Is the damage of gas detector really the quality failure?

In industrial production, gas detectors play a vital role. They are like safe “sentinels”, always monitoring the gas concentration in the surrounding environment. Once an abnormality is found, an alarm will be issued in time to avoid danger.

However, during use, when users find that the gas detector is faulty or damaged, the first reaction is often that the product quality is not up to standard. Is the gas detector really so “fragile”? Let’s explore the reasons for the “strike” of the instrument~

External natural environment interference

The long-term exposure of gas detectors to harsh environments is the primary cause of their failure.

1. Temperature influence: If the working environment temperature is too high, the performance of the electronic components inside the gas detector may decline, accelerate aging, and even cause thermal damage; while too low a temperature may cause the sensitivity of the sensor to decrease, or cause some components to become brittle or cracked.

For example, in some high-temperature industrial sites, if the sensor of the combustible gas detector is exposed to an environment exceeding its tolerance temperature for a long time, its service life will be significantly shortened.

2. Humidity influence: High humidity environment can easily make the detector damp inside, leading to circuit short circuit, corrosion and other problems. Especially when the humidity reaches a certain level and condensation forms, it will have a serious impact on the electrical performance of the detector and damage the instrument.

For example, in some humid warehouses or places near water sources, combustible gas detectors are easily damaged by humidity problems.

3. Chemical corrosion: If there are corrosive gases, liquids or other chemicals in the surrounding environment, they may react chemically with the sensitive components or shell of the detector, thereby destroying the structure and performance of the instrument.

For example, in chemical companies, some corrosive chemical raw materials will cause corrosion damage to combustible gas detectors after volatilization.

4. Other environmental influences: In addition to the above reasons, environmental factors such as air pressure, wind speed and electromagnetic interference may cause zero drift in gas detectors.

Zero drift refers to the instrument showing a non-zero concentration value in the absence of gas, which will seriously affect the accuracy and reliability of the test results.

Internal component failure

1. Component aging: The sensitive components and electronic components inside the combustible gas detector have a certain service life. As the use time increases, these components will gradually age, performance declines, and eventually cause instrument damage.

Generally speaking, the service life of a gas detector is usually around 3-5 years. If it exceeds this time, the instrument needs to be replaced in time.

2. Quality problems: If the gas detector itself has quality defects during the production process, such as loose component welding and improper material selection, it will also cause the instrument to malfunction during use or even prematurely damage.

Gas factors

1. High-concentration gas impact

When a combustible gas detector is suddenly exposed to a high concentration of combustible gas, it may impact the sensitive components of the instrument, causing its performance to decline or even damage. For example, at some gas leak accident sites, high concentrations of combustible gas may cause irreversible damage to the detector.

2. Gas impurities

If the measured gas contains impurities, particles or dust, it may block the detector’s air inlet or adsorb on the surface of the sensitive component, affecting the contact between the gas and the sensitive component, resulting in reduced instrument sensitivity or false alarms. Long-term accumulation may also cause physical wear or chemical contamination to sensitive components and damage the instrument.

Installation and use factors

1. Improper installation: If the gas detector is not installed in the right place, such as in a corner with poor ventilation, near a heat source or a strong electromagnetic interference source, it will affect its normal operation and accelerate the damage of the instrument.

For example, if it is installed near a strong electromagnetic interference source such as a motor, the detector may be subject to electromagnetic interference, resulting in false alarms or performance degradation.

2. Lack of maintenance: Regular maintenance of gas detectors is essential. If it is not cleaned, calibrated and tested for a long time, the detector may be damaged due to dust accumulation, zero drift and other problems. For example, dust accumulation on the surface of the probe will affect its perception of gas, while zero drift will make the measurement results inaccurate, which may cause the detector to fail to work properly in the long run.

3. Frequent use: In some industrial sites, gas detectors may need to work continuously for a long time. This high frequency of use will accelerate the wear and aging of the internal components of the instrument, making it more prone to failure and damage.