Monday, October 6, 2014

How Toxic Gas Detector Work

By Jocelyn Davidson


Any place where there is chances of emission of toxic gasses in large amounts which are harmful to human beings, you find safety measured installed. Some of these safety measures is the use of the toxic gas detector to give alarm and lockdown the areas where the gases are detected to avoid further spreading to the working place. Have you ever asked yourself how these sensors work? Here is a look at the way they work.

Some detectors are made to be used at homes, while others are made for industrial use. The warning they give to the person monitoring them can either be audio or visual. Some come with settings to automate the shutdown of the gas system to avoid spreading to all other areas.

There are many types of harmful gasses which can be emitted depending on the kind of processes taking place in an area. Some detectors are made to solve the issue of multiple gases since they can detect many of them at once. Others are made only to detect a single gas. Normally the gases you expect to be emitted will determine your choice.

These detectors can either be fixed on standing equipment or portable and these differences are mostly based on their sizes. The fixed types of these detectors are used more in places where they are needed on a daily basis. However, the portable type is mostly used in places where toxic gas is checked from time to time and mostly moved from one room or space to the other.

The most used detectors have cells or electrochemical sensors for toxic gas detection. They are excellent when detecting gases such as carbon monoxide, harmful nitrogen oxides and chlorine gas. They have electrode signals which give alarm when there is presence of the gases in that environment. They are so sensitive such that even the smallest concentration of these gases possible they are able to detect. It is through electrical currents that they give warnings of the impeding gas danger. Most of them have a digital display where the personnel can take readings from

Semiconductor detectors are an alternative to the electrochemical sensors. There working is very different from those of the electrochemical in that they don't have electrodes which can be eaten away. They are commonly known as the MOS and have a sensitive gas film that comes with tungsten and tin oxides in it. When the toxic gas reacts with these oxides above the normal reaction level an alarm is triggered.

The MOS are widely used especially in areas where there is low humidity since humidity does not affect how they operate. They have another advantage above the electrochemical sensors which is ability to not only detect toxic gases but also thermal gases. Once they are in your plant you will not need to install a different sensor for thermal gases.

The mechanisms in which the different types of toxic gas detectors operate is different but they all have very crucial function towards the general health of the people in that area. Failing to install these in your place can lead to costly and regrettable repercussions. Toxic gases are known killers.




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