The pursuit of global carbon neutrality has opened up significant opportunities for the rapid growth of the energy storage sector. By the end of 2023, the cumulative operational capacity of new energy storage projects reached 31.39 million kilowatts/66.87 million kilowatt hours, with an average storage duration of 2.1 hours. The newly added capacity for 2023 was approximately 22.6 million kilowatts/48.7 million kilowatt hours, marking a 260% increase from the end of 2022 and nearly a tenfold increase compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. As renewable energy sources become more prevalent, energy storage technology has emerged as a critical solution to address the volatility and intermittency of energy supply. However, safety concerns, particularly those related to hydrogen detection, are among the many challenges faced by energy storage technology during its development.

Hydrogen sensors play a pivotal role in the energy storage industry. Lithium batteries used in energy storage applications often produce gases such as hydrogen and toxic carbon monoxide. Energy storage power stations employ a variety of sensors for comprehensive detection, with hydrogen sensors being essential for real-time and accurate monitoring, as well as for detecting temperature and pressure.

The Functions of the ProSense FC-H2-5000 Hydrogen Sensor

Continuous Monitoring of Hydrogen Levels Continuous monitoring of hydrogen levels is a crucial function of hydrogen sensors. The ProSense FC-H2-5000 hydrogen sensor is capable of rapidly responding to hydrogen detection at the ppm level and is widely applicable across most hydrogen detection scenarios. In energy storage systems, changes in hydrogen levels are directly linked to the safety and stability of the system. By continuously monitoring hydrogen levels, sensors can detect abnormal concentrations in a timely manner. Statistics show that when hydrogen sensors detect levels exceeding safety thresholds, they can provide warnings several minutes or even longer in advance, effectively preventing safety incidents such as hydrogen leaks and explosions.

Alert and Alarm Capabilities When abnormal hydrogen concentrations are detected, hydrogen sensor-equipped detectors will immediately issue warnings or alarms, alerting relevant personnel to address the situation promptly. In practical applications, once a warning signal is received, personnel can take swift actions such as shutting down the system or conducting maintenance, thereby preventing potential serious accidents.

How the ProSense FC-H2-5000 Hydrogen Sensor Works

The ProSense FC-H2-5000 long-life hydrogen sensor operates on the principle of micro fuel cells for detection. When hydrogen gas is present, gas molecules quickly reach the sensor's core detection unit through natural diffusion and concentration polarization, undergoing an oxidation reaction at the positive electrode. Meanwhile, oxygen in the environment reacts at the sensor's negative electrode, creating a closed-loop reaction. The generated current is proportional to the hydrogen gas concentration, allowing for the accurate quantification of hydrogen gas content in the environment.

The Features of the ProSense FC-H2-5000 Hydrogen Sensor

The FC-H2-5000 hydrogen sensor is characterized by high sensitivity and a long lifespan. It is a passive component with significant advantages such as zero power consumption, low noise, high detection accuracy, long service life, anti-interference, and resistance to poisoning. It is well-suited for managing thermal runaway in lithium batteries within the energy storage and firefighting sectors.

About ProSense

Since its establishment, ProSense has supplied more than 10 million gas sensors to domestic and international markets. Our extensive gas sensor product line is known for its high stability and anti-interference ability, suitable for various industries and harsh environments.

Conclusion

In the future, with the advancement of technology, the performance of hydrogen sensors is expected to be further improved, the detection accuracy will be improved, and the tiny changes in hydrogen concentration can be monitored more accurately, providing more reliable data support for the safe operation of energy storage systems; the response speed will also be faster, and abnormal conditions can be detected in a shorter time, buying precious time for emergency measures; the stability and reliability of sensors will be enhanced, improving the overall safety of energy storage systems.

ProSense will be committed to providing the industry with more comprehensive and reliable solutions. It can be foreseen that with the advancement of technology, hydrogen sensors will play an increasingly important role in emerging energy storage fields, including hydrogen storage projects in large wind farms, hydrogen energy new energy vehicle industry and hydrogen fuel cells. The future of hydrogen sensors in these industries is worth paying attention to.