Electrostatic Sensor Sampling Line for Remote Emission Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Oil and gas companies face challenges in monitoring remote well sites for visible emissions due to the remote locations and harsh environmental conditions, which current visual inspection and sensor technologies struggle to address effectively, leading to compliance issues with regulatory requirements.
Innovation Solution
An emissions detection system that includes a sampling line and an electrostatic particulate matter sensor positioned downstream of the combustion device stack exit port, which analyzes undiluted gas samples and feeds them back into the primary gas intake line, allowing for autonomous monitoring and alerting of visible emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual inspection is used to detect visible emissions, then the detection method is simple and low-cost, but it cannot effectively monitor remote well sites and leads to compliance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated electrostatic particulate matter sensor system. The sensor automatically detects visible emissions (particulate matter) from enclosed combustion devices, eliminating the need for human inspectors to physically visit remote well sites while providing continuous, accurate monitoring data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sampling line as an intermediary component that transports gas samples from the enclosed combustion device to the electrostatic sensor. This allows the sensor to be positioned remotely from the combustion source while still accurately analyzing emissions, solving the problem of monitoring remote well sites without requiring direct physical access.
2Reliability
If sensors are deployed at remote well sites, then continuous monitoring is achieved, but harsh environmental conditions cause maintenance challenges and false readings
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling line acts as a protective intermediary, allowing the electrostatic sensor to remain in a protected, accessible location while still monitoring emissions from remote enclosed combustion devices. The sampling line transports gas samples through harsh environments without exposing the sensitive sensor to those conditions, reducing maintenance needs and preventing false readings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sensitive electrostatic sensor from the harsh environmental conditions at remote well sites by positioning it in a protected location and using a sampling line to bring gas samples to it. This separation protects the sensor from environmental damage while maintaining monitoring capability.
3Measurement precision
If gas samples are diluted before analysis, then sensor protection is improved, but measurement accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling line serves as an intermediary that allows undiluted gas samples to be transported to the sensor without direct exposure. The system design enables the sensor to analyze undiluted samples for maximum accuracy while the sampling line infrastructure protects the sensor from direct contact with harsh combustion gases.
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
Enables efficient and accurate monitoring of visible emissions at remote oil and gas well sites, reducing the need for manual maintenance and minimizing false positives/negatives, thus helping oil and gas companies comply with regulatory standards and limit environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
an electrostatic particulate matter sensor coupled to a second end of the sampling line, the second end positioned lower than and downstream of the first end, the electrostatic particulate matter sensor positioned and configured to analyze the undiluted gas sample
Data Source
AI summary
An emission detection system an enclosed combustion device stack is disclosed. The detection system has a sampling line having a first end exposed to a combusted gas passing through the stack exit port, to receive an undiluted gas sample from the stack exit port. The detection system has an electrostatic particulate matter sensor coupled to a second end of the sampling line, the second end positioned lower than and downstream of the first end, to analyze the undiluted gas sample. The detection system has an exhaust outlet coupled to and downstream of the electrostatic particulate matter sensor, to receive the undiluted gas sample from the electrostatic particulate matter sensor and feed the undiluted gas sample to the primary gas intake line upstream of the enclosed combustion device stack burner.