IRSENS 2

A multi-component sensor
for air pollutants and greenhouse gases
J. Faist, L. Emmenegger,
R. Brnnimann, H. Looser, T. Sdmeyer

24th January 2017

Lukas Emmenegger IrSens 2 11

Motivation

Our approach:
Multiwavelength laser-based
Mid-IR spectroscopy

Environment Medical diagnosis

Air quality control Leak detection

Sensing
Selective
Sensitive
Small
Process control Traffic
Lukas Emmenegger IrSens 2 2
Approach: Mid-infrared detection

Light source Interaction Detection Electronics Signal processing

Laser Detector

IrSense
2

Diode QCL
laser s
s
visible

Teleco

MIR

FIR
m

Lukas Emmenegger IrSens 2 3

Project key approach
Take advantage of the cost structure of an optical
sensor Share of total cost

10-15 % QCL and driver Gas specific

Electronics
DAQ, control, data
processing
Optics
85-90 % Interaction cell, Common
detector
Peripherals
Valves, pump
Commercialization
Sales, support
More substances: More functionality at low added cost
Lukas Emmenegger IrSens 2 4
Goal: Portable multi-gas detector

Approach

Mid-IR Laser spectroscopy

Multi-component, up to 12
molecules
High sensitivity and selectivity
Portable
Minimal cost and power
consumption

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The first IrSens 2 demonstrator
Pump, valves Detector

Computer
QCL

Driver/DAQ

Multi-pass cell Optics

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NO2 measurements on Zrich Tram
Laser spectrometer developed by IrSens 2
deployed on Zrich Tram using Infrastructure
from ETHZ-TIK / Opensense II

Lukas Emmenegger IrSens 2 7

NO2 measurements on Zrich Tram

Lukas Emmenegger IrSens 2 8

NO2 measurements on Zrich Tram

Statistical modelling of NO2 in Zrich based on

fixed stations tram instrument both

M. Hundt et al. Spectroscopic real-time monitoring of NO2 for city scale modelling, AMT
submitted (2017)
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IrSens multi-pass cells are selling
Start-up IRsweep is producing patented IrSens cell
technology

B. Tuzson et al. Compact multipass optical cell for laser spectroscopy, Optics Letters, 38, 3
(2013)
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Dual-lasers for NO and NO2

Dual-color QCL at 5.25 and 6.25 m

for simultaneous NO and NO2
detection

J. Jagerska et al. APL 105, 161109 (2014).

J. Jagerska et al. Optics Express 23, 1512 (2014).
L. Emmenegger et al. CHIMIA, 69, 11 (2015).
M.J. Sess et al. MDPI Photonics, 3, 24 (2016).

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Impact of dual-lasers

Collaborations are pushing dual-laser technology to the

market.
NO/NO2 sensors for
engine test stands
and environmental
monitoring.

Metrology for NO2

approved within H2020
featuring IRSENS 2 dual QCLAS

Federal Office for the Environment FOEN

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Multicolour-QCLs for CO, CO2, N2O, CH4, O3,
NH 3, SO
Dual-color 2
QCL at 4.4 and 4.6 m for Dual-color QCL at 8.2 and 9.3 m for
simultaneous CO, 12/13
CO2 and N2O simultaneous CH4, O3, NH3 and SO2
detection Alternative:
Array of single-mode QCLs with
light extraction through waveguide

P. Jouy et al., APL 106, 071104 (2015)

M. J. Suess et al., IEEE Photonics technology letter 28,
1197 (2016)
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Real time data acquisition and processing

Custom solution for combined intermittent

cw pumping of multi-wavelength devices and
simultaneous data acquisition and
processing.

Functionalities
Driving of 3 dual-lasers
Control of digital and analog IOs
Fast data collection via FPGA (300 MS/s)
Data processing via on-board OS
Read-out and analysis
Data analysis and spectral fitting
Custom user interface

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Benchmarking
1s 1s
~200 s Daily variation Daily variation
Species Absorptio State-of-art
noise Dbendorf Jungfraujoch
n noise* [1,2]

CO 0.02 ppb 650 ppb 25 ppb 810-6 510-6

N2O 0.03 ppb 3 ppb 1 ppb 110-5 310-6

0.035
CO2 50 ppm 5 ppm 410-5 410-5
ppm
CO2sufficient
/ CO
13 12
0.08 precision
2 even at
0.2remote
locations
0.4 0.13
2
performance comparable to best single laser -6
NO 0.2 ppb >5 ppb 1 ppb 510-5 710
systems
NO2 0.06 ppb >5 ppb 2 ppb 310-5 110-5

H2O 0.03 ppb >100 ppb >10 ppb 310-4 110-5

[1] B. McManus et al. Appl. Phys. B 2015, 119, 203-218.

[2] B. McManus et al. Opt. Express 2015, 23, 5.
*corrected for 15 % duty cycle
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 Societal and environmental impact
orldwide more than 20000 air quality monitoring stations

VW scandal
more
control/research
for NOx=NO + NO2

China: air pollution

issues
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Economic impact

Gas analyzer,
sensor and
detector market

Chemical
Industry
Environme
nt
Automotiv
e
Oil and
gas
5.7 %
Today: p.a. 2021:
3 B$ 4 B$

[1] marketsandmarkets.com (8/2016)

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Economic impact
A new startup

www.miro-
analytical.com
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Summary

IRSENS 2: successful development of

multicomponent Mid-IR laser spectroscopy
Significant technological developments
3 patents
Field tested prototype
State-of-the-art performance
Strong commercialization potential (two start-
ups)

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Acknowledgement

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