HySense

Motivation

The ramp-up of the hydrogen economy and the expansion of the hydrogen core network increase the requirements for safe monitoring of plants and infrastructure. In particular, leak-tightness testing of components and reliable localization of H₂ leaks gain importance, as hydrogen escapes even through the smallest imperfections due to its small molecular size and high diffusivity. Early, quantitative, and spatially resolved detection of hydrogen as a tracer gas contributes significantly to the operational safety of pipelines, storage facilities, and other components of the hydrogen infrastructure.

Objectives and Approach

The HySense project aims to develop an application-oriented, pre-competitive functional prototype featuring an optical tracer-gas measurement cell for rapid hydrogen detection. The approach targets measurement tasks that arise in the context of the emerging hydrogen core network as well as in production, storage, and distribution facilities. The optical measurement method promises advantages in sensitivity, response time, and robustness compared with conventional sensor concepts.

Innovations and Perspectives

Validation of the functional prototype under realistic operating conditions will ensure transferability to practical scenarios. The work focuses on both the quantitative determination of low hydrogen concentrations and the spatial assignment of leak locations. In doing so, the project addresses questions also pursued by scientific organizations and public-law institutions in the context of safety research, standardization, and hydrogen infrastructure development, and establishes a technological basis for further advances in leak detection.