Combustible Gas and its Detection
Combustible gases are one of the greatest risks an industrial facility can face. This comprehensive white paper covers the basics through to the latest advancements in LEL detection technology.
Download White PaperHydrogen gas is a chemical element comprised of two hydrogen atoms with the formula H₂. In its pure form, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is nonpoisonous but extremely flammable and requires careful handling to ensure safety. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, accounting for 90 percent of the universe by weight. However, it is rarely found in its pure form on Earth as it readily combines with other elements. Hydrogen is commonly used in various industrial processes, including refining petroleum, producing chemicals, and as a potential clean fuel source.
Hydrogen gas is extremely light, with a density of 0.08988 grams per liter at standard pressure. This property makes it valuable in applications such as fuel cells and as a lifting gas in balloons and airships. Despite its lightness and abundance, the safe handling of hydrogen is crucial due to its flammability.
Industrial hydrogen production is significant, with numerous large-scale plants worldwide. Hydrogen is often produced through methods like steam methane reforming and electrolysis, processes that involve splitting water molecules to extract hydrogen gas.
Green Hydrogen is produced with no harmful greenhouse gas emissions and is made by using electricity from surplus renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. This surplus electricity splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, emitting zero carbon dioxide in electrolysis. Green hydrogen is ideal due to its environmentally friendly nature, but it currently only makes up a small percentage of the overall hydrogen available. This is because of the high cost of production and the limited amount of surplus renewable energy.
Blue hydrogen, also known as decarbonised hydrogen, is primarily produced from natural gas using a process called steam reforming (either by Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) or Auto Thermal Reforming (ATR)). When natural gas and very hot steam are mixed together, hydrogen and carbon dioxide get separated. The carbon dioxide is then captured and stored safely, but the hydrogen is transported as a fuel gas.
Grey hydrogen is produced using the same process as Blue Hydrogen: steam reforming. Instead of capturing the carbon dioxide it is released into the atmosphere.
Black hydrogen is produced using black coal as the feedstock, the harmful greenhouse gases are released in the atmosphere.
Brown hydrogen is produced using brown coal as the feedstock, the harmful greenhouse gases are released in the atmosphere.
Pink Hydrogen is produced using electricity generated by nuclear energy.
Turquoise hydrogen is sometimes referred to as pre-combustion hydrogen, produced using a technique known as pyrolysis to create hydrogen and solid carbon.
Yellow Hydrogen is produced using electricity generated by solar energy.
White hydrogen is a natural form of Hydrogen that occurs within the earth's geology. It is captured by using techniques such as fracking.
Type: Electrochemical
Range: 0–40,000 ppm
Sensitivity Range: 1 nA/ppm ± 0.5 nA/ppm
*not available in all regions
Low Alarm: 4,000 ppm
High Alarm: 8,000 ppm
Combustible gases are one of the greatest risks an industrial facility can face. This comprehensive white paper covers the basics through to the latest advancements in LEL detection technology.
Download White Paper