Portable detection set to rise

The global portable gas detection market was valued at just under US$1,3 billion in 2019 and is expected to exceed US$1,63 billion by the end of 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3,3% from 2021 to 2026.

This is highlighted in the report, Portable Gas Detection Market Growth 2021: Research Insights, Dominant Players, Market Size Forecast 2027, published on Precision Reports. The report notes that the global portable gas detection market is primarily driven by increasing demand for technologically advanced gas detectors with enhanced performance, reduced work redundancy, and increased reliability.

According to the report’s findings, the demand for portable gas detection equipment is also expected to be boosted by “stringent government and industry regulations regarding usage of products due to concerns of employee safety,” and “technological advancement in portable detectors for use in different applications”.

Despite these positive growth forecasts, the industry is still facing several challenges when it comes to customer requirements for reliable detection, long-term stability of sensors, and, most importantly, a system ensuring less risk vulnerability. So says Sagaran Chetty, marketing manager of the gas detection division at Dräger SA (the local representative of the international manufacturer and supplier of safety and medical equipment). Dräger is overcoming these challenges by supporting the digitalisation of safety technology at a customer’s site with innovative products and services. “We also optimise system availability, for example, through flexible, condition-based, and preventative maintenance of gas sensor heads,” he says.

“Portable detection offers personal air monitoring, area monitoring, confined-space entry solutions as well as equipment to ensure that devices are functioning as required,” Chetty says.

“Flame and gas detection both provide various detection principle transmitters. These consist of catalytic bead, infrared, electrochemical, ultrasonic as well as open path detection technology. These devices range across a broad portfolio, depending on your specific requirements,” he continues. “We offer after sales service and maintenance for all our instruments.”

For portable gas detection, currently, more than 250 short-term tubes are available, for measuring up to 500 gases and the number is growing year by year. “Our Dräger Pac series gives you reliable, precise readings at any time, even in extreme conditions, and is equipped with powerful sensors that have a low t-90 response time to ensure quick reactions,” says Chetty. “Additionally, multi-gas detectors are available that can measure up to seven different gases at once in our X-am range. These units can also be used as confined-space entry devices when paired with our internal X-am pump.”

He adds that the X-am 5000 and X-am 5600 can be used as personal devices, as well as area monitoring instruments when paired with the Dräger X-zone. “Dräger ensures maximum uptime thanks to the X-dock system which performs automatic bump tests and calibrations with reduced test gas consumption. Additionally, the device offers piece of mind thanks to comprehensive report documentation.

“Our fixed gas detection solutions vary from a single device station to our completely customisable solution that can accommodate more than 1 500 sensing points with the Dräger REGARD 7000 controller,” notes Chetty.

He goes on to explain that Dräger’s transmitters work on various sensor technologies across the Dräger Polytron series: “Based on system requirements, these instruments are built to meet required specifications as well as industry and international standards.

“When working with flammable gases, vapours or materials, flame detectors are essential. The Flame 5000 reliably detects fires even in the harshest environments. It gives you a greater ability to carry out incident investigations by recording the video image on a built-in SD card,” Chetty says.

When leak detection in high pressure applications is a concern, the Dräger Polytron 8900 comes equipped with an ultrasonic acoustic sensor, which responds earlier than conventional gas detectors because it registers the sound of leaking gas.

He believes that safety connectivity will continue to rise, saying, “In the future, information will be available in real time from a variety of sources such as portable gas detection devices, personal protective equipment, devices for area monitoring and stationary gas measuring sensors permanently installed in the plant.”

He notes that the path to smart plants will be via the digitalisation of all industrial sectors, from production to logistics. “The focus here is on networking systems, sensors and controls, as well as the use of artificial intelligence,” he explains. “This also has an impact on safety technology: the digital networking of measurement technology and the linking of data create completely new possibilities.”

The digital networking of production facilities in the industry is a global trend. “Safety technology is also benefiting from digitalisation and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Networked gas detection technology, for example, increases the level of occupational safety through faster, more efficient, and more robust processes,” Chetty points out.

With all of these innovations, it’s no wonder that the portable gas detection market is set to rise (with its fixed-solution counterpart likely to follow suit). It will be interesting to see the innovations that the next five years hold in store for this industry.