Oxygen, an essential element for life, accounts for 21% of the air we breathe. However, certain works are carried out in conditions where levels can be lower with fatal consequences for persons. There fore it is, according to the scientists, a safety system, fruit of a collaboration agreement between the University of Granada and the Spanish Command for Training and Army Doctrine (MADOC), whose headquarter is in this city.
In order to improve the features and solve some of the disadvantages of the existing equipments, the scientists have carried out an instrument for oxygen measurement, as big as a mobile phone, easy to use and with a minimum maintenance costs. This way, it is possible to get to know the local concentration of such gas in every moment. This device is essential in those places where manufacturing, cleaning and maintenance works, such as ships, septic tanks, sewer systems, can be harmful for human health.
The definite prototype, patented by the University of Granada, is made up of a screen, where you can visualize data, and three buttons: screen lighting, another one to access the menu bar and the third one for measurement.
The system works automatically, and can be programmed to carry out measurements every minute or in ten-minute intervals. At the same time, the user can carry out measurements at any moment, without interfering in the previous proceeding. Anyway, the user will notice that the measurement has been done through a sound alarm. Equally, such signal will activate automatically if oxygen concentration in the environment is lower than 18%.
One of the advantages of this device against conventional ones is the auto-calibration option. According to the researchers, you just have to place the device outdoors in the ‘auto-calibration’ mode of the menu, to recalibrate the system in thirty seconds. On the other hand, according to scientists, as it is an optical instrument it does not receive electromagnetic interferences, and it is apt to be placed in industrial environments.
Reference:
Prof Luis Fermín Capitán Vallvey. Phone number: 958 248 436. E-mail: lcapitan@ugr.es Department of Analytical Chemistry.
Prof. Alberto Palma López. Phone number: 958 242 300. E-mail: ajpalma@ugr.es Dpt. of Architecture and Computer Technology. University of Granada.