×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Hydrogen Leak Detection

Hydrogen Leak Detection

Hydrogen Leak Detection

(OP)
Can anyone provide information on leak detection in hydrogen piping systems.
I work for a specialty steel maker that uses hydrogen atmospheres in processing of steel. We have several plants using this process and I have been asked to find a way to detect leaks resulting from an accident at another steel maker.
Thanks for your time!

RE: Hydrogen Leak Detection

(OP)
Thanks 25362, but the thread you reference is pertaining to burning hydrogen. Our hydrogen supply piping is not hot enough to ignite the leak. I see a company named H2scan that makes a portable hydrogen leak detector, anyone have experience with H2scan detectors?

RE: Hydrogen Leak Detection

Haven't heard of H2scan before, but I see our company must be using them.  I shot an email out so maybe someone will respond.  

RE: Hydrogen Leak Detection

Got a responce quicker than I thought.  We're testing H2Scan out in some places but haven't switched over to using them.  I believe these are 'detectors on a chip' which haven't been proven out yet.  We're using Draeger right now for most applications where they are needed.  
http://www.draeger.com/ST/internet/US/en/Products/Detection/detection.jsp

Couple of issues that come up with using flammable gas detectors.
- If used outdoors, they are less reliable because the gas leak can easily be swept away.  Inside a box or enclosure of some kind can concentrate the leak, thus are more effective.  You need to consider carefully where they are of best use.  We've put them near ventilation holes in enclosures.  
- Another problem regards the ability of these things to pick up other flammable gasses such as CO and give a false reading.  Not sure why they can't be adjusted to be less sensitive.  

We wouldn't use anything like this unless it were a customer specified requirement.  Too many problems with them.

RE: Hydrogen Leak Detection

(OP)
Thanks iainuts! I will look into Draeger and see what they have. The H2scan is a chip based sensor and they claim to distinguish only hydrogen in their sensing capabilities. This is important as our hydrogen use is for atmosphere control in natural gas fired furnaces (radiant tubes). I could find both hydrogen and methane leaks in the same area.

RE: Hydrogen Leak Detection

Did you give a try to Ultrasonic leak detector? they are quite handy, we have use them for the air leak detection, not sure about the hydrogen leak detection. May be check with one of the supplier.

RE: Hydrogen Leak Detection

We would be happy to talk to you about your application.
Our Leak Detection unit is shipping and in use world-wide.
Please visit our website at www.h2scan.com.
If you have specific questions I would be happy to answer them.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources