Prototype System for the Detection of Volatile Hydrocarbons in Water

• Main Authors: Alexey A. Vasiliev, Mikhail Yu. Yablokov, Andrey V. Sokolov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-12-01
• Series: Proceedings
• Subjects: volatile hydrocarbons; methane; water solution; gas sensor; system prototype; online monitoring
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/2/13/734

Detection of dissolved methane and volatile hydrocarbons in water is a problem met in<br />leakage localization during exploitation of underwater pipelines, oil and oil product spill over water<br />surface, geological exploration work for the localization of oil and gas fields under water, etc. This<br />problem can be solved by the application of detection system based on tubular selective membrane<br />permeable for volatile organics and impenetrable for liquid water. Carrier gas (air) flowing through<br />this tube is saturated with dissolved gas and then gas concentration is measured using<br />semiconductor or other gas sensor. The system prototype was tested under laboratory conditions<br />and demonstrated low limit of gas detection (~20 ppb by mass of dissolved methane in water) and<br />short response time (~10 s).