Topic: Research News
Scientists have created a vehicle-mounted system that can detect methane leaks while driving. This technology could help cities and industries reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers from East China Normal University have developed a new vehicle-mounted spectroscopy system that can reliably detect methane in real time while driving. The system uses mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy, which is a technique that detects gases using two precisely matched frequency combs—light sources that produce many evenly spaced wavelengths.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas released from sources such as natural gas infrastructure, livestock farms, landfills, and coal mines. Leaks from natural gas infrastructure can create fire and explosion hazards. The new system could help locate hidden methane emissions across large areas, making it easier to fix leaks before they cause harm.
The researchers combined several advances to create a compact system that can perform high-precision gas detection reliably on a moving vehicle. The frequency combs are generated by specially designed, vibration-resistant fiber lasers. The mid-infrared light enters a compact, open-path gas cell that provides an effective 25-meter path through air drawn from the surroundings.
The team leader, Wenxue Li, said,
Implications
Scientists have created a vehicle-mounted system that can detect methane leaks while driving. This technology could help cities and industries reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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