How a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer Works

The basic function of any process analyzer is to separate the components in a process gas stream and report each component's concentration.

First, the sample is continuously introduced into a closed source ionizer. The sample is bombarded with electrons that break the components down into positively charged ions.

Next, three electrostatic focusing lenses channel these ions into a collimated beam that enters the quadrupole mass filter. The quadrupole is made of four parallel, stainless steel rods in which opposite pairs are electrically connected. The quadrupole creates an electrostatic field of specific strength and frequency as electric potentials are applied alternately to opposite pairs of rods. This fluctuating electric field affects the path of the ions. Only the ions of pre-selected masses make it through the inside diameter of the quadrupole and strike the detector. All other ions are deflected out of the quadrupole and never reach the detector.

The Extrel Process Mass Spectrometers can do all of this in milliseconds, providing reliable, real time information on your gas stream. The system can be operated manually or pre-programmed to be fully automated. Operations such as selected ion analysis, calibration, full mass range scanning, and tuning can be executed by the Extrel Process Mass Spectrometer automatically.

In addition, the Extrel System is a highly flexible, universal gas analyzer. Measurements are not limited to fixed hardware configurations as with other process analyzer technologies. If you need to add, delete or change a compound to be analyzed, simply tell the Q5 data system which compound you wish to monitor and you will have results almost immediately.