Innovative Infrared Technology Delivers Enhanced Sensitivity, Selectivity and Longer Life

 

As the first accurate, reliable, highly sensitive, cordless refrigerant leak detector, the original D-TEK revolutionized the field. Now we have built on that technology leadership to create D-TEK Select. This next-generation refrigerant leak detector uses an innovative infrared absorption sensing cell that is extremely sensitive to all refrigerants - and only refrigerants. D-TEK Select maintains that sensitivity over time for consistent, accurate and reliable performance, even with the newer refrigerant blends. Best of all, the sensing cell lasts for approximately 800 hours - almost 10 times longer than the original D-TEK sensor - to lower your cost of ownership and improve job site productivity.

Additional enhancements include a charging status indicator, sensor failure indication, and NiMH (nickel metal hydride) batteries. All in an easy-to-use unit with the quality and durability you've come to expect from INFICON.

 

At the heart of the D-TEK Select Refrigerant Leak Detector is an infrared absorption filtometer. It consists of a sampling cell with an infrared source (or emitter) at one end, an infrared energy detector at the other end, and an optical filter in between them.

Like the visible light we see, infrared energy is part of the electromagnetic energy spectrum. Most materials absorb specific and known wavelengths of infrared energy. The particular wavelengths of energy absorbed by a material are known as its absorption spectra. All refrigerants have similar absorption spectra in the range of 7.5–14 micrometers.

The infrared source (emitter) creates a high-intensity stream of energy incorporating all wavelengths in the infrared spectrum. The stream passes through the optical filter, which blocks all wavelengths except those that refrigerants absorb. The filtered infrared energy strikes the detector and causes it to heat up. When refrigerant is drawn through the sampling cell by the internal pump, some of the infrared energy is absorbed by the refrigerant. This causes a decrease in the amount of infrared energy reaching the detector and a corresponding drop in the detector’s temperature, which triggers the D-TEK Select to alarm. This whole process takes a fraction of a second.

By utilizing an optical filter with precise characteristics, INFICON has made D-TEK Select sensitive to all refrigerants, while eliminating false alarms. In addition, because there is no depletion of chemicals like in heated sensor detectors, the sensor will not be harmed by high refrigerant doses nor degrade over time. The detector recovery time is also immediate after the refrigerant clears the cell.