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Wi.Tec-Sensorik · The Gas Measurement Company
High End Gas Analysis in Biogas Plants using ULTRA.sens® & INFRA.sens®
Biogas consists mainly of methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and hydrogen sulphide (H₂S). H₂S measurement is a major challenge in biogas analysis. Wi.Tec-Sensorik GmbH has developed a highly accurate and long-term stable H₂S gas sensor for this area of application based on UVLED technology.
Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) is an undesirable component of biogas, which is mainly produced during the processing of animal waste. The utilisation of biogas is restricted by this component and must therefore be removed at all costs. In particular, combustion in gas engines is impaired by H₂S and can lead to the destruction of the engines (SO₂ formation).
H₂S is also toxic and harmful to the environment. The measurement of this component is therefore an important task and a prerequisite for the environmentally friendly utilisation of biogas. There is therefore a considerable need for reliable H₂S measurement technology to promote the use of biogas plants. Although the electrochemical gas sensors currently in use fulfil some requirements, chemical decomposition processes mean that they are not stable in the long term and require little maintenance. With an innovative approach (NDUV technology) based on UV light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs), Wi.Tec-Sensorik GmbH has succeeded in developing a practical H₂S gas sensor (ULTRA.sens®) as part of a DBU1 research project.
1Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt DBU
NDUV ULTRA.sens® H₂S
Hydrogen sulphide has a broad absorption band in the UV range between 160 nm and 260 nm, meaning that H₂S gas measurements can be carried out at different wavelengths. Wi.Tec uses a long-term stable gas discharge lamp (EDL) for the measurement at 204 nm, with which concentrations in the trace range are possible (0-100 ppm H₂S). At a wavelength of approx. 230 nm, H₂S concentrations in a measuring range of 0-2000 ppm and measuring ranges in the vol % range can be realised. Miniaturised UV LEDs are suitable as radiation sources here, as they have a significantly lower power consumption and do not need to be thermostated. This is particularly advantageous for portable gas analysers. Furthermore, the UVLED can be modulated electronically. The service life of the UVLED can be significantly extended thanks to a variably adjustable pulse-width ratio. A service life of >5 years can therefore be realised without any problems, even in continuous operation. Compared to electrochemical gas sensors, there is no consumption with this physical process, so that maintenance-free operation is possible over a long period of time. This is of great benefit to the user (cost of ownership).
NDIR INFRA.sens® CH₄ / CO₂
The highly selective gas analysis is carried out using NDIR technology (INFRA.sens®). The INFRA.sens® utilises the known absorption bands for methane and carbon dioxide in the 3μm – 5μm range. The radiation source is a blackbody radiator that can be modulated in the frequency range of 1-10Hz. To achieve optimum linearity, a 20 mm long analyser cuvette (AK20) is used, which is coated with a special gold layer. The gold coating has a high reflectivity and leads to an optimum signal level on the detector side. The gold coating also protects against corrosion. The IR detector is located on the opposite side and consists of 4 elements. Interference filters are used to filter out the gas-specific spectral components for the respective detectors. The interference filters have a very narrow bandwidth and an efficient blocking factor. This leads to a very high selectivity and negligible cross-sensitivities to other gas components. The CH₄ and CO₂ concentrations (e.g. 0-100 vol.%) are recorded simultaneously in an INFRA.sens®.
The entire signal processing takes place in an electronic evaluation unit (base board), which is located below the optical unit. Data is transmitted via an RS232 interface. CAN interface, MODBUS (option) and analogue output 0-10V (option) are also available.
Oxygen-Measurement O₂
This set-up also includes an electrochemical (EC) oxygen sensor (galvanic cell) for measuring the oxygen concentration in the gas mixture. The O₂.sens D has a measuring range of 0-25 vol.% O₂ and is very selective for oxygen, even in the presence of other gases in high concentrations. Compared to physical gas sensors, the service life of electrochemical gas sensors is limited due to the chemical reactions in the sensor. The service life is therefore specified in vol.%-h. The typical sensor lifetime is >500,000 vol.%-h. In the presence of 10-20 vol.% oxygen, the calculated service life is approx. 3-6 years. The O₂.sens D can communicate with the INFRA.sens® electronics via an I2C interface. Compared to analogue transmission, the I2C interface ensures loss-free and high-resolution measured value transmission.
Specifications
| General features | |
|---|---|
| Ranges | 0-2000 ppm, 0-25.000 ppm H₂S 0-100 vol.% CH₄ 0-100 vol.% CO₂ 0-25 vol.% O₂ |
| Gas flow | 0.1-1.5 l/min. |
| Dimensions | 225mm x 125mm x 81mm (NDUV) 225mm x 125mm x 74.4mm (NDIR) |
| Weight | 580g 520g |
| Lifetime | 10.000h-100.000h (NDUV) depends on data rate > 40.000h (NDIR) >500.000Vol.%·h (EC) |
| Warm-up time | <5min. initial <45min. full specification |
| Response time t90 | 1.5s-15s (NDIR) 5-300s (NDUV) adjustable <5s (EC) |
| Detection limit | <5 ppm H₂S <0.01 vol.% CH₄ < 0.01 vol.% CO₂ <0.1 vol.% O₂ |
| Linearity error | <1 %F.S. |
| Supply voltage | 15-30 VDC |
| Power consumption | <8Wbei 24 VDC |
| Output signal | RS232, Modbus or CANbus |
| Operating temperature | 5-45°C |
| Air pressure | 300-1200 hPa (mbar) |
| Ambient Humidity | <95% rel. Humidity |
