Cantilever PAS detection for C2H6 decomposition

Ethane (C2H6) gas is produced due to transformer overheating and discharge faults. Therefore, high sensitivity quantitative analysis of C₂H₆ gas content is of great significance for early prediction of transformer faults. In this paper, according to the demand of high precision detection of C₂H₆ gas, a photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) detection platform is built by using quantum cascade laser (QCL) and silicon microcantilever microphone. In addition, the input voltage and operating temperature of the laser are scanned in this paper. It is found that the optimal input voltage and operating temperature of the laser are 7.5 V and 25°C, respectively, and the optimal operating frequency of the experimental platform is 20 Hz. At the same time, this paper also measured the relationship between C₂H₆ concentration and PA signal strength under the background of He. It was found that there was a good linear relationship between the concentration of C₂H₆ gas and the pure PA signal strength, and the detection limit was calculated to be 2.3 ppm.