A gas detector is a device that detects the presence of gases in an area, often as part of a safety system. Gas detectors can be used to detect combustible, flammable, and toxic gases, and oxygen depletion. Depletion of gases is hazardous, whereas even small concentrations of harmful toxic gases can lead to serious health implications.
Gas detection technology is constantly evolving. We have come a long way from a canary in a cage or a flame lamp. Today’s gas detectors not only have better sensing technology but are equipped with wireless technology that will enable the workforce of the future, making people safer and more productive. The companies strive to provide a complete integrated solution for gas detection that allows you to choose the right mix of equipment, software, and services that help your workers go home safely at the end of the day.
Gas leak detectors work by monitoring different gas levels in the air. These devices are generally battery operated and used for safety. Once they detect a higher than normal concentration of gas in the air, they warn people through a series of audible beeps.
The gas detection system market is expected to register a CAGR of 8.64% during 2021-26. The rising concerns about safety are the key market drivers for the adoption of gas detection systems. Safety awareness is on the rise due to an increased number of fatal accidents and gas explosions and leakages. Globally the adoption of gas detection equipment has increased owing to stringent government regulations and security standards and environmental safety regulations.
The fixed gas detectors segment dominated the market in 2020 accounting for over 65.0% share of the global revenue, while the portable gas detectors segment is anticipated to register the fastest growth. Portable gas detectors can remotely monitor industrial and commercial units, owing to which they are in higher demand than the traditional fixed gas detectors.
Benefits such as ease of implementation, cost-effectiveness, and secured and easy connections offered by the portable gas detection equipment are driving the segment growth.
End-use Insights: Gas detection equipment used for industrial purposes ensures safety in all working environments. These detectors are used in mining sectors for detecting carbon dioxide and oxygen in mines. The increasing use of gas detection equipment for monitoring hazardous gases in oil refineries, pipelines, processing plants, and LPG/LNG plants is driving the segment growth.
Technology Insights: The infrared gas detection technology segment can operate in both oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich environments. Infrared gas detection technology-based equipment is used for detecting hydrocarbon gas with infrared light.
Semiconductor gas sensors have a wide range of applications in process control, safety, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnosis, among others. Metal oxide semiconductors are widely used as gas sensing material nowadays owing to advantages such as ease in fabrication, cost efficiency, and simplicity of use. However, poor selectivity of the sensing material hinders the segment growth.
Usually, three categories of gases can be detected by gas detectors i.e. combustible gas, toxic gas, and VOC (Volatile organic compounds). A combustible gas detector is used to measure the concentration of certain gases in a specified area through the use of infrared points, ultrasonic, electrochemical, or semiconductor sensors. Toxic gas detectors help prevent issues by monitoring potential leakage areas for harmful gas levels. They are commonly used on oil rigs and in chemical plants and manufacturing facilities where toxic fluids and gases are being stored and processed. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mainly come from the exhaust gases generated by fuel combustion and transportation, as well as emissions from building materials, decorative materials, and furniture. Currently, there are two common techniques—photoionization detector (PID) and flame ionization detector (FID)—to detect VOCs, however, the application of these methods in the industry is limited due to the relatively high cost and complicated maintenance. Considering the characteristics of small size, low cost, and convenient fabrication, semiconductor gas sensor technology plays an important role in many fields, so it is reasonable to propose the employment of a gas sensor to realize the online monitoring of VOCs.
Selecting the Right Gas Detection Solution
There are many gas detection products in the market that might appear to be the same, but a closer inspection of specifications, functionalities, and features reveals major differences. Similarly, individual applications are also unique in their respective designs, needs, and processes are undertaken.
Having identified the primary objective, the suitable equipment is selected by asking a number of key questions.
- What are the gases to be detected, and where do they come from?
- What are the risk exposures of the location and the environmental conditions where detection is to take place?
- What is the total cost of ownership (not simply purchase cost), spread out over the life of the unit for gas detection? This is particularly important when a large fleet of gas detectors is being deployed.
- How easy or intuitive is it to operate the gas detectors for the benefit of workers and routine servicing personnel?
A perfectly adapted gas detection solution must be able to detect the presence of a specific gas and trigger a warning before dangerous concentration levels are reached. It is important to remember that the end-user is responsible for identifying all the potential dangers. The risk assessment provides the means of identifying the gases to be detected.
ATO provides portable/handheld gas detectors and fixed gas detectors to monitor gas leak or concentration of Ammonia, Hydrogen Sulfide, Chlorine, Carbon Monoxide, Multi-Gas Hydrogen, Oxygen, Chlorine, Nitrogen, Formaldehyde, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrogen, Ozone, and Combustible Gas Detector, in different applications or environments. The portable gas detectors have two versions, diffusion-type and pump-type. For the different detected gases, there are optional measuring ranges. High accuracy and reliability is the biggest advantage of ATO gas detectors.
Some state of the art gas detectors are shown in the table given below:
| Fig. | Item | Gas | Range | Specifications | |
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Handheld Gas Detector | Ammonia (NH3) | 0 to 50ppm, 0 to 100ppm, 0 to 200ppm, 0 to 500ppm | LCD display, easy readout, small & portable design, convenient to carry. | |
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Handheld Carbon Monoxide (CO) Gas Detector | Monoxide (CO) | 0 to 500 ppm, 0 to 1000 ppm, 0 to 2000 ppm | Visual and vibrating, compact size and lightweight, long working time, easy to carry and operation. | |
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Handheld Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Gas Detector | Sulfide (H2S) | 0-50ppm, 0-100ppm, 0-200ppm, 0-500ppm | For options, and gives light, sound, and vibration alarm | |
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Portable Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Infrared Gas Detector | Carbon Dioxide (CO2) | 0-2000ppm, 0-5000ppm, 0-10000ppm | 0-10%VOL, 0-20%VOL, with LCD display, audible, visual & vibrating alarm, compact size, easy to carry and operate | |
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Portable Combustible Gas Detector | Combustible Gas | 0 to 100%LEL | With sound, light, and vibration alarm, easy to use and convenient to carry around, high accuracy and reliability, best portable gas monitor for detecting the flammable gas. |
