A gas detector is a device equipped with highly sensitive sensors, which can敏锐ly detect small amounts of harmful gases, combustible gases, etc., that are commonly present in the air. It is a type of equipment that needs to be installed in many fields of industrial production at present. High-quality combustible gas detectors have a very large scale of use in the current market. Then, what is a gas detector, and what is its market potential? I. The gas detection equipment market has huge potential A gas detector is an instrument and tool for detecting gas leakage concentration, including portable gas detectors, handheld gas detectors, fixed gas detectors, online gas detectors, etc. It mainly uses gas sensors to detect the types of gases present in the environment. A gas sensor is a sensor used to detect the composition and content of gases. Gas sensors are a major category of chemical sensors. From working principles, characteristic analysis to measurement technologies, from materials used to manufacturing processes, from detection objects to application fields, they can form independent classification standards, deriving a variety of complex classification systems. Especially, there is no unified standard for classification, making it difficult to conduct strict systematic classification. Gas detectors can realize functions such as high-precision measurement, liquid crystal display, high-decibel alarm, simultaneous detection of multiple gases, real-time monitoring, and data storage and query. They have the advantages of a wide measurement range, powerful functions, flexible operation, long service life, and high measurement accuracy. At present, they have been widely used in fields such as petroleum, chemical industry, warehousing, fire protection, environmental protection, metallurgy, gas transportation, biomedicine, energy and electricity, and the market demand space is relatively broad. Grand View Research, Inc once released a report pointing out that by 2028, the global gas detection equipment market size is expected to reach 8.38 billion US dollars. It is estimated that from 2021 to 2028, the industry will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.7%, and the gas detection industry will enter a fast lane of development, with unlimited potential in the market. II. How to select a gas detector Then, in use, from which aspects should we select a gas detector? First is stability. Stability refers to the stability of the basic response of the sensor during the entire working time, which depends on zero drift and span drift. Zero drift refers to the change in the sensor's output response during the entire working time when there is no target gas. Span drift refers to the change in the output response of the sensor when it is continuously placed in the target gas, manifested as a decrease in the sensor's output signal during the working time. Ideally, a sensor should have a zero drift of less than 10% per year under continuous working conditions. Second is sensitivity. Sensitivity refers to the ratio of the change in sensor output to the change in the measured input, which mainly depends on the technology used in the sensor structure. Most gas sensors are designed based on biochemistry, electrochemistry, physics, and optics. The first thing to consider is to choose a sensitive technology that has sufficient sensitivity for detecting the threshold limit or the percentage of the lower explosive limit of the target gas. Third is selectivity. It can be determined by measuring the sensor response generated by a certain concentration of interfering gas. This response is equivalent to the sensor response generated by a certain concentration of the target gas. This characteristic is very important in applications involving tracking multiple gases, because cross-sensitivity will reduce the repeatability and reliability of measurements. An ideal sensor should have high sensitivity and high selectivity. Fourth is explosion-proof performance. A gas detector with explosion-proof function can resist the impact force and heat of explosion without being damaged. In chemical places such as coal mines, iron and steel, smelting, petrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals, which have always been gathering points of toxic and harmful gases and flammable and explosive gases, when selecting a gas detector, one must choose a gas detector with explosion-proof function. III. How to use a gas detector? 1. Before use ① Carefully read the instruction manual corresponding to the gas detector before operation to be familiar with the machine's performance and operation methods. ② Check whether the battery power is sufficient. If the battery power is insufficient, replace the battery in time. ③ Check whether the air inlet filter is blocked by debris. If blocked, it needs to be cleaned or replaced. ④ During the self-inspection during startup, listen to whether the graded alarm sound and light alarm and vibration alarm are accurate. If they do not meet the requirements, do not use them and calibrate them immediately. ⑤ Press and hold the start button for three seconds during startup to enter the self-inspection state. Observe whether the set low alarm value and high alarm value of the detector are set accurately (for CO detectors, the first-level alarm is 50ppm, and the second-level alarm is 100ppm; for oxygen detectors, the first-level alarm is 19.5%, and the second-level alarm is 22%; for hydrogen sulfide detectors, the first-level alarm is 10ppm, and the second-level alarm is 15ppm). If they do not meet the requirements, do not use them and calibrate them immediately. During the self-inspection during startup, listen to whether the graded alarm sound and light alarm and vibration alarm are accurate. If they do not meet the requirements, do not use them and calibrate them immediately. ⑥ After starting up in fresh air, observe whether the initial value is accurate (the initial display of the CO detector is 0ppm; the initial display of the O2 detector is 20.9%; the initial display of the hydrogen sulfide detector is 0ppm). If the displayed value is inaccurate, it is strictly prohibited to use it, and it should be calibrated immediately. 2. During use ① When using a portable gas detector, it should be worn as close as possible to the mouth and nose, such as the front neckline of clothes, the upper pocket, etc. It is strictly prohibited to place the alarm in a place that is not easy to check, such as a pocket, which will affect the detection value. ② During use, try to avoid collisions, which may cause abnormal detection data. ③ Components such as the gas detector sensor are precision parts. Do not open the cover of the adjusted instrument casually. During use, pay attention to waterproofing and prevent impurities from entering to avoid abnormal data. ④ If during use, abnormal situations such as continuous flashing of the indicator light, sudden no value display on the screen, no change in the displayed value in the area with obviously excessive gas, or a large gap occur, stop the operation immediately, evacuate to a fresh air area to observe the problem, and eliminate it in time; otherwise, it is strictly prohibited to continue using. ⑤ In the case of excessive gas detection during operation, implement national and company regulations: Requirements for gas concentration and operation time at gas work sites (excluding confined spaces): When the concentration of CO in the air is 24ppm, normal operation can be carried out; when the concentration is 40ppm, work can be done for 1 hour; when the concentration is 80ppm, work can be done for half an hour; when the concentration is 160ppm, work is only allowed for 15-20 minutes, and the interval between each work is 2 hours. Oxygen operation: The oxygen content in the working area environment must not be less than 19.5%. The oxygen content in confined spaces is generally 19.5% - 21%, and must not be greater than 23.5% in oxygen-rich environments. Hydrogen sulfide operation: When the concentration of hydrogen sulfide is lower than 40ppm, a filter-type gas mask can be worn for operation, and the applicable substances should be indicated on the surface of the canister; When the concentration of hydrogen sulfide is greater than 40ppm, or the concentration is unknown, or the concentration of sulfur dioxide is higher than 2ppm, a positive pressure air respirator should be used; It is strictly prohibited for anyone to enter an area that may contain hydrogen sulfide gas without wearing appropriate protective equipment, and it is prohibited to remove gas masks in toxic areas. ⑥ If symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, or nausea occur during work, stop the work immediately and evacuate to a fresh air area (pay attention to the air flow direction and choose the upwind direction). If the situation is serious, start the emergency response immediately and carry out self-rescue and mutual rescue. 3. After use ① After using the portable gas detector, press and hold the shutdown button. The display shows a 5-second countdown. After the countdown ends, the LCD displays "off", and then the instrument has no display and shuts down. It is strictly prohibited to directly remove the battery to force shutdown. ② After the instrument is turned off, clean the dust attached to the surface to keep the equipment clean. ③ When the instrument is not in use for a long time, it should be turned off and placed in a dry, dust-free environment that meets the storage temperature. ④ The gas detector implements a system of special person management to prevent loss and other situations that cause equipment shortage and affect normal use. IV. Localization level At present, international enterprises laying out in the gas leakage detector market include Figaro, Honeywell, RAE Systems, MSA, etc.; domestic enterprises mainly include Hanwei Technology, Ankexin Electronics, Changqing Computer, Chicheng Electric, Yingjisen Safety, Xinhaosi Electronics, Zehong Technology, Weitai Safety, etc. China's gas leakage detector industry started relatively late. For a long time, core technologies have been monopolized by enterprises in developed countries abroad, and domestic market demand has been heavily dependent on imports. However, in recent years, with the accelerated rise of local enterprises, the market competitiveness of domestic gas leakage detectors has been continuously improving, which has promoted the accelerated improvement of the localization level in the domestic market. At present, the low-end market of domestic gas leakage detectors has basically realized localization, while the localization of the high-end market is still at a low level. In the future, local enterprises still need to continuously upgrade technologies and increase product innovation, and the industry has huge room for growth. Article sources: New Think Tank Network, Yiyuntian Electronics, Jinan Xiangkong