Panametrics moisture.IQ Multichannel Trace Moisture Analyzer

Overview

The Panametrics moisture.IQ is the multichannel, multifunction flagship of the Panametrics IQ Series of aluminum oxide moisture analyzers. Designed for permanent installation, it measures trace moisture in gases and non-aqueous liquids and, optionally, oxygen in gases, working with Panametrics Moisture Image Series (MIS) and M Series probes. Up to six measurement points can be wired to one set of electronics, which significantly reduces the cost per measurement point compared with a separate analyzer for every sample location.

Seven Star LLC supplies the Panametrics moisture.IQ, together with compatible probes and sample hardware, to process plants and utilities in the Sultanate of Oman and across the GCC, backed by engineering support in Muscat. Panametrics lists petrochemical, natural gas, industrial gas, semiconductor, furnace and heat-treating gas, power generation, air dryer, pharmaceutical and aerospace applications, many of which are found in the industrial estates of Sohar, Rusayl and Duqm.

Measurement Principle

The Panametrics moisture.IQ reads thin-film aluminum oxide sensors. Each sensor is a small capacitor whose dielectric is a porous layer of aluminum oxide; water vapour diffuses into the pores in proportion to its partial pressure, changing the capacitance and impedance of the element. The Panametrics moisture.IQ converts that electrical signal into dew or frost point using the probe’s stored calibration data, and then calculates other moisture units. Because the sensor responds to water vapour pressure, it can measure down to very low frost points, which is why aluminum oxide technology is widely used in dry gas and cryogenic applications.

For non-aqueous liquids such as hydrocarbons, the instrument uses a built-in database of Henry’s Law constants to relate the measured water activity to dissolved water content in parts per million by weight. A Panametrics moisture.IQ computer-enhanced response routine accelerates readings in abrupt dry-down applications such as gas dryer regeneration checks. MIS probes (MISP and MISP2) integrate moisture, temperature and pressure sensing, and when a probe is connected its calibration data downloads digitally to the analyzer, simplifying probe exchange after recalibration.

Engineering Design of the Panametrics moisture.IQ

The Panametrics moisture.IQ chassis has two module bays, each taking a one-channel or three-channel module, so a single analyzer supports one to six channels. Every channel can accept a moisture input, a temperature input, a pressure input from an MIS probe, an electrochemical oxygen sensor input and two auxiliary inputs from any 0/4-20 mA or -1 to +4 V transmitter. All non-auxiliary inputs are intrinsically safe through internal isolation and energy-limiting circuitry, allowing probes to sit in hazardous sample points while the electronics are in a safe area.

Housings include a 19 in rack mount (11.2 kg), bench mount (10.4 kg), panel mount (11.3 kg), a 508 mm square weatherproof enclosure and a 590 mm explosion-proof enclosure of 113.6 kg for field installation. An industrial touch screen shows six or twelve parameters at once with colour-coded status, and multiple display pages can be configured. Each channel has two analogue outputs and two measurement alarm relays, plus one fault alarm relay per meter, with Modbus over RS232/485, a USB port and Ethernet for file transfer and remote display.

Key Features

Key capabilities of the Panametrics moisture.IQ include:

• Up to six moisture channels in one analyzer, each with optional pressure, temperature, oxygen and auxiliary inputs.
• Standard calibration from +10 to -80 °C dew/frost point, with ultralow calibration from -50 to -100 °C.
• Dew point accuracy of ±2 °C above -100 °C and repeatability of ±0.2 °C.
• Operating pressure from 5 µm Hg up to 345 bar, subject to the pressure sensor range.
• Calibrations traceable to national standards, stored digitally in MIS probes.
• Electrochemical oxygen sensors from ppb ranges to 25% O2, with accuracy of ±3% of reading.
• Built-in data logging and USB port for data handling and firmware updates.
• Compatibility with existing M Series probes used on Moisture Image Series 1 and Moisture Monitor Series 3 analyzers.

Industrial Applications

In natural gas and petrochemical plants the Panametrics moisture.IQ monitors dryer outlets, molecular sieve beds, process gas streams and fuel gas, where several sample points can share one analyzer. Industrial gas producers use it for nitrogen, oxygen and argon purity, and power stations and compressed air users check gas and air dryer performance. In liquids, the Henry’s Law database supports moisture measurement in hydrocarbons and other non-aqueous products, and its oxygen option suits inert blanketing and semiconductor gas lines.

For operators in Oman, typical installations include gas processing plants, the petrochemical and polymer complexes in Sohar, air separation units and gas turbine power plants. Seven Star LLC supplies the Panametrics moisture.IQ with suitable probes and offers Muscat-based engineering support for channel layout and sample conditioning. Single-point users may prefer the Panametrics HygroPro II transmitter, while comparable analyzers on our site include the BARTEC HYGROPHIL F 5674 and, for fast natural gas service, the AMETEK 5100P TDLAS analyzer.

Technical Specifications

Panametrics moisture.IQ data from datasheet PANA023DS Rev. 4:

How to Order

For a quotation on the Panametrics moisture.IQ, send the number of sample points, gas or liquid type, expected dew point range, pressure, any oxygen measurement needs and the preferred housing. Seven Star LLC will configure the channel modules and probes, confirm availability and lead time and provide engineering support from Muscat to customers across Oman and the GCC. The datasheet is available for download on this page.