Development and Testing of a Hydrogen Sulfide Detection System for Use in Swine Housing

Abstract

Transient hazards to human and animal health can occur in swine barns due to sudden bursts of high concentration hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas released when manure slurry is agitated during removal from subfloor pits. Studies have shown that H2S levels can go from harmless to deadly in a matter of minutes during pit agitation (Patni and Clarke, 2003). From 1983 to 1990, H2S poisoning was responsible for the death of 24 swine workers in the Midwest alone and at least 15 more deaths since 1994 (Walinga, 2004). Swine slurry removal workers and producers report swine deaths every year from slurry agitation in sub-floor storage, or pits. Hence, a system that can reliably and promptly report H2S concentrations in swine housing without direct exposure of the operator(s) to the potentially hazardous environment is of socioeconomic importance to the swine producers. This paper describes the development and testing of a wireless, portable H2S detection system, followed by the use of the system under field conditions by slurry removal workers to monitor H2S levels during slurry agitation and removal in deep-pit swine housing systems in Iowa. The system developed in this study has a component cost of $2,735 and is based on a Pemtech PT-295 electrochemical H2S sensor and a Phoenix Contact Wireless Transmitter / Receiver set. The portable H2S detection system has the following operational characteristics: a) 90% (t90) response to 10-500 ppm H2S within one minute, b) ± 5 % full scale accuracy, and c) < 2 hr warm-up time for operation.

A Review of Contact Sensors Used for Monitoring Malodorous Gas in Animal Facilities

“…Fairchild et al [32] detected the concentration of NH 3 by gas detection tubes and Dräger PAC III in broiler house, and proved that timely and effective waste management can reduce the concentration of ammonia. Muhlbauer et al [33] compared Accuracy, Response Time, Durability and Cost between the of Pemtech PT-295 electrochemical hydrogen sulfide sensor with the detection range of 0-500ppm and Transducer Technologies R-series electrochemical hydrogen sulfide sensor with the detection of range 0-100ppm, and designed and developed a H 2 S detection equipment used in swine building based on Pemtech PT-295. The error of the equipment was less than 5%, and the response time was less than 1 minute when testing range between 10ppm and 500ppm.…”