Hub and spoke system for detecting and locating gas leaks
Inventors
Rieker, Gregory B. • Coddington, Ian • Newbury, Nathan R. • Prasad, Kuldeep • Karion, Anna
Assignees
University of Colorado Denver • United States Department of Commerce
Publication Number
US-10473818-B2
Publication Date
2019-11-12
Expiration Date
2036-05-11
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
A system for detecting gas leaks and determining their location and size. A data gathering portion of the system utilizes a hub and spoke configuration to collect path-integrated spectroscopic data over multiple open paths around an area. A processing portion of the system applies a high-resolution transport model together with meteorological data of the area to generate an influence function of possible leak locations on gas detector measurement paths, and applies an inversion model to the influence function and the spectroscopic data to generate gas source size and location.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system and method for detecting gas leaks and determining their location and size within a geographic area. The system employs a hub and spoke configuration to collect path-integrated spectroscopic data over multiple open paths around the area. It uses a spectrometer gas detector, for example a dual comb spectrometer, which transmits laser beams over long distances and collects reflected light from reflectors placed around the area or carried by a UAV. The collected spectroscopic data, combined with meteorological data of the area, is processed to determine gas source size and location.
The problem addressed by the invention arises from limitations in existing gas leak detection technologies, including diode laser-based absorption systems, LIDAR, and FTIR-based systems. These prior techniques suffer from measurement uncertainties, calibration needs, limited stability, and limited species measurement capabilities over kilometer-scale distances. Fixed and mobile sensors require operators or multiple sensors with costly calibration and power infrastructure, limiting efficient large-area gas leak detection with sensitivity and accuracy.
This invention solves these problems by integrating a high-resolution transport model, such as a large eddy simulation, with meteorological input data and applying an inversion model to the spectroscopic measurements. This approach provides calibration-free, sensitive, accurate detection and localization of gas leaks over large areas. The hub and spoke configuration allows simultaneous measurement from multiple open paths, using reflectors or a UAV with a retroreflector, thereby improving detection capability. The system enables multi-species measurement along with temperature and pressure, providing accurate, interference-free dry-air mole fractions.
Claims Coverage
The patent contains one independent system claim and one independent method claim that cover techniques for detecting and locating gas sources using UAV-based optical retroreflection and high-resolution transport and inversion modeling.
System using UAV-mounted retroreflector for gas leak detection
A system that transmits an optical beam to a UAV flying through a geographic area, where the UAV retroreflects the beam. The system detects path-integrated spectroscopic data from the retroreflected beam and processes this data along with meteorological data using a high-resolution transport model and an inversion model to determine the location and size of a gas source.
Use of dual comb spectroscopy within the system
The optical beam used in the system is a dual comb spectroscopy laser beam, enabling precise, broadband, calibration-free absorption measurements of multiple gas species.
Method for determining gas source location and size using UAV retroreflection
A method comprising collecting path-integrated spectroscopic data from an optical beam retroreflected by a UAV flying through the geographic area, then determining the gas source location and size by applying a high-resolution transport model to meteorological data and applying an inversion model to the transport model output and spectroscopic data.
The independent claims collectively provide a novel system and method for gas leak detection that utilizes UAV-based retroreflection combined with dual comb spectroscopy, meteorological data integration, high-resolution transport modeling, and inversion techniques to accurately locate and size gas leaks over large geographic areas.
Stated Advantages
Enables sensitive and accurate detection of methane and other trace gases over kilometer-scale open paths without requiring calibration.
Simultaneous multi-species measurement including methane, water vapor, temperature, and pressure for interference-free, true dry-air mole fractions.
Calibration-free and drift-free operation owing to dual comb spectroscopy with no instrument distortion and perfect wavelength axis.
Requires no operator involvement and enables simultaneous interrogation of multiple locations, increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Employs low-cost dual comb spectrometer compatible with fiber optics to service multiple locations from a single spectrometer, reducing system cost.
Documented Applications
Locating and sizing methane leaks from wells and oil and gas facilities over large geographic areas.
Detecting gas leaks using UAVs equipped with retroreflectors flying through the area of interest.
Monitoring emissions of other trace gases such as ethane and propane, chemical leaks in industrial facilities, CO2 leaks at carbon sequestration sites.
Determining emissions from industrial sites, agricultural sites, animal-raising operations, or chemical and biological weapon releases.
Interested in licensing this patent?