In industrial production scenarios, toxic and hazardous gases vary widely. Based on their toxic properties to the human body, they can be primarily divided into the following two categories:
(I) Irritant Gases
Irritant gases are common hazardous gases in the chemical industry. Their primary hazard is their strong irritation to the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract. Irritant gases frequently encountered in the industrial sector include chlorine, ammonia, nitrogen oxides, phosgene, hydrogen fluoride, sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide, and dimethyl sulfate. Once leaked, these gases can quickly cause symptoms such as eye discomfort, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
(II) Asphyxiating Gases
The mechanism of harm caused by asphyxiating gases is that, when inhaled, they interfere with the normal supply, uptake, transport, and utilization of oxygen, preventing tissue cells throughout the body from obtaining or effectively utilizing oxygen, ultimately leading to serious consequences such as hypoxia and asphyxiation. Common examples include methane, ethylene, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen sulfide. Among them, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin, reducing the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity. Hydrogen sulfide has a distinctive rotten egg smell, but at high concentrations it can quickly numb the human olfactory nerves, making its presence undetectable, leading to suffocation or even death.
(III) Other Typical Toxic and Hazardous Gases
In addition to the two gases mentioned above, there are a number of other toxic and hazardous gases in industrial production that require special attention:
Sulfur dioxide (SO₂): Primarily produced during the combustion of fuels such as coal and oil, it is highly irritating to the respiratory tract and eyes. Long-term exposure may cause chronic respiratory diseases.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂): Primarily produced during fuel combustion and chemical production processes, inhalation can damage lung tissue and may induce acute asthma, emphysema, and, in severe cases, respiratory failure.
Phosgene: A highly toxic gas, commonly found in production environments such as phosgene preparation and the high-temperature combustion of chlorocarbons, leaks can rapidly damage the lungs, causing severe pulmonary edema and ultimately death from suffocation.
Because these toxic and hazardous gases are widely used in industrial production and pose significant risks, companies must remain vigilant and implement scientific and effective preventative measures to prevent safety accidents caused by gas leaks.
- Key Considerations for Companies When Selecting Gas Detectors
Faced with the wide variety of gas detectors on the market, with widely varying functionalities, companies need to comprehensively evaluate the following factors based on their own production needs to select the appropriate equipment:
(I) Clarifying Target Detection Parameters
- Gas Type Matching: The core components (sensors) of different gas detectors are targeted and can only effectively detect specific gas types. For example, sensors specifically designed to detect combustible gases operate differently from sensors designed to detect toxic gases. Therefore, companies must first clearly identify the types of gases they need to monitor in their production environments and ensure that the selected detector’s sensor can accurately identify the target gas.
- Concentration Range Matching: It is important to understand the potential concentration range of the target gas in the production environment in advance and select a detector with a detection range that matches the actual concentration requirements and meets the required accuracy. If the detection range is too narrow, it may not detect high-concentration gas leaks; if the range is too wide, it may result in insufficient detection accuracy for low-concentration leaks.
(II) Considering the Characteristics of the Working Environment
- Environmental Adaptation: Fully consider factors such as the production environment’s temperature fluctuation range, humidity level, and the presence of corrosive gases or dust. For example, in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, select detectors that are heat-resistant and waterproof. In scenarios where corrosive gases are present, select devices with corrosion-resistant housings and internal components to prevent environmental damage and impact on detection performance.
- Safety Standard Compliance: In high-risk environments with high concentrations of flammable, explosive, or toxic gases (such as chemical workshops and oil and gas storage areas), the selected detector must possess safety features such as explosion-proof and corrosion-resistant properties. It must also comply with relevant national and industry safety standards (such as explosion-proof ratings and protection levels) to ensure stable operation in hazardous environments and prevent secondary safety incidents.
(III) Evaluating the Detector’s Core Performance
- Detection Principle Selection: Gas detectors utilize a variety of detection principles, including electrochemical, catalytic combustion, and infrared absorption. Companies must select the appropriate principle based on the properties of the target gas.
- Response Time Control: The detector’s response time is directly related to the timeliness of safety warnings. In a gas leak incident, a fast-responding detector can quickly detect changes in gas concentration and issue a timely alarm, buying valuable time for evacuation and emergency response, thereby minimizing losses.
- Intelligence and Interoperability: Modern gas detectors often feature intelligent features such as automatic calibration, self-diagnosis (capable of real-time fault detection), remote data transmission, and monitoring. These features can reduce manual maintenance workload and improve monitoring efficiency. Furthermore, if the detector can be integrated with the company’s fire protection and ventilation systems, detecting a gas leak can automatically trigger ventilation system exhaust and fire protection system warnings, further enhancing overall emergency response capabilities.
(IV) Considering Usage Scenario and Installation Requirements
- Portability: If frequent mobile testing is required across multiple production areas or for temporary spot checks, a portable gas detector should be selected. These instruments are typically compact, lightweight, easy to carry, and simple to operate, enabling quick on-site testing.
- Installation Compatibility: For long-term, real-time monitoring in fixed production areas (such as specific workstations in a workshop or around storage tanks), a fixed gas detector is recommended. This type of detector can be installed in a designated location by wall-mounting, ceiling-mounting, etc., and monitors the gas concentration in the environment 24 hours a day, making it suitable for continuous control of key areas.
