Proven DryCal® Technology
Bios originally designed our primary gas flow standards for industrial hygiene applications requiring volumetric, NIST-traceable calibrations of air sampling pumps to within ±1% of reading accuracy. Ours were the first dry calibrators for the market, and were welcomed by industry professionals not only for their revolutionary, liquid-free convenience, but their accuracy, speed and push-button ease-of-use.
Over time, their continued success created a natural migration of our Proven DryCal Technology to the most exacting uses. With ultra-low uncertainties of ±0.15% of reading standardized and broad flow ranges featuring an amazing 100:1 turndown, our proprietary technology is now the basis for superior gas flow measurement in semiconductor fabrication, pharmaceutical production, biotechnology research and development, aerospace development and many other critical applications.
What is it?
Proven DryCal Technology is a liquid-free gas flow measurement system that doesn't rely on soap bubbles for measurement, oil or mercury to form a gas-tight seal, or non-primary thermal mass flow readings that must be backward calculated to obtain volumetric flow.
Our patented technology uses a nearly-frictionless graphite composite piston housed within a flow measuring cell of precisely quantified dimensions. A bypass valve opens to receive gas flow, and then closes to initiate a flow measurement. When closed, the gas is diverted to the flow measuring cell, entering beneath the piston. As it enters the flow cell, the piston has nowhere to go but up, rising at the rate of gas flow along a timed path of a known distance.
At the same time, the gas being measured forms the gas-tight seal (or, viscous-seal). When the piston reaches the highest timed point along the path of travel, a volumetric flow measurement has been electronically recorded. The valve opens, and the gas is released from the flow cell, allowing the piston to drop to the bottom. The system instantly resets in time for the next reading.
Accurate, reliable and convenient. Not to mention clean.
Why is it special?
Our reliable technology is a ‘positive displacement’ piston prover design, an internationally-accepted platform that's been the standard for obtaining primary gas flow measurements for over a century. Even so, our system has several unique attributes that not only set it apart from other piston provers, but from other gas flow measurement standards in general.
It starts with the fact that our patented technology is both primary and dry. And it’s even pretty small. In fact, it's extremely portable – whether by hand, cart or standard freight carrier. Because our system’s volumetric-based, it’s not subject to drift (it derives its accuracy from the flow cell’s dimensions, which don’t change over time or due to environmental conditions), which means it’s ready to perform right out of the box – accurately. That’s why we like to think of our technology as "shippable precision."
Then there’s the simple push-button operation, which enables hands-free measurements, leaves little room for user-error or interpretation, and requires only minimal training. Virtually anyone in your organization can step up to the plate and perform calibrations in a pinch.
But perhaps the biggest thing about our Proven DryCal Technology is in its name: Proven. Our ISO 17025 accreditation by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) – the third party accrediting body of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – provides the backing you need to feel confident in Bios.
To learn more about our ISO 17025 accreditation, click here.