CONTROS HydroC CH4

CH₄ – METHANE SENSOR FOR UNDERWATER APPLICATIONS
The CONTROS HydroC® CH₄ sensor is a unique subsea / underwater methane sensor for in-situ and online measurements of CH₄ partial pressure (p CH₄). The versatile CONTROS HydroC® CH₄ provides the perfect solution for the monitoring of background CH₄ concentrations and for longterm deployments.

OPERATING PRINCIPLE

Dissolved CH₄ molecules diffuse through a custom made thin film membrane into the internal gas circuit leading to a detector chamber, where the CH₄ concentration is determined by means of Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS). Concentration dependent laser light intensities are converted into the output signal from calibration coefficients stored in firmware and data from additional sensors within the gas circuit.

HIGH ACCURACY AND STABILITY

Due to their narrow line-width, the Tunable Diode Laser Detectors have a high accuracy and an ideal selectivity for methane molecules. In addition, they feature a large dynamic range covering background partial pressures up to 40 matm. All detectors are subject to an individual calibration and an in depth quality check in our QA lab before they are integrated into our sensors. The quality of the calibration is then verified individually in calibration tanks. The sensor is stable over a long time as the detector tunes the laser to CH₄ absorbing and non-absorbing wavelengths for each measurement thus compensating for potential drift influences.

ACCESSORIES

A wide range of available accessories ensures that each of the CONTROS HydroC® CH₄ sensors can be adapted to meet customers’ requirements. Underwater pumps and different flow head designs are the most popular options, which ensure fast response times. An antifouling head is used under conditions with significant biofouling pressure. The internal data logger can be used in conjunction with the CONTROS HydroC®’s flexible power management features and the CONTROS HydroB® battery packs to conduct unattended long-term deployments.