Easy information on general gas detection.
Battery-powered, direct-reading instruments are classified as two groups - single-gas instruments or multiple-gas instruments - typically monitoring one or a combination of the following atmospheric conditions:
- oxygen deficiency or enrichment;
- the presence of combustible gas; and
- the presence of certain toxic gases.
Depending on the capabilities of the instrument, monitoring can be conducted simultaneously for oxygen and combustible gas, or for oxygen, combustible gas and toxic gases. These devices are commonly referred to as 2-in-1, 3-in-1, 4-in-1 or 5-in-1 alarms.
No matter which type of instrument is used to check environmental gas concentrations, regular monitoring should be performed because a contaminant’s level of combustibility or toxicity might increase even if it initially appears to be low or non-existent. In addition, oxygen deficiency can occur unexpectedly.
To determine the composition of an atmosphere, reliable instruments should be used to draw air samples. If possible, do not open the entry portal to the confined space before this step has been completed. Sudden changes in atmospheric composition within the confined space could cause violent reactions, or dilute the contaminants in the confined space, giving a false low initial gas concentration.
When testing permit-required spaces for acceptable entry conditions, always test in the following order:
- oxygen content
- flammable gases and vapors
- potential toxic air contaminants
Comprehensive testing should be conducted in various locations within the work area. Some gases are heavier than air, and tend to collect at the bottom of a confined space. Others are lighter, and are usually in higher concentrations near the top of the confined space. Still others are the same molecular weight as air, so they can be found in varying concentrations throughout the space.
This is why test samples should be drawn at the top, middle and bottom of the space to pinpoint varying concentrations of gases or vapors.
The results of the atmospheric testing will have a direct impact on the selection of protective equipment necessary for the tasks in the area. It may also dictate the duration of worker exposure to the environment of the space, or whether an entry will be made at all. Substance-specific detectors should be used whenever actual contaminants have been identified.
In order for combustion to occur, there must be three elements:
- oxygen to support combustion
- heat or a source of ignition
This is known as the fire triangle, but if you remove any one of the legs, combustion will not occur.
The percentage of combustible gas in the air is important, too. For example, a manhole filled with fresh air is gradually filled by a leak of combustible gas such as methane or natural gas, mixing with the fresh air. As the ratio of gas to air changes, the sample passes through three ranges: lean, explosive and rich.
In the lean range, there isn’t enough gas in the air to burn. On the other hand, the rich range has too much gas and not enough air. However, the explosive range has just the right combination of gas and air to form an explosive mixture.
Care must be taken, however, when a mixture is too rich, because dilution with fresh air could bring the mixture into the flammable or explosive range. An analogy is the automobile that won’t start on a cold morning (a lean atmosphere because the liquid gasoline has not vaporised sufficiently), but can be flooded with too much gasoline (a rich atmosphere with too much vaporisation). Eventually, when the right mixture of gas and air finally exists (explosive), the car starts.
How combustible gas monitors work
To understand how portable combustible gas detection instruments work, it is first important to understand what is meant by the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) and Upper Explosive Limit (UEL).
When certain proportions of combustible vapors are mixed with air and a source of ignition is present, an explosion can occur. The range of concentrations over which this reaction can occur is called the explosive range.
This range includes all concentrations in which a flash will occur or a flame will travel if the mixture is ignited. The lowest percentage at which this can happen is the LEL; the highest percentage is the UEL.
Most combustible instruments display gas concentrations as a percentage of the LEL. Some models have gas readouts as a percentage by volume and others display both percent of LEL and percent combustible gas by volume.
What’s the difference? For example, the LEL of methane (the major component in natural gas) is 5 percent by volume, and the UEL is 15 percent by volume. If we slowly fill a room with methane, when the concentration reaches 2.5 percent by volume, it is 50 percent of the LEL; at 5 percent by volume it is 100 percent of the LEL.
Between 5 and 15 percent by volume, a spark could set off an explosion.
Different gases need different percent by volume concentrations to reach 100 percent of the LEL (see Figure 4). Pentane, for example, has an LEL of 1.5 percent. Instruments that measure in percent of the LEL are easy to use because, regardless of the gas, you are most concerned with how close the concentration is to the LEL.
Single-gas monitors for combustible gases
Single-gas instruments for monitoring combustible gases and vapors are generally calibrated on pentane and are designed for general-purpose monitoring of hydrocarbon vapors. Such instruments operate by the catalytic action of a heated platinum filament in contact with combustible gases.
The filament is heated to operating temperature by an electric current. When the gas sample contacts the heated filament, combustion on its surface raises the temperature in proportion to the quantity of combustibles in the sample.
A Wheatstone bridge circuit, incorporating the filament as one arm, measures the change in electrical resistance due to the temperature increases. This change indicates the percentage of combustible gas present in the sample.
Single-gas monitors for toxic gases
Compact, battery-powered devices can be used to measure levels of such gases as carbon monoxide (CO) or hydrogen sulfide (H2S), depending on the model selected. Toxic gas monitors use electrochemical cells.
If the gas of interest enters the cell, the reaction produces a current output proportional to the amount of gas in the sample. With these instruments, audible and visible alarms sound if the gas concentration exceeds a preset level. These devices are well suited for use in confined spaces containing motors or engines, which can generate large quantities of CO, as well as in sewers, waste treatment plants and "sour crude" processing stations which tend to have hazardous volumes of H2S.
Multiple-gas monitors for oxygen and combustible gas
In applications where it is necessary to determine oxygen and combustible gas levels simultaneously, 2-in-1 diffusion-type devices can be used. Sensors measure 0 to 100 per cent of the LEL and oxygen from 0 to 25 percent. Remote sampling requires either a pump module or an aspirator bulb adapter.
Multiple-gas monitors for oxygen, combustible and toxic gases
Toxic gases and vapors, which can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, are frequently found in confined spaces. Sometimes, these atmospheric hazards can also displace oxygen and may incapacitate the body’s ability to maintain respiration. Some toxic gases and vapors can also cause long-term physical damage to the body in cases of repeated exposure.
A number of instruments are available to assist in detecting toxic gas. Pocket-size monitors operate by diffusion or an aspirator bulb. Larger instruments with built-in pumps draw samples from the immediate area or from outside the confined space work area when used with sampling lines.
Diffusion-type instruments are available for simultaneously measuring the LEL of combustible gases, oxygen levels and toxic levels (in parts per million) of H2S, CO and other toxic gases. Alarms also alert the user to low and high oxygen levels. Remote sampling pump adapters are available to convert these diffusion-type instruments into pump-style instruments.
Photo-ionisation devices for toxic gases and vapors
A photoionisation detector, featuring micro- processor technology, uses ultraviolet light to ionise molecules of chemical substances in a gaseous or vaporous state .
A real-time digital readout allows the user to make an immediate determination of gas and vapor concentrations. Depending upon calibration input, gas and vapors are measured over a 0.1 to 10,000 ppm scale. Some instruments automatically compensate for signal loss due to humidity, which is inherent in all PID detectors.
Detector tube sampling systems
Detector tube-type devices are recommended for conducting quick evaluations of potential hazards that cannot otherwise be measured. With detector tubes, a known volume of air is drawn through the tube, using a manually operated or battery-powered sampling pump.
If gas or vapor is present in the air, chemically treated granules in the tube are stained a different color. By measuring the length of the color stain within the tube, users can determine concentration levels.
Most tubes available today are made of glass, have break-off tips, and are filled with treated chemical granules. They generally have a shelf life of 24 to 30 months.
One type of pump frequently used with a detector tube is a compact, bellows-type device. Accurate and repeatable sample flows can be assured by a shaft that guides the bellows during compression. Some models feature an end-of-stroke indicator that lets the user know when a full air sample has been drawn. Models with an integral stroke counter eliminate the tedious recording of multiple pump strokes.
Personal sampling is used to determine the concentration of airborne contaminants. Personal sampling pumps are designed to measure individual workers’ exposures, so they typically are lightweight, belt-mounted, battery-powered devices.
The process of sampling entails drawing a predetermined volume of air through a filter designed to trap contaminants. The filter is contained in a plastic cassette, which is attached by plastic tubing to a sampling pump calibrated to draw a specific, known volume of air into the filter. After air samples are drawn, the filters are sent to a laboratory where they are examined to determine the level of exposure.
Personal sampling determines the concentration found in the "breathing zone" or the area near the worker’s face, which is usually measured at or near the collar or lapel.
To ensure the accuracy of all monitoring and detection equipment, calibration should be performed regularly. If the instrument reading differs significantly from the values of the known standard, the instrument should not be used until it has been adjusted or, if necessary, repaired.