Observation of ultrasonic signal and measurement of H₂ concentration from the exterior of a metal pipe

Concentration of H₂ gas in a stainless steel (SUS) pipe is measured by using ultrasound from the exterior of a pipe without making a hole. Gas concentration is calculated by the variation of ultrasound speed detected. A sound absorbing material is put on the outer surface of the SUS pipe to reduce the ultrasonic signal noise circulating through the shell of the SUS pipe. Then it is possible to measure the gas concentration by observing the airborne signal passing through the SUS pipe. Propagation of ultrasound wave in SUS pipe is also simulated by the finite-difference-time-domain method that could explain the ultrasound propagation signals in the SUS pipe.