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Typical areas where gas detection is required

2026-03-17 · Knowledge column

Typical areas where gas detection is required

There are many different applications for detecting flammable gases, toxic gases, and oxygen. Industrial production processes are increasin…

There are many different applications for detecting flammable gases, toxic gases, and oxygen. Industrial production processes are increasingly involving the use and manufacture of highly hazardous substances, especially toxic and flammable gases. This inevitably leads to occasional gas leaks, which can pose potential hazards to industrial facilities, their employees, and nearby residents. Accidents worldwide, including suffocation, explosions, and loss of life, serve as eternal warnings about this issue.

Oil & gas

The oil and gas industry encompasses a variety of activities, from onshore and offshore exploration to the production of oil and gas, as well as their transportation, storage, and refining. The large amounts of highly flammable hydrocarbon gases involved pose a serious explosion hazard, and toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide are also frequently present.

Typical applications

  • ? Exploration drilling platforms
  • ? Production platform
  • ? Onshore oil and gas terminals
  • ? Refineries

Typical gases

  • Flammable: Hydrocarbon gases
  • Toxicity: hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide

Semiconductor manufacturing

The manufacturing of semiconductor materials involves the use of highly toxic substances and flammable gases. Phosphorus, arsenic, boron, gallium, and others are often used as additives. Hydrogen is not only used as a reactant, but is also often used as a carrier gas for reducing air. Pickling gas and cleaning gas include NF3 and other perfluorinated compounds.

Typical applications

  • ? Wafer reactor
  • ? Wafer dryer
  • ? Gas chamber
  • ? Chemical vapor deposition

Typical gases

  • Flammable: Hydrogen, isopropyl ethanol, methane
  • Toxicity: HCl, AsH3, BCl3, PH3, CO, HF, O3, H2 Cl2 Si, TEOS, C4F6, C5F8, GeH4, NH3, NO2, and hypoxia

Spontaneous combustion: Silane

Chemical devices

Chemical plants may be among the largest users of gas detection equipment. During their production, they are commonly used or as by-products to produce various flammable and toxic gases.

Typical applications

  • ? Raw material storage
  • ? Craft area
  • ? Laboratory
  • ? Pump lineup
  • ? Compressor station
  • ? Guided area/non-guided area

Typical gases

  • Flammable: General hydrocarbon gases
  • Toxicity: Various gases, including hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen fluoride, and ammonia

Power station

Traditionally, the main fuels for power plants have been coal and oil. In Europe and the United States, most power plant fuels have already been converted to natural gas.

Typical applications

  • ? Boiler tube operations and near the combustion furnace
  • ? Turbine packaging and its surroundings
  • ? Coal bunkers and conveyor belts in older coal/oil power stations

Typical gases

  • Flammable: natural gas, hydrogen
  • Toxicity: carbon monoxide, SOx, NOx hypoxia

Wastewater treatment devices

Wastewater treatment units are common in many cities and towns. Wastewater naturally releases methane and hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide gas in the "rotten egg" smell can be detected by the nose even at as low as 0.1 ppm, attracting attention.

Typical applications

  • ? Steamer
  • ? Install sewage tanks
  • ? Hydrogen sulfide scrubber
  • ? Pump

Typical gases

  • Flammable: Methane, solvent vapors
  • Toxicity: Hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, ozone

Boiler room

Boiler rooms come in many shapes and sizes. Smaller buildings may use a single boiler, while larger buildings often use a large boiler room housing several large boilers.

Typical applications

  • ? Leaks of flammable gas in the intake main
  • ? Leaks in the boiler and surrounding gas pipelines
  • ? Poorly maintained boilers may release carbon monoxide

Typical gases

  • Flammable: Methane
  • Toxicity: Carbon monoxide

Hospital

Hospitals may use many different flammable and toxic substances, especially in their laboratories. Additionally, many hospitals are very large and use on-site power equipment and backup power stations.

Typical applications

  • ? Laboratory
  • ? Cooling device
  • ? Boiler room

Typical gases

  • Flammable: Methane, hydrogen
  • Toxicity: Carbon monoxide, chlorine, ammonia, ethylene oxide, and oxygen deficiency

Tunnel/Parking Garage

In vehicle tunnels and enclosed parking garages, it is necessary to monitor toxic gases in exhaust fumes. Modern tunnels and parking garages control ventilation fans through monitoring. Gas accumulation in tunnels also needs to be monitored.

Typical applications

  • ? Vehicle tunnel
  • ? Subway and enclosed parking garage
  • ? Tunnel entrance
  • ? Ventilation operation

Typical gases

  • Flammable: Methane (natural gas), LPG, LNG, gasoline vapor
  • Toxicity: Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide

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