H2scan P&S Catalog 2025 - Flipbook - Page 31
operation support professionals.
Cost-effective energy storage solutions such as lead acid batteries are
commonly used, and can release hydrogen during recharging. A similar
•
If the sensor is not reliable, sending a service team to an oil platform
application is hydrogen fuel cell forklifts that could potentially leak. In both
or remote pipeline location takes a great deal of time, effort and
applications, hydrogen sensors are generally mounted in the ceiling to
expense. Sensor technologies requiring numerous mechanical
trigger alarms and enable fans to evacuate hydrogen at concentrations
parts and components, such as gas extraction systems to measure
well below the lower explosion limit of approximately 4%.
hydrogen in liquids, are often not well-suited for these applications.
One should strive for a long life, with a goal of over 10 years.
One hydrogen sensor application that many people are unaware of is
transformer monitoring to improve electrical grid reliability. Power on the grid
•
Hydrogen is an explosive gas, and a small spark can cause it to
explode within certain concentration levels. There are certi昀椀cations,
is distributed using large transformers that convert high voltage to a lower
voltage for end users. These devices are 昀椀lled with oil to keep them cool and
such as ATEX, to ensure that sensors work safely in hazardous
provide electrical isolation. If there are faults or overheating in the transformer,
environments. Sensor compliance to these certi昀椀cations is critical to
the oil will break down into hydrogen and other gases. If faults persist for too
ensure safe operation.
Where are hydrogen sensors being used now?
The largest hydrogen user today is re昀椀ning and chemical production. One
such application is hydrocracking, which uses hydrogen sensors to ensure
ef昀椀cient processing. One of the challenges of oil processing applications
long, the transformer can explode and cause a 昀椀re, or injure people.
Hydrogen sensors are used to continuously measure hydrogen levels in the
oil to determine the need for maintenance or to take the transformer of昀氀ine.
Why are hydrogen sensors important to the hydrogen
economy?
is gas streams that can contain multiple other gases, such as hydrogen
sul昀椀de (HS). These gases can reduce the measurement accuracy if the
The goal of the hydrogen economy is to use hydrogen to help decarbonise
sensor is not a hydrogen-speci昀椀c design. Also, the sensor needs a fast
the energy supply chain - from production to consumption. As stated in
response time to ensure tight process control when concentration levels
the ‘Road Map to a US Hydrogen Economy’, safety is paramount.? This is a
昀氀uctuate, in order to achieve optimal process ef昀椀ciency.
precondition of any energy carrier, but as hydrogen is a greenhouse gas
(GHG), leak detection is critical for its wide deployment.
Another common application for hydrogen sensors is area safety
monitoring for the detection and mitigation of hydrogen build-up in a
Most hydrogen produced today is from fossil fuels, and is referred to
closed environment. For example, in data centres and utilities, battery
as grey hydrogen because one of the byproducts is carbon dioxide
back-up systems are used to provide instantaneous back-up power.
(COz). The hydrogen economy goal is to produce green hydrogen from
renewable energy and to adopt fuel cells, gas turbines or other means for
the subsequent conversion back into electricity. Hydrogen is also planned
to be distributed through gas pipelines for industrial uses, home heating,
and as a transportation fuel. Hydrogen sensors will play an important role
across these applications to ensure safe and effective operation, as well as
the detection of harmful leaks.
What is next for hydrogen sensors?
There are numerous near-term hydrogen economy applications that
require hydrogen sensors for safe and effective operations.
The production of green hydrogen uses electrolysers that convert water
into hydrogen and oxygen using a process called electrolysis. Some
analysts are predicting that up to 85 GW of electrolyser-based hydrogen
production will be deployed by 2030. If there are issues in the electrolyser,
hydrogen can leak into the oxygen output side, creating an explosive
mixture. Detection of this failure mechanism is critical to ensuring the safe
operation of these systems.
Hydrogen will also be blended with natural gas and sent through the gas
pipeline as part of the decarbonisation plan. Home and industrial heating
is a large user of natural gas, and replacement electricity in the near-term
will be a challenge. To put this into perspective, natural gas delivers 昀椀ve
times the energy of the electric grid in the UK.
To use hydrogen safely, all gas pipeline infrastructure, burners and
metering in the gas distribution network must be aligned to support
a mixture of methane and hydrogen. Gas blending stations will use a
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