Application of Gas Sensors in Industrial Gas Leakage Accident Prevention Systems

Most people are unfamiliar with ammonia, yet people are frequently exposed to it in daily life. Ammonia is a colorless gas with an intense pungent odor and is lighter than air. Long-term exposure to ammonia poses threats to human health. As an essential industrial chemical raw material, ammonia is widely used to manufacture urea, soda ash, ammonium nitrogen fertilizer and nitric acid. It is also applied in organic synthesis for synthetic fiber, plastic, dyestuff and other chemical products.

Driven by the rapid growth of China’s industrial economy in recent years, atmospheric ammonia emissions from diverse industries keep rising and exert growing impacts on the climate. For one thing, atmospheric ammonia reacts with gaseous pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides to form secondary aerosol particles that absorb and scatter light, lowering atmospheric visibility. For another, airborne ammonia functions as a greenhouse gas and alters ambient atmospheric temperature.

For a long time, insufficient attention has been paid to ammonia emissions and their environmental and climatic impacts. Excessively high ammonia concentrations harm human health. Prolonged exposure irritates and damages human skin tissues and respiratory systems. Ammonia adheres to skin mucous membranes and conjunctiva, triggering irritation and inflammation. Inhalation of excessive ammonia causes poisoning symptoms including sore throat, chest tightness and breathing difficulty, and may even result in fatalities. Continuous ambient ammonia concentration monitoring is therefore required to prevent workplace accidents.

Ammonia gas detectors fall into fixed and portable types. Portable detectors feature compact size for easy carrying and instant on-site concentration testing. Fixed ammonia alarm systems consist of gas detectors and control panels. Installed at monitoring sites, detectors deliver round-the-clock real-time concentration measurement based on electrochemical ammonia sensors. Control panels are mounted in staffed rooms for convenient observation; they receive concentration data from detectors, display readings and trigger audible-visual alarms once concentrations exceed safety thresholds, with linkage to external equipment such as solenoid valves and exhaust fans.

The core component of both portable and fixed ammonia detectors is the ammonia sensor, one of the most widely adopted sensing elements for gas detection. In short, electrochemical ammonia sensors calculate target gas concentration by measuring the magnitude of induced current generated through electrochemical reactions.

The British DDS electrochemical ammonia sensors distributed by Shenzhen Wuliang Sensor Technology require no bias voltage, featuring easy operation and cost-effectiveness. They serve as a reliable, ideal sensing solution for personnel working under harsh operating conditions.

These sensors measure and display real-time ammonia concentrations. Matching gas alarm devices adopt microprocessor control units and high-performance electrochemical sensors with superior sensitivity and fast response speed. Alarms activate promptly when ammonia levels go beyond safety limits. Composed of control hosts and detection probes, such alarm products are extensively deployed across metallurgy, petroleum, petrochemicals, fine chemicals, coking, municipal engineering, coal gas production, pharmaceutical manufacturing, wastewater treatment and various other specialized industrial sectors.

Ammonia is a dual-natured substance with prominent industrial value alongside inherent hazards. Its biological toxicity has been scientifically verified, posing persistent health risks to humans, while its adverse environmental impacts deserve heightened attention. Ongoing technological advances in gas sensors will fuel emerging application scenarios and market demands, driving sustained industrial development. Future sensor upgrades will deliver eco-friendlier, safer, healthier, more convenient, innovative and cost-efficient products that benefit end users and the general public.