles are ionized by an electron impact ion source and separated from each other in an electric quadrupole field according to their mass-to-charge ratio. The filtered ions are then recorded by a detector. The ion current detected is proportional to the partial pressure of the respective gas component. For a more precise quantitative gas analysis, the relatively operating measuring instrument can be calibrated with a calibration gas.

The test set-up consists of a test chamber with a connected turbo-molecular-pump and fore vacuum pump. The mass spectrometer requires a vacuum <1,5×10-7 psi (<1×10-5 mbar) to be able to measure with high precision. The mass spectrometer and a vacuum sensor are mounted on the test chamber. The mass spectrometer is connected to a measuring PC with corresponding software.

Available measurement modes are:

  • Vacuum analysis, to determine residual gas components, evaluation as a plot of ion current and mass
  • Leak detection, with helium or another tracer gas, the ion current of the tracer gas or the corresponding mass is recorded and plotted over the time
  • Mass spectrum, evaluation of ion current and mass with user-defined specifications and time trend
Paramter Test value
Analysis Vacuum analysis, leak detection, mass spectrum, trace contamination
Detectable gases H2, He, N2, H2O, O2, CO2 usw.
Mass range 1 – 100 Da (1,66×10-27 – 1,66×10-25 kg)
Detection limit 1.5×10-15 psi / 3×10-13 mbar
Min. vacuum pressure and max. temperature range <7.3×10-6 psi / 5×10-4 mbar, < 150°C / 302°F

[Translate to EN:]


Your Request

Further Projects

Image

ZeroHeatPump

Performance management of small heat pumps without energy consumption

Image

Mass Spectrometer

Determining the composition of gas mixtures in the high or ultra-high vacuum range

Image

Tensile and compression testing

Determination of yield strength, tensile strength and elongation at break