Gas Detection 5


Enclosed space entry with breathing aparatus vii. The instrument should be capable of being easily carried.


viii. The instrument should be suitably protected from the ingress of dust and water.


ix. The minimum battery life of the instrument (with fresh batteries of recommended type) should be 10 hours.


x. The instrument should be intrinsically safe.


xi. The instrument display should be readable in all lighting conditions.


xii. Suitable means shall be provided for the calibration of all such instruments.


xiii. Any atmosphere testing should be performed by trained personnel.


Entering a confi ned space on board ship


IMSBC (International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code)


The IMSBC lists 450 solid bulk cargoes and describes their characteristics, hazards, required precautions, ventilation, loading and discharging operations. The properties of cargoes are categorised in three main groups.


i. Group A – cargoes which may liquefy if shipped at a moisture content exceeding their Transportable Moisture Limit (TML).


ii. Group B – cargoes which possess a chemical hazard which could give rise to a dangerous situation on a ship.


iii. Group C – cargoes which are neither liable to liquefy (Group A) nor possess chemical hazards (Group B). Cargoes in this group can still be hazardous.


Group B cargoes are those that are most likely to require gas and fl ame detection equipment. Amongst others, they include the following bulk cargoes.


Unloading coal from a bulk carrier


i. Coal may create fl ammable atmospheres, heat spontaneously and deplete oxygen. Some types of coal can produce carbon monoxide or methane.


ii. Wood products transported in bulk are listed in a dedicated schedule, ‘Wood Products – General’. They include logs, pulpwood, roundwood, saw logs and timber. These cargoes may cause oxygen depletion and increase carbon dioxide gas concentrations.


Regulation 3 confi rms the requirement


to measure oxygen defi ciency. i. When transporting a solid bulk cargo which is liable to emit a toxic or fl ammable gas, or cause oxygen depletion in the cargo space, an appropriate instrument for measuring the concentration of gas or oxygen in the air shall be provided together with detailed instructions for its use.


Author Contact Details Stephen B. Harrison • sbh4 GmbH • Address: Kranzlstraße 21, 82538 Geretsried, Germany • Tel: +49 (0)8171 24 64 954 • Email: sbh@sbh4.de • Web: www.sbh4.de


Eff ective ammonia gas detection could make or break decarbonised economies TALKING POINT


The emergence of a decarbonised economy hinges not just on the adoption of zero-emission energy sources but also on the technologies that can ensure their safe and effi cient use. In this transition, the next generation of ammonia gas detection plays a critical role, particularly as ammonia is positioned as a potential hydrogen storage medium. As we move away from fossil fuels, renewables remain at the centre of decarbonisation, but hydrogen will be needed to fi ll in the gaps. It promises a clean alternative for industrial combustion processes and a fl exible, effi cient option for electricity generation through fuel cells as unlike batteries that continue to face limitations in scalability and environmental impact, hydrogen can be stored and transported over long distances. However, these applications remain challenging, due to the need for extreme compression on account of the element’s low volumetric energy density at room temperatures.


Enter ammonia. Whilst ammonia can be liquifi ed under milder conditions, it’s not the ideal fuel for direct use due to its incompatibility with most fuel cells as well as the nitrogen oxides with which it pollutes the environment and harms public health when combusted. So, in fuelling the future, hydrogen will be transported and stored as ammonia to save energy, then converted to hydrogen – a process known as ammonia cracking, which is seeing increased effi ciency with modern catalytic technologies – at the point of use.


For this reason, then, accurate and sensitive ammonia detection will be increasingly essential as hydrogen continues to assert itself among the core commodities of the future. In such a world, a fi rm’s ability to detect ammonia gas to determine whether there are any leaks during the cracking


process or that pressurisation has failed, for example, could mean the diff erence between profi t and loss. Importantly, too, ammonia poses signifi cant threats to both public and environmental health. Since ammonia can lead to the formation of nitrogen oxides—a signifi cant pollutant—if not handled correctly, its monitoring becomes a part of the emission control strategy in industries pivoting towards greener practices.


So, what sort of instruments will be needed for these applications? Any instrument selected would need high sensitivity to detect even trace amounts of ammonia, fast response times for real-time monitoring, and robustness to withstand various environmental conditions. Electrochemical sensors provide precise measurements of ammonia concentrations and are known for their long-term stability and low power requirements, making them suitable for continuous monitoring. Photoacoustic infrared detectors off er high sensitivity and specifi city to ammonia, allowing


for selective measurement even in the presence of other gases. With the capacity to detect lower levels of ammonia, semiconductor sensors are ideal for safety applications, albeit with a need for regular calibration due to potential sensitivity drift over time. Tuneable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) is a highly selective and sensitive method that can measure low concentrations of ammonia across long distances, which is particularly useful for detecting leaks in large-scale hydrogen storage facilities.


Given these roles, next-generation ammonia gas detection is not merely a technical requirement, but a keystone in the architecture of a decarbonised modern economy. It enables the practical use of hydrogen, guarantees environmental protection, and supports the shift to sustainable industrial practices. As we advance, the integration of sophisticated ammonia detection instruments with digital technologies for data analysis and remote monitoring will further enhance the safety and effi ciency of this crucial element in our energy transition.


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