Monitoring & metering
These penalties may include fines, legal action, and in extreme cases, facility closures. Addition- ally, non-compliance can also lead to reputational damage, loss of investor confidence, and most criti- cally, put workers’ lives at risk.
However, identifying and acting on a gas leak can be easier said than done. Many industries oversee vast infrastructure networks in inhospitable conditions, the scale of which renders manual checking inefficient and impractical. This means gas detection technolo- gies are critical to maintaining regulatory compliance for a safe working environment.
IMPLEMENTATION OF GAS DETECTION SYSTEMS
Gas detection technology has come a long way in recent years, with a wide range of sensors now avail- able for different applications. For example, catalytic bead sensors provide combustible gas monitoring capability. These sensors work by catalysing the oxidation of the target gas on a heated surface, with the resulting temperature change indicating the gas concentration present.
Instrumentation Monthly November 2024
However, many of these systems can struggle in the demanding environments encountered across plants, refineries, and other industrial settings. For example, catalytic bead sensors can be prone to sensor poisoning and requires frequent calibration to ensure accuracy. Electrochemical sensors represent another technology that has high sensitivity and specificity but can also suffer from limited lifespans and temperature and humidity fluctuations. These drawbacks must be carefully considered when installing a new fixed gas detection system. Successful implementation of this technology should therefore start with a thorough assessment to identify potential gas leak sources and hazard zones. Where appropriate, fixed sensor installations will provide continuous monitoring capability, ensuring ongoing oversight of areas at risk. However, these detectors should be installed with a clear line of sight to potential hazards avoiding obstructions. Sensors should also be placed with a slight overlap between detection zones to ensure maximum coverage and avoid the risk of gaps in the network. Because temperature can affect gas dispersion
and sensor performance, detectors should be installed in areas where temperatures are relatively stable. For outdoor installations, sunshades may be used to protect sensors from direct light and from temperature fluctuations. Sensors should also typi- cally be mounted on surfaces that are not subject to frequent vibration, as this can cause damage to the equipment. Securely anchoring detectors to walls or other fixed structures will reduce the risk of damage from vibration.
It is also important to understand how airflow patterns can affect sensor performance. Air current may affect how gases disperse, so detectors must be placed in areas where currents are likely to produce the highest gas concentrations to ensure maximum accuracy.
INFRARED DETECTION: A GAME-CHANGER FOR INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
Recent advances in technology have made it easier than ever to overcome the challenges of imple- menting a new sensor network. In particular, the advent of infrared (IR)-based systems represents a
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