Methane Detection (CH4)
Application areas of laser-based methane detection
nanoplus lasers for methane detection are used for various applications including:
- Process Optimization: Combustion control
- Environment: Detection of greenhouse gases
- Health: Breath gas analysis
- Safety: Leakage control in gas pipelines
Tunable diode laser spectroscopy allows measuring CH4 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 methane detection
nanoplus offers various wavelengths to target the vibrational-rotational bands of methane. Literature recommends the following wavelengths for methane detection:
Select your wavelength for methane detection
Above wavelengths as well as further customized wavelengths for methane 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 methane detection
Specifications & Mountings
Applications
Papers & Links
The following tables analyse the typical specifications of the standard wavelengths for CH4 detection.
| electro-optical properties of 1654.0 nm DFB laser diode | symbol | unit | minimum | typical | maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| standard wavelength | λ | nm | 1654.0 | ||
| absorption line strength | S | cm / mol | ∼ 1 x 10-21 | ||
| output power | pout | mW | 5 | ||
| threshold current | lth | mA | 10 | 25 | 30 |
| current tuning coefficient | cT | nm / mA | 0.08 | 0.02 | 0.03 |
| temperature tuning coefficient | cI | nm / K | 0.07 | 0.1 | 0.14 |
| mode hop free tuning range | λΔ | nm | +/- 0.5 |
| electro-optical properties of 3270.0 nm DFB interband cascade laser | symbol | unit | minimum | typical | maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| standard wavelength | λ | nm | 3270.0 | ||
| absorption line strength | S | cm / mol | ∼ 2 x 10-19 | ||
| output power | pout | mW | > 5 | ||
| threshold current | lth | mA | 50 | ||
| current tuning coefficient | cT | nm / mA | 0.09 | ||
| temperature tuning coefficient | cI | nm / K | 0.30 | ||
| 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.
Combustion control in high temperature processes: CO2 and CH4
Continuous monitoring of contents like CO2 or CH4 concentrations is essential for the efficiency of high-temperature processes in e. g. incinerators, furnaces or petrochemical refineries. Managing the CO2 content in combustion processes simultaneously reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This is also relevant for energy generating industries like coal burning power plants. [12, 35, 40, 45, 62, 94, 96, 112, 113, 116, 122, 125]
Combustion control in integrated gasification fuel cell cycles: CH4
Methane content of syngas is controlled to improve combustion efficiency of integrated gasification fuel cell cycles. [35]
Emission control of greenhouse gases: CH4
Greenhouse gas effects and climate change have triggered global emission monitoring of pollutants like methane. Methane is one of the Earth’s most important atmospheric gases. It is, to a large extend, responsible for the accelerating greenhouse effect. The global warming potential of methane is about 30 times higher than that of CO2 based on a 100 year scale. Studies are executed on behalf of the US Environmental Protection Agency to quantify the methane emissions caused by the increased natural gas exploration and production in the US. [61, 92, 108, 110, 120, 129, 130]
Leakage control in gas pipelines: CH4
Leaks of CH4 may cause dangerous situations and are hard to locate precisely. Hence, maintenance of underground pipelines produces high costs. CH4 leaks are also an important source for greenhouse gases. With TDLS a strong tool is available to manufacture portable leak detectors.
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.
#5 DFB lasers exceeding 3 µm for industrial applications;
L. Naehle, L. Hildebrandt, Laser+Photonics 2012, pp. 78-80.
#7 DFB laser diodes expand hydrocarbon sensing beyond 3 µm;
L. Hildebrandt, L. Naehle, Laser Focus World, January 2012, pp. 87-90.
#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.
#13 Continuous-wave operation of type-I quantum well DFB laser diodes emitting in 3.4 µm wavelength range around room temperature;
L. Naehle, S. Belahsene, M. von Edlinger, M. Fischer, G. Boissier, P. Grech, G. Narcy, A. Vicet, Y. Rouillard, J. Koeth and L. Worschech, Electron. Lett. 47, 1, Jan 2011, pp. 46-47.
#19 Measurements of Mars Methane at Gale Crater by the SAM Tunable Laser Spectrometer on the Curiosity Rover;
C.R. Webster, P.R. Mahaffy, S.K. Atreya, G.J. Flesch, K.A. Farley, 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 18-22, 2013, LPI Contribution No. 1719, p.1366.
#29 Detection of Methane Isotopologues – cw-OPO vs. DFB Diode Laser;
M. Wolff, S. Rhein, H. Bruhns, J. Koeth, L. Hildebrandt, P. Fuchs, 16th International Conference on Photoacoustic and Photothermal Phenomena.
#35 TDLAS-based sensors for in situ measurement of syngas composition in a pressurized, oxygen-blown, entrained flow coal gasifier;
R. Sur, K. Sun, J.B. Jeffries, R.K. Hanson, R.J. Pummill, T. Waind, D.R. Wagner, K.J. Whitty, Appl. Phys. B, 116, 1, 2014, pp. 33-42.
#50 Mid-IR difference frequency laser-based sensors for ambient CH4, CO, and N2O monitoring;
J. J. Scherer, J. B. Paul, H. J. Jost, Marc L. Fischer, Appl. Phys. B, 109, 3, Nov. 2012, pp. 271-277.
#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.
#62 High-sensitivity interference-free diagnostic for measurement of methane in shock tubes;
R. Sur, S. Wang, K. Sun, D. F. Davidson, J. B. Jeffries, R. K. Hanson, J. of Quant. Spectrosc. and Rad. Transfer, Vol. 156, May 2015, pp. 80–87.
#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.
#90 Optical feedback cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy with a 3.24 µm interband cascade laser;
K. M. Manfred, G. A. D. Ritchie, N. Lang, J. Roepcke, J. H. van Helden, Appl. Phys. Lett. 106, 2015, 221106.
#89 Mars methane detection and variability at Gale crater;
C. R. Webster, P. R. Mahaffy, S. K. Atreya, G. J. Flesch, M. A. Mischna, P.-Y. Meslin, K. A. Farley, P. G. Conrad,L. E. Christensen, A. A. Pavlov, J. Martín-Torres, M.-P. Zorzano, T. H. McConnochie, T. Owen, J. L. Eigenbrode, D. P. Glavin, A. Steele, C. A. Malespin, P. Douglas Archer Jr., B. Sutter, P. Coll, C. Freissinet, C. P. McKay, J. E. Moores, S. P. Schwenzer, J. C. Bridges, R. Navarro-Gonzalez, R. Gellert, M. T. Lemmon, the MSL Science Team, Science, Vol. 347, Issue 6220, Jan 23, 2015, pp. 415-417.
# 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.
# 108 Interband cascade laser-based ppbv-level mid-infrared methane detection using two digital lock-in amplifier schemes;
F. Song, C. Zheng, D. Yu, Y. Zhou, W. Yan, W. Ye, Y. Zhang, Y. Wang, F. K. Tittel, Appl. Phys. B, 2018, 124:51.
#110 Performance enhancement of methane detection using a novel self-adaptive mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy technique;
F. Song, C. Zheng, W. Yan, W. Ye, Y. Zhang, Y. Wang, F. K. Tittel, IEEE Phot. Journ., Vol. 10, No. 6, December 2018.
#120 Interband cascade laser based quartz-enhanced photoacoustic sensor for multiple hydrocarbons detection;
A. Sampaolo, S. Csutak, P. Patimisco, M. Giglio, G. Menduni, V. Passaro, F. K. Tittel, M. Deffenbaugh, V. Spagnolo, Proc. SPIE 10540, Quantum Sensing and Nano Electronics and Photonics XV, 105400C, Jan. 26th, 2018.
#123 A streamlined approach to hybrid-chemistry modeling for a low cetane-number alternative jet fuel;
N. H. Pinkowski, Y. Wang , S. J. Cassady , D. F. Davidson , R. K. Hanson, Combustion and Flame, Vol. 208, Oct. 2019, pp. 15-26.
#124 Multi-wavelength speciation of high-temperature 1-butene pyrolysis;
N. H. Pinkowski, S. J. Cassady, D. F. Davidson, R. K. Hanson, Fuel, Vol. 244, 15th May 2019, pp. 269-281.
#128 Narrow linewidth characteristics of interband cascade lasers;
Y. Deng , B.-B. Zhao, X.-G. Wang, C. Wang, Appl. Phys. Lett. 116, 201101, 2020.
#129 Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy for hydrocarbon trace gas detection and petroleum exploration;
A. Sampaoloa, G. Mendunib,P. Patimiscoa, M. Giglioa, V. M.N. Passaroc, L. Donga, H. Wua, F. K. Tittel, V. Spagnoloa, Fuel, Vol. 277, 2020.
#130 Sub-ppb-level CH4 detection by exploiting a low-noise differential photoacoustic resonator with a room-temperature interband cascade laser;
H. Zhen, Y. Liu, H. Lin, R. Kan, P. Patimisco, A. Sampaolo, M. Giglio, W. Zhu, J. Yu, F. K. Tittel, V. Spagnolo, Z. Chen, Opt. Expr., Vol. 28, Iss. 13, 2020, p. 19446.