Hydrogen leak detection using fiber optics

Hydrogen is an important part of the transition to a sustainable energy system and is already used in many industries, from steel production to transportation. However, since hydrogen is highly flammable, invisible, and odorless, leaks are difficult to detect and can lead to serious accidents like fires or explosions.

Hydrogen leaks are also a climate issue, as hydrogen is an indirect greenhouse gas.

In this project, in collaboration with United Fiber Sensing (UFS), we have developed an innovative sensor to detect hydrogen leaks. The goal was to demonstrate that UFS’s existing point sensors could be adapted for longer lengths, enabling fully distributed hydrogen leak detection.

The UFS sensor uses an optical fiber coated with a special material that reacts to hydrogen by creating a "hotspot". Using commercially available measuring systems (DTS), the temperature along the entire fiber can be monitored, allowing for hydrogen detection.

The project successfully developed an optical fiber with this hydrogen-sensitive coating and validated that it can detect hydrogen. The results show that the system has the potential to monitor long distances or large areas, a major advantage over traditional point sensors.

This project received funding from PhotonHub Europe under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, grant number 101016665.