Challenging traditional sensing with innovative technologies for HP processes!

Servomex has joined forces with H2scan to provide complete light hydrocarbon measurement and analytical solutions to its HP and NG customers.

The new partnership completes Servomex’s end-to-end offering for the innovative, multi component light hydrocarbon analyzer and GC alternative the SERVOTOUGH SpectraScan by providing a more robust and reliable measurement of hydrogen in hydrocarbon gases, using a unique alternative technology to traditional thermal conductivity sensors. H2scan’s hydrogen-specific sensing system is uniquely able to detect hydrogen against virtually any background gases without false readings or expensive support equipment required.

Rhys Jenkins, Market Sector Manager at Servomex, explains: “Unlike thermal conductivity sensors, the H2scan does not require significant application development for each mix of hydrocarbon gases, yet it exceeds industry standards. The combination of the two new and innovative technologies in the H2scan and SpectraScan is a head on challenge to traditional GC industry options for hydrocarbon sensing. The result is superior, yet simpler detection for HP and NG applications at considerably lower implementation and product lifetime costs for our customers.”

The H2scan patented “Chip on a flex” technology provides a far more robust and reliable direct measurement of hydrogen than any thermal conductivity sensor, making it a natural collaborative partner for the SpectraScan “Tunable Filter Spectroscopy” optical sensor. As an out-of-the box solution, the H2scan is easily configurable alongside the SpectraScan and comes with customer support that matches Servomex’s own customer-centric ethos.

Michael Nofal, Vice President Sales & Business Development at H2scan said: “Our hydrogen specific sensing systems based on a patented "Chip on a flex" technology have the ability to operate in real-time. This is important for the SERVOTOUGH SpectraScan which also operates in real time, unlike GC technologies which have a time lag. We also bring a host of benefits in terms of the lowest total cost of ownership, low maintenance and longer calibration intervals, simple system integration and installation and tolerance to harsh background contaminants.”

Hydrogen monitors in refinery

Quantitech launched a new hydrogen detection technology in Britain towards the end of 2007 and Managing Director Keith Golding is delighted to report, "the technology is proving popular in a wide variety of applications and has recently been chosen by BP for process analysis at its Cherry Point refinery in Washington, USA."
The unique hydrogen monitoring instrumentation is manufactured by H2scan Corporation, based in California, and is distributed exclusively in Britain and Ireland by Quantitech Ltd.

Founded in 2002, H2scan Corporation has been built around a hydrogen specific sensor technology that was originally developed in the U.S. National Laboratory at Sandia. Since that time H2scan has developed a range of advanced portable and fixed monitors for the specific measurement of hydrogen in mixtures, without interference from other gases.

In-line process hydrogen monitoring versions of the technology, the HY-OPTIMA 700 analysers, have been ordered by the BP facility after a successful trial which resulted in good performances in a high percentage, harsh contaminant (H2S) and multi-component process gas in comparison with traditional process analysers.

Explaining the reason for H2scan's success, BP’s Analyser Engineer, Ryan Holgate said: “H2scan participated in a competitive bidding process with gas chromatographs and was selected based on a number of factors including performance, cost and maintainability.”

The H2scan analysers will provide real-time measurement without the need for valve switching, frequent calibrations and is designed to save considerable retail space in BP’s analyser shelters. H2scan’s success with BP provides a good example of widespread acceptance of H2scan’s miniaturised and advanced analyser technologies in oil refineries.

Keith Golding added: “H2scan’s hydrogen specific solid-state sensing technology is able to detect hydrogen against virtually any background gases without false readings or expensive support equipment. These instruments are able to detect hydrogen concentrations from 15 ppm to 100% over a wide range of temperatures without cross-sensitivity to other substances.

"We are pleased to hear about H2scan's success in the USA and look forward to bringing the benefits of this technology to the UK petrochemical industry."

New technology for Hydrogen alarms

Over the last few months Quantitech has supplied DPSS Cabling Services with unique hydrogen specific gas monitors for use at 14 different back up power facilities that utilise uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems.

UPS equipment is often preferred to diesel generators because it not only provides surge protection, but also eliminates the use of fossil fuels and any associated exhaust related issues. However, lead acid based battery systems have the potential to emit hydrogen if there is any damage or leakage. Hydrogen is a highly dangerous flammable gas, so DPSS has installed the new gas detection technology capable of detecting low levels of hydrogen, even in mixtures of other gases.

DPSS ordered the HY-ALERTA™ 600 version of the hydrogen monitoring technology, which provides hydrogen-specific leak detection and measurement of hydrogen concentrations as low as 4000 ppm and can be scaled to any concentration up to 5% hydrogen by volume. The monitor is designed for either ceiling or wall mount and has no cross sensitivity to other combustible gases, thereby eliminating false positive alarms and ensuring safety system reliability.

DPSS's Jeff Redhead commented, "As specialists in the field of the design, survey and installation of cabling and associated route works, we often provide the support works for UPS systems. This equipment is becoming more common in applications stretching from shopping centres to military installations, so we are delighted that a reliable hydrogen specific technology is available to monitor at the LEL (Lower Explosive Limit) and provide an alarm in the extremely unlikely event of a leak."

The hydrogen detection technology was developed by H2scan, a US based company represented in Britain by Quantitech. Keith Golding is Managing Director at Quantitech. He says. "There are many applications for which hydrogen specific monitoring is important. These cover both health and safety, and process control within a wide variety of industrial applications including petrochemical refineries, hydrogen production, chlorine manufacture, nuclear power/waste, fossil fuel power, chrome plating, research, semiconductor and electronics manufacture, abatement exhausts, transformer oil, fuel cell technologies and of course lead acid battery monitoring."