Hydrogen (h) And Hydrogen Sulfide (h2s) Exposure Hazards And Safety Equipment

By Author: Conspec Controls
Total Articles: 15
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Hydrogen

Hydrogen gas (H2) was first artificially produced in the early 16th century, via the mixing of metals with strong acids. At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, nonmetallic, highly combustiblediatomicgas.

H2 is formed by various industrial processes, including the steam reforming of natural gas, and less often from more energy-intensive hydrogen production methods such as the electrolysis of water. Most hydrogen is used near its production site, with the two largest uses being fossil fuel production processes (such as,hydrocracking) and ammonia production, mostly for the fertilizer market.

Hydrogen is a concern in metallurgy as it can make many metals brittle and complicate the design of pipelines and storage tanks.When hydrogen is released as a gas, it will change into sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with a foul odor similar to the odor of rotten eggs. In anaerobic digestion, H2S results from the bacterial breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen, as in swamps and ...
... sewers. It also occurs in volcanic gases, natural gas, and some well waters.

Hydrogen sulfide is about 20% heavier than air, with a specific gravity of 1.19. Its odor can be recognized in concentrations of 500 ppm) can cause a loss of consciousness and possibly death. In most cases, consciousness returns without any other effects. However, in many individuals, there may be permanent or long-term effects such as headaches, poor attention span, poor memory, and poor motor function.

For hydrogen sulfide gas monitoring or hydrogen monitoring, we recommend a simple “smart” gas detector with an industry-standard 4-20 mA analog output signal, which can be connected to any existing PLC, DCS, or EMS system.

This article is provided by Conspec-Controls.com – A industrial gas detection company that specializes in Hydrogen Gas Detectors and Hydrogen Sulfide Detector.