Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM
Monitoring ammonia infrastructure – protecting people and the environment
Transporting and storing hydrogen – whether in gaseous or liquid form – is energy-consuming and also requires a large amount of space. A more cost-effective alternative is to convert hydrogen into ammonia (NH3), which has a higher energy density than hydrogen and can be transported and stored at higher temperatures and lower pressures. However, since leaking ammonia poses a health risk and also impacts the environment, a gas-tight ammonia infrastructure is essential for the safe transport and storage of the gas. Any leakage must be detected quickly and reliably, and the ammonia concentrations in the air must be monitored continuously.
Early detection of ammonia leaks
Fraunhofer IPM has developed a handheld spectrometer for remote ammonia detection, allowing pipes or tanks to be inspected from a safe distance of up to 50 meters. The device works based on laser spectrometry. A laser beam with a wavelength matching the ammonia absorption line is directed at the target to be measured. The device then collects the backscattered laser light, which in the event of leakage contains the spectral signature of ammonia, and evaluates it – precisely displaying the ammonia concentration in ppm*m. With a measuring frequency of 10 Hz and a detection limit of less than 1 ppm*m, the device enables fast and reliable detection of ammonia in very low concentrations and thus the early identification of leaks. The measuring principle is already established in the natural gas industry for detecting methane leaks. In addition to methane and ammonia, the development presented here can also be transferred to other gases and applications.
