Gas leaks in laboratory pipelines pose serious risks, including fire hazards, toxic gas exposure, and experimental contamination. Gas leak detectors serve as a critical safety barrier, enabling early detection of leaks before they escalate into emergencies.
Modern laboratory gas leak detectors feature two main types: portable and fixed. Portable detectors, with a detection range of 0-1000ppm for common gases (such as methane, hydrogen, and ammonia), are suitable for on-site inspections—their handheld design allows technicians to check hard-to-reach areas like pipe joints and valve connections. Fixed detectors, installed near key gas points (e.g., gas cylinders and main pipelines), continuously monitor gas concentrations and trigger audible-visual alarms when levels exceed the safety threshold (typically 10-20% of the lower explosive limit). For high-purity gas systems, helium mass spectrometers (a specialized type of leak detector) are preferred, as they can detect ultra-low leak rates down to 1×10⁻¹² Pa·m³/s, ensuring gas purity is not compromised. A pharmaceutical laboratory once used a portable hydrogen leak detector to identify a tiny leak at a two-way connector, which could have caused a fire if left undetected. Regular leak detection (at least monthly for high-risk gases) is a mandatory safety practice—detectors should also be calibrated annually to maintain sensitivity.