H2scan’s New Gen 5 System is First to Provide Hydrogen Gas Safety Sensing to Reduce Explosion Risk of Distribution Transformers
The new Gen 5 System will cost up to 80% less and is three times
smaller than existing hydrogen monitoring systems, opening the door to
monitoring the 13 million transformers under streets, in neighborhoods,
industrial sites, wind farms and trains; ABB and other transformer
industry leaders are testing prototypes of the system
H2scan,
a leading provider of proven, proprietary hydrogen sensors and products
for industrial markets, today announced the Gen 5 System, a first of its
kind hydrogen sensor package that offers the high accuracy, small size,
and low cost needed to help utilities monitor and protect their
distribution transformers.
Electronics for the Gen 5 System are consolidated onto a 4.7 x 4.7
1.2-million-transistor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
The ASIC, combined with three small 1” by 3” flex boards, allow H2scan
to develop a sensor package that weighs 1 pound, is 5.9 inches long and
1.6 inches wide. The ASIC and small flex boards drive down the cost of
the device in large volumes by 80%, allowing H2scan to sell the Gen 5
System package at a price that is cost effective for distribution
transformers.
H2scan works with OEMs including ABB, other transformer manufacturers
and transformer equipment providers to sell its sub-assembly sensors and
fully packaged products to end customers. Initial interest in the
breakthrough Gen 5 System has been very high from some of the largest
transformer manufacturers in the world.
“Power transformers are the most expensive and strategic components of
any power system and the new small Gen 5 System acts as an early warning
device that can alert the power utility to the health of the
transformer,” said Dennis Reid, President, CEO and Founder of H2scan.
“Demand for electricity is growing and utilities sometimes have to
overload these transformers by up to 300 percent. With the Gen 5 System,
utilities can better manage these valuable assets, keep their customers
safe and keep the transformers in service for a longer time. No other
company in the world can compete against what we can offer in this Gen 5
platform. Our ASIC technology can be extended to other sensor
applications and we will be delivering some of these products in 2019.”
High Accuracy
The Gen 5 System is designed for transformers immersed in oil, which are
cooled and insulated using mineral, vegetable, or silicon oil. The
sensor can be inserted through any port on the transformer, directly
into the transformer oil where it takes measurements of hydrogen gas
levels.
The sensor head uses H2scan’s industry proven core sensor technology,
which utilizes the unique interaction of hydrogen with palladium and a
proprietary coating. This enables continuous, maintenance-free operation
in harsh, contaminant environments. The Gen 5 platform is designed to
accommodate other sensors that could be integrated in the existing
package using H2scan’s patented flex circuit.
The Gen 5 sensor offers real-time, or step-change monitoring to report
hydrogen levels as they fluctuate. Its high accuracy sensor head can
track hydrogen levels in the transformer oil from 25 ppm to 5,000 ppm.
This range is ideal for smaller transformers where power overloads can
cause higher temperatures which drive up hydrogen levels more quickly.
The Gen 5 System is calibrated once while in production and then needs
no maintenance or re-calibration for up to 10 years.
How Oil-Infused Transformers Fail
Hydrogen is a major fault gas observed in oil-filled transformers.
Timely detection of a change in hydrogen concentration is critical in
monitoring transformer health and extending asset life. Because
distribution transformers are in populated areas, explosions can cause
significant property damage and have the potential for loss of life.
In addition to monitoring distribution transformers, the Gen 5 System
can also serve other currently unmonitored distribution transformers,
including those used on wind farms, trains, and buses.
Technical Features
With an IP68 rating, the Gen 5 System can be submerged in up to three
meters of water for up to 14 days. This high protection level makes it
possible to use in manhole applications where flooding may occur. The
Gen 5 System is also marine compatible. The durable case can withstand
up to 300 lbs. of weight. The Gen 5 System is rated for ambient
temperatures to 80 degrees Celsius and oil temperatures up to 125
degrees Celsius.
The Gen 5 System communicates to a central monitoring console using the
Modbus serial protocol over an RS 485 network. The system has a built-in
DC power supply.
Availability
Prototypes of the Gen 5 System are with H2scan customers for their
review. Low-volume production will begin in April 2019 with high volume
production expected in July 2019.
About H2scan Corporation
H2scan was founded in 2002, and has its headquarters, sales, production
and marketing staff in Valencia, California. The Company provides the
most accurate, tolerant and affordable hydrogen leak detection and
process gas monitoring solutions for industrial markets. H2scan enables
the accurate monitoring and control functions for a wide range of
applications, including control systems, safety monitoring and alarm
systems. H2scan also provides portable, handheld configurations for easy
leak detection and monitoring. H2scan supplies its hydrogen process
analyzer and hydrogen leak detectors to utility, petrochemical,
refinery, and gas line companies, nuclear power plants, fuel cell,
petroleum and other industrial organizations through distribution, or
long-term OEM supply agreements. H2scan helps its customers meet safety,
regulatory and process control requirements while doing critical
hydrogen monitoring. H2scan’s customer base includes some of the largest
manufacturing enterprises in the world including: General Electric, DOD,
ABB, Siemens, ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, NASA, Proctor & Gamble and
more.
The company’s solid-state technology was developed at Sandia National
Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy. H2scan now holds 27
patents on its core technology, software and electronics and its
products are sold in over 50 countries worldwide. For more information,
please visit http://www.h2scan.com.
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