Home / Blog Why HVAC professionals are at risk from Carbon Monoxide – and how to manage it Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless and tasteless gas that is also highly toxic and potentially flammable (at higher levels: 10.9% Volume or 109,000ppm). It is produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels such as wood, oil, coal, paraffin, LPG, petrol and natural gas. Many HVAC systems and units burn fossil fuels, so it’s not hard to see why HVAC professionals may be exposed to CO in their work. Perhaps you have, in the past, felt dizzy or nauseous, or had a headache during or after a job? In this blog post, we’ll look at CO and its effects, and consider how the risks can be managed. How is CO generated? As we have seen, CO is produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. This generally happens where there is a general lack of maintenance, insufficient air – or the air is of insufficient quality – to allow complete combustion. For example, the efficient combustion of natural gas generates carbon dioxide and water vapour. But if there is inadequate air where that combustion takes place, or if the air used for combustion becomes vitiated, combustion fails and produces soot and CO. If there is water vapour in the atmosphere, this can reduce the oxygen level still further and speed up CO production. What are the dangers of CO? Normally, the human body uses haemoglobin to transport oxygen via the bloodstream. However, it is easier for the haemoglobin to absorb and circulate CO than oxygen. Consequently, when there is CO around, danger arises because the body’s haemoglobin ‘prefers’ CO over oxygen. When the haemoglobin absorbs CO in this way, it becomes saturated with CO, which is promptly and efficiently transported to all parts of the body in the form of carboxyhaemoglobin. This can cause a range of physical problems, depending on how much CO is in the air. For example: 200 parts per million (ppm) can cause headache in 2–3 hours. 400 ppm can cause headache and nausea in 1–2 hours, life threatening within 3 hours. 800 ppm can cause seizures, severe headaches and vomiting in under an hour, unconsciousness within 2 hours. 1,500 ppm can cause dizziness, nausea, and unconsciousness in under 20 minutes; death within 1 hour. 6,400 ppm can cause unconsciousness after two to three breaths; death within 15 minutes. Why are HVAC workers at risk? Some of the most common events in HVAC settings may lead to CO exposure, for example: Working in confined spaces, such as basements or lofts. Working on heating appliances that are malfunctioning, in a poor state of repair, and/or have broken or worn seals; blocked, cracked or collapsed flues and chimneys; allowing products of combustion to enter the working area. Working on open-flued appliances, especially if the flue is spilling, ventilation is poor and/or the chimney is blocked. Working on flue-less gas fires and/or cookers, especially where the room volume is of inadequate size and/or the ventilation is otherwise poor. How much is too much? The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes a list of workplace exposure limits for many toxic substances, including CO. You can download the latest version free of charge from their website at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/eh40.htm but at time of writing (November 2021) the limits for CO are: Workplace Exposure Limit Gas Formula CAS Number Long Term Exposure Limit (8-hr TWA Reference Period) Short Term Exposure Limit (15-min Reference period) Carbon monoxide CO 630-08-0 20ppm (parts per million) 100ppm (parts per million) How can I stay safe and prove compliance? The best way to protect yourself from the hazards of CO is be wearing a high quality, portable CO gas detector. Crowcon’s Clip for CO is a lightweight 93g personal gas detector that sounds at 90db alarm whenever the wearing is being exposed to 30 and 100 ppm CO. The Clip CO is a disposable portable gas detector that has a 2-year lifespan or a maximum of 2900 alarm minutes; whichever is sooner. Leave a reply on Why HVAC professionals are at risk from Carbon Monoxide – and how to manage it This entry was posted in Uncategorised on November 23, 2021 Reset & Recalibrate – A Guide to FGA Calibration Ensuring your flue gas analyser (FGA) is regularly maintained goes without saying, however the hows and whys take a little more digging into. This article breaks down the calibration process and highlights handy tips and tricks for maintenance and best practice. The Act of Calibration Calibrating an FGA involves checking the sensors to ensure accurate measurement of a known concentration of certified calibration gas. To do this, the reading needs to be adjusted to match the gas concentration through an initial sensor calibration of the new or existing unit. Next up is a calibration drift – this is done using existing instruments to bring the reading back after the drift occurs. Measuring the amount of drift in the gauge is a chance to see how far into inaccurate territory it has moved, and rule out measurement errors moving forward. Regularity is key Sensors degrade over time with each sensor having a different life span of optimum operation, whether it is an electrochemical, catalytic bead and infra-red sensors. Regular calibration raises the gain levels and brings the sensor back in line to avoid dangerous incorrect readings. Once the sensor reaches a certain point it cannot be brought back into the correct position and this is the time when a new sensor needs to be installed. Explaining the calibration procedure The first step of the process is to set the device to calibration mode. This feeds a test gas of a known concentration onto the sensors to see how they respond. The gain levels are adjusted within the sensor to match the readings to the concentration fed in whilst mitigating drop off. The new settings are locked into the device’s firmware and a calibration report is produced, creating a PASS or FAIL result. Best Practice Tips and Tricks Here are some best practice recommendations to help you maintain your FGA. Clear out the water trap regularly – moisture is a by-product of combustion and can get sucked into the FGA when a test is undertaken. Water damage is the primary cause of damage in flue gas analysers, so it is imperative to check, empty and replace the unit’s inbuilt water traps and filters to protect from this. Purge the device in clean air before powering down – noxious gases are drawn from the flue and passed over the sensors to gain a reading. After a test is completed and the system closes down some of that gas remains trapped inside. This can cause corrosion damage and shorten the life of the unit, so purging in clean air prior to shut down is a must. Take inside to protect from cold weather conditions – to lessen the chances of condensation build up and water damage within your FGA make sure to remove the unit from your van overnight. This also reduces the risk of theft. Use approved chargers with outputs tailored for target device – non approved chargers cause damage to the battery and lessen charge retention, or even impairment to the battery and IC chips of the device itself. Check the devices’ probes and connector pipes – any splits or cracks in the rubber house will cause incorrect readings. Performing periodic checks on your hoses to ensure they are in good operating condition is a useful habit. All-Inclusive Service Options Crowcon’s innovative Autocal jig system manages the end to end calibration process for Sprint Pro FGA’s. An out-of-calibration unit leads to errors in the combustion reports produced and could disrupt your day to day. Autocal servicing is easy. Simply bring your FGA to one of the DPD drop off locations, your unit will be inspected, tested and calibrated within two days and returned to you using DPD’s express return trackable option. For more information please check out https://shop.crowcon.com/. Leave a reply on Reset & Recalibrate – A Guide to FGA Calibration This entry was posted in Gases, Sensors, Support on November 08, 2021 Improving Hydrogen Leak Detection to Increase PEM Fuel Cell & Electrolysis Efficiency Co-edited by Alicat & Crowcon Amidst the global push for sustainable, carbon neutral energy sources, many corporations and countries are increasingly interested in alternative fuels. One such fuel is hydrogen, playing a vital role in the clean energy landscape as a green alternative to natural gas. This has resulted in a sudden increased interest in fuel cell and electrolysis technology. One of the primary challenges facing both of these processes is hydrogen leakage. Hydrogen gas requires careful control on the input side of PEM fuel cell stacks and on the output side of electrolysis. Any leakage that occurs not only diminishes efficiency, but also raises costs and introduces potential hazards such as flammability and asphyxiation. Here we discuss hydrogen leak detection in more detail and provide several solutions to help improve the safety and efficiency of fuel cell processes. Why hydrogen leaks in fuel cells H2 gas has a high propensity to leak due to its very small size and its low density (0.09 g/L at NTP of 0°C / 1 atm) which corresponds to a high buoyancy. In fuel cell stacks, hydrogen is prone to leak from seals present at process connections near the H2 storage cylinders and associated flow paths. While it is nearly impossible to reach 100% gas containment in a fuel cell stack, reliable leak detection is essential for minimizing loss. Detecting hydrogen leaks is critical to maintaining process & personnel safety Not only does leakage decrease process efficiency, but it becomes a serious safety concern. Hydrogen has a Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) of just 4% volume, meaning even tiny quantities of H2 can cause explosions when mixed with atmospheric air. Even a spark of static electricity from a person’s finger is enough to trigger an explosion when hydrogen is present. Since hydrogen is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, hydrogen leak detection is extremely difficult without the help of mechanical sensors. Monitoring H2 therefore demands specialized equipment to alert personnel of danger and prompt emergency response procedures. Detecting hydrogen with traditional sensor technology Traditional sensor technologies for flammable gas detection are pellistors. Their key disadvantage is that they require oxygen, making them unsuitable in some installations. Another challenge is that some applications put pellistors at risk of being poisoned or inhibited, leaving workers unprotected. These sensors are not fail-safe, and a failure will not be detected unless test gas is applied, commonly known as a bump test. Detection with mass flow instruments Hydrogen leak detection relies on in-line process instruments and careful monitoring of system inputs and outputs. For PEM electrolysis, one method involves comparing the mass flow rates of H2O input and hydrogen output to calculate the amount of leakage occurring during the process. Coriolis instruments are ideal for measuring and controlling the input H2O for such electrolysis systems. Figure 1. Fuel cell stack leak check test bench For PEM fuel cell stack systems, one common hydrogen leak detection method involves employing a combination of hydrogen sensors alongside flow meters. A flow meter situated downstream of the H2 supply and measurements can be used in conjunction with hydrogen sensors to detect any leaks on the anode side of a PEM fuel cell stack. Differential pressure based mass flow instruments enable rapid response times, allowing real time leak detection. Given their sensitivity, they are also able to measure very small leaks with high precision and accuracy. This can help identify points of leakage to improve overall process efficiency, decrease cost, and reduce risks of danger to operators. Detection with MPS™ technology Figure 2. Crowcon’s Xgard Bright Crowcon, another Halma company, also has a wide range of products for the detection of hydrogen. The Xgard Bright utilizes their latest technology, the Molecular Property Spectrometer (MPS™), to detect and measure ambient levels of hydrogen and other flammable gases with high-accuracy and precision in real time. Furthermore, the sensors do not require recalibration, significantly reducing total cost of ownership and limiting interaction with the units. The Xgard Bight ensures process operators are at no risk of being poisoned while also guaranteeing no false alarms. Alicat, Crowcon, and the Halma family of brands are here to provide solutions to help create a safer, cleaner, healthier world. As always, contact our team at any time to help find the right solution for you. Leave a reply on Improving Hydrogen Leak Detection to Increase PEM Fuel Cell & Electrolysis Efficiency This entry was posted in Gases, Industries on October 26, 2021 The Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – Part 2 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are characterised by their tendency to evaporate easily at room temperature. In some sectors, VOCs pose a significant threat to health, for example in industries working with crude oil and its derivatives. Toxic VOCs – including benzene, butadiene, hexane, toluene, xylene and many others – are released during various stages of crude oil processing from extraction to refinery, and consequently the petroleum refining and petrochemical industry is recognised as a major source of VOC release into the environment. You can read more about the effects of VOCs on human health in our blog. Occupational exposure limits for VOCs The most frequently harmful form of VOC exposure is vapour inhalation. For the refining and petrochemical industry, personal gas monitors are used to protect workers from exposure to toxic VOCs, which include known carcinogens such as the aromatics benzene, toluene and styrene. Virtually all countries have established occupational exposure limits (OELs) for VOCs; these are designed to protect workers against the negative health effects of exposure to such hazardous substances. The OEL is the maximum concentration of an airborne contaminant to which an unprotected worker may be exposed over entire work shift. For example, in the United Kingdom, OELs are listed in EH40/2005 Workplace Exposure Limits. Read more about OEL limits for VOCs in our white paper. For toxic gases, including VOCs, long term exposure is often measured via a time-weighted average, or TWA. That means the worker’s exposure to a gas is monitored across a given period, usually a work shift of 8 hours, to make sure the gas(es) remain(s) at or below the OEL throughout that time. Crowcon detectors have a proprietary TWA resume function, whereby accurate TWAs are recorded over an 8-hour/TWA period, even if detectors are turned off (during breaks) and on again. Read our blog on TWA resume to find out more. Furthermore, Crowcon detectors store TWA data in their logs, where it remains available for further analysis and to prove regulatory compliance. TWA alarms and near miss data can be exported into Crowcon Connect, a cloud-based portal that gives plant managers full visibility of, and easy access to, gas detection data, making it easy for them to ensure health and safety compliance, improve efficiency and raise levels of safety in the workplace. VOC detection in personal detectors As mentioned in our previous blog, many VOCs are toxic at low levels, while others are flammable at higher concentrations. VOCs are difficult to detect in ambient air, compared to inorganic gases such as NO2 & SO2. Additionally, more than 500 different compounds are defined as VOCs, and they can be emitted from many different sources. No perfect sensor technology exists to cover all aspects of measurement, so users must choose from a the available sensor technologies according to their requirements. The technologies that can measure VOC vapours include: • colorimetric detector tubes • passive (diffusion) badge dosimeters • sorbent tube sampling systems • pellistor sensors (also known as catalytic hotbead or Wheatstone bridge) • photo-ionisation detection (PID) • flame ionisation detection (FID) • infrared spectrophotometry Due to cost and size constraints, the most commonly-used forms of personal detector for VOCs are pellistor or PID based sensors. You can find out more about sensor technologies in our white paper. Both pellistor and PID sensor technologies are non-specific, so they can’t be used to distinguish one VOC/flammable risk from another. Consequently, pellistor sensors and photo-ionisation detectors can be considered complementary detection technologies for many applications where VOCs present a hazard. Pellistors are commonly used to monitor combustible gases like methane, propane and others that are not detectable by PID. On the other hand, PID detects large VOC and hydrocarbon molecules that pellistor sensors may find it almost impossible to detect, certainly in the parts-per-million range required to alert to toxic levels. Thus, the best approach in many environments is a multi-sensor instrument for the detection of flammable and toxic gases with VOCs. Crowcon Gas-Pro unit is equipped to detect up to 5 different gases and comes with a built-in pump for confined space entry. Read our case study of a major upstream oil and gas company in the Middle East, which uses Crowcon’s Gas-Pro PID portable gas monitors to help protect employees from the risks of VOC. VOC detection in ambient air In addition to personal detection, industries are required to monitor ambient air quality around the factory perimeter. Owners of industrial sites close to residential areas are bound to monitor airborne harmful gases. Air quality monitoring in ambient air usually involves detection of greenhouse gases like NO2, SO2, CO2 and O3 in addition to VOCs. In some applications, malodourous gases like NH3, H2S must be detected and this can be done in conjunction with an odour unit (OU) read-out. Crowcon offers air quality monitoring systems that include a sample pump and pre-treatment system, sensor array and data acquisition system. Crowcon’s sampling system uses a range of sensing technologies, including electrochemical sensors, metal oxide semiconductors, pellistor detectors and PID gas sensors, to detect a wide range of gases. This method of gas detection is well developed and provides fast time resolution – allowing for gases to be detected in a short period of time while reducing downtime. Design can be varied according to requirements. An online gas detection system allows for fast deployment on site and is also relatively inexpensive to purchase and operate when compared with gas chromatography or mass spectroscopy. You can read about Crowcon’s sampling solution for Shanghai’s largest wastewater treatment plant in our latest case study. Gas-Pro PID References: 1. Emissions of volatile organic compounds from crude oil processing – Global emission inventory and environmental release (Science of The Total Environment, Volume 727, 20 July 2020, 138654) 2. Monitoring VOCs in Ambient Air – A new focus to meet policy needs (AWE International, Dec 2, 2019) 3. Odours in Sewerage—A Description of Emissions and of Technical Abatement Measures (MDPI Environments, 06-00089-v2) 4. Review of low-cost sensors for the ambient air monitoring of benzene and other volatile organic compounds (JRC Science Hub Report, JRC98368, EUR 27713) Leave a reply on The Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – Part 2 This entry was posted in Uncategorised on July 29, 2021 How VOCs affect air quality, health and the environment – Part 1 The term VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) refers to a wide range of carbon-containing chemical compounds. At room temperature, VOCs tend to be liquid or solid, with a high vapour pressure that means they readily vaporise into gaseous states. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to VOCs as pollutants and health hazards. This blog will provide an introduction to VOCs and their effects on human health and the environment, and give an overview of regulations on VOC emission. Sources of VOC in air VOC exist naturally in the atmosphere through processes including vegetation growth and soil activity, as well as in biomass burning. However, a significant portion of VOC build-up in the atmosphere come from man-made sources; these include emissions from road traffic and from chemical processes such as crude oil cracking; and products that emit high concentrations of VOCs (for example, paint, solvents and varnishes). Effects of VOCs on human health The effects of VOC emissions on human health varies widely according to context. Some VOCs are harmless, but many are toxic at low levels, while others are flammable at higher concentrations. Repeated and long-term, low-level exposure to harmful VOCs can cause serious health issues. For example, formaldehyde, styrene, benzene and other aromatics are known carcinogens – thus, exposure to traffic exhaust fumes, smoking and strong solvents can present serious health risks. Growing awareness of the chronic toxicity of VOCs has led to reduced occupational exposure limits (OEL) and increased requirements for direct measurement. You can read more about the dangers of VOCs in our white paper. Environmental issues caused by VOCs Aside from adverse health implications, the emission of VOCs into the atmosphere causes serious environmental issues. One of these is the formation of ground-level ozone, which leads to smog. Normally, ozone (or O3) is naturally formed at high altitude in the atmosphere (stratosphere) when O2 molecules are separated into individual oxygen particles by UV radiation. These free oxygen particles then collide with other O2 molecules to become ozone. While we know that ozone helps to protect our planet from the sun’s harmful UV rays, tropospheric, or ground-level, ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Here is an example of how nitrogen dioxide can lead to the creation of ozone: NO2 + Sunlight (UV rays) = NO + O The free oxygen particle then attaches itself to an O2 molecule and becomes ozone. This happens when pollutants emitted by vehicles, power plants, chemical plants and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight. Breathing ozone can cause respiratory irritation and may exacerbate respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma. Ozone at ground-level is hazardous to plants and negatively affects crops. In addition to ground-level ozone formation, some VOCs may cause odour problems, due to their high odour intensity. Processes like waste incineration, food processing and wastewater treatment emit lots of malodorous gases and are often subject to odour nuisance complaints from nearby residents. Foul smelling gases including H2S, NH3 and VOCs are a significant problem for many industries, including the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, textile and tannery sectors. At high concentrations, foul-smelling VOCs can cause dizziness and respiratory issues. For this reason, regulations are in place to reduce VOCs in ambient air. Directives and regulations on VOC emission Most countries have directives and regulations on VOC emission. In Europe, the relevant directives on atmospheric pollutants, including VOC emissions, are 2001/81/EC and 2016/2284. The first directive sets national emissions ceilings for the VOC emission from all sources, which were to be reached by the year 2010. The second directive specifies the percentage reduction in VOC emissions, both for the individual country and the EU as an entire area. In addition to outdoor VOC emissions, many countries have implemented regulations to limit the use of VOCs in consumer products. In the EU, Directive 2004/42/EC specifies emission limits for VOCs, prompted by the use of organic solvents in decorative paints and varnishes and in vehicle refinishing products. The directive sets the maximum permissible contents of VOCs in g/L. The directive also requires that suppliers label the subcategory of the product, defines the legal limit value for VOC contents and gives the maximum content of VOC permissible for the product in its ready-to-use condition. In our next blog we will discuss Crowcon’s unique solution for VOC detection in ambient air. References 1. Odor-causing volatile organic compounds in wastewater treatment plant units and sludge management areas (J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2008 Nov) 2. Ground-level ozone basics (US Environmental Protection Agency guide) 3. Do volatile organic compounds smell? (Foobot website) 4. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) and consumer products regulations (Chem Safety Pro website) 5. Effective and sustainable VOC removal with ozone and AOP (Ozonetech website) Leave a reply on How VOCs affect air quality, health and the environment – Part 1 This entry was posted in Gases, Industries on July 23, 2021 How Hydrogen is Helping the Gas and Steel Industries to Go Green Green hydrogen, taken from both low carbon and renewable energy sources, can play a crucial role in taking a company – or a country – closer to carbon neutrality. Common applications in which green hydrogen can be used include: Fuel cells for electric vehicles As the hydrogen in pipeline gas blending In ‘green steel’ refineries that burn hydrogen as a heat source rather than coal In container ships powered by liquid ammonia that is made from hydrogen In hydrogen-powered electricity turbines that can generate electricity at times of peak demand This post will explore the use of hydrogen in pipeline gas blending and green steel refineries. Injecting hydrogen into pipelines Governments and utilities companies worldwide are exploring the possibilities of injecting hydrogen into their natural gas grids, to reduce fossil fuel consumption and limit emissions. Indeed, hydrogen injection into pipelines now features in the national hydrogen strategies of the EU, Australia and the UK, with the EU’s hydrogen strategy specifying the introduction of hydrogen into national gas grids by 2050. From an environmental point of view, adding hydrogen to natural gas has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but to achieve that, the hydrogen must be produced from low-carbon energy sources and renewables. For example, hydrogen generated from electrolysis, bio-waste or fossil fuel sources that use carbon capture and storage (CCS). In a similar way, countries aspiring to develop a green hydrogen economy can turn to grid injection to stimulate investment and develop new markets. In an effort to kick start its renewable hydrogen plan, Western Australia is planning to introduce at least 10% renewable hydrogen into its gas pipelines and networks, and to bring forward the state’s targets under its renewable hydrogen strategy from 2040 to 2030. On a volumetric basis, hydrogen has a much lower energy density than natural gas, so end-users of a blended gas would require a higher volume of gas to achieve the same heating value as those using pure natural gas. Simply put, a 5% blending of hydrogen by volume does not directly translate into a 5% reduction in fossil fuel consumption. Is there any safety risk in hydrogen blending in our gas supply? Let’s examine the risk: Hydrogen has lower LEL than natural gas, so there is a higher risk of generating a flammable atmosphere with blended gas mixtures. Hydrogen has lower ignition energy than natural gas and a broad flammable range (4% to 74% in air), so there is higher risk of explosion Hydrogen molecules are small and move quickly, so any blended gas leak will spread faster and wider than would be the case with natural gas. In the UK, domestic and industrial heating accounts for half of the UK’s energy consumption and one third of its carbon emissions. Since 2019, the UK’s first project to inject hydrogen into the gas grid has been underway, with trials taking place at Keele University. The HyDeploy project aims to inject up to 20% hydrogen and blend it with the existing gas supply to heat residential blocks and campuses without changing the gas-fired appliances or piping. In this project, Crowcon gas detectors and flue gas analyser are being used to identify the impact of hydrogen blending in terms of gas leak detection. Crowcon’s Sprint Pro flue gas analyser is being used to assess for boiler efficiency. Crowcon’s Sprint Pro is a professional grade flue gas analyser, with features tailored to meet the needs of the HVAC professional, a robust design, full selection of accessories and 5-year warranty. Read more about the Sprint Pro here. Hydrogen in the steel industry Traditional iron and steel production is considered one of the largest emitters of environmental pollutants, including greenhouse gases and fine dust. Steel making processes rely heavily on fossil fuels, with coal products accounting for 78% of these. It is thus not surprising that the steel industry emits around 10% of all global process- and energy-related CO2 emissions. Hydrogen may be an alternative for steel companies seeking to drastically reduce their carbon emissions. Several steel makers in Germany and Korea are already cutting emissions through a hydrogen reduction steelmaking method that uses hydrogen, not coal, to make steel. Traditionally, a significant amount of hydrogen gas is produced in steel making as a by-product called coke gas. By passing that coke gas through a process called carbon capture and storage (CCS), steel plants can produce significant amount of blue hydrogen, which can then be used to control temperatures and prevent oxidation during steel production. In addition, steel makers are producing steel products specifically for hydrogen. As part of its new vision of becoming a green hydrogen enterprise, Korean steelmaker POSCO has invested heavily to develop steel products for use in the production, transport, storage and utilisation of hydrogen. With many flammable and toxic gas hazards being present in steel plants, it is important to understand the cross sensitivity of gases, because a false gas reading could prove fatal. For example, a blast furnace produces a great deal of hot, dusty, toxic and flammable gas consisting of carbon monoxide (CO) with some hydrogen. Gas detection manufacturers that have experience in these environments are well acquainted with the issue of hydrogen affecting electrochemical CO sensors, and thus provide hydrogen-filtered sensors as standard to steel facilities. To learn more about cross sensitivity, please see our blog. Crowcon gas detectors are used in many steel facilities across the world, and you can find out more about Crowcon solutions in the steel industry here. References: Injecting hydrogen in natural gas grids could provide steady demand the sector needs to develop (S&P Global Platts, 19 May 2020) Western Australia pumps $22m into hydrogen action plan (Power Engineering, 14 Sep 2020) Green Hydrogen in Natural Gas Pipelines: Decarbonization Solution or Pipe Dream? (Green Tech Media, 20 Nov 2020) Could hydrogen piggyback on natural gas infrastructure? (Network Online, 17 Mar 2016) Steel, Hydrogen and Renewables: Strange Bedfellows? Maybe Not… (Forbes.com, 15 May 2020) POSCO to Expand Hydrogen Production to 5 Mil. Tons by 2050 (Business Korea, 14 Dec 202 0)http://https://www.crowcon.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/shutterstock_607164341-scaled.jpg Leave a reply on How Hydrogen is Helping the Gas and Steel Industries to Go Green This entry was posted in Gases, Industries on February 05, 2021 The Many Colours of Hydrogen Hydrogen, alongside other renewables and natural gas has an increasingly vital role to play in the clean energy landscape. Corporations and countries are increasingly interested in alternative fuels amid the global push for carbon neutrality. This year the EU pledged to become climate neutral (that is, to become an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions) by 2050, Australia launched its National Hydrogen Strategy to accelerate development of clean hydrogen and export it to neighbouring countries and Shell and BP pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. For many oil and gas companies aiming to decarbonise, hydrogen is a fuel of choice to comply with climate targets. The growth of hydrogen is expected to take off in the next 10–20 years, with costs driven down as hydrogen becomes more widely produced. With new applications, the low-carbon hydrogen market size could reach US$ 25 billion by 2030 and grow even further long-term. Hydrogen burns clean when mixed with oxygen, and is seen as green fuel alternative in transport, shipping and heating (both domestic and industrial). Interestingly, the use of hydrogen as fuel is not new. Hydrogen is already a component of rocket fuel and is used in gas turbines to produce electricity, or burned to run combustion engines for power generation. Hydrogen is also used as feedstock to produce ammonia, methanol and other petrochemicals. In general, we know that hydrogen is a good choice of fuel for industries looking to decarbonise, but not all hydrogen is created equal. Although the gas only emits water when burned, its contribution to carbon neutrality depends on how it is produced. Brown hydrogen is made from the gasification of coal, which emits CO2 into the air as it combusts. Grey hydrogen is hydrogen produced using fossil fuels, such as natural gas, and is the most commonly-produced form of hydrogen in the world today. Blue hydrogen is made in the same way as grey, but carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies prevent the release of CO2, enabling the captured carbon to be safely stored deep underground or used in industrial processes. Turquoise (or low carbon) H2 is hydrogen produced from natural gas using molten metal pyrolysis technology. As its name suggests, green or renewable hydrogen is the cleanest variety, producing zero carbon emissions. It is produced using electrolysis powered by renewable energy, like wind or solar power, to produce a clean and sustainable fuel. Electrolysis splits water (H2O) into hydrogen and oxygen, so there is no waste and all parts are used with zero environmental impact. If the energy used for electrolysis is taken from renewable sources this can be counted as ‘green fuel’ because there are no negative impacts on the environment. In our next blog we will discuss the potential hazards of hydrogen that may occur during production, storage and transport, and the gas detection solutions that Crowcon offers. To learn more download our Hydrogen fact sheet here. References: Committing to climate-neutrality by 2050: Commission proposes European Climate Law and consults on the European Climate Pact (Apr 2020) Shell unveils plans to become net-zero carbon company by 2050 (The Guardian, 16 Apr 2020) BP sets ambition for net zero by 2050, fundamentally changing organisation to deliver (BP.com, 12 Feb 2020) Shaping tomorrow’s global hydrogen market (Baker Mackenzie, Jan 2020) Leave a reply on The Many Colours of Hydrogen This entry was posted in Gases on January 25, 2021 The Dangers of Hydrogen As a fuel, hydrogen is highly flammable and so hydrogen leaks generate a serious risk of fire. However, hydrogen fires are markedly different to fires involving other fuels. When heavier fuels and hydrocarbons, like petrol or diesel, leak they pool close to the ground. In contrast, hydrogen is one of the lightest elements on earth, so when a leak occurs hydrogen rapidly disperses upwards. This makes ignition less likely, but a further difference is that hydrogen ignites and burns more easily than petrol or diesel. In fact, even a spark of static electricity from a person’s finger is enough to set off an explosion when hydrogen is available. Hydrogen flame is also invisible, so it is hard to pin-point where is the actual ‘fire’ is, but it generates a low radiant heat due to the absence of carbon and tends to burn out quickly. Hydrogen is odourless, colourless and tasteless, so leaks are hard to detect using human senses alone. Hydrogen is non-toxic, but in indoor environments like battery storage rooms, hydrogen may build up and cause asphyxiation by displacing oxygen. This danger can be offset to some extent by adding odorants to hydrogen fuel, giving it an artificial smell and alerting users in case of a leak. But as hydrogen disperses quickly, the odorant is unlikely to travel with it. Hydrogen leaking indoors quickly collects, initially at ceiling level and eventually fills up the room. Therefore, the placement of gas detectors is key in early detection of a hydrogen leak. Hydrogen is usually stored and transported in liquified hydrogen tanks. The last concern is that because it is compressed, liquid hydrogen is extremely cold. If hydrogen should escape from its tank and come in contact with skin it can cause severe frostbite, or even the loss of extremities. Which sensor technology is best for detecting hydrogen? Crowcon has a wide range of products for the detection of hydrogen. The traditional sensor technologies for flammable gas detection are pellistors and infrared (IR). Pellistor gas sensors (also called catalytic bead gas sensors) have been the primary technology for detecting flammable gases since the 1960s and you can read our blog to find out on how pellistor sensors work. However, their key disadvantage is that in low oxygen environments, pellistor sensors will not function properly and may even fail. In some installations, pellistors are at risk of being poisoned or inhibited, which leaves workers unprotected. Also, pellistor sensors are not fail-safe, and a sensor failure will not be detected unless test gas is applied. Infrared-type sensors are a reliable way to detect flammable hydrocarbons in low oxygen environments. They are not susceptible to being poisoned, so IR can significantly enhance safety in these conditions. Read more about IR sensors in our blog, and the differences between pellistors and IR sensors in the following blog. Just as pellistors are susceptible to poisoning, IR sensors are susceptible to severe mechanical and thermal shock and are also strongly affected by gross pressure changes. Additionally, IR sensors cannot be used to detect hydrogen. So the best option for hydrogen flammable gas detection is molecular property spectrometer (MPS™) sensor technology. This does not require calibration throughout the life cycle of the sensor, and since MPS detects flammable gases without the risk of poisoning or false alarms, it can significantly save on total cost of ownership and reduce interaction with units, resulting in peace of mind and less risk for operators. Molecular property spectrometer gas detection was developed at the University of Nevada and is currently the only gas detection technology able to detect multiple flammable gases, including hydrogen, simultaneously, very accurately and with a single sensor. Read our white paper to find out more. 1 Reply This entry was posted in Gases on January 22, 2021 How to correctly sample gases using pumped instruments In many situations, workers must perform pre-entry gas checks, to make sure that a confined space is safe before entering. This is often a requirement arising from risk assessment or to allow the issuing of permits to work, or is simply needed because the area is inherently risky. Whatever the reason, using a pumped device in conjunction with a sampling tube is a great way to perform pre-entry checks to check that a confined space is safe before entry. However, taking measurements in this way brings its own set of challenges and dangers, and when using Crowcon products in pumped or manual sampling modes, all operators should take care to follow these instructions: • It is strongly recommended that, before proceeding, a function check is performed using the pump and sample tube with the gas/vapour to be detected. • To reduce the risk of absorption of the gas/vapour in the sample tube, ensure the temperature of the sampling tube is above the flashpoint temperature of the target vapour. • Ensure the monitor is correctly calibrated for the target gas/vapour. • Only use the sample tube supplied by Crowcon. It is strongly recommended that ‘reactive gas tubing’ (part no. AC0301) is used for sampling gases/vapours that are likely to be adsorbed (for example, toluene, chlorine, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, ozone, hydrogen chloride, NOx, etc). • Keep the sample tube length as short as possible. • Please allow sufficient time for the gas/vapour to reach the sensor; allow at least 3 seconds per metre plus the normal T90 response time of the sensor (typically 30–40 seconds). In addition, please note that some of the gases that can be measured by our gas detection products are classified as ‘reactive’ gases. A reactive gas will react with, or be absorbed by, the material(s) with which it comes into contact. As a result, the gas concentration reaching the sensor can be reduced, leading to an incorrect reading. The following list includes some (but not all) reactive gases, which are listed with the appropriate calibration gas. Please contact Crowcon for specific gas concentration information and cross-calibration values). Target Gas Calibration Gas Ozone (O3) Ozone (via O3 generator) Hydrogen Chloride (HCL) Hydrogen Chloride Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) Hydrogen Chloride or Sulphur Dioxide Chlorine (Cl2) Chlorine (via Cl2 generator) Fluorine (F2) Chlorine (via Cl2 generator) Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) Chlorine (via Cl2 generator Phosgene (COCl2) Chlorine (via Cl2 generator) Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Sulphur Dioxide Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Nitrogen Dioxide Nitrogen Monoxide (NO) Nitrogen Monoxide Ammonia (NH3) Ammonia • It is very important that the appropriate accessories and precautions are applied when measuring, calibrating or bump testing sensors that are targeting reactive gasses When taking sample measurements: • Use Teflon, FEP or PTFE tubing; the tube length must be kept as short as possible (<50 cm). Avoid connectors and unions. • Allow the sample to flow through the regulator/pipe for at least 3 minutes, for initial absorption to occur, before attempting to get a reading. When calibrating the above points apply in addition to the following: • The recommended gas flow-rate is 0.5 litres per minute. • Gas generators are recommended, instead of gas cylinders, for some very unstable gases, especially where very low ppm concentrations are required. • Use only stainless steel regulators for cylinder gas. • Ensure the correct calibration adaptor is used, appropriate to the specific product. Following the above guidance will allow your pumped devices pre-entry checks to deliver accurate measurements – even with reactive gasses – and will keep staff safe and well. Leave a reply on How to correctly sample gases using pumped instruments This entry was posted in Crowcon News, Gases, Industries, Support on September 29, 2020 TWA Resume – how Crowcon’s patented feature keeps workers safe and makes compliance easier Most people who work with hazardous gases, and particularly anyone with responsibility for regulatory compliance, will be familiar with the various ways of measuring workplace exposures to gas. You may have heard of short- and long-term exposure limits; these are used to quantify the amount of gas a worker can be exposed to without harm, and most gas detectors track them. But why differentiate between a short-term and long-term exposure? Well, that has mainly to do with the ways in which gases can be harmful. Some gases (hydrogen cyanide, for example) can be almost immediately fatal if inhaled at a given concentration, but some gases remain harmless if present at or below a much lower level for extended periods of time. If a worker’s long-term exposure is more than the safe level, however, then some gases can be seriously dangerous to health. And the company in charge may become legally liable because it will have failed to comply with gas regulations. Non-compliance can get very expensive, very quickly. It is costly in both financial and reputational terms. Figure 1: This image shows how Crowcon’s proprietary TWA Resume feature keeps workers safe and proves a firm’s compliance, by continuing to monitor exposure to harmful gases even after a mid-shift break or other switch-off during the TWA period. Other detectors don’t do this, they assume any switch-off (e.g. for meals or to drive between sites) signals a new period of measurement, which leaves workers vulnerable to over-exposure and harm, and firms open to legal sanctions due to harm and/or non-compliance. In this image, you can see the workplace exposure limit is breached at around 14:00, but only the Crowcon device with TWA Resume alerts the user to this fact and documents it. Why use TWAs? Long-term and short-term workplace exposure limits (WELs) for gases are set out by local regulatory bodies. In the UK, the HSE document EH40 applies. Chronic exposure is often measured via a time-weighted average, or TWA. That means the worker’s exposure to a gas is monitored across a given period, usually 8 hours, to make sure the gas(es) remain(s) at or below the WEL throughout that time. Unfortunately, it is incredibly easy to mess up a TWA measurement and thus fall foul of the regulations. This is because many standard gas detectors erase the TWA timer history when they are switched off, even if the 8-hour/TWA measurement period is ongoing. So, if an operator turns off one of these detectors because they are having lunch or moving between sites, then switches it back on again when they get back to work (bearing in mind this is a continuation of the TWA period they have already begun to track), the detector will assume that they are beginning a new TWA measurement period. Clearly, this breaches regulations and can be very dangerous – Figure 1, above, shows why. In this example, the worker exceeds the safe limit at around 14:00 but the traditional device does not ‘see’ this or alert them. The Crowcon device with TWA Resume, however, does sound the alert. And that may save both the worker and the company from a great deal of harm. What is TWA Resume? The Crowcon T4 and Gas-Pro ranges have Crowon’s proprietary TWA Resume feature. This innovative and unique functionality makes sure accurate TWAs are recorded for each and every 8-hour/TWA period, keeping employees safe and removing the risk of non-compliance. Furthermore, it makes it easy for a firm to prove their compliance in the face of any legal claim. TWA Resume is a patented feature only found on Crowcon devices. When turned off during the TWA measurement period, it stores TWA data in its memory. When a worker switches it back on, they can choose to resume measurement from where it left off, or start a new TWA measurement. T4 and Gas-Pro detectors store this data in their logs, where is available for further analysis and to prove compliance. Even better, TWA alarms and near-miss data can now be easily exported into Crowcon Connect, a cloud-based portal that gives customers total data visibility. This makes it easy for them to prove compliance, and to be sure that their workers are safe. Because TWA Resume is a patented Crowcon feature, only Crowcon can provide it. If you want to keep your staff safe while making regulatory compliance much easier, please contact us. We’ll be happy to give you more information on our patented TWA resume feature and discuss how it can help you and your business. 2 Replies This entry was posted in Crowcon News, Gases, Industries, Support and tagged gases, hcn, TWA Resume on July 30, 2020 ← Older posts Subscribe to our blog Click here +44 (0)1235 557700 Find us About us News Insights Careers Events Modern Slavery Statement Site Map Privacy and Cookie Policy © Crowcon Detection Instruments. All rights reserved. English