Detection of Gases
1-Why do we need gas detectors?
Continuous monitoring of gases is of great importance for personnel and facility safety in industrial facilities where flammable, toxic, suffocating gases are used or released. Since most of the gases do not have color and odor, it is not possible to detect them with our senses. Even in gases with a unique smell, the human nose gets tired in a very short time and the sense of smell is lost. Loss of the sense of smell can create a false sense of trust and may pave the way for more dangerous events. For this reason, human senses are insufficient to detect the presence of dangerous gases, and other solutions are required.
2-History of gas detection solutions
One of the first gas detection solutions in history is canaries. In the past, miners have taken these birds in small cages to detect dangerous gases in the closed mining environment and have observed these birds during their activities. Seeing that these creatures, which are more sensitive than humans, were affected by the gas, the miners were able to survive by understanding in advance that they had to leave the environment.
Another solution developed in the early 19th century is a lamp designed for use in mines. Consisting of a flameproof chamber and a flame source of a certain length burned in the chamber, this lamp has a design that prevents the flame of the constantly burning lamp from coming out, while allowing the ambient air to enter the lamp. In this lamp, on the other hand, miners observed the length of the flame during their activities, understood the presence of flammable-explosive gases when the flame length became longer, and that the oxygen was insufficient when the flame length was shortened, and took the necessary actions.
3-Modern gas detectors
Today, with the developing sensor technologies, gas detectors that can detect dangerous gases with great precision and consistency have been produced. Various sensor types have been developed according to the nature of the target gas to be detected, and the most accurate measurement is performed with the correct calibration and sensor selection. Briefly, the most widely used basic gas sensor technologies are: catalytic, infrared, semi-conductor, photoionization and electrochemical principles.
Modern gas detectors does not only detect the presence of dangerous gas, but also automatically perform predefined tasks at certain gas levels. (Audible and visual alarm notifications, automatic closing of gas supply valve, activation of ventilation equipment, etc.)
Gases such as carbon monoxide, propane and methane are the most common dangerous gases in both residential and industrial premises. Gas detectors to be used in industrial environments should have various features according to the nature of the gas to be detected. For example, gas detectors to be used in flammable-explosive atmospheres must be flame-proof and must be certified according to international standards by authorized organizations.
Karf&Scoot industrial gas detectors have been developed for use in the harsh conditions of industrial facilities and each device has been tested as per different criteria.
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Author: Karf&Scoot
