Researchers at Louisiana State University (LSU) have developed a fiber-optic sensor system designed to identify gases escaping from pipelines while also measuring humidity, potentially giving operators additional information for assessing leaks and corrosion risks, reports Pipeline & Gas Journal.
Unlike monitoring systems that detect a leak without necessarily identifying the escaping gas, the LSU technology uses specialized sensor coatings to distinguish between carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane, nitrogen and ordinary air flow. It can also measure humidity. The ability to measure CO₂ and moisture together could be particularly useful for pipeline integrity monitoring. In the presence of moisture, CO₂ can form carbonic acid, accelerating corrosion of steel pipelines.
The researchers coated optical fibers with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), porous materials that can be tailored to capture specific molecules. Different MOF coatings allow the sensors to distinguish among individual gases.
The technology builds on previous LSU research using fiber-optic sensors to detect physical changes within pipelines, including temperature, pressure and stress. Those measurements can be affected by external conditions such as temperature changes and traffic vibration, according to the university. Read more from Pipeline & Gas Journal.
