Propane gas leak detection by infrared absorption using carbon infrared emitter and infrared camera

The present study investigated the ability of a system using a carbon infrared emitter (CIE) and an infrared (IR) camera to detect a combustible gas, propane. The CIE transmitted infrared at wavelengths ranging from 1 to 5 μm, and the infrared absorption band of propane gas (3.37 μm) was obtained using a bandpass filter to remove other infrared wavelengths. The intensity of infrared radiation passing through the propane gas decreased as a result of infrared absorption. A clear, real-time image of the gas leak was also obtained using this system. Furthermore, a hazard evaluation of the leakage propane gas was made from a correlation between infrared intensity and the concentration–pathlength product.