Fast-Response NDIR Propane Sensor Supports Safety Monitoring Across Propane's Flammable Range

­MEMSensing announces the availability of the LARK-1QM C3H8(LX) sensor, a new non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) propane sensor developed by Promisense. Founded in Suzhou in 2014, Promisense specialises in gas sensing and detection technologies and became a controlling subsidiary of MEMSensing in June 2026. Following its global launch, the gas detection sensor is now offered in Europe and measures medium to high propane concentrations from 0 to 10 % by volume, with a T90 response time of under eight seconds.

Propane is widely used as a fuel, including as a principal component of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and as a chemical feedstock. Because it forms flammable mixtures with air at concentrations from approximately 2.1 to 9.5 % by volume, reliable monitoring is essential during production, storage, transport, processing and use. The sensor’s measuring range encompasses this safety-critical concentration range.

Primary applications include industrial safety monitoring in refineries and chemical plants, LPG handling facilities, as well as gas-detection and alarm systems. Other applications range from propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plants and IoT-connected safety terminals to environmental monitoring networks, process and agricultural heating. For equipment manufacturers, system integrators, and facility operators specialising in these areas, the LARK-1QM C3H8(LX) provides a reliable and cost-effective measurement solution that can help reduce the total cost of ownership.

Traditional catalytic combustion sensors depend on oxygen and can be permanently affected by contaminants including silicon, sulphur and lead. This can limit their suitability in nitrogen-purged atmospheres and increase maintenance requirements.  

The LARK-1QM C3H8(LX) instead uses an oxygen-independent NDIR measurement principle with no consumable sensing materials or a catalyst-based sensing element, which can degrade over time. This makes it resistant to common causes of sensor poisoning and allows it to operate in oxygen-free environments, helping customers reduce maintenance requirements and lifecycle costs.

Across its full measuring range, the sensor's error is specified at less than ±600 ppm. Resolution is below 10 ppm at 1,000 ppm and below 250 ppm at 100,000 ppm, while linearity is specified at R² > 0.9999. Together, these characteristics support precise and predictable measurements at both lower and higher propane concentrations.

A T90 response time under eight seconds enables the sensor to register changing concentrations quickly, supporting timely alarms in safety-critical applications. Repeatability within ±60 ppm over one hour and zero drift within ±10 ppm over one month support stable measurements over time. The sensor also offers near-zero cross-sensitivity to carbon dioxide and water vapour, with a 7.5 % cross-response to methane. This selectivity helps reduce false alarms in mixed-gas environments.

“Propane monitoring is not just about detecting leaks. Reliable measurement across the flammable range is critical to fire and explosion prevention, and sensors must also operate in atmospheres where oxygen may be absent,” says Gary Li, Chairman and General Manager of MEMSensing. “By combining oxygen-independent NDIR sensing with fast response and resistance to common sensor poisons, the LARK-1QM C3H8(LX) gives equipment manufacturers a practical, low-maintenance option for demanding safety and process-monitoring applications.”

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