Metis Engineering announces the launch of its latest sensor, the “Cell Guard with Hydrogen”. This new sensor, an evolution of the original Cell Guard, is expertly engineered to detect hydrogen (H₂) in energy storage systems, offering essential safety enhancements for hydrogen-based applications and battery packs alike.
Why is Hydrogen Dangerous?
In air hydrogen has a wide flammability limit from 4 to 77% by volume and an explosive limit from 18 to 59%. The activation energy for ignition is extremely low and can be triggered by a very small spark or static discharge. Hydrogen is an odourless, colourless gas and can go undetected without specialised technology.
Early detection of hydrogen leaks is critical to maintaining safety throughout the hydrogen lifecycle - from production, storage, transport, use in fuel cells and H2-ICE. With applications in the transport, marine, aviation and industrial sectors, Metis Engineering's new sensor addresses this critical need and sets a new benchmark for safety in hydrogen technologies.
The latest hydrogen detection sensor addresses key safety requirements with innovative, high-performance features, building on the foundation of the original Cell Guard sensor.
Wider range of operation
The sensor offers unparalleled accuracy in detecting even trace hydrogen leaks, ensuring compliance with the most stringent safety standards and protecting against the risk of fire or explosion in hydrogen storage systems. Cell Guard with Hydrogen excels in environments with high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). For example, where large amounts of adhesives have been used in the construction of an energy storage system, ambient VOC levels can remain very high; this sensor can still detect thermal runaway. With an extended operating range of -40°C to +85°C (-40°F to +185°F), the sensor is designed for extreme conditions where other sensors may underperform, making it ideal for a variety of demanding environments. Low power mode operation ensures continuous monitoring with low power consumption (<1mA). Upon detection of a level that meets a pre-configured threshold, Cell Guard with Hydrogen wakes the CAN interface and toggles a low-side drive pin, providing low-power detection of hydrogen leaks and water ingress. The sensor delivers immediate hydrogen measurements without the need for warm-up, ensuring real-time safety monitoring from power-up. With its wide detection range of 0% to 20% H₂ the sensor measures hydrogen with precision across a wide range, offering dependable data in variable conditions.
