The extension of Multi-mode Absorption Spectroscopy (MUMAS) to the infra-red spectral region for multi-species gas sensing is reported. A computationally efficient, theoretical model for analysis of MUMAS spectra is presented that avoids approximations used in previous work and treats arbitrary and time-dependent spectral intensity envelopes, thus facilitating the use of commercially available Interband Cascade Lasers (ICLs) and Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs). The first use of an ICL for MUMAS is reported using a multi-mode device operating at 3.7 μm to detect CH<sub>4</sub> transitions over a range of 30 nm. Mode-linewidths are measured using the pressure-dependent widths of an isolated absorption feature in HCl. Multi- species sensing is demonstrated by measurement of partial pressures of CH<sub>4</sub>, C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>CO in a low-pressure mixture with uncertainties of around 10%. Detection of CH<sub>4</sub> in N<sub>2</sub> at 1 bar is demonstrated using a shorter-cavity ICL to resolve spectral features in pressure-broadened and congested spectra. The first use of a QCL for MUMAS is reported using a commercially available device operating at 5.3 μm to detect multiple absorption transitions of NO at a partial pressure of 2.79 μbar in N<sub>2</sub> buffer gas. The revised model is shown to enable good fits to MUMAS data by accounting for the time-variation of the spectral intensity profile during frequency scanning. Individual mode-linewidths are derived from fits to pressure- dependent MUMAS spectra and features from background interferences due to H<sub>2</sub>O in laboratory air are distinguished from those of the target species, NO. Data obtained at scan rates up to 10 kHz demonstrate the potential for achieving short measurement times. The development of a balanced ratiometric detection scheme for MUMAS with commercially available multi-mode lasers operating at 1.5 μm is reported for simultaneous detection of CO and CO<sub>2</sub> showing improved SNR performance over previous direct transmission methods and suitability for a compact field-employable instrument. In addition, MUMAS spectra of CO<sub>2</sub> are used to derive gas temperatures with an uncertainty of 3.2% in the range 300 - 700 K.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:729230 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | O'Hagan, Seamus |
| Contributors | Ewart, Paul |
| Publisher | University of Oxford |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:6f422683-7c50-47dd-8824-56b4b4ea941d |
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