To achieve safe gas detector management, it’s necessary to address multiple key aspects, comprehensively manage risks, and ensure effective operation.
Organize professionals in process, equipment, instrumentation, and safety fields to collaborate with the design team. Thoroughly analyze the types of flammable and toxic gases involved in the production process and carefully investigate potential leak locations. Pay particular attention to the surrounding areas of release sources, such as dynamic seals on gas compressors and liquid pumps, liquid and gas sampling ports, liquid (gas) drain (water) and vent ports, frequently disassembled flanges, and frequently operated valve blocks. This comprehensive assessment can prevent detectors from being installed where they should be, or from being installed with the wrong type, laying a solid foundation for subsequent safety monitoring.
For toxic gas detectors, at least two alarm levels should be set based on their toxicity characteristics. The alarm signals for each level should be clearly differentiated, allowing personnel to quickly identify the alarm’s urgency and take appropriate countermeasures.
Establish a detailed detector inventory and carefully verify it against the plant floor plan. Based on this inventory, create a layout of flammable and toxic gas detector locations throughout the plant and at each facility. This will facilitate daily management and enable prompt response when alarms occur. Fire control room personnel must effectively monitor and manage secondary flammable gas alarm signals and alarm control unit fault signals, eliminating the practice of leaving them unattended or ignored. Furthermore, both the control room operating area and area alarms should be equipped with audible and visual alarms to prevent alarms from being ignored due to ambient noise. Furthermore, personnel are strictly prohibited from arbitrarily disabling alarms due to frequent alarms. Alarm system management must be strengthened, and a first-response accountability system must be established to ensure prompt detection and resolution of emergencies.
Organize professional training for relevant personnel to ensure they are able to maintain standardized records of flammable and toxic gas alarms. Strictly follow the emergency response process. Upon receiving a GDS system alarm, control room personnel must quickly identify the alarm instrument’s location and ID, immediately record the alarm, and promptly notify relevant personnel to verify the cause of the alarm, ensuring prompt and effective handling.
Perform regular maintenance and calibrating of gas detection and alarm devices, carefully investigating the root cause of the alarm. This includes determining whether there are gas leaks in the measured environment, whether the alarm value is set appropriately, whether the device is calibrated on time, whether the sensor is damaged, or whether there are any issues with the device wiring. Calibration of detection and alarm devices is required in accordance with the “Combustible Gas Detector and Alarm” (JJG 693-2011). Calibration intervals generally do not exceed one year to prevent sensor failure and zero drift. Calibration should be performed promptly if the instrument is subjected to severe vibration or impact, or if key components have been replaced or repaired. If a detection and alarm device fails calibration or is found to be faulty, it must be repaired or replaced immediately to ensure that the equipment remains in good working order.
As precision instruments, gas detectors are a vital safeguard for gas environment safety in various fields. During the installation and use process, staff must strictly follow relevant specifications, respond to early warning information in a timely manner, and take effective rescue measures to truly prevent problems before they occur.
