Gas Correlation Technique Research Articles

Sulfur dioxide measurements using an ultraviolet light-emitting diode in combination with gas correlation techniques

The important air pollutant sulfur dioxide has a strong structured absorption band in the ultraviolet (UV) region around 300 nm. Recently, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with structureless emission in a band about 15-nm wide in the UV region have become available. We demonstrate that they can be ideal sources for gas absorption measurements combined with the gas correlation technique, where an absorption cell with an optically thick column of the gas under investigation is used for analysing the target gas contents in a path between the LED and the measurement device. A sensitivity of 0.4 ppm sulfur dioxide was obtained with a 19-cm optical path length and 60-s integration time. Particularly compact and cost-effective monitors especially for industrial emissions can be envisaged.

Gas detection by correlation spectroscopy employing a multimode diode laser

A gas sensor based on the gas-correlation technique has been developed using a multimode diode laser (MDL) in a dual-beam detection scheme. Measurement of CO(2) mixed with CO as an interfering gas is successfully demonstrated using a 1570 nm tunable MDL. Despite overlapping absorption spectra and occasional mode hops, the interfering signals can be effectively excluded by a statistical procedure including correlation analysis and outlier identification. The gas concentration is retrieved from several pair-correlated signals by a linear-regression scheme, yielding a reliable and accurate measurement. This demonstrates the utility of the unsophisticated MDLs as novel light sources for gas detection applications.

Gas visualization of industrial hydrocarbon emissions

Gases leaking from a polyethene plant and a cracker plant were visualized with the gas-correlation imaging technique. Ethene escaping from flares due to incomplete or erratic combustion was monitored. A leakage at a high-pressure reactor tank could be found and visualized by scanning the camera system over the industrial site. The image processing methods rely on the information from three simultaneously captured images. A direct and a gas-filtered infrared image are recorded with a split-mirror telescope through a joint band-pass filter. The resulting path-integrated gas concentration image, derived from the two infrared images, is combined with a visible image of the scene. The gas-correlation technique also has the potential to estimate the flux in the gas plume by combining a wind vector map, derived by cross-correlating the images in time, with a calibrated gas path-integrated concentration image. The principles of the technique are outlined and its potential discussed.

Gas imaging by infrared gas-correlation spectrometry

We describe a new method for visualization of gas flows based on infrared absorption and gas-correlation techniques. This result is a gray-scale or false color-coded image showing the distribution of a specific gas in the area studied. A sequence of images showing the workplace test setup with a turbulent flowing gas is presented.

Spatial mapping of flame radical emission using a spectroscopic multi-colour imaging system

An intensified multi-colour digital imaging system allowing simultaneous monitoring of light from an object in four wavelength bands was used for flame emission studies. The spatial distribution of the molecular emission from different flame radicals, such as OH, C2, CH, and CN was recorded, also in the presence of a heavy background due to Planck-radiating soot particles. Exposure times down to 8 μs could be reached allowing studies of turbulent flames. The imaging spectroscopic recordings were supported by simultaneous point monitoring of the full emission spectrum. A technique for imaging flow measurements using a spectroscopic gas correlation technique is proposed.

Electrooptic phase modulation gas correlation spectroscopy: a laboratory demonstration

A new gas-correlation spectroscopy technique is described which uses electrooptic phase modulation (EOPM) of atmospheric emission spectra together with a reference cell to selectively detect radiatively active gases. Laboratory results demonstrate that the EOPM gas-correlation technique is a sensitive approach to species abundance measurements, and support the feasibility of an instrument for measurement of winds in the stratosphere and mesosphere using an EOPM. Through the measurement of wind-induced Doppler shifts in the spectra of atmospheric species, this instrument offers a means of monitoring the wind field in the 20-100 km altitude range from a satellite.

Gas-correlation lidar

Basic principles for the extension of gas-correlation techniques to the lidar situation are discussed. Favorable signal-to-noise ratios and relaxed laser requirements characterize the technique. Preliminary experiments on atomic mercury are reported.