Power plants utilize hydrogen as a coolant in quite a few areas of operation. Being highly combustible, hydrogen leaks could be fatal as they can cause explosions and fires, potentially causing loss of life and destruction to capital. A hydrogen leak need not only cause damage by combustion, its absence can also cause extensive damage to the machinery as a result of overheating.
Hydrogen gas is found primarily in two areas:
1. Generators - The cooling properties of H2 is used to keep the turbine generators from overheating. Leaks can occur anywhere from the H2 storage supply, to H2 coolers, filters, or dryers.
2. Lead Acid Battery Rooms - Electrochemical batteries produce H2 as a by-product of their chemical reactions. As a result, leaks can cause accumulations of H2, a combustible hazard that has necessitated utility companies to monitor these rooms.
Coal-Fired power plants have some extra monitoring requirements. The characteristics of coal and the handling of it in large quantities mean that these plants require fire and toxic gas on top of combustible gas monitoring.
The coal conveyers into the plant accumulate coal dust, which is highly combustible, and therefore requires fire monitoring. Being a fossil fuel, coal produces methane (CH4) and carbon monoxide (CO), which can accumulate to hazardous concentrations in confined spaces. Places such as coal chutes and employee tunnels would consequently have the need for toxic gas monitoring, and should even be reinforced with oxygen deficiency monitors to safeguard the quality of air for personnel.
