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GAS DETECTION


emissions and keep their workforce safe. These devices are capable of detecting a wide range of pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. Integrating them into industrial settings enables continuous air quality monitoring over large areas, providing real-time data that can be used to identify both pollution hotspots and changes in pollution levels over time.


Through Internet of Things connectivity, a network of interconnected devices can be created that can communicate with each other to exchange information. This provides a constant stream of data for companies to analyse and act upon, letting them react to changes almost instantly, adjust emissions, or issue health warnings where required.


Without reliable data streams, environmental monitoring and protecting against potentially dangerous conditions can prove difficult. That is one reason why many companies are investing in boundary monitoring equipment, which enables them to measure risk levels on a site perimeter and ensure they are adhering to environmental limits and guidelines. Fixed detectors such as these may be appropriate in environments where the threat from gas is serious and ongoing. For companies operating in fast- changing environments, hand-held particulate monitors provide another option for instantly detecting dangerous concentrations of airborne particles during surveys and spot checks. However, these must be balanced against their reliance on individuals using them correctly at the required time.


LIGHT WORK


Many gas detectors rely on optical laser technologies. Such devices provide unmatched potential for detecting hydrocarbons and hazardous chemicals, due to their high accuracy, productivity, and adaptability. As a result, they are becoming increasingly common sights in petrochemical facilities worldwide. In this equipment, a laser beam is targeted at a detector or sensor through the gas sample of interest. This sensor converts the incoming light into electrical signals and monitors the changes between the incident beam and the light that it detects. Comparing the beam against a reference beam that is not passed through a gas sample enables it to monitor for discrepancies. Each gas has a unique absorption profile that means it absorbs different wavelengths of light in different amounts. This provides a unique chemical fingerprint that sensors can use to identify the gas being monitored for.


Infrared light is ideal for this application because of the unique properties of many small gaseous species like methane, carbon dioxide, and other hydrocarbons. These substances absorb infrared light very strongly, making it easy for sensors to detect them in parts per billion. Additionally, because many different spectral lines characterise the absorption profile of these gases in the infrared, features in the spectra can be used to identify chemical species with great accuracy. This provides a wealth of


information to laser sensors that make them exceptionally potent tools for industrial processing.


This technique, known as laser absorption spectroscopy, offers benefits including fast response times and accurate results without requiring additional gases to operate. Detectors built around this principle are capable of continuously monitoring combustible gases and vapours within the lower explosive limit and can be deployed within oxygen-deficient or - enriched areas. They also require little calibration and are immune to sensor poison, contamination, and corrosion.


Newer instruments are equipped with a laser diode mounted on a thermos-electric cooler to tune a laser wavelength to the specific absorption wavelength of a particular molecule. Exploiting their high- frequency resolution results in enhanced sensitivity and selectivity, making them capable of detecting gas molecules in the order of parts per billion. With the growing focus on ESG


compliance, demonstrating a commitment to wellbeing and the environment has become critical to success. Investing in gas detection equipment such as this can therefore provide the foundation of a solid ESG strategy. These tools enable companies to rapidly determine where leaks are occurring while eliminating the potential for false alarms that plague similar technologies, facilitating preventative action that reduces the risk to staff, machinery, and the environment.


DETECTING A SAFER FUTURE


Umicore Coating Services leads the market in supplying infrared precision optical filters and coatings. It has more than 35 years of experience in thin film design and manufacture, creating custom solutions for everything from low volume prototyping up to full production for the most demanding applications. The company prides itself on working closely with customers through a consultative approach to develop infrared designs that meet their needs – creating a range of bandpass optical filters ideal for gas detection and analysis.


Widespread adoption of gas detection technology will vastly improve the data on harmful leaks available across the oil and gas sector, lighting the way forward for preventative action. Investing in such equipment must therefore be central to any company’s ESG plans; only by understanding where harmful leaks are occurring can the sector hope to offer its people the protection they deserve. The proliferation of gas detection technology means it is now more affordable and accessible than ever. Connected gas detection is becoming a reality – with the right equipment, it is simple to ensure compliance with ESG requirements and minimise health risks in the workplace.


Umicore Coatings Services www.umicore.com/en/


INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE | SUMMER 2024 29


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