US-based safety equipment company MSA Safety has published a white paper examining the challenges of hydrogen safety and the layered detection technologies that can help mitigate risks associated with its use in industry.
As hydrogen gains traction as a low-carbon fuel, the paper explores the safety implications of its production, storage and distribution, particularly in confined or high-pressure settings.
Hydrogen’s properties, including low ignition energy, high diffusivity, plus a flame that is difficult to see, require tailored safety systems beyond those used for conventional fuels.
In the white paper MSA explores the limitations of traditional point gas detection in open or well-ventilated areas, where hydrogen leaks may go undetected. Instead, it proposes a multi-technology approach combining ultrasonic leak detection, electrochemical and catalytic sensors, and flame detectors capable of identifying hydrogen fires.
“Each technology addresses different risks, environments, and leak scenarios,” the report notes. It points to the use of ultrasonic sensors that respond to the high-frequency sound generated by pressurised gas leaks, independent of gas concentration or direction. The company’s Observer i system, for example, detects leaks from up to 28 metres away and uses algorithms to filter out background noise.
Electrochemical sensors are described as more suitable for enclosed spaces where early detection of small concentrations is critical. For open environments, where ignition could occur before gas accumulates to detectable levels, flame detectors using combined infrared and ultraviolet sensing offer another layer of protection.
The report also outlines the value of gas mapping and plume modelling in determining effective sensor placement. “Coverage calculations provide a quantitative measure of gas detection needs that complement conventional methods,” it states.
The paper explores hydrogen-specific standards such as ISO 22734 and ISO 19880, and states that existing infrastructure may need to be adapted to accommodate hydrogen’s unique behaviour and compatibility issues.
The full white paper, Working Safely with Hydrogen, is available here.
