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Application notes, comparisons and
engineering tools for TDLAS gas analysis

Everything published by Beamonics in one place: measurement application notes by gas and industry, method comparisons against FTIR, NDIR, CRDS, GC and electrochemical sensing, twenty-one interactive calculators, and the current product datasheets. All ungated.

Showing 77 resources

Product datasheets

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Current published revisions. Specifications are stated per configuration; BeamStack and BeamCell report in ppm, BeamSight reports path-integrated in ppm·m.

Datasheet BeamStack® open-path gas analyzer Open-path analyzer measuring directly at the source, across a gas stream or through an open air path. Reports in ppm. DS-BM-H-3  v1.9.0  ppm Datasheet BeamCell® extractive gas analyzer Extractive analyzer delivering high-precision data in real time, with multi-point sampling. Reports in ppm. DS-BM-H-3  v1.7.0  ppm Datasheet BeamSight® remote gas analyzer Remote analyzer for fixed installations or battery-powered portable use. Reports path-integrated in ppm·m. DS-BM-V-2  v1.4.0  ppm·m

Calculators and converters

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Unit conversion and optical design tools. Each states its assumptions and reference conditions on the page.

Converter Percent (%) ↔ ppm ↔ ppb Convert between the ratio units used for gas concentration. Concentration scale Converter ppm ↔ mg/Nm³ Convert volumetric to mass concentration using the ideal gas law, with adjustable reference temperature and pressure. Ideal gas law, ref. T and P Converter Pressure unit converter Convert between the pressure units used in process and vacuum work. bar, Pa, psi, atm Calculator Partial pressure calculator Partial pressure and concentration in a gas mixture. Gas composition Calculator Humidity and moisture calculator Water content from temperature, pressure and relative humidity. H₂O Converter Wavelength, wavenumber and energy Convert between the ways a photon is specified: wavelength, wavenumber and energy. Spectroscopy Converter Optical density (OD) converter Optical density, transmission and attenuation in decibels. Optics Calculator Beam divergence calculator Spot diameter at a distance, for a diverging laser beam. Optics Calculator Numerical aperture (NA) calculator Numerical aperture, acceptance half-angle and f-number. Optics, fibre coupling Calculator Fresnel reflection calculator Reflection loss at an uncoated interface, and through a window. Normal incidence Calculator Gas cylinder duration calculator Estimate remaining run time from cylinder pressure and flow rate. Calibration gas planning Calculator Gas transport time calculator How long gas takes to travel a sample line, and the delay it adds to a reading. Extractive sampling lag Calculator Sensor 4–20 mA calculator Convert between loop current and the measured quantity. Analog output scaling Calculator Sensor 0–10 V calculator Convert between a voltage signal and the measured quantity. Analog output scaling Calculator Digital sensor calculator (ADC bits) ADC counts, measured value and resolution. Resolution

Technology ROI calculators

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Cost-of-ownership models comparing TDLAS against the measurement technology it would replace. Inputs are yours; nothing is stored.

ROI model TDLAS vs. FTIR analyzer Weigh the lifecycle cost of TDLAS against an FTIR analyzer, including capability you pay for but may not need. Cost of ownership ROI model TDLAS vs. NDIR analyzer Weigh the lifecycle cost of TDLAS against an NDIR analyzer, including drift and cross-interference costs. Cost of ownership ROI model TDLAS vs. gas chromatograph Weigh TDLAS against a gas chromatograph, including the cost of blind time between GC cycles. Cost of ownership ROI model TDLAS vs. paramagnetic oxygen Compare durability and total cost over five years against a paramagnetic oxygen analyzer. O₂ ROI model TDLAS vs. zirconia (ZrO₂) analyzer Estimate fuel savings from tighter O₂ control, measured against a zirconia probe. O₂ ROI model TDLAS vs. electrochemical and pellistor Work out whether the TDLAS premium pays back against electrochemical cells and pellistors. Cost of ownership

Application notes

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What the measurement is for, where the analyzer sits, and what the data controls, organised by gas and process.

Application note Nitrous oxide monitoring in wastewater treatment: TDLAS for laughing gas measurement N₂O is a potent greenhouse gas produced during biological nitrogen removal. Emission factors vary widely between plants and over time. N₂O  Wastewater treatment Application note Ammonia monitoring in wastewater treatment: TDLAS for gas-phase ammonia analysis Treatment plants generate gas-phase ammonia at nearly every stage, from headworks through aeration, scrubbing and sidestream treatment. NH₃  Wastewater treatment Application note Gas monitoring in water and wastewater treatment using TDLAS Methane in digesters, hydrogen sulphide in sewers and sludge handling, oxygen in aeration basins, and carbon dioxide as a marker of biological activity. Wastewater treatment Application note Ammonia monitoring in agriculture: TDLAS for barn, scrubber and field emissions Ammonia from livestock housing, manure storage and fertilizer application drives eutrophication and secondary particulate formation. NH₃  Agriculture Application note CO monitoring in waste incineration: combustion control, safety and compliance CO concentrations fluctuate rapidly and unpredictably, because the waste fuel varies in composition, moisture and calorific value from load to load. CO  Waste-to-energy Application note CO analysis in cement and steel production: process control, safety and kiln diagnostics In cement kilns, CO tracks combustion quality in the rotary kiln and preheater tower, giving early warning of feed buildup and flame instability. CO  Cement and lime Application note Carbon monoxide monitoring in combustion processes: early detection and process control CO in combustion exhaust is a direct indicator of incomplete combustion, from poor air-fuel mixing through to flame instability. CO  Combustion Application note Combustion gas analysis in power plants: CO₂, CO and O₂ for efficiency and emissions control CO and O₂ control the air-fuel ratio. CO₂ indicates combustion completeness, fuel carbon conversion and emissions intensity. CO₂ CO O₂  Power generation Application note Industrial oxygen measurement with TDLAS: combustion control, inerting and process monitoring Oxygen measurement serves different purposes by application. In combustion it indicates excess air; in inerting it is a contaminant with a hard threshold. O₂  Process control Application note Oxygen monitoring for combustion control using TDLAS Combustion efficiency depends on holding the correct excess oxygen level in the flue gas. Too much O₂ wastes fuel by heating unnecessary air. O₂  Combustion Application note Oxygen monitoring in chemical processes: inerting verification, reaction atmosphere control and safety Oxygen concentration is a critical control parameter in chemical manufacturing, determining whether reactions proceed as intended. O₂  Chemicals Application note Oxygen monitoring in confined spaces using TDLAS Oxygen must stay within 19.5% to 23.5% to protect workers and prevent fire hazards, without the calibration burden of electrochemical sensors. O₂  Safety Application note Gas analysis in biogas production: CO₂, CH₄ and H₂S monitoring from digester to grid The CO₂-to-CH₄ ratio indicates digester stability and energy content. H₂S concentration determines corrosion risk. CO₂ CH₄ H₂S  Biogas Application note Gas analysis across the carbon capture and storage chain: from flue gas to geological storage Gas analysis at every stage of the chain, starting with CO₂ removal efficiency at the capture plant. CO₂  CCUS Application note TDLAS for greenhouse gas monitoring Selective, stable over months, and fast enough to catch short emission events. Covers CO₂, CH₄, N₂O and H₂O across stack, process and open-air geometries. CO₂ CH₄ N₂O  Emissions Application note TDLAS for fugitive emissions monitoring and leak detection Fugitive emissions from valves, flanges, tanks and buried infrastructure are both a compliance liability and a direct product loss. LDAR Application note TDLAS for leak detection and fugitive emissions monitoring LDAR needs instruments that separate the target gas from background species and hold calibration across a full survey shift. LDAR Application note Remote gas analysis with TDLAS: stand-off measurement for hazardous and inaccessible locations Measures concentration along an optical path with no contact with the gas and no hardware installed at the measurement point. ppm·m  Standoff Application note High-speed TDLAS measurement for combustion, exhaust and outdoor gas monitoring Combustion processes change gas composition on timescales of milliseconds to seconds, faster than most analyzers can follow. Engines and testing Application note Gas temperature measurement with TDLAS in heavy industry TDLAS can measure gas temperature across an industrial process stream without physical contact with the gas. Process control Application note Gas analysis with TDLAS in low-light-transmission environments Dust, fog and condensed droplets attenuate the beam. Spectral fitting separates broadband attenuation from the gas-specific absorption signal. Dust and opacity

Technical comparisons

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How TDLAS behaves against the other methods you are likely evaluating, including where it is the wrong choice.

Comparison Where TDLAS fits among trace gas analysis methods Fast, selective and stable for continuous monitoring of infrared-active gases. It does not replace GC for speciation or FTIR for broad spectral surveys. Overview Comparison TDLAS and FTIR: selecting the right infrared method for industrial gas analysis Both measure gas concentration by infrared absorption, but approach the problem from opposite directions. FTIR Comparison TDLAS and NDIR: how two infrared absorption methods compare Both measure through infrared absorption, differing in optical architecture, selectivity and response speed. NDIR Comparison TDLAS and gas chromatography: continuous monitoring versus compositional analysis Both produce accurate concentration data from fundamentally different operating principles: continuous monitoring against compositional analysis. GC Comparison TDLAS and Raman spectroscopy: how two optical methods compare for gas analysis Both use laser light to measure gases, on fundamentally different physical principles, and suit different problems. Raman Comparison TDLAS vs. CRDS: choosing between two laser-based gas analysis methods Both measure through molecular absorption. CRDS achieves lower absolute detection limits, which matters in some ranges and not others. CRDS Comparison TDLAS and paramagnetic oxygen analyzers: choosing the right O₂ measurement method Both measure oxygen accurately, on unrelated physical principles, and suit different installations. O₂  Paramagnetic Comparison TDLAS vs. electrochemical and catalytic bead gas detectors: a practical comparison How TDLAS differs from electrochemical and catalytic bead sensors in response time and calibration burden. EC and pellistor Comparison TDLAS vs. electrochemical cells for industrial gas detection Both are used for toxic and process gas detection in industrial settings, with different service demands. EC Comparison TDLAS vs. FID for methane analysis TDLAS gives gas-specific optical measurement with minimal maintenance. FID detects hydrocarbons broadly through combustion-based ionization. CH₄  FID Comparison Choosing between in-situ, extractive and remote TDLAS configurations Cross-stack, extractive and remote stand-off each have real strengths and real limits. The choice follows the geometry, the species and the access. Configuration Comparison In-situ vs. extractive gas analysis: selecting the right TDLAS configuration In-situ measures directly across a duct, stack or open space, with no sample transport delay. Configuration

Fundamentals and selection guides

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The measurement principle, how to write a specification, and how to judge whether the instrument pays for itself.

Fundamentals How TDLAS works: measurement principle and engineering fundamentals Scanning a narrowband laser across a molecular absorption line and quantifying the attenuation. The principle, the signal processing and the engineering that decides performance. Principle Guide How to specify a gas analyzer: a selection framework Start from the measurement requirement, not the technology: target gas, concentration range, response time, process matrix and installation geometry. Specification Guide TDLAS gas analyzers as process control instruments Stable, repeatable data at the rate the control loop needs, a direct interface to the automation system, and calibration held over months. Integration Guide What real-time gas analysis means in practice, and where it matters A full spectroscopic measurement in as little as 100 µs, up to 10 kHz. Where that speed changes the outcome, and where it does not. Response time Commercial Total cost of ownership for TDLAS gas analyzers Calibration gas, sensor replacements, maintenance labour and unplanned downtime dominate lifecycle cost, not the purchase price. TCO Commercial When TDLAS justifies its cost, and when it does not How much the measurement matters, what the alternative costs to maintain, and whether the environment would degrade a conventional sensor first. TCO Engineering Beamonics product design philosophy explained Three distinct optical configurations built on one shared spectroscopy platform, manufactured in Lund. Design

Reference and product detail

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Terminology, the full application indexes, and the configuration tools.

Glossary Glossary of TDLAS and laser-based gas analysis terms The technical vocabulary of TDLAS gas analysis, from spectroscopy fundamentals through instrumentation and performance metrics. Terminology FAQ Frequently asked questions How a specific wavelength of laser light is absorbed by gas molecules along a path, and the questions that come up most when specifying an analyzer. Support Technology Our TDLAS technology What TDLAS is, and how Beamonics implements it. Narrowband, scanned Products All analyzers and configurations All three analyzers side by side: cross-stack, extractive and remote stand-off. Product index Index Measurable gases The ten gases with dedicated pages: O₂, CH₄, NH₃, H₂O, CO, CO₂, HF, HCl, H₂S and N₂O. O₂ CH₄ NH₃ H₂O CO CO₂ HF HCl H₂S N₂O Index Industries served Seventeen industries, from oil and gas to semiconductor manufacturing and wastewater treatment. 17 industries Index Measurement use cases Ten measurement scenarios, from ammonia slip and CEMS to leak detection and moisture monitoring. 10 use cases Tool Dynamic process analysis Resolve turbulent gas dynamics at 100 µs time resolution, and see the spikes and instabilities that standard sensors average out. Interactive Product detail BeamSight® for CO₂ and CO analysis Remote in-situ measurement of CO₂ and CO directly in the gas stream, without sampling and without contact. ppm·m Quality ISO 9001:2015 certification Certified to ISO 9001:2015 since 2025-06-09 by AAA Certification AB. Quality management

News and events

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News Beamonics awarded Best Optics & Photonics Company of 2024 Press release. Beamonics named Best Optics & Photonics Company of 2024. Event Beamonics showcasing TDLAS gas analyzers at SENSOR+TEST 2025 Announcement of Beamonics' participation in SENSOR+TEST 2025. Event MEORGA, Landshut, Germany, 15 October 2025 Beamonics at MEORGA, Landshut, on 15 October 2025, with engineers on the stand.

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