The development of technologies for detecting hydrogen sulphide spills in refineries is the main objective of the Polish-Chinese project conducted by scientists from the Faculty of Electronics. The team received NCRD (National Centre for Research and Development) funding worth nearly 2 million PLN for its implementation.

The funding was granted under the 2nd Polish-Chinese bilateral competition for joint research projects organised by NCRD and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (MOST).

Seven concepts were selected for funding, including the project entitled “The development of new technologies for early warning, prevention, and control of hydrogen sulphide spills in refinery areas", to be conducted at Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

– It aims to find and develop innovative technology for effective monitoring and eliminating hydrogen sulphide (H2S) spills in the petrochemical industry, highly dangerous for the environment and human life – says Prof. Krzysztof Abramski from the Laser and Fibre Optic Group of the Faculty of Electronics. – The technology’s essence is the detection of hydrogen sulphide leaks using remote laser techniques in the so-called mid-infrared – he adds.

The research will be carried out in cooperation with Xi'an University of Science and Technology, China National Petroleum Company (Research Institute of Safety and Environmental Protection, CNPC), and China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corp.).

The project’s Polish leader is Wrocław University of Science and Technology, and the main task of our scientists will be to design and build a demonstrator for the remote detection of leaking hydrogen sulphide using laser spectroscopy methods.

The role of Xi'an University of Science and Technology (the project’s Chinese leader) is to develop a model for dynamic prediction of the risk of H2S leakage and its positioning at the refinery site as well as prepare an assessment of the risk of a hydrogen sulphide leakage disaster in the petrochemical area through theoretical analysis and modelling, thus creating the basis for the development of a cloud platform for early warning and neutralisation of leaks.

As for China National Petroleum Company, based on its experience with leading petrochemical companies and knowledge of spills in high-risk areas, it will be responsible for the development of a cloud platform for detecting and neutralising hydrogen sulphide, linking the outcomes of the other project partners’ work. The work will focus on risk factor modelling, early warning protocols, and prevention of H2S spills in the petrochemical area.

– Also involved in the project is a research group from the National Central Chemical Safety Control Laboratory, which has extensive experience in the hazardous material neutralisation technology. The project will include work on the practical implementation and testing of the developed technology demonstrator at the refinery site – explains Prof. Krzysztof Abramski. – The company's extensive experience in this area is essential for the precise design and development of a system with the desired capabilities – he emphasises. The research is both conceptual as well as application-oriented, and its expected result is a demonstrator ready for the development of a ready-to-market version of the device.

Planned to last three years, the project starts on January 1, 2021, with NCRD funding of almost 2 million PLN.