How can you reduce helium consumption on the Thermo Scientific FlashSmart Elemental Analyzer?

Significance of the Topic

The Thermo Scientific FlashSmart Elemental Analyzer addresses a critical need in modern analytical laboratories to perform accurate, reproducible elemental analyses of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen while controlling operating costs. With global helium shortages and rising prices, optimizing gas consumption or switching to alternative gases has become essential for high-throughput environments in research, quality control and industrial analytics.

Goals and Study Overview

This application note evaluates strategies to minimize helium use in the FlashSmart Analyzer during active sample runs and idle periods. It outlines five operational modes—ranging from software-driven standby to full argon carrier replacement—and compares their impact on helium savings, stabilization times and recommended usage scenarios.

Methodology and Used Instrumentation

The study focuses on the Thermo Scientific FlashSmart Elemental Analyzer coupled with the EagerSmart Data Handling Software. Selected optimization methods include:

• Auto Stand-By via software to reduce carrier/reference flows to <3 mL/min.
• Electrovalve closure (EV3/EV4) during automatic leak tests.
• Manual valve switching between helium and nitrogen at the gas inlet.
• MultiValve Control (MVC) module automating carrier gas switching.
• Dedicated argon kit replacing helium as carrier and reference gas.

Main Results and Discussion

Implementation of software standby alone achieves over 90% helium reduction within 30 minutes. Electrovalve control and MVC approaches deliver nearly 100% helium savings during leak tests and extended idle periods, with return-to-analysis stabilization times under 30 minutes. The argon kit eliminates helium consumption entirely, though with slightly higher stabilization requirements when reverting to helium analyses.

Benefits and Practical Applications

These strategies help laboratories:

• Drastically lower consumable costs by minimizing helium usage.
• Maintain analytical throughput with rapid standby-to-ready transitions.
• Leverage existing software and hardware modules without compromising data quality.

Future Trends and Possibilities

Ongoing developments may include real-time gas optimization algorithms, broader adoption of argon or mixed-gas carriers, and integration of predictive maintenance to further reduce idle purge requirements. Advances in low-flow furnace designs and alternative detector technologies could further diminish dependence on scarce noble gases.

Conclusion

By combining software controls, electrovalve management and optional argon carrier kits, the FlashSmart Elemental Analyzer delivers flexible solutions for minimizing helium use without sacrificing analytical performance. Laboratories can adapt these methods to their workflow demands, significantly reducing operating costs and improving sustainability.

References

Thermo Fisher Scientific. FlashSmart Elemental Analyzer Application Note. SN42269-EN 0716.
Thermo Fisher Scientific. EagerSmart Data Handling Software Technical Note 42270.