Maintenance & Servicing of Combustible Gas Detectors
There are various types of gas detectors, and combustible gas detectors differ from other models. However, maintenance must never be overlooked for any type of gas detector during operation. There are numerous maintenance practices for combustible gas detectors, most of which start with good daily operating habits. For example, proper power-on and power-off operations every day are essential. Improper maintenance may lead to failures of combustible gas detectors, so great attention must be paid to this matter.
A combustible gas detector is a portable instrument for measuring gas concentration. It senses gas concentration via its core component, the gas sensor. Power on the detector before measurement and power it off when not in use. Several key points cannot be ignored during operation.
Improper construction and maintenance are both potential causes of combustible gas detector malfunctions. Non-standard construction may result in detection failures. For instance, if the combustible gas detector is not installed close to potential leakage points or is placed next to exhaust fans, leaked combustible gas cannot fully diffuse to the detector probe, and leakage hazards will not be detected in a timely manner.
The combustible gas detector shall be reliably earthed during installation. The detector and its wiring terminals shall not be installed in locations vulnerable to impact or water ingress; otherwise, open circuits or short circuits may occur, and the internal components of the detector may even be burned out. Non-corrosive flux must be used for welding. Otherwise, the joints may corrode and separate, or the circuit resistance may rise, interfering with normal detection. Do not drop or throw the detector onto the ground. Commissioning shall be carried out upon completion of construction to ensure the combustible gas alarm works properly.
Maintenance of combustible gas detectors is also critical. Combustible gas detectors often operate in harsh environments, with many installed outdoors and exposed to dust and polluting gases. For the detector to capture combustible gas signals, it must be exposed to the ambient atmosphere, so pollutants and dust will inevitably enter the device and degrade its working performance. Neglecting maintenance will hinder detection, causing measurement errors or complete detection failure. Regular cleaning and maintenance are therefore essential preventive measures against faults.
In addition, inadequate or missing earthing makes combustible gas detectors susceptible to electromagnetic interference and malfunctions. Attention should also be paid to component aging. For reliability purposes, the earthing condition of combustible gas detectors shall be inspected periodically. Practical experience shows that systems with combustible gas detectors in service for more than 3 years face a rising risk of failures caused by component aging. Detectors that exceed their specified service life shall be replaced promptly.
