Towards a hydrogen-powered future: Highly sensitive hydrogen detection system

One promising method is tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) technology, which has gained significant attention for detecting various gases. TDLAS offers several key advantages, including non-contact measurement, in situ detection, high selectivity, rapid response, low cost, and multi-component, multi-parameter measurement capabilities. It works on the principle that gases absorb light at a specific wavelength, resulting in a dark line in the absorption spectrum, known as the absorption line. By measuring the amount of laser light that has been absorbed at this wavelength, the concentration of the gas can be determined. However, detecting low concentrations of hydrogen with TDLAS is difficult because hydrogen has weaker absorption in the infrared region compared to other gases.

To address this issue, a research team from Japan led by Associate Professor Tatsuo Shiina from the Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, developed an innovative method for precise hydrogen gas measurement using TDLAS. The team comprised Alifu Xiafukaiti and Nofel Lagrosas from the Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Ippei Asahi from the Shikoku Research Institute Inc., and Shigeru Yamaguchi from the School of Science, Tokai University. Their study was made available online on August 13, 2024, and published in Volume 180 of the journal Optics and Laser Technology on January 01, 2025.

"In this study, we achieved highly sensitive detection of hydrogen gas through meticulous control of pressure and modulation parameters in the TDLAS setup. Additionally, we introduced a calibration-free technique that ensures the adaptability to a wide range of concentrations," explains Prof. Shiina.

In TDLAS, laser light is passed through a pressurized gas cell called a Herriott multipass cell (HMPC) containing the target gas. The laser's wavelength is modulated or oscillated around the target absorption line of the gas at a specific frequency to remove any environmental noise. The pressure in HMPC can significantly influence the absorption line width and consequently the modulation parameters under TDLAS.

The researchers carefully analyzed the width of hydrogen's strongest absorption line at different pressures. Through simulations, the researchers identified the optimal pressure for a broader absorption line width and the most effective modulation parameters within this line width. Their calibration-free technique involved using the first harmonic of the modulated absorption signal to normalize the second harmonic through their ratio, instead of just relying on the second harmonic signal as in conventional TDLAS systems. Additionally, they employed a high-pressure gas cell containing pure hydrogen as a reference to fine-tune the modulating parameters of the laser signal.

Through this innovative approach, the researchers achieved accurate measurements of hydrogen concentrations in a wide detection range from 0.01% to 100%, where 0.01% equals a concentration of just 100 parts per million (ppm). Moreover, the results improved with longer integration times (the time period during which light is allowed to be absorbed). At 0.1 second integration time, the minimum detection limit was 0.3% or 30,000 ppm, which improved to 0.0055% or 55 ppm at 30 seconds integration time. However, beyond 30 seconds the minimum detection limit increased.

"Our system can significantly improve hydrogen detection systems for safety and quality control, facilitating wider adoption of hydrogen fuel. For example, this system can be reliably used for the detection of leakages in hydrogen fuel cell cars," remarks Prof. Shiina about the potential applications of the study.

To summarize, this pioneering technique could help pave the way for a sustainable future and boost the implementation of hydrogen as an eco-friendly fuel.