Hydrogen collection and detection

A hydrogen collection and detection system comprising:

• a hydrogen collector;
• and
• a hydrogen detector,
• said hydrogen collector comprising a flexible collector plate, input means for receiving a carrier gas, and output means for delivering a mixture of the carrier gas and emanated hydrogen and being operatively connectable from the output means to said detector;
• said flexible collector plate being deformable to conform to a curved test surface;
• said flexible collector plate having a receptor face with guide channels along which said mixture of carrier gas and emanated hydrogen may be channelled and sent to said detector;
• said hydrogen detector being connected to the output means of the flexible collector plate so as to receive the mixture of the carrier gas and emanated hydrogen delivered from the output means of the flexible collector plate
• wherein the flexible, collector plate further comprises associated clamping means to hold the flexible collector plane against the rest surface during hydrogen collection and detection.

A method of detecting hydrogen emanating from a surface, utilizing a hydrogen collection and detection system comprising:

• a hydrogen collector;
• and a hydrogen detector, said hydrogen collector comprising a flexible collector plate, input means for receiving a carrier gas, and output means for delivering a mixture of the carrier gas and emanated hydrogen and being operatively connectable from the output means to said detector;
• said flexible collector plate being deformable to conform to a curved test surface;
• said flexible collector plate having a receptor face with guide channels along which said mixture of carrier gas and emanated hydrogen may be channelled and sent to said detector;
• said hydrogen detector being connected to the output means of the flexible collector plate so as to receive the mixture of the carrier gas and emanated hydrogen delivered from the output means of the flexible collector plate, comprising the steps of
• a) operatively applying the hydrogen collection and detection system to a curved test surface,
• b) allowing a carrier gas to mix with hydrogen emanating from the surface,
• c) channeling the mixture of carrier gas and emanated hydrogen between the receptor face of the flexible collector plate and the test surface towards the output means,
• d) carrying the mixture via the output means to a collection vessel, and
• e) performing an analysis of the mixture to determine the hydrogen flux, wherein the hydrogen collection and detection system further comprises a backing plate and a plurality of supports the supporting the flexible collector plate on the backing plate, mounting means for attaching the flexible collector plate to the backing plate, clamping means associated with the flexible collector plate to hold the flexible collector plate against the test surface, wherein the clamping means comprise a plurality of magnets on the surface of the flexible collector plate opposite to the receptor face.