6 Gas Detection Is Your Gas Detector Right For Confined Space Entry?
Working in confined spaces is difficult at the best of times. Operators often have to wear full PPE (personal protective equipment), are usually harnessed and may be carrying tools and equipment to complete the task in hand (e.g. welding). The last thing a worker in this environment needs to worry about is his or her gas detector.
It should be designed specifically for confined space entry (CSE) applications, be unobtrusive and have a clear display that is easy to see at a glance.
A confined space means ‘any place, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar space in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable risk’.
This definition covers just about any industrial activity but is especially applicable to the utilities industries (water and wastewater, electricity, telecommunications and gas), construction, marine applications, agriculture, food processing, wine making and brewing, as well as emergency services.
While the best advice is, if at all possible, to avoid entering confined spaces, this is obviously not always an option. In the above mentioned industries there will always be occasions when workers or emergency services personnel need to enter potentially dangerous areas to carry out inspections, routine maintenance, perform emergency repairs or effect rescues.
There is a wide range of equipment required for CSE environments and the supply industry is well developed, with a plethora of PPE and safety equipment available.
The one area of CSE where improvement is needed and where compromises have, to date, always had to be made, is gas detection.
Users of gas detectors have typically had to make a choice between large pumped units, small diffusion models, or models with ‘parasitic’ pumps, which are easily lost or damaged. Handheld detectors that measure a wider range of gases tend to have front-mount displays and are usually optimised for leak location or ‘hot work’ permit issue, rather than being suitable for CSE work.
The new Gas-Pro from Crowcon (UK) is compact and comparable in size to leading front-mount diffusion detectors. It has a bright, clear top-mount display that can be read at a glance without having to touch the detector. A dual colour backlight adds an extra level of alert should the Gas-Pro enter
alarm status. An internal pump means that pre-entry testing can be done quickly and easily. This also keeps the size of the detector small and removes the problems of poor sealing or the need for extra equipment and chargers associated with parasitic pumps.
Unique to the Gas-Pro, +ve Safety™ provides tri-colour status indication, giving quick and effective monitoring of gas test (bump), calibration, over range and recent alarm notification. There are Multiple gas sensors for up to five potentially hazardous gases from an extremely wide range including, hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen and flammable gases, as well as industry- specific gases such as ozone, ammonia, chlorine, chlorine dioxide and sulphur dioxide. In addition, Gas-Pro is extremely rugged and has IP65 &IP67 ingress protection with an extremely loud >95 dB alarm as well as a vibrating and dual colour visual warnings as standard. Crowcon’s new Gas-Pro CSE detector is therefore a new category of product designed for just one purpose – ensuring gas safety in confined spaces. Free from worries about what risks might come with compromise, personnel entering these spaces will be more focused on their core activities, safe in the knowledge that their gas detector is focused on its core activity.
Reader Reply Card No. 16
Photo Ionisation Detector – Plus (PID-Plus)
Alphasense (UK), an independent gas sensor technology company, has been working with Owlstone to apply their Advection Diffusion Spectrometry (ADS) technology for chemical detection, on a new development based on the Alphasense PID modules giving enhanced selectivity through the use of the Ion Mobility Spectroscopy (IMS) - ADS technology.
Utilising existing PID technology and linked to a sensor module that has been produced featuring a chip, fan for gas sampling, the micro-controller with associated electronics uses UV as the preferred ionisation source. The sensor module/chip, has embedded firmware, is mounted to a rigid circuit board as part of the newly developed Owlstone IMS-ADS module.
Gas flow through the chip must be regulated and at least two signals will be output (peak height and peak width), a third signal (kurtosis) is possible but will require additional work to the sub-module. Signal outputs could be analogue, PWM or serial. End-users will have no need to see raw spectra, as all processing will be performed on-board.
Arthur W Burnley, Sales and Marketing Director for Alphasense, stated, “Successful development of this new sensor technology will open a range of exciting commercial opportunities for Alphasense. We are very happy to be working with Owlstone in what will prove to be a mutually rewarding partnership, and we are anticipating that this device will be available for sale in Q3 of 2011. Alphasense is a centre of excellence for gas sensor technology and the PID-Plus is just one of several new and exciting product introductions planned for 2011. Further developments from Alphasense include expansion of our existing NDIR, Catalytic and Electro-Chemical sensors (measuring as low as 10ppb) plus the addition of Mixed Metal Oxide sensors and more.”
Reader Reply Card No. 17
Gas Sampling Monitor with Internal Pump and Sensors
The GSM-60 from ENMET (USA) is a microprocessor-based gas monitor especially designed for use in industrial process, aerospace and semiconductor applications. The system incorporates an internal sample draw pump and gas sensors. The instrument can be custom configured for monitoring a combination of gas parameters including VOCs, dew point, oxygen and CO, or a number of other target
gases including O3, HF, HCl, Cl2, etc. As an option, this versatile monitor can also be connected to a wide range of remote 4-20 mA toxic or combustible gas sensor/transmitters.
Reader Reply Card No. 18 Reader Reply Card No. 19
IET May / June 2011
www.envirotech-online.com
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