Protection for life…

Gas Detector Placement and

Configuration
Edward Naranjo Ph.D.
Global Technical Product Manager
General Monitors

© General Monitors 2012

Content

• Introduction
• Source Monitoring
• Volumetric Monitoring
• Enclosure Monitoring
• Perimeter Monitoring
• Conclusion
• Appendix 2

© General Monitors 2012 Protection for life…

Introduction

• Fire and gas (F&G) detection systems are at the

cornerstone of modern process plant safety
– Alert staff to a developing hazard
– Enable executive action to ensure that the plant is
placed into a safe state
• F&G systems do not prevent a hazardous condition
from occurring, but rather mitigate the effects of a
hazard 3

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F&G System Effectiveness

• F&G Systems’ ability to perform its intended safety

actions in a demand condition depends on several
factors
– Detector geographic coverage
– Detector scenario coverage
– F&G system availability

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Detector Geographic Coverage

• Geographic coverage refers to

the fraction of the geometric
area of a monitored process
area which, if a release were to
occur, it would be detected by
the detection equipment
– Number of sensors
– Location

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Detector Placement

• Methods for laying out flame and gas detectors are

intended to maximize the potential for detection
success in the event of a release
– Source monitoring
– Volumetric monitoring
– Enclosure monitoring
– Perimeter monitoring
6

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Source Monitoring

• Source monitoring involves the placement of detectors

around potential release sources
– Applicable to detection of moderate and large releases
of flammable materials
– Useful for the detection of large or catastrophic toxic
releases that may migrate from the area

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Source Monitoring (Continued)
• Source monitoring is facilitated by a three-step process:
Possible
Leak Sources
Determine if individual release
sources should be considered
individually or as one large
leak source
• Separated sources should
be surrounded by their own
detection scheme
• Multiple sources within 10 –
15 ft (3.3 – 4.5 m) may be
treated as single point
source
© General Monitors 2012
Design
Assessment
Layout
Use computer modeling to Lay out sensors on plot plan
evaluate target release using set back distances and
sensor spacings
• Determine set back
distance between • Heavier-than-air gases will
potential source and tend to move to low lying areas
sensors • Combination of point and open
• Determine allowable path infrared (IR) detectors
8
distance between sensors may provide most economical
approach for achieving
reasonable probability of
detection success
Protection for life…
Example

6m
Figure 1 If open path detector
10% LEL alarms at 10% LEL-m,
cloud must overlap one of
the beams by at least 1 m

5m

6m
Figure 2
9

5m

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Volumetric Monitoring

• Volumetric monitoring is based on concept that greatest risk from

flammable gas escapes is direct damage from explosions
– Does not consider small releases as deemed impractical to detect
reliably

Flame
velocity

Space to
achieve 10
Congestion
maximum
speed

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Detonation

• Ignited 6-m methane or propane cloud does not achieve flame

speeds greater than 100 m/s in methane and 125 m/s in propane
– Large unconfined volumes
– Confined volumes with blockage rations less than 0.3 or 0.4

100 m/s (330 ft/s)

5 – 6 m (16 – 19 ft) 11

Pressure differential is less than required to produce structural damage

(approx. 2 psi or 150 mbar)

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Example

≈5m

12

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Blockages

• Structures within a space can prevent the dispersion of

gas and produce localized pockets of high gas
accumulations
• Structures can also generate enough resistance to a
propagating flame front to generate a significant
pressure front

13

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Blockage Ratio

• Blockage ratio is the ratio of obstructed area over total area

– Considers each monitored volume a cube

Example: 11 x 55 m2 deck elevated by 15 m

• Solid area is 30% of square
• Three heat exchangers occupy base area of 30 m2

Deck area = 30% x (11 x 55) m2

Heat exchangers = 30 m2
Ground area = 11 x 55 m2
Total = 817 m2 14

Surface area of cube = 2 (11 x 55) + 2 (15 x 55) + 2 (11 x 15)

= 3190 m2
Blockage ratio = 817 / 3190
= 0.26

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Volumetric Monitoring – Enclosed Buildings

Gas Cloud
Type Volume, m3 (ft3)
Diameter, m (ft)
Small buildings < 1,000 (35,000) 4 (13)
5 (16)*
Large buildings  1,000 (35,000)
4 (13)
* When an inerting system is present in compliance with NFPA 69 (Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems)

• Gas clouds of certain diameter cannot exist without contacting a

sensor
15

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Volumetric Monitoring – Semi-enclosed
Volumes

Gas Cloud
Volume, m3 (ft3) Blockage Ratio
Diameter, m (ft)
 1,000 (35,000) > 0.3 5 (16)

• Considerations:
– If volume does not contain a potential release source, apply
source monitoring method or monitor the perimeter of the volume
– If gas is heavier than air and arises from a distant source, install
detectors near ground or grade level (18 in or 0.5 m) along
perimeter 16

– If gas is heavier than air and comes from a nearby source or of a

neutrally buoyant gas, provide multiple levels of detection at 5 m
(16 ft) vertical intervals along perimeter

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Volumetric Monitoring – Open Volumes

Localized Gas Cloud Diameter,

Condition
Blockage Ratio m (ft)
> 0.3 NA 5 (16)*
 0.3 Several congested areas 10 (33)

 0.3 Isolated congested areas 5 (16)**

* Protection should be provided according to the detector deployment strategy for partially-enclosed volumes
** Detection should be capable of sensing the gas cloud of 5 m (16 ft) in diameter anywhere within the pockets

• Open volumes (blockage ratio < 0.3) usually do not require combustible gas 17

detectors
– Install detectors if open space contains multiple congested areas
• Use open path detection along perimeter if volume has no congested
pockets with blockage ratios greater than 0.3 and hazard is gas migration
from volume to other areas

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Liquid Phase and Heavier-than-air Releases

• Liquid gas releases behave differently from vapor phase releases

– Less mixing with air
– Gas clouds are typically dense and cold
• For areas containing inventories of process fluids, which on loss of
containment remain as liquids for a significant period, a three-
dimensional grid should be used
– No more than 0.5 m (1.5 ft) above local deck or grade

18

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Liquid Phase and Heavier-than-air Releases
(Continued)

• For isolated sources (ex. transfer pumps, loading

installations in open areas), detectors should be placed
on a 5 m (16 ft) triangular grid around potential heavy
gas release points

19

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Enclosure Monitoring

• Enclosures are commonly found in the process

industries
– Analyzer buildings
– Remote instrument enclosures (RIE’s)
• Detector deployment approach:
– Install at least one combustible gas detector
– Placement must be based on gas density
• Within 12 in of floor for heavier-than-air gases 20

• Within 12 in of ceiling for gases lighter than air

In certain applications, gas density relative to air has little effect on where gas will accumulate compared to stronger
influences like release pressure and ventilation

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Enclosure Monitoring - Heavier-than-air
Gases

• If structure is naturally ventilated,

install detectors in a square grip with
maximum spacing of 4 m (13 ft) for a
single potential source
– For multiple sources, arrange
detectors in square or rectangular 4 m (13 ft)
pattern so maximum sensor Potential
separation is 4 m (13 ft) release sources

• If structure is mechanically ventilated

( 6 ACH), lay detectors according to
21
expected path of gas travel

4 m (13 ft)

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Enclosure Monitoring – Heavier-than-air
Gases (Continued)

• Other considerations:
– Place gas detectors in dead air spaces that encompass
potential leak sources
– Place gas detectors where streams converge and
approach inlets of exhaust ventilation systems
– Place detectors in pits, trenches, and other low lying
areas
22

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Enclosure Monitoring – Lighter-than-air
Gases

• Gas detectors should be located

0.3 m (1 ft) within the ceiling if flat
0.5 m (1.5 ft)
and 0.5 m (1.5 ft) within the apex
– For naturally ventilated or
mechanically ventilated spaces,
detectors should be arranged
according to the guidance for
0.3 m (1 ft)
heavier-than-air gases

23

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Enclosure Monitoring – Naturally Buoyant
Gases

• Substances with specific gravities close to that of air should be

monitored according to the volumetric monitoring technique

Specific
Gas
Gravity
Air 1.000
Acetylene 0.90 ≈5m

Ethylene 0.9683 24

Ethane 1.0378

Silane 1.11

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Perimeter Monitoring

• Perimeter monitoring is sometimes used where

heavier-than-air or naturally buoyant gases are present
• Most effective under the following conditions:
– Process unit or storage is close to plant perimeter and
there is high likelihood releases may cross the fence line
– Potential release sources are outside the coverage of
local detectors
25

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 Perimeter Monitoring (Continued)

• Considerations
– Alarm set points should be as low as practical without
producing false alarms
– Height of open path detector must be based on highest
point of grade along beam to prevent false alarms and
beam block faults from snow, vegetation, or wildlife
– Open path detectors should be installed in locations
where their paths will not be interrupted by routine 26

operations

3m

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Perimeter Monitoring (Continued)

• For heavier-than-air gases, the higher the detector is

located above grade, the lower its alarm set point must
be to remain effective
0.1 LEL-m

9m

27

0.25 LEL-m
3m

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Conclusion

• F&G system effectiveness depends on the appropriate

allocation and placement of detectors
• Several detector deployment strategies maximize the
chances of detection in the event of a gas release
• Source monitoring involves the placement of detectors
around potential leak sources
– Useful for moderate to large releases of combustible
materials and large or catastrophic toxic gas releases 28

© General Monitors 2012 Protection for life…

Conclusion (Continued)

• The volumetric method focuses on monitoring

obstructed or congested spaces where flammable
gases may accumulate
– Uses a three-dimensional array of detectors to assure a
gas cloud of a certain size cannot exist in a monitored
space without contacting a sensor
• Enclosure monitoring addresses gas detection within
buildings or enclosures
29

– Includes situations where the structure handles toxic and

flammable materials or where enclosures are subject to
gas escapes from nearby plant areas

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Conclusion (Continued)

• Perimeter monitoring is used to protect an area from migration

of a gas plume into an area outside the owner’s control
– Sometimes mandated by regulatory agencies interested in
providing increased protection from the public
– Most effective in detecting process gases that are heavier
than air (ex. butane, carbon dioxide)
• Regardless of detector placement method used, a credible
release may not necessarily be detectable with any degree of
certainty
– Obstructions at a plant may change over time, rendering the 30

allocation of sensors inadequate to address risks in certain

areas
– Possible leak sources may not be identified during a
preliminary hazard analysis

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Conclusion (Continued)

• Fixed flame and gas detectors should be part of

several safeguards that prevent or mitigate the
consequences of gas releases

31

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 Protection for life…

Appendix

© General Monitors 2012

References

• Continuous Monitoring for Hazardous Material Releases. 2009.

Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
• ISA-TR84.00.07-2010, Guidance on the Evaluation of Fire and
Gas System Effectiveness. 2010. Research Triangle Park, NC:
ISA.
• Offshore Technology Report - OTO 93 002: Offshore Gas
Detector Siting Criterion, Investigation of Detector Spacing.
1993. Croydon, UK: Health and Safety Executive.
• Zabetakis, M.G. 1965. Flammability Characteristics of
33
Combustible Gases and Vapors. Bulletin 627. Washington, DC:
U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines.

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Standards and Recommended Practices on
Detector Placement

• API RP 14C (R2007), Analysis, Design, Installation, and Testing of

Basic Surface Safety Systems for Offshore Production Platforms,
seventh edition. 2001. Washington, DC: American Petroleum
Institute.
• API RP 14F, Design, Installation, and Maintenance of Electrical
Systems for Fixed and Floating Offshore Petroleum Facilities for
Unclassified and Class 1, Division 1 and Division 2 Locations, fifth
edition. 2008. Washington, DC: American Petroleum Institute.
• API RP 14FZ (R2007), Design and Installation of Electrical Systems
for Fixed and Floating Offshore Petroleum Facilities for Unclassified 34
and Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 0 Locations, first edition.
2001. Washington, DC: American Petroleum Institute.

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Standards and Recommended Practices on
Detector Placement (Continued)

• BS EN 50073: 1999, Guide for the selection, installation, use and

maintenance of apparatus for the detection and measurement of
combustible gases or oxygen. 1999. London, UK: British
Standards Institution.
• CXHO GP 30-85, Guidance on Practice for Fire and Gas Detection
Philosophy. 2002. London, UK: BP Group.
• GP 30-85, Fire and Gas Detection. 2009. London, UK: BP Group.
• ISA-RP12.13.02-2003 (IEC 61779-6 Mod), Recommended Practice
for the Installation, Operation, and Maintenance of Combustible Gas
Detection Instruments. 2003. Research Triangle Park, NC: ISA.
• ISA-RP92.0.02, Part II-1998, Installation, Operation, and 35

Maintenance of Toxic Gas-Detection Instruments: Hydrogen Sulfide.

1998. Research Triangle Park, NC: ISA.
• ISO 10418: 2003, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Offshore
production installations – Basic Surface process safety systems,
second edition. 2003. Geneva, Switzerland: ISO.

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