Gas detection is a key part of a modern plant’s safety and asset monitoring system. Most plants likely have a permanent gas detection setup to alert operators, when there are critical issues. Temporary systems can help, when a permanent solution isn’t needed.
What isn’t thought about as often is areas that may not need gas detection all the time, or that may need additional gas detection at certain critical junctures for extended periods and potentially at a moment’s notice.
In cases like this, there is a need for something portable enough to be placed where required, but with a long enough battery life to hold up for a potentially extended need.
Below are a few examples of when this might be helpful:
- Plant shutdown
During a plant shutdown, work may be done on assets where toxic or combustible gases are present
During a plant shutdown, work may be done on assets where toxic or combustible gases are present. In this situation, there may not be sufficient gas detection present, in order to ensure the safety of plant personnel in an area that may not usually have operators or maintenance staff present.
One option is to have personnel sweep work areas with portable monitors, before work begins. However, an alternate approach is to set up a semi-permanent gas detection system around the perimeter of the area that can alert to potential dangers, before or during work, without requiring the deployment of personnel.
- Monitoring a known leak
If there is a known leak source at the plant that cannot be repaired immediately, temporary gas detection can provide constant monitoring of the situation, so as to ensure that the leak is not getting worse, while also providing critical information on the safety of the area.
This can be valuable information to have as a plant operator, when trying to balance a wide range of challenges with limited personnel.
- After a natural disaster
If the plant is struck by a natural disaster, it can wreak havoc on the processes and potentially create unsafe conditions. This is a time when safety is critical and resources are likely stretched.
Setting up temporary monitoring around critical assets in the days and weeks after an event can help provide valuable data in the areas that need the most attention, or present the most critical safety challenges.
- Plant Expansion
During a plant expansion, there may be movement or addition of critical infrastructure. If dangerous gases are present during this time and plant operators haven’t had a chance to move or add to the permanent gas detection system, temporary monitoring can help bridge the gap and ensure that workers are safe during potentially chaotic transitions.
Wireless gas detection is being widely used
Wireless gas detection is being used more and more as an alternative to wired detectors. This is a solution for permanent gas detection in plants where wiring is not feasible, but it also provides a solution for semi-permanent or temporary gas detection.
A plant can keep a number of detectors on hand and deploy them strategically, in order to provide monitoring, when unpredictable or even predictable needs arise for additional gas detection. In cases like this, it can pay to be prepared to ensure the safety of the people and assets.