Tunable fiber laser based photoacoustic gas sensor for early fire detection

•Photoacoustic multi-gas detection.•Measurement and analysis H2O, C2H2, CO and CO2.•The fire warning gases from smoldering paper were measured.

A photoacoustic gas sensor using a near-infrared tunable fiber laser and based on wavelength modulation spectroscopy technique is developed. This sensor is capable of quasi-simultaneous quantification of water vapour, acetylene, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide (H2O, C2H2, CO and CO2) concentrations in the fire emulator. The feasibility of using this sensor as an early fire detector was demonstrated. The fire warning gases from smoldering paper were measured. The peak concentrations of gases from smoldering paper were 20,300 ppm H2O, 2.1 ppm C2H2, 756 ppm CO, and 1612 ppm CO2 after 400 s.