Product category:
Humidity and Environmental Sensors
News Release from: Michell Instruments | Subject: Dangers of excess moisture
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 22 May 2002
The dangers of excess moisture
Application engineers at Michell Instruments have identified the main areas where excess moisture can cause danger to the environment, equipment and even to human life.
We all know from an early age that water conducts electricity Therefore it is obvious that surplus humidity in air and gases can be catastrophic in an electricity generation plant
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 15 Feb 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
The smarter on-line moisture monitor
Michell Instruments has launched the high performance Cermet II hygrometer for the on-line monitoring of moisture content in a wide range of process gases.
Better measuring of moisture in natural gases
With the introduction of Promet, Michell Instruments has developed a specific solution to the issue of moisture measurement in natural gas
Application engineers at Michell Instruments have identified the main areas where excess moisture can cause danger to the environment, equipment and even to human life.
Noxious gases emitted by gas-fired power stations can be reduced by controlling the humidity of air mixed with the fuel gas.
Energy consumption can be reduced by allowing dew point control of compressed air dryer changeover.
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), which is frequently used as an insulating gas within high-voltage switchgear, must be sufficiently dry to prevent arcing, which results in contact erosion and reactions producing corrosive hydrofluoric acid.
In CCGT power plants damage and downtime caused by flame back-up through condensate formation inside the burner nozzles can be avoided by accurate measurement of hydrocarbon dew point in fuel gas.
In nuclear power plants it is essential that CO2 and steam loops are not counter-contaminated.
This can be assured by verifying the integrity of heat exchangers.
Pipe fracture caused by freezing can be prevented by the proper control of compressed air dryers.
An explosion in a power plant is almost unimaginable.
However, a few years ago, that's exactly what happened at a well known power station in the UK, and it was because of excess humidity.
If H2 gas is not maintained at below 0C dew point in a generator set this can cause the formation of condensation on exposed live metal parts, which may then lead to an explosion.
Michell Instruments provides a range of advanced industrial hygrometry products that can help to protect the environment, plant equipment and people by monitoring and controlling humidity in air and gases. Request a free brochure from Michell Instruments ...
• Michell Instruments: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
