Hydrogen sensors detect hazardous levels of hydrogen gas, which is flammable and explosive above 40,000ppm. They are used in portable and static gas detectors to detect leaks and in hydrogen fuel cell technology to prevent dangerous leaks. Different sensor designs use palladium or measure changes in conductivity to detect hydrogen concentrations as low as 5ppm.
A hydrogen sensor is a device that can detect the presence of hydrogen gas. Because hydrogen occurs naturally in extremely small quantities in the atmosphere, approximately 0.00005% by volume, these sensors are designed to detect quantities that could be considered hazardous. A hydrogen monitoring gas detector is often used to detect hydrogen gas leaks from closed systems. Hydrogen sensors are also finding a niche in the new but growing hydrogen fuel cell industry.
A number of hydrogen sensor design technologies are in use today. Most take advantage of the fact that hydrogen is chemically quite active. One type of sensor, for example, uses palladium. When palladium comes into contact with hydrogen atoms, it spontaneously forms a compound called palladium hydride, which is less conductive than the pure metal. By measuring the changes in the conductivity of the palladium in the sensor, the concentration of hydrogen in the air can be calculated. Advanced hydrogen sensors can be very small, measured in millimeters or fractions of an inch in size, and can detect hydrogen gas concentrations as low as 5 parts per million (ppm) in seconds.
Hydrogen is potentially dangerous. It can be flammable and even explosive at concentrations above 40,000ppm. The famous explosion and fire of the Hindenburg in 1937 showed how dangerous this gas can be. The large airship, filled with hydrogen gas, caught fire and exploded and crashed to the ground, killing 36 people. The fame of this incident caused airships to fall out of favor as a means of transportation. The need for hydrogen sensors as a safety measure was seen following this and other incidents involving fires and explosions.
In 2011, a hydrogen sensor will most likely be used in one of the three applications. Portable hydrogen sensors are gas detectors that inspectors or technicians can use to spot check any system that holds, transmits, or uses hydrogen gas for leaks. These sensors, which are typically small portable units, can be purpose-built for hydrogen detection or can be multigas detectors capable of detecting different types of gases, depending on the settings.
A static hydrogen sensor is likely to be located in a building or other enclosed space. This type of hydrogen sensor works in the same way as a portable unit but is connected to some type of monitoring system which can include alarms. In these applications, hydrogen sensors are used to detect a buildup of the gas above normal atmospheric levels before it becomes dangerous.
Hydrogen fuel cells are an emerging field of technology that essentially uses hydrogen as a fuel. Under controlled conditions, hydrogen provides a large amount of energy when burned and is the green fuel par excellence, as the by-product of hydrogen combustion is pure water. Many companies are working on vehicles that use these cells for power. Hydrogen leaks can also be dangerous in fuel cells, and hydrogen sensors are installed in any vehicle, machine or device that uses a hydrogen fuel cell for energy.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
