SI Diamond Technology has today announced it has developed a new palladium alloy sensor for the detection of hydrogen gas dissolved in power transformer oil.

Through the firm's subsidiary, Applied Nanotech, extensive research and development in the field of electron emission applications has yielded a successful demonstration of the new sensor.

The sensor works by recording the changes in the electrical and optical properties of a film as a result of the absorption of hydrogen by the palladium alloy nanoparticles.

Testing showed that the sensor could successfully distinguish a range of hydrogen concentrations at different temperatures in transformer oil.

At each end of the scale, from a hydrogen concentration of 20 parts per million (PPM) to one of 4,000 PPM, the results were deemed exceptionally accurate.

Adjustments to the oil temperature, varying from room temperature to 100 degrees Celsius, yielded similarly successful outcomes, with the firm declaring the sensor exhibited 'good sensitivity and short reaction time'.

SI Diamond Technology says it expects the sensor to be applied in the continuous monitoring of electrical power systems and transformers, which will reduce the cost associated with current maintenance methods and help avoid catastrophic failures.