Ionic Liquid Hydrogen Sensor with Palladium Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen sensors face limitations in detecting hydrogen in industrial and underground environments, particularly in the presence of other gases and at elevated temperatures or pressures, and are not commonly used in the upstream oil and gas industry due to issues like stress corrosion cracking and interference with silica optical fibers.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen sensor with a housing containing an ionic liquid electrolyte and a hydrogen-permeable window, typically made of palladium or its alloys, which allows selective permeability to hydrogen, enabling detection even in the presence of other gases, and is designed to operate at high temperatures and pressures with minimal moving parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional hydrogen sensors are used, then hydrogen detection is possible under laboratory conditions, but they cannot be used at elevated temperatures or pressures found in chemical processes and underground oil and gas wells
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor employs an ionic liquid electrolyte that maintains its liquid state and electrochemical activity at elevated temperatures and pressures, allowing the sensor to operate reliably in harsh industrial environments where conventional sensors fail
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor uses a composite structure combining an ionic liquid electrolyte with hydrogen-permeable membrane and electrochemical electrodes, creating a material system that can withstand high temperature and pressure conditions while maintaining hydrogen detection capability
2Measurement precision
If conventional hydrogen sensors are used, then hydrogen detection is possible, but they cannot be used when other gases are mixed with hydrogen
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen-permeable membrane selectively extracts hydrogen from gas mixtures, allowing only hydrogen to pass through to the ionic liquid electrolyte while blocking other gases, thereby enabling accurate hydrogen detection in the presence of interfering gases
Solution Approach 2:
The ionic liquid electrolyte acts as an intermediary that facilitates the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen while being insensitive to other gases, providing selective and accurate hydrogen measurement in complex gas environments
3Measurement precision
If hydrogen sensors are deployed in oil and gas wells, then hydrogen concentration can be measured, but hydrogen reacts with silica optical fibers reducing light transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen-permeable membrane serves as an intermediary barrier that allows hydrogen to reach the sensor while preventing direct contact between hydrogen and the silica optical fiber components, eliminating the harmful chemical reaction that reduces light transmission
4Measurement precision
If hydrogen sensors are used in industrial environments, then hydrogen detection is possible, but stress corrosion cracking occurs in steels and alloys
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor design extracts hydrogen from the environment through the permeable membrane before it can reach and cause stress corrosion cracking in steel and alloy components, protecting the structural integrity of the sensor housing and surrounding materials
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sensor effectively detects hydrogen concentrations in various fluid mediums, including those under high pressure and temperature, reducing stress corrosion risks and interference from other gases, making it suitable for industrial and downhole applications.
Implementation Method 1
the window is permeable to hydrogen to allow hydrogen to pass from the fluid medium under test into the electrolyte
Implementation Method 2
a quantity of electrolyte within the chamber, the electrolyte being an ionic liquid under the conditions of use of the sensor, and a plurality of electrodes in contact with the ionic liquid electrolyte
Data Source
AI summary
A process for determining a content of hydrogen in a fluid medium includes contacting the fluid medium with a sensor. The sensor has a housing enclosing a chamber containing an ionic liquid electrolyte, a window which is permeable to hydrogen and positioned in an opening in the housing, and electrodes in contact with the ionic liquid electrolyte in the chamber. Hydrogen is allowed to pass through the window from the fluid medium into the electrolyte and the sensor is heated. Temperature and pressure of the fluid medium is determined and electrical potential is applied to the electrodes. The method also includes measuring current flow. The sensor can be used to observe hydrogen concentration by voltammetry. The method and sensor may be used for measuring downhole hydrogen content, monitoring fiber-optic cables for damage by hydrogen, corrosion monitoring, and in small-scale process plants where hydrogen is part of a gas stream.