6 Gas Detection New, hands-free thermal imaging for fi refi ghter safety applications


Dräger has launched the UCF FireCore, a hands-free thermal imaging camera that displays live-action imagery into the Dräger FPS 7000 full face mask. The UCF FireCore gives fi refi ghters continuous vision in the low-visibility, high-risk, and unfamiliar environments that emergencies often present. With IP67 certifi cation, the UCF FireCore is resistant to water and dust, with lithium-ion batteries guaranteeing safety over long durations. The batteries can be charged easily both in the fi re vehicle, and at the fi re station, prior to being deployed.


The camera can be fi tted to any model, shape or size of helmet through a simple bracket, and is fully detachable, allowing fi refi ghters to extend their vision in diffi cult-to-reach areas, and around corners, to enhance situational awareness and spot risks before they present further hazards. When mounted, the viewing angle can be fully adjusted, providing fi refi ghters with the fl exibility to adapt to emergency situations in a matter of seconds.


Near Field Communication (NFC) technology enables the camera to connect to the FPS in-mask display, or transfer the UCF FireCore from one helmet to another. This helps emergency personnel to pass on life-saving technology from one task force to the other – even at the scene of an emergency. This is achieved by holding the thermal imaging camera in close proximity to the in-mask display, before mounting on the helmet.


Liz Milward, Marketing Manager, Emergency and Rescue Services at Dräger Safety UK, says that the release of the UCF FireCore will speed up search and rescue missions and improve fi refi ghter orientation in the most diffi cult conditions: “With fl ames, smoke and darkness impairing vision in high-risk environments, improving situational awareness and enhancing fi refi ghter orientation is critical if we are to protect the lives of fi refi ghters in the most dangerous environments.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/16AY For More Info, email:


email:


For More Info, email: email:


For More Info, email: email:


Ammonia refrigeration system gas and fl ame detection Author credit – Stephen B. Harrison, sbh4 consulting


Ammonia has been used for decades as a refrigerant gas in large food freezing factories. It is also used in air conditioning systems for large buildings and chilled food warehouses. With talk of an outright F-Gas ban in the EU, it is likely to fi nd continued use in these applications and expand its breadth of use into new applications, such as CO2


capture and utilisation, CCUS.


Ammonia is ideal as a refrigerant gas to use in the CO2 liquefaction cycle and CCUS for several reasons. Firstly, it is


readily available with a low cost around €1 per KG. This is a signifi cant saving versus suitable alternative F-Gas refrigerants which typically cost in the range of €7 to €8 per Kg. Industrial or commercial grade ammonia at 99.8% purity is normally used. In some countries, a refrigerant grade of ammonia is available.


A two-stage screw, or reciprocating, compressor with interstage and second stage cooling is the ideal compressor confi guration in an ammonia chilled CO2


liquefi er. Ammonia is compressed to around 15 bar in the chiller refrigeration cycle. liquefi er is close to -33 °C. CO2 liquefi er. In a 4 tonne per hour


liquefi er an ammonia compressor of circa 350 kW could be suitable. This increases to around 600 kW for a 7 tonne per hour CO2


The ammonia compressor suction pressure is just above atmospheric pressure and the corresponding liquid ammonia temperature in the CO2


moderate temperature. There is a trade-off between the size and cost of the CO2 gas compressor and the low temperature that must be achieved to ensure CO2


Toxic gas safety for ammonia refrigeration systems


Ammonia is a toxic gas, so designing the high-pressure equipment with safety in mind is essential. Safety valves are fi tted to each vessel, but they should never need to open, because their set pressure should not be achieved because the CO2


and ammonia chiller automated process control system ensures that the ammonia compressor will trip before the safety valves are activated.


Each vessel containing ammonia can be covered with a water sprinkler. If there is an accidental ammonia gas leakage, the water sprinklers can be activated, and ammonia will absorb into the water to avoid a toxic gas cloud being formed.


To detect any inadvertent leaks, gas and fl ame detection equipment can be installed around the ammonia refrigeration system. Ammonia is a fl ammable gas and the EN378 standard advocates alarm levels at 500 and 30,000 ppm of ammonia to protect the plant from an ammonia explosion.


Whilst these high levels are appropriate to protect the CO2 liquefi er and ammonia chiller equipment, employees must be


protected at lower levels. For toxic detection the COSHH regulation specifi es a limit of 25ppm over 8 hours and 35 ppm over 15 minutes. These are the levels that are generally built into portable gas detectors that operators can use as part of their personal protective equipment.


Flame detectors for ammonia are specialised and of a different design to those for natural gas or other hydrocarbon fl ames. Like hydrogen, ammonia burns with an inorganic fl ame and detection of the infrared signature associated with methane or carbon dioxide is therefore not possible. Detection in the UV spectrum is used for inorganic fl ames from ammonia and hydrogen to overcome this issue.


Maintenance and manual leak testing


If the ammonia refrigeration system requires maintenance, the entire ammonia charge in the system must be pumped down to a receiver and condenser. After maintenance, all connections must be tested to ensure that they are leak tight. For some gases, a soapy bubble leak test is appropriate, however for ammonia the procedure is different.


Leak testing with ammonia is done using phenolphthalein. One drop of this liquid chemical is applied to a cotton cloth which is held close to fl anges and valve glands. If ammonia leakage is present, even at a ppm level, the cloth will immediately turn pink. Any minor leakage detected through this procedure can be attended to with appropriate maintenance.


For More Info, email: email:


61745pr@reply-direct.com liquefi er


gas is compressed to around 20 bar enable its liquefaction at this compressor and the size of the refrigerant liquefaction.


The m-u-t multi-gas sensor measures the concentrations of up to eight optically active gases using non-dispersive infrared spectroscopy (NDIR) technology. Operators can also integrate up to six other sensors with different measuring principles, such as electrochemical, as well as temperature and relative humidity sensors. These versatile and precise multi-gas sensors have been developed for use as OEM components for integration into online analysis systems, for applications such as process control, for permanent installation and are made for use in monitoring applications. The infrared multi-gas sensor has a non-extractive sample feed; the gas sample is transferred into the measuring chamber thanks to a difference in pressure conveying the sample.


These sensors use a broad-band IR emitter and a proprietary nine-channel detector with bandpass fi lters of specifi c wavelengths depending on the type of gas to be analysed. It measures light absorption as it crosses the sample chamber to provide a precise reading of gas concentration. There are no chemical reactions, therefore these multi gas sensors have a long service life and provide long term stability.


The sensors are pre-calibrated and compensated for cross-sensitivities according to the customers’ gas matrices. They are CE certifi ed and housed in a IP20 rated housing. m-u-t’s versatile sensors provide OEMs with a versatile, precise and long-lasting device that can monitor a host of environmental pollutants with rest- assured accuracy ensuring that end-users comply with environmental regulations and safeguard the safety of their personnel, assets and the local community.


For More Info, email: email:


IET JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 For More Info, email:


For More Info, email: email:


61788pr@reply-direct.com


NDIR multi-gas sensors provide cost eff ective precision for a multitude of environmental monitoring applications


61175pr@reply-direct.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52