Laboratory Safety Combustible and Toxic Gas Detection and Alarm Solution

At around 10:10 am on December 18, 2015, a fire and explosion accident occurred in the laboratory on the second floor of the Department of Chemistry at Tsinghua University. The explosion caused thick black smoke, shattered the glass in the adjacent room, and resulted in the death of a postdoctoral researcher. The investigation results show that the cause was the explosion caused by a hydrogen cylinder leak, and the high temperature generated was ignited by flammable substances. Laboratory explosion accidents occur almost every year, and this accident once again highlights the issue of laboratory gas safety.

Due to their own experimental requirements, most universities and research laboratories use a wide variety of reagents, many of which are toxic and flammable gases. Moreover, laboratory personnel have high mobility and frequent use, making it highly susceptible to safety accidents if there is a lack of a comprehensive emergency system.

For example, the main cause of this accident was hydrogen gas, which is a commonly used gas in laboratories and research institutions. Hydrogen gas is often stored in gas cylinders, which are equipped with valves, pressure gauges, and flow meters. If these interfaces are not tightly closed before entering the laboratory or after the last use, it will cause hydrogen gas leakage. If there is no combustible gas detection and alarm system, it will explode when exposed to open flames.

Any laboratory or research institution that involves toxic and harmful gases or flammable gases in the experimental environment needs to install flammable and toxic gas detection and alarm devices. Combustible and toxic gas detection and alarm devices are installed in areas with gas leakage hazards, such as gas cylinder storage areas, experimental work areas, etc. The number of installations is determined by the size of the area.

The gas detection alarm can upload the on-site gas concentration value to the controller or control center, and automatically light up an alarm when flammable or toxic gases leak, reminding personnel to take timely measures. The system can also be connected to the laboratory exhaust system to achieve automatic exhaust replacement. The system configuration diagram is as follows: