CH(4), C(2)H(6), and CO(2) Multi-Gas Sensing Based on Portable Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy and PCA-BP Algorithm

A multi-gas sensing system was developed based on the detection principle of the non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) method, which used a broad-spectra light source, a tunable Fabry–Pérot (FP) filter detector, and a flexible low-loss infrared waveguide as an absorption cell. CH(4), C(2)H(6), and CO(2) gases were detected by the system. The concentration of CO(2) could be detected directly, and the concentrations of CH(4) and C(2)H(6) were detected using a PCA-BP neural network algorithm because of the interference of CH(4) and C(2)H(6). The detection limits were achieved to be 2.59 ppm, 926 ppb, and 114 ppb for CH(4), C(2)H(6), and CO(2) with an averaging time of 429 s, 462 s, and 297 s, respectively. The root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of CH(4) and C(2)H(6) were 10.97 ppm and 2.00 ppm, respectively. The proposed system and method take full advantage of the multi-component gas measurement capability of the mid-infrared broadband source and achieve a compromise between performance and system cost.