Introduction to how to choose a suitable gas detector
The types of gases encountered by each production department are different. When choosing a gas detector, all possible scenarios should be considered. If methane and other less toxic hydrocarbons are predominant, choosing an LEL detector is undoubtedly the most suitable. This is not only because the principle of LEL detector is simple and widely used, but also because it has the characteristics of easy maintenance and calibration. If there are toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide, it is necessary to prioritize the use of a specific gas detector to ensure the safety of workers. If there are more organic toxic and harmful gases, considering their low concentration that may cause poisoning to personnel, such as aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, ammonia (amines), ethers, alcohols, lipids, etc., it is absolutely not advisable to use LEL detectors to deal with them, as this may result in casualties.
If the gas types cover the above categories, choosing a composite gas detector may achieve twice the result with half the effort. Different industrial environments require different types of gas detectors, which are mainly divided into three categories: fixed gas detectors, portable gas detectors, and composite gas detectors.
1. Fixed gas detector
This is a commonly used detector in industrial equipment and production processes. It can be installed at specific detection points to detect specific gas leaks. Fixed gas detectors should also be selected based on the type and concentration of the gas on site, and attention should be paid to installing them in the most likely leak location of specific gases, such as selecting the most effective height for sensor installation based on the specific gravity of the gas, and so on.
2. Portable gas detector
Due to the convenient operation and compact size of portable instruments, they can be carried to different production sites. The power supply is usually rechargeable lithium batteries or a high-energy battery, which allows them to work continuously for nearly 7 days. High energy batteries can be used for nearly half a year. So, as such instruments are increasingly being used in various factories and health departments.
If this type of instrument is used as a safety alarm in an open environment, such as an open workshop, a portable diffusion gas detector can be used because it can continuously, real-time, and accurately display the concentration of toxic and harmful gases on site. Some of these new instruments are also equipped with vibration alarm attachments - to avoid not hearing sound alarms in noisy environments and provide specific guidance for workers' health and safety.
If entering a confined space, such as reaction tanks, storage tanks or containers, sewers or other underground pipelines, underground facilities, agricultural enclosed grain warehouses, railway tankers, shipping cargo holds, tunnels, etc., personnel must undergo testing before entering, and testing must be conducted outside the confined space. At this point, it is necessary to choose a multi gas detector with a built-in sampling pump. If there are multiple gases in the environment, choosing a composite gas detector may achieve twice the result with half the effort.
3. Composite gas detector
The composite multi gas detector can be equipped with multiple gas detection sensors on one instrument, so it has the characteristics of small size, light weight, fast response, and simultaneous display of multiple gas concentrations. More importantly, the price of a composite multi gas detector is cheaper than that of multiple single diffusion gas detectors, and it is also more convenient to use. It should be noted that when selecting such detectors, it is best to choose instruments with separate switch functions for each sensor to prevent damage to one sensor from affecting the use of other sensors.
