Aggregate Leak Indicator Display for Gas Source Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for detecting gas leaks, such as methane, are inefficient and unreliable due to the dispersal of gas plumes by wind, requiring time-consuming and labor-intensive searches by foot or vehicle, and lack effective guidance for locating the source of leaks.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-borne gas concentration measurement system that performs geospatially-referenced mobile measurements, grouping gas leak indications into clusters and generating graphical indicators on a map to represent leak sources, with the graphical indicator's width reflecting wind direction variability, aiding in quick and reliable source localization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If search teams use gas detectors to locate gas leaks by walking and scanning the area, then the detection can be performed with simple equipment, but the process is time-consuming and unreliable due to lack of guidance and wind dispersal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from ground-level detection to aerial detection using a drone, adding a vertical dimension to the search. This elevated perspective allows the drone to detect gas plumes from above and provide directional guidance to search teams, significantly improving both reliability and speed of leak source location while overcoming wind dispersal issues.
2Area of stationary object
If a vehicle-borne detector is used to cover more ground, then the survey area increases, but the ability to locate the precise leak source remains problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a drone that detects gas plumes and provides directional information to search teams. The drone acts as a mediator between the vehicle-borne detector's broad coverage capability and the need for precise source location, guiding teams to specific areas where leaks are likely to occur.
3Reliability
If engineers walk slowly in all directions to find the leak source, then thorough coverage is achieved, but the process becomes extremely time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by deploying the drone to conduct an aerial survey and identify potential leak sources before ground-based search teams begin their investigation. This preliminary detection phase provides directional guidance and narrows down the search area, allowing engineers to focus their thorough ground-based search on specific high-probability locations rather than searching all directions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of gas leak detection by providing a visual representation of leak sources and their probable locations, reducing the time and effort required to identify and repair leaks.
Implementation Method 1
a vehicle-borne gas concentration measurement device configured to conduct a gas leak detection survey by performing a sequence of geospatially-referenced mobile gas concentration measurements
Implementation Method 2
group a plurality of gas leak indications into a cluster representing a corresponding leak, each gas leak indication corresponding to a detected gas concentration peak
Implementation Method 3
the graphical indicator having a width representing a variability of wind direction values across the plurality of gas leak indications
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, data from a vehicle-borne gas leak detection survey are used to generate an aggregate leak indication search area (LISA) indicator for a plurality of leak indications (measurement peaks) characterizing a single leak or localized set of leaks. A clustering algorithm (e.g. Markov, DBScan) may be used to group a set of indications into a cluster characterizing the leak. Leak indications may be pre-filtered for quality control before assignment to a cluster according to a number of parameters including background gas level, inter-peak distance, peak shape, wind speed, wind direction and/or variability, vehicle speed and/or acceleration, and/or a lower detection threshold for leak flow rate.