Automated remote monitoring of toxic gases with diode-laser-based sensor systems
There is a growing need for compact sensor systems that provide reliable and automated monitoring of toxic gases and pollutants. Near infrared (NIR) diode lasers, originally developed for the communications industry, have the necessary reliability for use in such automated sensor systems. The authors combine NTR lasers with its patented line-locked absorption techniques to create the DiRTiGAS family of automated sensor systems for continuous remote monitoring of gas concentration. A broad variety of small polyatomic gases can be detected using GaAs-based diode lasers. They report here tests on NO{sub 2}, O{sub 2}, NH{sub 3}, C{sub 2}H{sub 2}, and CO{sub 2} with two source modules operating at 760 and 1,540 nm, respectively. The DiRTiGAS family of remote sensors uses modular components which can be assembled in two basic configurations for process control and ambient air monitoring. The fiber-optic configuration uses a central control unit linked by a fiberoptic network to remote sensor heads. The long-path configuration uses a similar control unit and a distant retroreflective target to monitor the concentration in the intervening distances. A fieldable prototype longpath unit, and a fiber-optic head has been developed for process water vapor monitoring in exhaust stacks at temperatures up to 650 C. This work describes laboratory tests of both systems, and preliminary field tests of the prototype long-path system. Based on these results, they have made design revisions which will be incorporated in a second stage long-path prototype. This prototype will be ready for site tests in early 1994.
- Research Organization:
- Spectral Sciences, Inc., Burlington, MA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-91ER81196
- OSTI ID:
- 10118145
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-931046-; ON: DE95006910; BR: KM0000000; CNN: Contract NAS8-39839; TRN: AHC29508%%141
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International symposium on optical sensing for environmental monitoring,Atlanta, GA (United States),11-15 Oct 1993; Other Information: PBD: [1993]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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