In the chemical industry, facilities handling flammable, toxic, and hazardous gases that fail to install detection and alarm devices according to national standards constitute a major hidden danger for production safety accidents. So, which specific locations require the installation of flammable gas detectors?

According to the Design Standard for Detection and Alarm of Combustible Gas and Toxic Gas in Petrochemical Industry (GB/T 50493-2019): ‌Article 3.0.1:‌ Flammable gas detectors shall be installed in areas of production facilities, storage facilities, and transportation infrastructures where flammable gases or toxic gases are produced or used, if the concentration of leaked flammable gas is likely to reach the alarm set point. Therefore, the definition of "flammable gas" is particularly important.

In the petrochemical industry, key areas such as ‌production plant areas, storage tank farms, loading/unloading areas, and along pipelines‌ require flammable gas detectors. Additionally, locations with the risk of flammable gas leaks, such as ‌gas supply and usage areas (e.g., basements, garages), painting and spray booths, underground facilities and tunnels, laboratories, and research institutions‌, must also install industrial flammable gas detectors.

Common flammable gases include:

Hydrocarbon gases‌ (e.g., methane, ethane, propane)
Halogenated hydrocarbon gases‌ (e.g., chloroethylene)
Alcohol gases‌ (e.g., methanol, ethanol)
Ether and ketone gases‌ (e.g., diethyl ether, acetone)
Other flammable gases‌ (e.g., hydrogen, carbon monoxide)

A leak of these gases can form a flammable mixture in the air, which may ignite or explode upon encountering an open flame or high temperature.

When installing industrial flammable gas detectors, the ‌installation height must be selected based on gas density‌:

Flammable gases ‌denser than air‌ will sink after a leak. Detectors should be installed ‌0.3 - 0.6 meters‌ above the floor.
Flammable gases ‌lighter than air‌ will rise after a leak. Detectors should be installed ‌1.0 - 1.5 meters‌ above the potential leak point.
Detectors should be placed ‌close to potential leak sources‌ (e.g., pipe connections, valves, flanges, storage tanks), considering the likely direction of gas dispersion after a leak.
Avoid installing industrial flammable gas detectors in environments with ‌strong electromagnetic interference, high temperatures, or high humidity‌.

Installing and maintaining ‌Yaoan industrial flammable gas detectors‌ is a crucial measure for effectively reducing leak risks and protecting lives and property.