Explain the Explosimeter?
Explosimeter or combustible gas indicator is used for the detection and measurement of combustible gases and vapour. It depends for its operation on the heat developed by the actual combustion of the flammable portion of the sample.
The sample is drawn over a heated filament which forms one arm of a balanced Wheatstone’s bridge circuit. The current for the circuit is provided by standard dry cells. Combustible gas in the sample is burnt on the filament. Thus its temperature is raised and its resistance increases in proportion to the amount of combustible gas burnt i.e. in proportion to the amount of combustible gas in the sample. The circuit is now unbalanced which causes a deflection of the meter. The scale is graduated in percentage of the lower explosive limit (LEL). The initial balance of the circuit is achieved in fresh air with the meter at zero by adjustment of a rheostat R
The limitations of the explosimeter are:
1. As the explosimeter only indicates the presence of flammable gases and vapours it may be dangerous to enter the compartment as no indication of toxicity is given, or sufficiency of oxygen.
2. A compartment which is initially safe may be rendered unsafe by future operations. Hence frequent tests are required while the work is in progress.
3. If a compartment, having a high boiling point liquid, is heated by welding or other processes, the vapour concentration will increase and such
an atmosphere which originally showed a low concentration vapour may now be rendered explosive.
4. When testing at a high temperature some of the vapour may condense in the sampling tube of the instrument, so only a small concentration of vapour will be indicated by the instrument.
5. As the instrument depends on combustion of the flammable portion of the sample it cannot detect in a steam or inert atmosphere due to the
absence of Oxygen.
Ref: Cargo work book by Capt Errol Fernandes
