Use of electric forklifts, stackers and pallet trucks, It causes the release of hydrogen gas while charging its batteries. For the safety of nearby people and infrastructure, a charging room explosive atmospheres It must be equipped with a gas detection system for . GTC Industrial team, which is regularly called for this problem in many sectors, danger of hydrogen in battery rooms examines and offers special solutions.

Hydrogen in battery chambers

Hydrogen emissions in battery charging rooms

Batteries of electric cars and trolleys A battery room designed for charging is a potentially hazardous area. Indeed, charging batteries (especially those made of lead-acid) releases a dangerous gas: hydrogen .

When charging an electric car battery, chemical reactions take effect over a period of 6 to 8 hours. Hydrogen emissions It is mainly revealed at the end of this period. Depending on the equipment, the power of the batteries and charger, and the charging environment, this process particularly dangerous concentrations of hydrogen gas in a charging chamber can create .

Today, the vast majority of logistics centers, handling centers and many manufacturing facilities use all kinds of electric cars (forklifts, motor stackers, pallet trucks, etc.). In large fleet configurations, A dedicated battery charging room is a must And Risks caused by hydrogen battery release should not be ignored .

Battery hydrogen dangers

Explosive in air between 4.1% and 74.8% by volume in a battery room, hydrogen reacts with oxygen in the ambient air. It is likely to explode or cause fire. For example, when charging a forklift battery, risk of explosion, It is the most significant danger to those present and to the logistics or production infrastructure. Indeed, mismanagement of hydrogen concentrations generated when charging batteries has led to deaths and the destruction of production facilities in the past.

Hydrogen H2 – CAS 1333-74-0 – also known as dihydrogen, with various gases in the air (oksijen, halojenler ve oksidanlar dahil) reaksiyona giren çok uçucu, yanıcı ve patlayıcı bir gazdır. Ayrıca, bu gazın patlayıcı ve yanıcı reaksiyonları metal katalizörlerin varlığında artar.

It is a very volatile, flammable and explosive gas that reacts with gases (including oxygen, halogens and oxidants). Moreover, the explosive and flammable reactions of this gas are enhanced in the presence of metal catalysts. Breathing hydrogen in a battery chamber personnel may experience various health effects (headache, dizziness, suffocation).

Explosion and fire hazards caused by hydrogen, Safety precautions in the battery charging room makes its implementation mandatory.

How to secure a battery room

Regulation: Battery room safety requirements

Securing a battery charging room The regulations set out numerous measures for . The order dated May 29, 2000 and Decree No. 2006-646 dated May 31, 2006 regulate the use of lead-acid batteries. A special battery room is mandatory for charging lead-acid batteries of electric cars and cars with a direct current power of 50 kW onwards. . This regulatory obligation is the first safety requirement against hydrogen emissions, fire and explosion hazards.

Regulations for the charging room also include eyewash, acid holding tank, hazardous area indicator, fire extinguishers, fireproof floor, waterproof coating for dirty water, fire doors and IP55l lighting. It also requires safety design and equipment.

Safety regulations also limit the presence of hydrogen to 1% of the volume of the battery chamber. Requires the presence of mechanical ventilation. In addition to this requirement, in the event of a ventilation failure automatic shutdown of chargers It is mandatory. Finally, there is a button to activate ventilation and stop battery charging urgently. hydrogen measuring unit must exist.

Additionally, to ensure everyone's safety, personnel working in or near the battery room must be authorized to intervene and must be trained on potential hazards.

In compliance with ATEX standards and regulations, a charging room for electric cars must have an ATEX classification (zone 1 or 2). ATEX zoning requires maximum precautions an explosive atmosphere expresses its existence. In logistics, handling or manufacturing environments, a battery room situation with concentrations of hydrogen in the air is a ATEX zone creates .

Minimizing explosion risks All equipment brought and operated in an ATEX classified area must be approved for . Therefore, for example, a battery charging room must be equipped with an ATEX-certified mechanical ventilation and gas detection system.

ATEX battery room

Hydrogen detection system for battery rooms

A hydrogen detection system in a battery room to ensure personnel and infrastructure safety Installation is essential. The presence of hydrogen detectors and a gas control unit is also required by regulations governing the use of batteries.

Battery room hydrogen detector

Measurement of gas concentrations in a battery room, with an ATEX fixed hydrogen detector It can be accomplished with . These devices, such as the OLC and OLCT 100 detectors are ATEX approved and fit perfectly into a battery charging room. This Oldham Simtronics Teledyne gas detection equipment, constantly monitors the level of hydrogen concentration . The measurement will be performed in %LEL (explosiveness) using a gas detection catalytic sensor. The battery room fixed gas detector can be connected to a control unit via a 4-20 mA linear output or a Wheatstone bridge output. The number of detectors to be installed depends on the size of the area to be covered. This equipment is suitable for the volatility of H2 gas. It must be installed at a certain height.

Among the fixed gas detectors, the Spyglass SG50 optical flame detector can visualize hydrogen fires with its near-infrared video option, while the Spyglass IR3-H2 flame detector can detect hydrogen up to 30 meters.

gas detection controller, main control for battery room safety performs the task. The Oldham MX32 controller is ATEX equipment perfectly suited for hydrogen monitoring in battery charging rooms.

The fixed gas detection system is based on simple operations. The hydrogen concentration formed by charging the batteries of forklifts and electric stackers is transmitted to the control unit by detectors. Measurement centralization in the device is then to constantly monitor makes it possible. The gas controller connected to the various servo controls automatically operates them according to the gas concentration level.

gas detection controller

Electric forklift battery room In this case, the gas detection controller can be placed outside the room. In accordance with the regulations in force, it will monitor the gas level and immediately stop charging the batteries in the event of a dangerous concentration of hydrogen. Likewise, in the event of a ventilation failure, charging will be interrupted. At the same time, to achieve an optimum level of safety, the gas controller alarmlar ve ışık sinyalleri can be connected.

In addition to a portable hydrogen gas detector

In addition to the fixed hydrogen monitoring installation, maintenance or fire safety departments may use a portable gas detector (such as the portable 4 gas detector ). When dealing with battery rooms, portable gas monitors make an invaluable addition in the event of an alarm to eliminate any doubt. Very affordable devices are available as explosive flammable gas monitors (0-100% LEL H2), such as Dräger's Xam2500-EXPLO flammable gas detector.

Our GTC Industrial experts are available to help you choose your hydrogen detection equipment for your battery charging room. Our teams support you in your equipment selection and install your equipment anywhere in France.