LiDAR Gas Detection Calibration Workflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas imaging systems are prone to false positives and negatives, and struggle to accurately detect gas emissions, their source, duration, and emission rate due to limitations in scanning patterns and coordinate system transformations.
Innovation Solution
A calibration workflow for imaging or LiDAR-based gas monitoring systems that improves the accuracy of transformations from observed points in a camera frame to a ground-fixed coordinate system, and methods for quantification and correction of systematic biases to enhance the accuracy of gas plume detection and emission rate calculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous cyclical scanning patterns are used to detect gas plumes, then the system can cover the entire field of view, but it increases false positives from noise and false negatives when plumes are spread across multiple frames
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adaptive scanning that dynamically adjusts the scanning pattern based on real-time plume detections. When plumes are detected, the system concentrates scanning resources on those regions, transitioning from static cyclic scanning to dynamic adaptive scanning. This resolves the contradiction by making the scanning pattern flexible rather than fixed, improving both reliability and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from each scanning cycle to improve subsequent scanning. Detection results from previous frames inform the scanning pattern of future frames, allowing the system to learn from past detections and adjust accordingly. This feedback mechanism reduces false positives and negatives by continuously refining the scanning strategy based on actual plume behavior.
2Measurement precision
If the imager recenteres and zooms upon plume detection to acquire additional frames, then it can focus on potential sources, but it restricts attribution to sources within predetermined frames and increases likelihood of incorrect source attribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional frame-based scanning to three-dimensional spatial scanning by incorporating depth information and continuous spatial coverage. Instead of being constrained to discrete predetermined frames, the system scans throughout the entire three-dimensional field of view, allowing accurate source attribution without the limitations of frame-based restrictions.
3Ease of manufacture
If predetermined scanning frames are used, then the scanning pattern is simple to implement, but it limits leak rate quantification accuracy and increases susceptibility to false negatives
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration scans to establish baseline characteristics of the scanning environment, including detector response times and plume dispersion patterns. This preliminary information is stored and used to optimize subsequent scanning parameters, enabling accurate leak rate quantification without requiring complex real-time calculations, thus maintaining ease of implementation while improving precision.
4Measurement precision
If systematic biases are not corrected in coordinate system transformations, then the transformation process is simpler, but it distorts camera frame contents and reduces gas emission detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary calibration procedures that systematically identify and correct transformation biases before actual gas detection begins. By performing this calibration upfront and storing the correction parameters, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time bias correction during scanning, thus improving detection accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 solution significantly improves the accuracy of gas plume detection and emission rate calculation, reducing false positives and negatives, and enabling real-time adaptation to changes in gas emissions.
Implementation Method 1
imaging or light detection and ranging ('LiDAR') based gas monitoring system
Implementation Method 2
The laser beam scans within this viewing cone, measuring the integrated methane concentration, range, and scattered light intensity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for calibrating an imaging or LIDAR based gas monitoring system for efficiently scanning for gas plumes. In an example, a calibration workflow that improves the accuracy of transformations from observed points in a particular camera frame to a coordinate system that is fixed with respect to the ground, such as a set of latitude, longitude, and height values; or a spherical polar coordinate system centered at the camera where the zenith is perpendicular to the ground.