NETL’s Michael Buric, Ph.D., will discuss the use of the Lab’s Raman Gas Analyzer — a laser and waveguide-based system to determine the composition of hydrogen fuel gas blends transported in pipelines — at a webinar set for 10 a.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 8.

The free webinar will be presented by the Pipeline Research Council International, a global research development organization for the energy pipeline industry. Attendance is limited to the first 500 registrants, but all who complete the registration process will receive a link to view the webinar recording. Click here to register.

Hydrogen fuel gas blends are expected to be used in turbines, reciprocating engines, solid oxide fuels cells and industrial equipment during a transition period to hydrogen systems. Hydrogen content variation in a fuel gas affects the energy content and flame speed, which have a large impact on operating efficiency.

Failure to adjust for fuel composition can result in increased emissions of nitrogen oxides, pollutants that contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain, and cause costly equipment damage.

NETL’s advanced technology uses a technique called Raman laser spectroscopy, in which laser light interacts with molecules to provide characterization information about the blended fuel. This enables a continuous readout of the composition of the gas being combusted, allowing operators to better control the combustion process for more efficient energy production.

The NETL Raman Gas Analyzer can continuously analyze major components in a gas mixture in real time. The technology, invented by Buric and his NETL colleagues Benjamin Chorpening and Juddha Thapa, measures concentrations for hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and various hydrocarbons.

NETL’s technology provides a quicker, lower-cost solution to sample pipeline gas streams for gas quality and is significantly faster than other systems.

“Our technology has been developed to use low laser power and low-resolution spectrometers and detectors to give gas composition readouts in one second or less to improve efficiency while protecting the environment and expensive equipment as our nation transitions to a hydrogen economy,” Buric said.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that drives innovation and delivers technological solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future. By leveraging its world-class talent and research facilities, NETL is ensuring affordable, abundant and reliable energy that drives a robust economy and national security, while developing technologies to manage carbon across the full life cycle, enabling environmental sustainability for all Americans.