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Archive for April, 2009


What Can You See With A Camera?

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

We’ve fielded plenty of questions lately about cameras serving as both surveillance systems and flame detectors.

People in industrial settings recognize that using a camera to view a hazardous area after hearing a fire alarm can provide valuable data and possibly save lives. They also understand the requirement for accurate, rapid fire detection. But can a surveillance camera be trained adequately to perform as a flame detector?

The first priority of any safety system must be life safety. In other words, above all other functions, the system must reliably recognize a hazard. (more…)

Sulfur Fire Detection

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Detecting a sulfur fire is not simple. Very difficult to see with the human eye or a camera, burning sulfur generates a low intensity, blue flame that is a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Sulfur combustion does not produce water vapor. Therefore, the standard UV flame detector, which uses a nickel sensor ultraviolet tube, will not work. To detect sulfur flames effectively, a UV detector using a molybdenum (moly) sensing element is recommended. Moly-based sensors have an increased spectral range of 1850 to 2650 angstroms, well suited to detecting burning sulfur. 

The problem of detecting burning sulfur is compounded when it is stored in large piles that have irregularities that may cause the flames to be hidden from the detector. Therefore, careful detector placement is essential when designing the flame detection system.

Read more in this sulfur flame detection application note. Please contact us at rss@det-tronics.com if you have questions about sulfur-flame hazards.

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