Training Course for Calibration
H2S Sensors
Dr. Nour F. Attia
Fire & Explosion Protection Laboratory, Chemistry Division, National Institute of
Standards(NIS)
*E-mail address: drnour2009@gmail.com
1. What is the H2S gas?
2. Where dangerous levels of Hydrogen Sulfide
(H2S) might occur .
3. Exposure Limits.
4. Types of sensors used.
5. Calibration method.
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Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) is a colorless.
Very poisonous.
Flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs.
Perceptible at very low concentrations.
Chemical symbol: H2S
Specific Gravity: 1.192 (heavier than air).
Explosive limits: Lower: 4% , Upper: 44% volume in air.
Ignition Temperature: 500o F.
Solubility in water: 2.9 volumes of gas , per volume of water at 20o C.
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Hydrogen Sulfide is considered as very poison.
It can poison several different systems in the body.
The nervous system is the most affected.
It forms a complex bond with iron in the mitochondrial
cytochrome enzymes, thus preventing cellular respiration.
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.
Crude
petroleum
production
Petroleum
refineries
H2S Places Coke ovens
Paper Mills
Tanneries
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Exposure Limits,(1)
Industries should be aware of when researching hydrogen sulfide gas detectors
and gas detection systems.
Important definitions:
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
PEL = Permissible Exposure Limit.
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) .
REL = Recommended Exposure Limit.
IDLH = Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentration.
ACGIH (American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists) .
TLV = Threshold Limit Value.
TWA = Time Weighted Average exposure concentration for a normal 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek.
STEL = Short Term Exposure Limit (Usually a 15-minute time-weighted average exposure that should not be
exceeded at any time during a workday .
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Exposure Limits,(2)
OSHA PEL 20 ppm
(General industry)
OSHA PEL
10 ppm TWA
(Construction
industry)
OSHA PEL 10 ppm TWA
(Maritime)
Exposure limits
10 ppm TWA,
ACGIH TLV 15 ppm STEL
10 ppm Ceiling
NIOSH REL (10 min)
100 ppm
NIOSH IDLH
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Types of sensors used,(1)
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Types of sensors used,(2)
Catalytic bead sensors are used to monitor combustible gases .
The poison-resistant sensor provides reliable zero stability and linear response to
combustible gas over a wide temperature range.
The sensor consists of two alumina beads, each surrounding a platinum wire
operating at approximately 450oC.
One bead is passivated so it will not react with combustible gas.
The other bead is catalyzed to promote a reaction with combustible gas.
Effects of changes in ambient temperature and relative humidity are nullified by
placing the two beads in separate legs of a Wheatstone bridge circuit.
When the catalyzed bead reacts with combustible gas it heats up, which
increases its resistance and, in turn, increases the output of the Wheatstone
bridge circuit used as a sensor signal.
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Types of sensors used,(3)
Semiconductor sensors have a resistance in air that is affected by oxygen
adsorbed on the surface of the sensor.
Oxygen atoms capture electrons on the semiconductor surface, thereby
increasing its resistance.
The sensors can be impregnated with dopants such that the sensor's
resistance changes when specific gases displace the adsorbed oxygen.
Semiconductor sensors are simple and robust and widely used in
domestic gas detectors but are not very specific to a particular gas as
often required for industrial applications.
BS EN
50073:1999
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Types of sensors used,(4)
Electrochemical sensors are fuel cell-like devices consisting of an anode,
cathode, and electrolyte.
The components of the cell are selected so a subject gas, allowed to diffuse into
the cell, will cause a chemical reaction and generate a current.
The cells are diffusion limited so the rate the gas enters the cell is solely depend-
ent on the gas concentration.
The current generated is proportional to the rate of consumption of the subject
gas in the cell.
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Types of sensors used,(5)
Most combustible gases absorb infrared light energy at defined wavelengths,
providing an absorption signature for that gas.
The principle of an infrared detector is based upon the absorption of the
infrared light at a specific wavelength as it passes through the gas.
The more of the absorbing gas that is present, the more light is absorbed.
Two light sources emit light of two different wavelengths through a gas
sample.
The beams are reflected back through the sample where the detector
compares the signal strengths of the sample and reference beams and
calculates the gas concentration by the light absorbed.
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Calibration
Please note: You should check the manual of the
instrument and follow the recommendations.
Turn on the Instrument .
Obtain Zero by clean air.
Obtain span.
Connect the pipe with
junction fit with the
instrument and calibration
gas cylinder with confined
H2S concentration.
Calibration
Wait 2 min to check
instrument reading, repeat
this step 5 times.
Calculate the uncertainty
which include type A and
type of instrument and
cylinder. .
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Thank You
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