Hydrogen sulfide gas or H2S is one of the most common hazards in the process industries. H2S is colorless, flammable, and extremely toxic, representing a significant hazard to people and property. The gas can accumulate in any area where oil or natural gas is processed, stored, or transported, and it may also threaten workers in wastewater treatment facilities, coke ovens, and pulp and paper mills.
Hydrogen sulfide can be detected by fixed-point gas detectors using electrochemical sensors. This technology is well understood and reliable in the protection of people and property. However, many of the sites where H2S accumulation is common and poses the most danger are remote, complex locations where the costs of installing wiring and conduit for power and communication can quickly add up to tens of thousands of dollars per point. The more remote the site, the more expensive the installation, which will limit the number of critical gas detectors placed in appropriate locations. Emerson’s Flame and Gas Detection experts have released a white paper addressing this issue entitled, “Wireless Toxic Gas Monitoring Extends Safety to Areas Previously Too Challenging or Costly to Monitor.”
Wiring costs for wired gas detectors can be greater than other measurement devices because the sensors are commonly separated from the transmitters to facilitate monitoring for gases that are either heavier or lighter than air. This adds to the total costs of wiring, conduit, and junction boxes.
Running power and communications wire and conduit, digging wire trenches, installing cable trays, and physically wiring each sensor and transmitter are labor-intensive tasks. Since gas monitors are typically installed in hazardous locations, the extra labor required for detector installation, commissioning, and maintenance can be a serious safety concern for operators. Often, the remoteness of these locations exacerbates all of these problems and adds significantly to lost uptime and personnel costs. As a result, remote locations may be left unmonitored for toxic H2S. Personnel visiting these sites are only protected by portable or personal toxic gas sensors. Thus, service personnel are forced to enter potentially toxic situations without advanced warning, which is not an optimal solution. In addition, “running blind” can lead to costly wasted trips to the field where personnel must abandon work once gas is detected via personal monitors.
Clearly, this is a case for wireless technology, but Emerson has taken wireless H2S monitoring a step beyond. The Emerson approach greatly reduces the costs and increases the speed to install and commission conventional detection devices. It allows the user to place sensors where they want and need them, and to implement new applications in remote locations with total flexibility. To learn how to achieve a level of performance, convenience, and reliability previously unattainable in H2S monitoring, download the white paper now.