Interband cascade laser arrays for simultaneous and selective analysis of C1-C5 hydrocarbons in the petrochemical industry

Julien Scheuermann, Pawel Kluczynski, Krzysztof Siembab, Mateusz Straszewski, Jakub Kaczmarek, Robert Weih, Marc Fischer, Johannes Koeth, Anne Schade, Sven Höfling

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The detection and measurement of hydrocarbons is of high interest for a variety of applications, for example within the oil & gas industry from extraction throughout the complete refining process, as well as for environmental monitoring and for portable safety devices. This paper presents a highly sensitive, selective and robust tunable laser analyzer that has the capability to analyze several components in a gas sample stream. More specifically, a multi-gas system for simultaneous detection of C1 to iC5 hydrocarbons, using a room temperature distributed feedback interband cascade laser array, emitting in the 3.3 micrometer band has been realized. It combines all the advantages of the tunable laser spectroscopy method for a fast, sensitive and selective in-line multicomponent tunable laser analyzer. Capable of continuous and milliseconds fast monitoring of C1-iC5 hydrocarbon compositions in a process stream, the analyzer requires no consumables (e.g. purging, carrier gas) and no in-field calibration, enabling a low cost of ownership for the analyzer. The system was built, based on an industrial GasEye series platform and deployed for the first time in field at Preem refinery in Lysekil, Sweden in autumn 2018. Results of the measurement campaign and comparison with gas chromatography instrumentation is presented.
Original languageEnglish
JournalApplied Spectroscopy
VolumeAccepted Manuscripts
Early online date20 Nov 2020
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 20 Nov 2020

Keywords

  • Gas analyzer
  • Interband cascade laser
  • Mid infrared
  • Process control
  • Tunable laser

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Interband cascade laser arrays for simultaneous and selective analysis of C1-C5 hydrocarbons in the petrochemical industry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this