Tips on Choosing a Hydrogen Safety Sensor

As the number of stationary and mobile applications using hydrogen steadily increases, due in part to an increase in hydrogen demonstration projects, project engineers and scientists are faced with the dilemma regarding which hydrogen sensor to use for their particular application. There are many types of hydrogen sensor available on the market and their number is increasing as emerging models promise faster, more reliable and more sensitive detection of hydrogen under a broader range of ambient conditions. This does not make selecting the best sensor for an application any easier, particularly considering the ambiguous performance specifications sometimes provided by sensor manufacturers. The Joint Research Centre – Institute for Energy (JRC-IE) has been engaged in independent hydrogen sensor performance assessment for several years. In the execution of our activities we collaborate with sensor developers, manufacturers, end users, research institutions and international standards organisations to support the safe and effective use of hydrogen. Over the years, we have witnessed the large increase in the number of commercial hydrogen detection devices available and have noted significant improvements in their performance in addition to a decrease in their size and price. While previous enquiries of our work related mostly to the need (or not) for hydrogen sensors and to the sensing technology types recent enquiries relate more to the practical application, correct choice and correct deployment of hydrogen sensors. To address some of these enquiries a compilation of results from our research and hydrogen sensor performance testing is presented here including test results from: • Sensitivity to hydrogen • Accuracy of response • Dependence on ambient conditions • Speed of response Results will be presented for several product technology types including catalytic, electrochemical, MOSFET, thermal conductivity and semiconducting metal-oxide type hydrogen sensors. Sensor capabilities will be discussed in relation to suitable applications for the different sensor types. Furthermore consideration will be given to not only sensor performance capabilities but also the importance of correct sensor deployment.

BRETT Lois;  BLACK Grainne;  MORETTO Pietro;  BOUSEK Jaroslav; 

2013-04-08

University of Ulster

JRC65247