Drone and Retroreflector Emissions Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas emissions measurement technologies face challenges in accurately detecting, localizing, and quantifying trace gas emissions, particularly in wide areas and complex industrial settings, due to limitations in spatial and temporal coverage, and the need for continuous and precise monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a mobile platform, such as a drone, equipped with an in situ trace gas sensor and a retroreflector subassembly to receive and return an open path laser beam, combined with fixed or mobile laser sensors, enables precise detection, localization, and quantification of trace gas emissions by refining positional and quantification uncertainty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented to achieve real-time emissions detection, then temporal coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides monitoring into two segments: continuous wide-area scanning using fixed laser sensors and retroreflectors, and targeted detailed measurement using mobile platforms with in situ sensors. This segmentation allows continuous monitoring of large areas without requiring complete continuous coverage by expensive complex systems everywhere simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Retroreflectors serve as intermediaries between the fixed laser sensors and the atmosphere, enabling continuous wide-area monitoring by reflecting laser beams back to detectors without requiring active sensors throughout the entire monitoring area. This reduces system complexity while maintaining continuous monitoring capability.
2Area of stationary object
If mobile platforms are used to cover wide areas, then spatial coverage is improved, but measurement continuity and temporal resolution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges mobile platform measurements with fixed sensor network data. Mobile platforms provide flexible wide-area coverage and can be deployed to specific locations of interest, while fixed laser sensors with retroreflectors provide continuous monitoring at strategic points. The integration of these two systems maintains both wide spatial coverage and measurement continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
Fixed laser sensors and retroreflectors are pre-deployed at strategic locations to establish continuous monitoring baselines before mobile platforms are deployed. This preliminary action ensures that when mobile platforms move between locations, continuous monitoring is already in place at fixed points, preventing gaps in temporal coverage.
3Measurement precision
If in situ sensors are deployed to improve measurement precision, then quantification accuracy is improved, but the system requires complex positioning and calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile platform carries its own in situ sensors, retroreflector, and positioning equipment, making it a self-sufficient measurement unit. The onboard RTK-GPS provides autonomous high-precision positioning without requiring external infrastructure, and the integrated sensors can be calibrated using the fixed laser sensor measurements as reference, reducing the need for complex external calibration systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from fixed laser sensor measurements to validate and refine mobile platform measurements. When the mobile platform passes near fixed sensor locations, their measurements are compared and used to calibrate the mobile sensors, continuously improving accuracy without requiring complex pre-calibration procedures.
4Reliability
If fixed laser sensors with retroreflectors are used for continuous monitoring, then temporal coverage is improved, but spatial flexibility and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into fixed continuous monitoring points and mobile flexible survey units. Fixed sensors provide reliable continuous monitoring at strategic locations, while mobile platforms can be deployed to any location requiring investigation, providing spatial flexibility without compromising the continuous monitoring capability at fixed points.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines static fixed sensor installations with dynamic mobile platforms. The mobile platforms can dynamically adjust their positions and measurement parameters based on detected emissions patterns, while fixed sensors maintain their continuous monitoring function. This dynamic component adds spatial flexibility to the otherwise static continuous monitoring network.
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
The system effectively bridges the temporal gap in discontinuous measurements, providing real-time quantification and refined positional accuracy of gas emissions, enhancing monitoring efficiency and accuracy across wide areas and complex industrial layouts.
Implementation Method 1
a retroreflector subassembly to receive and return an open path laser beam
Implementation Method 2
an in situ trace gas sensor... The in situ trace gas sensor may be an open cavity Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectrometer (TDLAS)
Implementation Method 3
the at least one laser sensor is configured to detect, locate, and quantify trace gas based on the open path laser beam reflected from the first retroreflector
Implementation Method 4
configured to interpret at least one of: a laser dispersion and an absorption signal
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods including a mobile platform comprising: an in situ trace gas sensor, and a device configured to receive an open path laser beam, where the device is at least one of: a retroreflector to receive and return the open path laser beam and a detection device having processing electronics configured to interpret at least one of: a laser dispersion and an absorption signal.