What is a portable gas detector?
Due to its convenient operation and compact size, the portable instrument can be carried to different production sites. The electrochemical detector is powered by alkaline batteries and can be used continuously for 1000 hours; The new LEL detectors, PID and composite instruments use rechargeable batteries (some have already adopted memory free sickle hydrogen or carp ion batteries), which allow them to work continuously for nearly 12 hours. Therefore, their application in various factories and health departments is becoming increasingly widespread.
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 audible alarms in noisy environments, and computer chips are installed to record peak values, STEL (15 minute short-term exposure level), and TWA (8-hour statistical weighted average) to provide specific guidance for worker 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. Because there are significant differences in gas distribution and types in different parts (upper, middle, and lower) of a confined space. For example, generally speaking, combustible gases have a lighter density and are mostly distributed in enclosed spaces. Carbon monoxide and air have similar densities and are generally distributed in the middle of enclosed spaces, while heavier gases such as hydrogen sulfide exist in the lower part of enclosed spaces. Meanwhile, oxygen concentration is also one of the types that must be detected. In addition, considering the possible volatilization and leakage of organic substances inside the tank, a detector that can detect organic gases is also necessary. Therefore, a complete enclosed space gas detector should be a portable instrument with built-in pumping function for non-contact and segmented detection of hazardous gases with multiple gas detection functions to detect different spatial distributions, including inorganic gases and organic gases. It should have oxygen detection function to prevent oxygen deficiency or enrichment, and have a small volume that does not affect workers' work. Only in this way can the absolute safety of personnel entering confined spaces be guaranteed.
In addition, after entering a confined space, continuous testing of the gas composition should be carried out to avoid changes in the concentration of volatile organic compounds or other toxic and harmful gases caused by personnel entry, sudden leaks, temperature changes, etc.
If used for emergency accidents, leak detection, and inspection, instruments with pump suction, short response time, high sensitivity, and resolution should be used, which can easily determine the location of the leak point.
When conducting industrial hygiene inspections and health surveys, instruments with data recording and statistical calculations, as well as the ability to connect to computers, are very convenient to use.
