A selective laser-based sensor for fugitive methane emissions

Abstract A mid-infrared laser-based sensor is reported for the quantification of fugitive methane emissions. The sensor is based on a distributed feedback inter-band cascade laser operating near 3.3 μm. Wavelength tuning with cepstral analysis is employed to isolate methane absorbance from (1) fluct...

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Main Authors: Mhanna Mhanna, Mohamed Sy, Aamir Farooq
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28668-z
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author Mhanna Mhanna
Mohamed Sy
Aamir Farooq
author_facet Mhanna Mhanna
Mohamed Sy
Aamir Farooq
author_sort Mhanna Mhanna
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A mid-infrared laser-based sensor is reported for the quantification of fugitive methane emissions. The sensor is based on a distributed feedback inter-band cascade laser operating near 3.3 μm. Wavelength tuning with cepstral analysis is employed to isolate methane absorbance from (1) fluctuations in the baseline laser intensity, and (2) interfering species. Cepstral analysis creates a modified form of the time-domain molecular free-induction-decay (m-FID) signal to temporally separate optical and molecular responses. The developed sensor is insensitive to baseline laser intensity imperfections and spectral interference from other species. Accurate measurements of methane in the presence of a representative interfering species, benzene, are performed by careful selection of the scan index (ratio of laser tuning range to spectral linewidth) and initial and final time of m-FID signal fitting. The minimum detection limit of the sensor is ~ 110 ppm which can be enhanced with an optical cavity. The proposed sensing strategy can be utilized to measure methane leaks in harsh environments and in the presence of interfering species in environment-monitoring applications.
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spelling doaj.art-676896d58c3a4b678e3a20c03a0d26fa2023-01-29T12:09:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-01-0113111010.1038/s41598-023-28668-zA selective laser-based sensor for fugitive methane emissionsMhanna Mhanna0Mohamed Sy1Aamir Farooq2Mechanical Engineering Program, Physical Science and Engineering Division, Clean Combustion Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)Mechanical Engineering Program, Physical Science and Engineering Division, Clean Combustion Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)Mechanical Engineering Program, Physical Science and Engineering Division, Clean Combustion Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)Abstract A mid-infrared laser-based sensor is reported for the quantification of fugitive methane emissions. The sensor is based on a distributed feedback inter-band cascade laser operating near 3.3 μm. Wavelength tuning with cepstral analysis is employed to isolate methane absorbance from (1) fluctuations in the baseline laser intensity, and (2) interfering species. Cepstral analysis creates a modified form of the time-domain molecular free-induction-decay (m-FID) signal to temporally separate optical and molecular responses. The developed sensor is insensitive to baseline laser intensity imperfections and spectral interference from other species. Accurate measurements of methane in the presence of a representative interfering species, benzene, are performed by careful selection of the scan index (ratio of laser tuning range to spectral linewidth) and initial and final time of m-FID signal fitting. The minimum detection limit of the sensor is ~ 110 ppm which can be enhanced with an optical cavity. The proposed sensing strategy can be utilized to measure methane leaks in harsh environments and in the presence of interfering species in environment-monitoring applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28668-z
spellingShingle Mhanna Mhanna
Mohamed Sy
Aamir Farooq
A selective laser-based sensor for fugitive methane emissions
Scientific Reports
title A selective laser-based sensor for fugitive methane emissions
title_full A selective laser-based sensor for fugitive methane emissions
title_fullStr A selective laser-based sensor for fugitive methane emissions
title_full_unstemmed A selective laser-based sensor for fugitive methane emissions
title_short A selective laser-based sensor for fugitive methane emissions
title_sort selective laser based sensor for fugitive methane emissions
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28668-z
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