Stockport, United Kingdom, (9th March, 2012) – Trolex, a leading supplier and manufacturer of gas detection, machine condition monitoring, environmental control and gas recovery monitoring systems to the utilities industry, has reiterated its commitment to providing the very best gas and methane drainage monitoring systems to the UK coal industry.
An installation for UK Coal at the Thoresby Colliery near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire provides an excellent example of the expertise of the gas sensing specialists Trolex. Thoresby Colliery has been equipped with not only the latest Trolex Sentro 8 gas and environmental monitoring system but also a Trolex Sentrum methane drainage monitoring system.
An intensive two-year development programme by Trolex on Sentro 8 resulted in a completely new concept in environmental and gas detection. It’s an integrated multi-purpose sensing station ready to be configured to meet gas detection and condition monitoring requirements without the need for complex investment in system design or the need for specialist back-up. The system features intelligent inter-changeable sensing modules served by universal data communications architecture, making it straight forward to network sensor stations to a master computer and expand the system if required at a later date.
Sentro 8 is so named as it can accommodate up to 8 pre-calibrated sensing modules. These sensing modules are literally intelligent ‘plug-and-play’ elements, each with its own processor for intelligent data storage and signal conditioning circuits. Indeed, they have a massive capacity to store up to 4,000 points of data. They are designed to continuously display the data they retrieve, store the full service history such as data logging, calibration, failure modes and alarm settings, and they run self-diagnostic checks. They are also designed to be simply replaced with pre-calibrated modules whenever required, making maintenance, service and calibration straight forward.
At the Thoresby Colliery, the environmental or eModules used are for detecting CH4, O2 and CO in two ranges from 0 – 50ppm and 0 – 500ppm. The colliery is also using remote or rModules with an output of 0.4 to 2V for remote sensors.
Also installed at Thoresby Colliery is the Trolex Sentrum system, another product which was in development for two years before being launched last year. Unlike other systems before it, the Trolex Sentrum system keeps continuous high accuracy monitoring of methane. It uses complex algorithms to correct the effects of non-methane hydrocarbons cross-sensitivity, together with mass flow calculations. It uses infra-red detection coupled with a unique method to measure the methane content from the sample on a continuous basis. The way this works is that an initial gas analysis is used to ‘train’ the system and subsequent analysis can be used to fine-tune the system. Contributions to the overall signal from the detector caused by methane and other hydrocarbon gases are evaluated and the methane content is derived from the overall signal and the individual contributions from the different gases.
At the Thoresby Colliery, the Sentrum system is used for methane drainage pipe monitoring to measure the methane purity. This methane is then used in power turbines for the mine’s consumption or providing energy for export onto the grid. The colliery may also sell on methane in the future to other companies. The accurate continuous monitoring of methane composition by Trolex Sentrum is crucial for the plant to perform satisfactorily.
The Trolex Sentrum system for methane recovery monitoring is a huge step forward in addressing methane recovery, either as a stand-alone gas-to-energy project or as part of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the Joint Initiative (JI) flexible mechanisms agreed under the Kyoto protocol. They are fully integrated systems with the advantages of maximising safety, meeting legal and regulatory requirements as well as generating new revenue streams, all in parallel.
Further details are available from Trolex Ltd., on 0161 483 1435, email sales@trolex.com or by visiting the company’s website at www.trolex.com.
About Trolex:
Established in 1959, Trolex have become one of the world’s most trusted manufacturers of gas detectors, gas detection systems and hazardous area safety monitoring systems and sensors. They have an impressive catalogue of safety monitoring technology, but are constantly looking for new ways to improve the safety of those working in potentially hazardous environments. All of their sensors and systems are independently accredited ensuring top performance and increased safety.
Contact:
Trolex Ltd
Newby Road, Hazel Grove
Stockport, Cheshire, UK
Zip: SK7 5DY
Tel: 0161 483 1435
Email: sales@trolex.com
For further editorial information, contact:
Laura Bradshaw, Trolex
Tel: 0161 483 1435
Email: laura.bradshaw@trolex.com
