Development and manufacture of process gas analyzers, TOC/TNb analyzers and OEM measurement components
LFE Laboratorium für industrielle Forschung GmbH & Co. Entwicklungs KG
BruchköbelNew on Amplifa
About LFE
LFE was founded in 1979 by Dr. Günter Schunck and has since developed and manufactured specialized analyzers and components for process gas and water analysis at its Bruchköbel site. The portfolio includes the patented thermal conductivity detector (TCD) in the CONTHOS-3 series of process gas analyzers (among other uses for hydrogen in water electrolysis, metallurgy and petrochemicals, also available in ATEX Ex p and Ex d versions and as a high-temperature variant with a gas path rated up to 180 °C), the paramagnetic oxygen analyzer CONTHOS 3 - PMD, and the on-line TOC/TNb analyzer TOC-820 with high-temperature oxidation. The range is complemented by OEM components such as TCD, gas density meter and the Series 54 peristaltic pump, as well as sampling and sample preparation systems (USR-F, USR-S, pControl 2F). Customers come from the chemical industry, metallurgy, energy and water management as well as from research institutions in Europe and worldwide. LFE invests in its own research and development, among others within a BMBF-funded framework and in the EU consortium Light4CleanWater with Fraunhofer IGB.
- Site
- Bruchköbel
- Processes
- Process gas analysis (hydrogen, thermal conductivity detector), Process gas analysis H2 Ex p (ATEX Zone 1 & 2), Process gas analysis H2 Ex d (IECEx/ATEX transmitter), High-temperature thermal conductivity gas analysis (HT TCD, gas path up to 180°C), Paramagnetic oxygen gas analysis, On-line TOC/TNb process water analysis (high-temperature oxidation), Sample preparation: back pressure control for process gas analyzers, Trace gas analysis SO2, O3, NOx (historical, COSO series)
- Materials
- Hydrogen, Oxygen, Hastelloy (transducer membrane), Sulfur dioxide, Ozone, Nitrogen oxides, Thermal conductivity detector, Paramagnetic oxygen detector
- Certificates
- Certifications
- Founded
- 1979
- Industries
- Water electrolysis / hydrogen economy, Metallurgy, Petrochemicals, Gas purification, Gasification, Power plants
- 01
Research and development
- 02
Design and manufacturing
- 03
Commissioning of analyzers at the customer's site
- 04
Worldwide distribution via partners
Measurement Principles and Materials
Thermal conductivity detector
Patented detector with spatially and electronically separated heating wires for fast T90 times and high corrosion resistance.
Paramagnetic oxygen detector
Physical measurement principle for oxygen analysis in process gases.
High-temperature oxidation
Process of the TOC-820 for continuous on-line determination of TOC with optional TNb channel.
Hastelloy
Corrosion-resistant transducer membrane in the USR-S ultrasonic cleaning system.
NDIR measurement principle
CO2 measurement method historically patented in the TOC-400, directly at the reactor outlet at 160 °C.
Locations
Bruchköbel
DEHeadquarters, development and manufacturing
- Materials
- H2, O2, process gases, process water
- CONTHOS 3 - TCD (incl. Ex p, Ex d, HT/3F)
- CONTHOS 3 - PMD
- TOC-820
- USR-F
- USR-S
- pControl 2F
- OEM TCD
- Gas density meter
- Series 54 peristaltic pump
Products and Assemblies
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process gas analysis (hydrogen, thermal conductivity detector)Testing | – | – | – | – | H2, noble gases, binary combustible gases |
| Process gas analysis H2 Ex p (ATEX Zone 1 & 2)Testing | – | – | – | – | H2, binary combustible gases |
| Process gas analysis H2 Ex d (IECEx/ATEX transmitter)Testing | – | – | – | – | H2 |
| High-temperature thermal conductivity gas analysis (HT TCD, gas path up to 180°C)Testing | – | – | – | – | Process gas with Cl2, HCl & H2O, H2 with acidic/alkaline components (NH3, CO2), H2, water vapor, high dew points |
| Paramagnetic oxygen gas analysisTesting | – | – | – | – | O2 |
| On-line TOC/TNb process water analysis (high-temperature oxidation)Testing | – | – | – | – | Industrial wastewater, Boiler feedwater & condensate, Drinking water, Wastewater treatment plant inlet/outlet |
| Sample preparation: back pressure control for process gas analyzersTesting | – | – | – | – | Process gases |
| Trace gas analysis SO2, O3, NOx (historical, COSO series)Testing | – | – | – | – | SO2, O3, NOx |
| Development and manufacture of analyzers and components for gas and water analysisEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
12 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process gas analyzer (thermal conductivity detector, TCD) | LFE CONTHOS 3 - TCD | – | 0 - 0.5% & 99.5 - 100% H2, T90 ≤ 3 sec | – | Bruchköbel |
| ATEX process gas analyzer Ex p | LFE CONTHOS 3 - TCD Ex p | – | T90 ≤ 3 sec, ATEX Ex p Zone 1 & 2 | – | Bruchköbel |
| IECEx/ATEX TCD transmitter Ex d | LFE CONTHOS 3 - TCD Ex d | – | T90 ≤ 3 sec, Zone 1 & 2 | – | Bruchköbel |
| High-temperature gas analyzer (HT TCD) | LFE CONTHOS 3 - TCD HT / 3F | – | Gas path up to 180°C | – | Bruchköbel |
| Paramagnetic oxygen gas analyzer | LFE CONTHOS 3 - PMD | – | – | – | Bruchköbel |
| On-line TOC/TNb analyzer | LFE TOC-820 | – | High-temperature oxidation, optional TNb channel | – | Bruchköbel |
| Ultrasonic sampling filter system | LFE USR-F | – | Pore sizes 1 to 200 µm, cross-flow | – | Bruchköbel |
| Ultrasonic cleaning system for liquid sensors | LFE USR-S | – | For 3 process liquid sensors, Hastelloy membrane | – | Bruchköbel |
| Back pressure controller | LFE pControl 2F | – | – | – | Bruchköbel |
| Thermal conductivity detector (OEM) | LFE OEM TCD | – | – | – | Bruchköbel |
| Peristaltic pump | LFE Series 54 | – | – | – | Bruchköbel |
| Gas density meter (Specific Gravity Transducer) | LFE OEM Specific Gravity Transducer | – | – | – | Bruchköbel |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
According to the manufacturer, the products are characterized by high quality, signal stability and long-term reliability; the analyzers feature extensive self-monitoring and self-diagnostic functions.
| Evidence | Bruchköbel |
|---|---|
| Certifications |
History
- 1979
Company founded by Dr. Günter Schunck
- 1980
Introduction of the patented LFE thermal conductivity detector (TCD)
- 1980
Introduction of the first process gas analyzer CONTHOS 1 (built until 2000)
- 1980
Relocation from a private house to the Maintal industrial park; first employees hired
- 1982
Development of the first TOC analyzer TOC-400 together with Hoechst AG Frankfurt (built until 1995)
- 1984
COSO series: environmental gas analyzers for trace analysis of SO2, O3, NOx with the German Weather Service (discontinued in 1988)
- 1986
Introduction of the pControl 1 back pressure controller (replaced by pControl 2F in 2008)
- 1987
TOC-100 process TOC analyzer (built until 1996)
- 1990
OEM gas density meter based on a development of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- 1995
TOC-400 II with microprocessor electronics
- 1997
TOC-600 process TOC analyzer (replaced by TOC-800 in 2004)
- 1999
Gary Brown (son-in-law of the founder) takes over management
- 2000
CONTHOS 2 process TCD gas analyzer (replaced by CONTHOS 3 in 2013)