Innovative measurement technology is recommended for further applications – Can also detect hydrogen in natural gas – sensor solution from Archigas detects H2 in CH4 quickly and precisely
Rüsselsheim am Main / April 15, 2025 — New paths are opening up: The strategy of also using natural gas pipelines to transport hydrogen on a large scale opens up completely new planning opportunities for industry. The basic prerequisite for operating a mixing system to enrich a natural gas pipeline with hydrogen from 0 to 100 percent by volume is dynamic, precise and fast detection of the H2 concentration. As great as the need for such measurements is, however, the selection of suitable product solutions is still limited. The gas analyzers from Archigas already excellently meet the special challenges of detecting H2 in CH4 thanks to a further developed form of thermal conductivity measurement. This is confirmed by user tests as well as a study by the Dutch research institute VSL*: According to the results, the award-winning gas analysis from Archigas can also demonstrate its advantages in this special area of application.
There are many reasons for blending hydrogen into natural gas: For example, the carbon content of the fuel is reduced, which leads to lower CO2 emissions – an important step towards achieving climate targets as well as reducing costly CO2 levies. Energy efficiency can also be increased, as hydrogen significantly increases the calorific value of the gas, which is particularly important for high-temperature processes in certain industries. In addition, renewable energy can be integrated if H2 is produced from surplus electricity generated from renewable energies and efficiently used and stored in natural gas networks. The addition of H2 to CH4 therefore makes a lot of sense in many respects, and consistent measurement of the concentration is absolutely essential. However, gas analysis faces particular challenges here: Moisture and particles threaten to damage conventional sensors, an unknown composition of the natural gas can lead to cross-influences, samples must not be allowed to enter the environment and high pressures damage measuring devices, to name just a few neuralgic aspects.
Innovative sensor technology offers specific advantage
To enable effective, safe and reliable detection, a sensor solution is required that meets the special challenges. This is where Archigas’ optimized WLD measurement technology comes in, which is also the basis for the recently introduced TCD3000 SiA gas analyzer in a screw-in version with ATEX certification from the supplier: The device measures in the range of 0-100 vol.%, is resistant to high humidity and particles, the precise calibration minimizes cross-influences and ensures high accuracy. In addition, the sample remains safely in the system and high reliability and durability are guaranteed thanks to pressure resistance up to 200 bar.
The managing director duo Wladimir Barskyi and Illya Kaufman, reports:
The demand for options for measuring H2 in CH4 is enormous, as we know from urgent inquiries from interested parties in various countries.
“However, there are hardly any technical solutions to date, and certainly not any that measure in-line and are already available on the market. In the meantime, long-term practical applications, such as those carried out by a well-known customer and manufacturer of natural gas plants from Italy, prove that Archigas’ gas analysis can also demonstrate its specific characteristics in this area of application,”
Test documents performance for the detection of H2 in CH4
A comparative test* recently carried out by the renowned VSL Institute as part of an EMPIR decarbonization project also confirms the potential of the advanced WLD technology for the complex measurement of hydrogen in natural gas.
Barskyi comments on the results,
Here at Archigas, we naturally took a close look at the results of this study with regard to our device.
“From our point of view, the extraordinarily short response time should be emphasized once again: While the t95 time is specified in minutes for the other tested technology, the t95 value for our measuring device is within one second as soon as the gas reaches the device. This is basically live monitoring,”
Barskyi proudly, says:
In order to benefit optimally from the high measuring precision of our sensor solution in practice, it is of course advisable to calibrate it before use.
“In this test, our device was only tested uncalibrated due to the test design, which the testers also pointed out, and even under these conditions remained at a standard deviation of well below 10 % by volume – without calibration, mind you. With calibration, the precision is less than 1% of the measuring range, as we know from years of experience,”
With the findings from users in practice and the test results described, the innovative Archigas sensor technology has therefore been able to impressively prove itself in an additional important field of application – the detection of hydrogen in natural gas.
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Innovative measurement technology is recommended for further applications – Can also detect hydrogen in natural gas – sensor solution from Archigas detects H2 in CH4 quickly and precisely
