{"id":25039,"date":"2025-05-05T12:12:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T10:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sensitron.it\/new-technologies-in-refrigerant-gas-detection-smart-3-h-sensors\/"},"modified":"2025-06-13T08:35:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T06:35:29","slug":"new-technologies-in-refrigerant-gas-detection-smart-3-h-sensors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.sensitron.it\/en\/new-technologies-in-refrigerant-gas-detection-smart-3-h-sensors\/","title":{"rendered":"New technologies in refrigerant gas detection: Smart 3-H sensors"},"content":{"rendered":"

The publication in the Italian Official Journal<\/strong><\/a>, in January 2019, of the new Fgas Directive<\/strong> on minimum requirements and conditions for the recognition of company certification with regard to fixed refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and heat pumps containing fluorinated greenhouse gases<\/strong>, made it necessary to use non-polluting refrigerant gases with<\/strong> low GWP (Global Warming Potential).<\/p>\n

These gases can be naturally occurring natural gases<\/strong> (carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrocarbons) or synthetic refrigerants<\/strong> (e.g. olefins R1234yf and R1234ze).<\/p>\n

On the other hand, a natural consequence of this new guideline has been the need to correctly detect gas leaks from these systems<\/strong>, for ensuring the safety of people, animals and the environment<\/strong>. It is important to realise that a refrigerant gas loss<\/strong> may generate oxygen deficiency<\/strong> and lead to fainting or, alternatively, may cause fires<\/strong> where the gas in question is flammable.<\/p>\n

However, before discussing the merits of the new technologies for the detection of refrigerant gases<\/strong>, it is useful to take a step back and explain what exactly these substances are<\/strong> and how the market that manages their processing is developing.<\/p>\n

Refrigerants<\/strong> are special substances which, under specific pressures<\/strong>, absorb significant amounts of heat by passing from liquid to gaseous<\/strong> state, reaching extremely low temperatures. <\/strong><\/p>\n

At present, and in view of the new legal provisions on refrigerant gases which we highlighted at the start of this post, the market is moving in two main directions<\/strong>: the first, aimed at finding new refrigerants with low environmental impact<\/strong>; the second, oriented instead to rediscovering natural refrigerants<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Research on new refrigerant gases is ongoing, with a particular preference for the use of HFO<\/strong> gas (marked by low or zero GWP<\/strong> but also average flammability levels, corresponding to A2L<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Among the currently most used gas carriers<\/strong> in air conditioning systems is R410A<\/strong>, which is a 50% mix of R32 gas<\/strong> and 50% R125<\/strong> and it is neither toxic nor flammable despite its high GWP.<\/p>\n

At the same time, refrigerant gas detection technology<\/strong> has moved forward hand in hand, increasingly specialising in proper management of these new substances.<\/p>\n

More specifically, the new detectors using IR<\/strong> (infra-red) technology are appreciated for their ability to detect gas leaks extremely fast<\/strong>, for their selectivity and time stability<\/strong> and because they remain calibrated<\/strong> longer than other technologies. In addition, IR sensors do not present the issues associated with semiconductor and catalytic sensors, which can be damaged<\/strong> by the composition of the very gas they are required to detect.<\/p>\n

With the aim of responding to the growing demand for detection of new refrigerant gases<\/strong>, Sensitron<\/strong> has developed the Smart 3-H infra-red sensor range<\/strong>, marked by a competitive price and quality that is the hallmark of all solutions offered by a leading and certified industrial gas detection company<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Smart 3-H: the range of IR sensors for the detection of refrigerant gases<\/h2>\n

The series of Smart 3-H<\/strong> gas detectors is available as the wall-mounted version, recessed and stand-alone<\/strong>, to 220 V with light and sound activation. Alternatively, the 10-30 V version is an excellent choice that can be connected<\/strong> to the<\/strong> control panel<\/strong> for remote alarm control and silencing.<\/p>\n

Smart<\/strong> is part of the innovative product range<\/strong><\/a> which Sensitron<\/strong> has developed specifically focussing on the Fgas Directive for the detection of flammable gases, ammonia, carbon dioxide (CO2) and, in general, all hydrogenated gases, in accordance with EN 378-3 and ISO 5149-3, EN50676 EN 14624 and IEC 60335-2-40 Annex<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

More specifically, the Smart series includes<\/strong>:<\/p>\n