Yokogawa launches gas density meter with touchscreen
Thu, 29th Oct 2026 (Today)
Yokogawa has released the OpreX Gas Density Meter, adding it to its OpreX Analyser line.
Designed for high-speed gas density measurement, the new meter adds a colour touchscreen and digital communications to the previous model.
The non-explosion-proof version is now on sale. Explosion-proof versions are planned with support for IECEx certification and the ATEX requirements used in Europe.
Yokogawa's gas density meters calculate gas density, specific gravity, molecular weight, concentration and calorific value by measuring resonance frequency, which changes with gas density. The company said its existing models have been in use since 1997, with cumulative shipments exceeding 6,600 units.
Market demand
The launch comes as demand rises in sectors where operators need to monitor gas composition for safety and maintenance. Yokogawa identified power generation, oil and gas, steel, chemicals and renewable energy as target markets.
In turbine generators, hydrogen is used as a cooling gas to limit heat generated during high-speed rotation. Because hydrogen can become explosive when mixed with oxygen above a certain concentration, operators use gas density meters to monitor hydrogen concentration during operation and maintenance.
Demand is also increasing in areas such as methanation and water electrolysis, where operators need to monitor different gases as renewable energy policies and decarbonisation programmes expand.
According to Yokogawa, the new instrument uses vibration-based measurement technology to detect changes in gas density and can identify changes in gas composition in as little as five seconds. That figure refers to the time needed for the displayed value to reach 90% of its final value after a change in gas conditions at a gas flow rate of 0.6 L/min.
The meter can measure the concentration of binary gas mixtures including hydrogen and air, or carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Yokogawa said this can reduce equipment costs and improve maintenance efficiency for hydrogen-cooled turbine generators in power plants.
Usability changes
A key change in the new model is the addition of a colour touchscreen display. Yokogawa said the interface improves visibility and makes the instrument easier to operate than the existing version.
The meter also supports digital communications based on Ethernet and RS-485 standards, allowing it to connect with a wider range of control and monitoring systems used in industrial plants.
The product line shown by Yokogawa includes the GD80 gas density meter detector, the GD802G gas density meter converter and the GD802S explosion-proof gas density meter converter.
Industrial uses
Yokogawa listed applications beyond hydrogen purity monitoring in turbine generators. These include replacement gas concentration monitoring during maintenance inspections, molecular weight measurement of off-gas from petroleum refining, hydrogen purity control in annealing furnaces, calorific value measurement of liquefied natural gas, cross-leak monitoring in water electrolysis systems, and monitoring of methanation processes.
The broader industrial backdrop is also shifting. Growth in electricity demand, partly linked to the expansion of data centres, has supported the turbine market and increased pressure on operators to maintain safety and maintenance efficiency.
Hazardous-area compliance is another focus for customers deploying gas measurement equipment in plants where hydrogen, methane and other flammable gases are present. Yokogawa said the forthcoming explosion-proof versions are intended to expand the product's availability across more countries and regions.
The OpreX Gas Density Meter sits within the OpreX brand for Yokogawa's industrial automation and control business, and specifically in the OpreX Analysers family within the OpreX Measurement category.
Yokogawa employs more than 18,000 people across 136 companies in 63 countries and supplies measurement, control and information systems to industries including energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals and food.