Imagine a long, thin glass thread that can 'feel' when hydrogen gas is leaking. By coating this thread with special materials, it acts like a digital tripwire that alerts operators instantly. It combines temperature and sound sensing to pinpoint exactly where a leak is happening in a pipeline.
Hydrogen leaks pose significant safety risks due to a wide flammability range and cause environmental damage by increasing the atmospheric lifetime of methane. Current detection methods may lack the precision and continuous monitoring capabilities needed for large-scale infrastructure.
A combined detection system using Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) with distributed acoustic and temperature sensing. This includes specialized plasma-deposited coatings, custom interrogators, and signal management software.
If you are a pipeline operator dealing with the risk of repurposing natural gas lines for hydrogen — this project developed a fiber optic system that detects leaks with 10 ppm sensitivity. This ensures safety in repurposed installations and prevents greenhouse gas emissions.
If you are an HRS operator dealing with high-pressure storage safety — this project developed a sensor that detects hydrogen concentrations up to the 4% Lower Explosive Limit. It provides detection and recovery times of less than 1 minute to prevent accidents.
If you are a plant manager dealing with continuous monitoring of production sites — this project developed a maintenance-free sensor with a lifespan of over 5 years. It operates reliably from -20°C to 70°C without interference from other gases.
Based on available project data, the specific price is not listed, but the project includes a scalability and cost efficiency study as part of its objectives.
The project aims to validate the technology at 3 different controlled validation sites, including pipelines and metering stations, to ensure it is robust for industrial environments.
Based on available project data, licensing details are not provided, though the consortium consists of 4 industry partners and 3 research entities.
The system is designed for both new pure H2 infrastructure and repurposed natural gas pipelines, using a software manager to handle signals from fiber optics and interrogators.
The project runs from 2023 to 2025, aiming for TRL 5, which serves as the basis for potential market entrance in the longer term.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with a 57% industry ratio, comprising 4 industrial partners (including 2 SMEs) and 3 research organizations. Led by Enagas Transporte SA, a major Spanish transport operator, the group spans 3 countries (BE, ES, FR), indicating a strong focus on commercial viability and real-world infrastructure application rather than pure academic research.
Contact Enagas Transporte SA regarding the OPTHYCS hydrogen sensing results.
Contact us to explore licensing or partnership opportunities with the OPTHYCS consortium.
