Hydrogen, the Future in Mobility – Monitoring Gas Quality and Quantity by Using an Innovative Sensor

Hydrogen has a great potential as future fuel, and it is widely discussed for appli-cation for passenger cars as well as commercial vehicles. It can be used as an en-ergy carrier to achieve local carbon dioxide neutrality. The hydrogen quality and the exact recording of the hydrogen mass flow play a significant role to ensure the required lifetime of such applications. However, during the production, transport, storage, and compression or refueling contaminants might remain (e.g. from production processes like the todays dominating steam reforming process) or introduced during the later process. They can be highly critical for the relevant functionality. Even the presence of nitrogen (e.g. from flushing processes at hydrogen filling stations) leads to a reduction in performance. Furthermore, sulfur compounds are very critical for the membrane of the cell. In principle, Raman spectroscopy could be the suitable analysis technology: It has the advantage to measure hydrogen and nitrogen. Today, however, Raman detectors for gases are laboratory setups. We have now developed a highly sensitive Raman sensor as compact measurement device for gas detection in industrial applications. It features a simple calibration process and is easy to use. A gas matrix is recognized at a glance and, depending on the area of application, in a few seconds. Even more, mass flow monitoring is possible.