The earliest gas detector was actually a bird?

Gas Detectors are widely used in fields such as petroleum, chemical, metallurgical, and catering, effectively preventing the occurrence of hazardous accidents such as fires, explosions, poisoning, and suffocation, and ensuring production and life safety. So, when did people start to realize the dangers of gases? How were gas detectors developed for gas detection?

The evolution of gas detection methods: In ancient times, due to the limitations of science and technology, people mainly relied on experience and intuitive observation for gas detection. The earliest gas detector was even a bird!

★ Observation method
In ancient times, people judged the properties of the surrounding air by observing flames. For example, when a substance is ignited, if the flame exhibits a specific color, shape, or degree of flicker, it can be inferred that there may be a certain gas in the air. It can also be detected by observing the physical properties such as color, odor, and state of the gas. For example, ancient people would determine the presence of chlorine gas based on whether the gas appeared yellow green or not.

★ Test paper method
Immerse a specific test strip into the gas to be tested, observe the color change or other reactions of the test strip to determine the properties of the gas. For example, moist lead acetate test strips can be used to detect hydrogen sulfide gas. If the test strip turns black, it indicates the presence of this gas.

★ Live test
From the development history of gas monitoring and detection instruments, miners may have been the first to recognize the need for a device to detect hazardous gases. As early as the 19th and early 20th centuries, coal miners brought canaries into tunnels as an early detection system for life-threatening gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane. When exposed to toxic gas, canaries will keep chirping and eventually stop chirping or even die. Therefore, miners can determine whether there are life-threatening gases in the tunnel based on the status of the canary, and can quickly leave the mine if necessary.

★In 1815, the flame safety lamp (or Davy lamp) was born. This flame safety lamp was invented by Sir Humphry Davy of England and can eliminate the danger of gas explosions in coal mines caused by candle or torch lighting. So far, flame safety lamps are still in use in some parts of the world.

★ Color comparison tube comes out
Besides gas, miners are more afraid of the "invisible killer" carbon monoxide. The "mine canary" became the choice for miners at that time to test whether the air contained deadly carbon monoxide. Later, the carbon monoxide colorimetric tube was born, finally putting an end to the cruel method of "live testing". The colorimetric tube technology can be regarded as the pioneer of gas detection technology. With the continuous deepening of people's understanding of oxygen, the oxygen detection colorimetric tube for detecting oxygen deficiency has also been born.

★In 1926, the first portable combustible gas sensor was born
Oliver W. Johnson from the United States invented a portable combustible gas sensor that utilizes the catalytic combustion mechanism of combustible gases on a platinum wire coated with a catalyst. This instrument has two gauges, one for detecting flammable gases and the other for adjusting the balance zero point of the sensor. The first portable combustible gas sensor in human history was born, officially marking a new milestone in the field of gas detection. 
★In 1928, the world's first gas detection company was established.
★In 1939, an interferometric gas detector using the principle of light diffraction was invented for detecting gasoline vapor and methane.
★In 1960, the first generation of electrochemical oxygen sensors appeared.
★In 1968, metal oxide sensors appeared.
★In 1969, more toxic gas chemical sensors appeared.
★In 1981, electrochemical sensors for oxygen and various other toxic gases were industrialized.
★In the 1980s and 1990s, based on the principle of detecting carbon monoxide through chemical injection paper, many electronic devices were developed for detecting, monitoring, and warning of various gas leaks, such as electronic Carbon Monoxide Detectors.
★In the 1990s, metal oxide semiconductor sensors (MOS sensors) were introduced, and MOS gas sensors also emerged. Since then, MOS sensors have gradually become important environmental gas detectors.

After entering the 21st century, the prospects of the gas detection industry have become increasingly broad, and sensor detection has become one of the most commonly used methods in gas detection. Sensors can determine the presence and concentration of gases by measuring the physical or chemical changes between the gas and the sensor based on their characteristics. Common sensors include electrochemical sensors, optical sensors, infrared sensors, etc. Various sensor products can be widely used in on-site detection work in various places such as petrochemical, coal, metallurgy, chemical, gas, environmental monitoring, etc. The product has a longer lifespan, higher measurement accuracy, and is becoming increasingly intelligent.

Zhuhai Chuang'an Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2003, specializing in the research and development, production, and sales of gas environment safety monitoring products. The main products are intelligent instruments and meters, alarm control systems and accessories, intelligent sensors, etc. in the field of gas environment safety monitoring. They are mainly used in many industrial fields such as petroleum, chemical, gas, metallurgy, power, medicine, food, as well as urban public places, household civil use, underground comprehensive pipe galleries, and other fields.

22 years of unique craftsmanship, safeguarding gas environment safety! With the continuous development of new technologies, Chuang'an Electronics will develop more intelligent instruments to provide new solutions and wisdom for gas environment safety detection!