Vehicle-mounted photoacoustic sensor for measuring methane
The mobile gas measuring device uses a vibration-damping enclosure and photoacoustic technology to provide accurate methane detection, addressing the expense and vibration issues of existing devices, facilitating cost-effective pipeline monitoring.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SCHUTZ GMBH MESSTECHN
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
Smart Images
Figure EP2025065501_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] MOBILE GAS MEASURING DEVICE FOR MEASURING METHANE
[0002] The invention relates to a mobile gas measuring device designed for measuring methane and for checking for unwanted methane leaks in accessible terrain.
[0003] The need to monitor gas deposits – particularly in the case of unwanted gas leaks from underground pipelines that also run through open countryside or terrain – is well-established. State-of-the-art technology includes appropriate measurement methods, also for alkanes.
[0004] For the inspection of gas pipelines laid under roads and paths, and consequently under easily accessible terrain, DE 39 24 337 describes a device and the associated method. A probe mounted on a road vehicle, equipped with a measuring system for detecting the gas, is moved along the gas pipeline network located beneath the roads. The measurement is carried out according to DVGW Regulation No. G 465 I (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water). A gas sample is extracted by the probe from close to the surface and fed to the measuring system. Reference probes are used to compensate for interference gases, i.e., gases that enter the atmosphere due to environmental pollution.
[0005] From EP 4 024 022 A1 a gas measuring vehicle is known which can be used in rougher terrain with a gas measuring device arranged on it, wherein the gas sampling takes place below the vehicle floor.
[0006] Known gas measuring devices, which are also suitable for measuring methane outdoors, are based on cavity ring-down spectroscopy, which is reliable but expensive.
[0007] Based on this prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a cost-effective and technically simplified gas measuring device for measuring methane in accessible terrain. This object is achieved by a mobile gas measuring device with the features of claim 1.
[0008] Further developments of the mobile gas measuring device are described in the dependent claims.
[0009] A use of the mobile gas measuring device is disclosed with the features of independent claim 8.
[0010] According to a first embodiment of a mobile gas measuring device according to the invention, designed for measuring methane and for monitoring unwanted methane leaks in accessible terrain, this device comprises a gas measuring vehicle with a photoacoustic-based gas measuring unit. The photoacoustic-based gas measuring unit has a photoacoustic measuring cell connected to at least one pump, an intake line, and an outlet line, and is advantageously mounted in a vibration damping device according to the invention. The photoacoustic measuring cell has a sound sensor configured to detect only the acoustic frequency emitted by the methane flowing into the photoacoustic measuring cell and excited therein by means of a light emission unit, and the sound sensor is operationally coupled to a data processing device to process the detected frequency.The vibration damping device comprises a housing lined with a vibration-damping material. Furthermore, the vibration damping device includes a covering material that provides a vibration-damping enclosure for the intake and exhaust pipes.
[0011] The detection of methane, both qualitatively and quantitatively, using photoacoustics is a well-established method. It relies on the principle that when methane in a measuring cell is irradiated with a pulsed light source, the molecules absorb the light, causing the methane to heat up. This heating, in turn, leads to expansion within a finite volume of the cell, generating acoustic waves. The frequency of these sound waves corresponds to the modulation frequency of the light emitter, and the sound waves (sound signals) can be detected using transducers, referred to here as "microphones." The amplitude of the sound signal correlates with the absorption coefficient, allowing the methane concentration in the photoacoustic measuring cell to be determined. The gas measurement vehicle is designed and suitable for use in the field, provided a suitable vehicle, such as an ATV, can drive on it."Mechanism of methane" in this context refers to the detection of methane gas from all conceivable sources of methane emissions, both natural and man-made. This includes driving over underground pipes or containers, as well as detecting methane while driving past such containers. Methane measurement also encompasses the detection of unwanted gas leaks from gas-carrying pipelines, i.e., the localization of leaks, also known as "leak detection" or "above-ground pipeline network inspection," with a particular focus on underground gas-carrying pipelines. The gas measurement vehicle is suitable for above-ground pipeline network inspection.
[0012] In this context, "vibration damping device" refers to any type of mounting that minimizes or completely prevents the transmission of vibrations from the gas measurement vehicle to the components of the photoacoustic gas measurement system, i.e., that achieves maximum possible vibration damping. These vibrations are primarily mechanical, as they are generated by the engine movement of a quad bike or by the gas measurement vehicle driving over different terrains—this mainly concerns the longitudinal waves caused by engine movements. Mechanical vibrations set components into vibration, which can then also lead to acoustic vibrations.
[0013] With the mobile gas measuring device according to the invention, which comprises the gas measuring vehicle and the photoacoustic-based gas measuring device with vibration damping device, targeted noise suppression can be achieved, resulting in advantageously improved sensitivity of the gas measuring device to the methane being detected. By using a photoacoustic measuring cell as described herein with the mobile device according to the invention in the field, a cost-effective yet highly precise measurement technique for methane measurement is enabled compared to previously used gas measuring techniques. The gas measuring vehicle allows for the targeted detection of methane emissions without the need for cables or pipes.
[0014] Vehicle-based aboveground pipeline network monitoring, which may include leak detection, is thus made possible in a simple, cost-effective, and reproducible manner with the mobile gas measuring device according to the invention. According to a further embodiment of the gas measuring device according to the invention, the intake line has an inlet opening located on the front section of the gas measuring vehicle. This ensures that the inlet opening is oriented in a preferred direction of travel for the vehicle, so that when methane is detected, the vehicle can continue its measurement path in the direction from which the methane is emitted.
[0015] According to an alternative embodiment of the gas measuring device according to the invention, the inlet opening of the intake line can also be arranged facing outwards at other locations on the vehicle, for example on the underbody or on a rear section of the vehicle.
[0016] The housing, lined with vibration-damping material, contains the sensitive electronic components, in particular the photoacoustic measuring cell, the light emission unit, and the data processing unit, and reduces vibrations that could interfere with the measurement from the gas measurement vehicle or external sources. According to a further embodiment of the gas measurement device according to the invention, the vibration-damping material forms a single- or multi-layer arrangement: The material of one or more layers can advantageously consist of, for example, polyurethane foam, cold foam, composite foam, gel foam, and / or combinations thereof, whereby, in the case of multiple layers arranged one above the other, each layer can consist of different materials. All types of foam or damping materials used in vibration or acoustic damping are suitable as vibration-damping material.It can be a single piece of foam or several pieces that have cutouts adapted for the components to be protected.
[0017] The better the intake and exhaust lines are protected from vibrations originating from the gas measurement vehicle or external sources by the vibration-damping enclosure according to the invention, the lower the input into the photoacoustic measuring cell. This protects the measurement from interfering factors and optimizes the quality of the measurement results.
[0018] Finally, according to a further embodiment of the gas measuring device according to the invention, the covering material can form a vibration-damping covering for the intake line and the outlet line as a single- or multi-layer covering; rubber or plastic hose materials are suggested for this purpose.
[0019] Preferably, a hose-in-hose system with an outer protective hose is used to decouple vibrations from the vehicle or wind. This outer hose absorbs the externally occurring vibrations, while the inner hose simultaneously provides sound insulation, particularly against longitudinal waves that can be generated by vehicle engines. Furthermore, the intake lines for the methane can be intake hoses that can be secured to the corresponding connection fitting in the usual manner with hose clamps or similar fasteners.
[0020] The photoacoustic measuring cell, designed to detect only a sound frequency associated with methane molecules, can be either resonant or non-resonant. The geometry of the measuring volume of the photoacoustic measuring cell influences the sensitivity of the microphone. When operated resonantly, the modulation frequency of the light emission unit matches the acoustic resonance frequency, and the detected signal is amplified.
[0021] If, on the other hand, the photoacoustic detector (microphone) is operated non-resonantly, the modulation frequency of the light source is significantly below the acoustic resonance frequency of the measuring cell and the resulting sound waves are not amplified further.
[0022] This section prefers to operate the measurement resonantly.
[0023] An infrared source is proposed as the light emission unit, emitting infrared radiation in a broadband range (around 3.3 pm) encompassing the frequency associated with methane. The light source can be an LED or a laser. Using LEDs as the light source allows for a sensitivity of the photoacoustic measuring cell in the ppm range (10⁻⁶); a laser enables measurements in the low ppb range (10⁻⁹); the ppb range is preferred.
[0024] Furthermore, in another embodiment of the mobile gas measuring device according to the invention, the gas measuring vehicle has a wind sensor, for example a 3D ultrasonic anemometer, which can be used to determine the wind direction and thus also the direction from which the emitted methane originates. In this way, its emission source can be advantageously and easily determined: The measured methane concentration in the air can be visualized and compared with the wind data, i.e., the wind direction and speed, and thus an area of the terrain can be identified to which a suspected methane emission is attributed. The invention thus allows the use of photoacoustic spectroscopy in the vehicle-based, above-ground monitoring of methane-carrying pipelines with wind measurement.
[0025] According to a further embodiment of the gas measuring device according to the invention, it comprises a data processing unit coupled to a storage device. This data processing unit is advantageously also located in or on the gas measuring vehicle and is preferably arranged in the housing that also contains the photoacoustic measuring cell, the light emission unit, and the suction pump, with which the gas to be detected is conveyed into the measuring cell via the suction line, or with which the gas is conveyed out of the measuring cell via the outlet line.
[0026] According to a further embodiment of the gas measuring device according to the invention, a display for showing the measured value or a communication unit for communicating with the data processing and / or storage device and a mobile display unit such as a tablet or a laptop can be arranged in the field of vision and operation of a driver of the vehicle.
[0027] The housing can be permanently or detachably attached to the vehicle.
[0028] Because the methane emitted from gas pipelines must be measured not only in easily accessible pipeline networks but also in rough terrain, it is proposed that the gas measurement vehicle be a motorized all-terrain vehicle with all-wheel drive; a quad bike would be of sufficient size. Other suitable vehicles with wheels or tracks, including autonomously moving ones, are also acceptable.
[0029] In principle, drones or robots themselves, such as multi-legged walking platforms, are also eligible and are therefore also considered "vehicles" in this context.
[0030] Accordingly, data transmission using known wireless data transmission technologies, such as radio, can then take place from an unmanned gas measurement vehicle to a remote device for analyzing and managing the received measurement values. One use of the mobile gas measurement device according to the invention for measuring methane and for monitoring unwanted methane leaks in accessible terrain includes traversing the terrain, detecting methane emissions without the need for pipes or cables, and thus providing vehicle-based aboveground pipeline network monitoring.
[0031] Further embodiments of the gas measuring device according to the invention, as well as some of the advantages associated with these and further embodiments, will become clearer and more easily understood through the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures are merely a schematic representation of one embodiment of the invention.
[0032] This shows:
[0033] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a mobile gas measuring device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a photoacoustic-based gas measuring device of the mobile gas measuring device according to the invention.
[0034] The mobile gas measuring device 1 according to the invention is shown in Fig. 1 as the quad bike 20, which is designed to detect methane above ground level in the terrain. A photoacoustic gas measuring device 2, serving as a combined detection and evaluation unit, is arranged on the luggage rack 14 of the quad bike 20. The photoacoustic gas measuring device 2 has a hose 3 as its intake line 3, which extends to a front section F of the quad bike 20. The inlet opening 4 of the intake line 3 is located in front of the front section F, in the direction of the main direction of travel of the gas measuring vehicle 20 (to the right in Fig. 1). The fluid path for the aspirated methane runs from the inlet opening 4 through the hose 3 to the photoacoustic measuring cell 10.
[0035] The gas measuring device 2 in Fig. 2 schematically shows the housing 6 with a photoacoustic measuring cell 10 arranged therein, which is connected to a light emission unit 9 and a data processing and storage unit 8. The measuring cell 10 has a microphone 13 that detects the sound waves 17 that are generated in the measuring cell 10 by the light emission unit 9, which excites the methane molecules 15.
[0036] The electronic components are all electronically connected to each other and to the data processing and storage unit 8 via data lines 12 and are operationally coupled to one another. The components contained in the housing 6 and the intake and exhaust lines 3, 5 are mounted with vibration damping so that the methane measurement is not affected by vibrations of the gas measurement vehicle 20 or other external vibrations. The components contained in the housing 6 are mounted in the soft foam shown with dashed lines as vibration damping material 7, and the intake and exhaust lines 3, 5 are protected by the protective hose 18 shown with hatched lines.
[0037] The methane, which is drawn in via the intake line 3 by pump 11 and transferred to the photoacoustic measuring cell 10, is irradiated with infrared light (light beam 16) during the measurement process. This excites the gas molecules 15, causing them to heat up and consequently expand, generating sound waves 17 that are picked up by the microphone 13. In the data processing unit 8, the sound signal is then evaluated using the sound frequency of the methane, and the quantity of methane is determined based on the measured amplitude.
[0038] During continuous operation of the pump 11, the gas introduced into the measuring cell 10 via the suction line 3 is discharged again via the outlet line 5.
[0039] The gas measuring device, which may include, for example, an IR laser for analyzing the target gas methane in the gas stream, is connected to an energy source not shown herein.
[0040] The evaluation of the measurement results can be carried out on site and also displayed via appropriate displays; however, the data obtained can also be transferred to a destination and further processed and analyzed there.
[0041] REFERENCE MARK LIST
[0042] 1 Mobile gas measuring device
[0043] 2 Photoacoustic-based gas measuring device
[0044] 3 Intake pipe
[0045] 4 Intake opening intake pipe
[0046] 5 Outlet line
[0047] 6 cases
[0048] 7 Vibration damping material
[0049] 8 Data processing unit
[0050] 9 light emission unit
[0051] 10 measuring cells
[0052] 11 Pump
[0053] 12 data lines
[0054] 13 sound sensors
[0055] 14 luggage racks
[0056] 15 gas molecules
[0057] 16 light beam
[0058] 17 sound wave
[0059] 18 Protective hose
[0060] 20 gas measurement vehicles / quads
[0061] F Front section
Claims
PATENT CLAIMS 1. Mobile gas measuring device (1), designed for measuring methane and for monitoring unwanted methane leaks in accessible terrain, characterized in that the mobile gas measuring device (1) comprises a gas measuring vehicle (20) with a photoacoustic gas measuring device (2), wherein the photoacoustic gas measuring device (2) comprises a photoacoustic measuring cell (10) mounted in a vibration damping device and connected to at least one pump (11), an intake line (3) and an outlet line (5), and wherein the photoacoustic measuring cell (10) comprises a sound sensor (13) designed to detect exclusively an acoustic frequency emitted by the methane flowing into the photoacoustic measuring cell (10) and excited therein by means of a light emission unit (9), wherein the sound sensor (13) is operationally coupled to a data processing device.to process the detected frequency, and wherein the vibration damping device comprises a housing (6) lined with a vibration damping material (7) and has a covering material that provides a vibration damping covering for the intake duct (3) and the exhaust duct (5).
2. Gas measuring device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the intake line (3) has an inlet opening (4) which is arranged on a front section (F) of the gas measuring vehicle (1).
3. Gas measuring device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vibration damping material forms a single or multi-layer arrangement, wherein the material of the single or multi-layer arrangement is selected from the group comprising PUR foam, cold foam, bonded foam, gel foam and combinations thereof.
4. Gas measuring device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the covering material is a single or multi-layer covering, wherein the material of the single or multi-layer covering comprises a rubber or plastic hose material.
5. Gas measuring device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the photoacoustic measuring cell (10) is a resonant or a non-resonant photoacoustic measuring cell.
6. Gas measuring device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the gas measuring vehicle (20) has a wind gauge.
7. Gas measuring device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the gas measuring vehicle (20) is a motorized off-road vehicle (1) with all-wheel drive.
8. Use of a mobile gas measuring device according to at least one of claims 1 to 7 for measuring methane and for checking for unwanted methane leaks in drivable terrain, comprising driving over drivable terrain, detecting methane emissions without pipes or cables and thus providing vehicle-based above-ground pipe network monitoring.