UEC Adds Sensors To Vanguard WirelessHART Gas Leak Detector

United Electric Controls (UEC) added ammonia and hydrocarbon sensors to its Vanguard WirelessHART Gas Detector. The benefits of wireless gas detection are that it can reduce compliance costs and improve safety by eliminating the need for wiring and terminations, reducing installation costs by as much as 80 percent, and enabling greater coverage density.

United Electric Controls WirelessHART gas leak detectors reduce costs and improve safety further because they can run on a single battery for five or more years.

Enhanced flexibility 

Detection of toxic and combustible gases is critical to both plant safety and emissions monitoring"

"By adding ammonia and additional hydrocarbons to the Vanguard line, UEC extends the benefits of WirelessHART to provide more flexibility for improving plant safety and complying with emissions regulations," said Chris Frail, Vanguard Product Manager.

He adds, “Detection of toxic and combustible gases is critical to both plant safety and emissions monitoring. Wireless technology makes it much more affordable to install gas detectors in areas of the plant that are hard to reach or where running new power or communication wires is cost-prohibitive.”

Ammonia leak detection

Ammonia leak detection is critical in chemical plants that produce or store it for use in their processes. A good example is temporary storage tanks, which must be monitored for the presence of fugitive vapors constantly, but for which wiring communications and power can be costly and labor-intensive. 

Wireless detectors make it easy and affordable to deploy or redeploy sensors where and when they are needed.

Leak monitoring

Storage tanks and transportation for these would require monitoring for leaks

Cost-effective leakage of non-methane hydrocarbon gases (NMHCs) such as butane, pentane, and propane is also increasingly necessary for plant safety and regulatory compliance.

In the power industry, for example, remote locations are increasingly moving to liquefied propane gas (LPG) as a power source over alternatives like diesel and fuel oil because it is more environmentally friendly. Storage tanks and transportation for these would require monitoring for leaks.

WirelessHART Features 

WirelessHART Vanguard Gas Detectors interface with existing networks to provide continuous coverage while reducing the cost of detecting toxic and combustible gases.

Vanguard gas detectors handle a broad ambient operating temperature range (-40°C to 65°C); feature enhanced zero stability, and are equipped with interchangeable firmware that enables measurement of additional gases without changing the base unit. Sensor heads for hydrocarbon gases will be available in January 2020.