Ethane Detection (C2H6)
Application areas of laser-based ethane detection
nanoplus lasers for carbon dioxide detection are used for various applications including:
- Environment: Emission control
- Health: Breath gas analysis
Tunable diode laser spectroscopy allows measuring C2H6 with up to ppb precision in real time and in situ. Providing long-term stability and requiring little maintenance, nanoplus lasers are suitable for operation in harsh environments.
Standard wavelengths for ethane detection
nanoplus offers various wavelengths to target the vibrational-rotational bands of ethane. Literature recommends the following wavelengths for ethane detection:
Select your wavelength for ethane detection
Above wavelengths as well as further customized wavelengths for HCL detection are available from nanoplus.
When you choose your wavelength, you have to consider your product set up, environment and nature of the measurement.
These factors influence the optimum wavelength for your application. Do have a look at the Hitran Database to further evaluate your choice of wavelengths. Our application experts are equally happy to discuss with you the most suitable wavelength for your application.
Let us know the wavelength you require with an accuracy of 0.1 nm!
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Related information for laser-based ethane detection
Specifications & Mountings
Applications
Papers & Links
The following tables analyse the typical specifications of the standard wavelengths for C2H6 detection.
| electro-optical properties of 1640.0 nm DFB laser diode | symbol | unit | minimum | typical | maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| standard wavelength | λ | nm | 1640.0 | ||
| absorption line strength | S | cm / mol | ∼ 1 x 10-23 | ||
| output power | pout | mW | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| threshold current | lth | mA | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| current tuning coefficient | cT | nm / mA | 0.008 | 0.015 | 0.02 |
| temperature tuning coefficient | cI | nm / K | 0.07 | 0.1 | 0.14 |
| mode hop free tuning range | Δλ | nm | +/- 0.5 | +/- 0.7 | +/- 1 |
| electro-optical properties of 3360.0 nm DFB interband cascade laser | symbol | unit | minimum | typical | maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| standard wavelength | λ | nm | 3360.0 | ||
| absorption line strength | S | cm / mol | ∼ 3 x 10-20 | ||
| output power | pout | mW | > 1 | ||
| threshold current | lth | mA | 50 | ||
| current tuning coefficient | cT | nm / mA | 0.2 | ||
| temperature tuning coefficient | cI | nm / K | 0.3 | ||
| mode hop free tuning range | Δλ | nm | +/- 0.5 |
| mounting options / technical drawings | wavelength | TEC | cap with window | AR cap with AR window | fiber | heatsink | collimation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TO5.6 | 760 nm - 3000 nm | NA | ✔ | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| TO5 | 760 nm - 3000 nm | ✔ | NA | ✔ | NA | ✔ | ✔ | |
| TO66 | 3000 nm - 6000 nm | ✔ | NA | ✔ | NA | ✔ | ✔ | |
| c-mount | 760 nm - 3000 nm | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| SM-BTF | 760 nm - 2360 nm | ✔ | NA | NA | single mode | NA | NA | |
| PM-BTF | 1064 nm - 2050 nm | ✔ | NA | NA | polarization maintaining | NA | NA | |
Please find below a number of application samples.
Emission control of greenhouse gases: C2H6
Ethane is an important greenhouse gas that has a critical impact on climate change. Emissions are related to fossil fuel and biofuel consumption, biomass combustion and natural gas losses. Trace gas detection of ethane is an important tool to monitor greenhouse gases. [10]
Emission control by methane source identification: C2H6
Ethane is a by-product of methane emissions. The ethane ratio varies between methane emissions from thermogenic and biogenic sources. This allows differentiating oil and gas reserves from those of livestock, landfills, wetlands or stagnant water. Studies are executed on behalf of the US Environmental Protection Agency to quantify methane emissions caused byincreased natural gas exploration and production in the US. A newly developed ethane spectrometer delivers 1 second ethane measurements with sub-ppb precision in an ethane-methane mixture. [61]
Please find below a selection of related papers from our literature list.
Let us know if you published a paper with our lasers. We will be happy to include it in our literature list.
#9 DFB Lasers Between 760 nm and 16 µm for Sensing Applications;
W. Zeller, L. Naehle, P. Fuchs, F. Gerschuetz, L. Hildebrandt, J. Koeth, Sensors 2010, 10, pp. 2492-2510.
#10 Continuous wave, distributed feedback diode laser based sensor for trace-gas detection of ethane;
K. Krzempek, R. Lewicki, L. Naehle, M. Fischer, J. Koeth, S. Belahsene, Y. Rouillard, L. Worschech, F.K. Tittel, Appl. Phys. B 106, 2, 2012, pp 251-255.
#53 CW DFB RT diode laser-based sensor for trace-gas detection of ethane using a novel compact multipass gas absorption cell;
K. Krzempek, M. Jahjah, R. Lewicki, P. Stefanski, S. So, D. Thomazy, F.K. Tittel, Appl. Phys. B, 112, 4, Sept. 2013, pp. 461-465.
#61 Demonstration of an Ethane Spectrometer for Methane Source Identification;
T.I. Yacovitch, S.C. Herndon, J.R. Roscioli, C. Floerchinger, R.M. McGovern, M. Agnese, G. Petron, J. Kofler, C. Sweeney, A. Karion, S.A. Conley, E.A. Kort, L. Naehle, M. Fischer, L. Hildebrandt,.J. Koeth, J.B. McManus, D.D. Nelson, M.S. Zahniser, C.E. Kolb, Environ. Sci. Technol., 48, 2014, 8028-8034.
#63 Breath Analysis Using Laser Spectroscopic Techniques: Breath Biomarkers, Spectral Fingerprints, and Detection Limits;
C. Wang and P. Sahay, Sensors 2009, 9, 8230-8262.
#77 Compact TDLAS based sensor design using interband cascade lasers for mid-IR trace gas sensing;
L. Dong, F. K. Tittel, C. Li, N. P. Sanchez, H. Wu, C. Zheng, Y. Yu, A. Sampaolo, R. J. Griffin; Optics Express Vol. 24, Issue 6, 2016, pp. A528-A535.
#82 Ppb-level mid-infrared ethane detection based on three measurement schemes using a 3.34 μm continuous-wave interband cascade laser;
C. Li, C. Zheng, L. Dong, W. Ye, F. K. Tittel, Y. Wang, Appl. Phys. B, July 2016, 122:185.
# 107 Recent progress in laser‑based trace gas instruments:
performance and noise analysis;
J. B. McManus, M. S. Zahniser, D. D. Nelson et. al., Appl. Phys. B, 2015, 119: 203.