Introduction to Hydrogen Gas Detection

Hydrogen is the simplest of all elements and is found in almost all things in our world and universe including the sun, stars, water, air, animals, humans and plants.  There is a wide abundance of this potentially powerful element and its mere vastness has made it a good source for research.  In recent years, scientists have created a way to convert the hydrogen found in everyday things like water into a useable source of energy.  This process is done safely and by a fairly easy process.

The process is performed by first separating the hydrogen from the other elements found in the compound.  For example, with water the hydrogen and oxygen elements are separated from each other and this allows for hydrogen gas to be created.  This gas is then stored in a holding tank where it will remain until it is needed.  This process is completed by the use of a hydrogen gas generator that is made just for the purpose of creating hydrogen gas.

Once in the holding tank, the hydrogen gas is ready to use as a needed fuel, often used to power a vehicle.  The hydrogen gas is safe for the environment and when used in your vehicle with gasoline it can greatly reduce the emissions let out into the air.  It also makes your vehicle run more efficiently and increases your gas per mile, which in turns reduces your gas costs.

Early Detection of Hydrogen Gas

While the use of hydrogen gas is great, this gas can also be very dangerous under certain circumstances.  Hydrogen gas when mixed with the right chemicals can be highly combustible.  The gas is colourless, odourless and tasteless which makes it very difficult to detect in the air.  This mixture of being highly combustible and difficult to detect make hydrogen gas safety harder.  It is vital that if you are using hydrogen gas that you have in place an early hydrogen gas detection system.

The most common method used as a hydrogen gas detection system is to install hydrogen gas detectors.  These detectors will be able to alert you if there is any hydrogen that is leaking into the air.  These detectors can be mounted on to your wall or ceiling giving you protection in a certain area.  There are also detectors that are hand held allowing you to carry it with you to whatever location you want to test.  Both of these detectors are a good source for your hydrogen gas detection system.

There are ways to self-test for hydrogen gas by using a splint and a test tube.  You would do this by collecting the air in question into a test tube and then throwing a lit splint into the test tube.  If hydrogen is present you will hear a popping sound in the test tube.  While this will tell you if hydrogen is present it is not the recommended way to use for hydrogen gas detection.  It could actually cause an explosion if not performed correctly.

Hydrogen gas can be a great alternative energy source but it can also become extremely dangerous.  The best way to stop an explosion or other damaging effects of hydrogen to happen is to have a good hydrogen gas detection system in place that will alert you as soon as hydrogen appears in the air.