Fiber-coupled Gas Flowcell
Gas flow cells are a necessary component in many laser-based
sampled gas sensing systems. Our fiber-coupled flowcells are
ideally suited for customers working with fiber coupled
components and are available in path lengths of 16.5cm,47.5cm, or 79cm. Swagelok® fittings help integrate the flowcell
easily into a gas manifold, and the cells can be operated fromfull vacuum to 1000 Torr.
The Wavelength References FC flowcells feature advanced
optical design for very low level of interference artifacts and areavailable with either fiber output or optionally with a built in
InGaAs detector (optionally long wavelength InGaAs). Folded
optics allow for compact design of our longer paths: 47.5cm (3pass) and 79cm (5-pass).
The cells may be operated at elevated temperature to prevent
condensation or to remove adsorbed contaminants such aswater.

Specifications1
Gas Cell:Wavelength Range
Fiber type
Actual path lengths
Operating temperature
Fiber to fiber throughput@25degC, 1550nm
Fiber to fiber throughput
over temperature
Spectral ripple (P-P)
Gas pressure
Cell volumeUnitsnmcm°C%%dB
TorrccWetted surfaces
Storage temperature
Connector Types°C

Swagelok® fitting style
Leak rate

Atm-cc/sec

A/WVnA Low Cost Designed for minimum optical interference
artifacts
 Compact multi-pass design for low
concentrations/weak absorption lines.
 Swagelok® fittings for easy integration

1260 – 2300
SMF28e16.5 (FC-16), 47.5 (FC-48),
79 (FC-80)-20 to +70>50 FC-16, FC-48>35 FC-80>40 FC-16, FC-48>20 FC-80<0.01 P-P in any 2nm span
0 to 1000
35 FC-48, FC-80
13 FC-16
Anodized aluminum,Viton, glass, epoxy, Teflon-40 to +100
FCPC, FCAPC, SCPC, SCAPC,
None
1/4” or 1/8” tube, hose bib
available<10-6

Photodetector:
Net Responsivity
Reverse bias
Dark current

Features>0.4 @1550nm≤10 PD; ≤1 LPD.25
PD
300 LPD 3
Wavelength range
nm
850 to 1700nm PD
850 to 2200nm LPD
1. 1550nm and 25 °C unless noted; Specifications subject to change withoutnotice
2. Non operational
3. Typical Broadband wavelength operation

Applications
 Gas sensing systems
 Spectroscopic research Chemical detection systems

Ordering Information (example)
FC - 16 - 1/4 - FCAPC
Path length:
16: 16.5cm path
48: 47.5cm path80: 79cm path

Swagelok® tube style:
1/4 – ¼” tube
1/8 – 1/8” tube

Connector style:
FCAPC, FCPC, SCAPC, SCPC
Include /PD or /LPD forphotodetector output

sales@wavelengthreferences.com

Package Drawings
16.5cm single pass:

48cm, 80cm Multi-Pass:

Flowcell operation:
Wavelength References Flowcells are very simple to use but to get the best performance pay attention to the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

The cell is provided with four mounting holes tapped with 4-40 threads on the bottom. When mounting be sure that themounting plate is flat and that the mounting process does not stress the cell. This is best observed by measuring thethroughput while mounting.
Do not apply any mechanical stress on the endcaps (connected to fiber boots). These hold the collimating lenses.
When attaching the cell to use with the ¼” tube Swagelok fitting use two wrenches to minimize any stress on the gas cell.
Hold the ½” nut closest to the housing firm while you tighten whatever you attach.
Prevent dust and condensation from entering the cell. Uniform heating can reduce condensation.
If the cell optics are damaged due to contamination we can rework the cell for lifetime cost savings. Please contact factory.
Minimum detectable signal will depend on many factors such as the noise level of your detection apparatus, the noise andrepeatability of your laser scan as well as any signal processing you might apply. Some customers use a laser power split topass part of the beam through a sealed gas cell containing a known amount of the gas. This provides an exact replica of theabsorption line and line position to be searched for in the flowcell data. Wavelength References sells sealed gas cells for thispurpose. If you look at the data below there would appear to be a weak line about 6057.5 that could be mistaken for themethane line in a scan were the transmission data not processed against a sealed reference cell.

Example of 12ppm concentration of methane in 80cm flowcell. Simulated using HITRAN methane data and actual scanned cell data.
Used Aglient 8164A tunable laser to scan line. 0.02% is roughly the noise floor of the laser.

sales@wavelengthreferences.com