Methane Gas Leak Flow Measurement with Lidar Wind Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas leak detection and quantification methods fail to accurately account for varying wind speeds, leading to inaccurate measurements of gas leakage rates, especially in environments with changing wind conditions.
Innovation Solution
Utilize lidar sensors to determine local wind data by combining distance information with prevailing wind data, employing computational fluid dynamics models to improve gas flow rate calculations, and modify prevailing wind data based on structural obstructions to estimate local wind conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If prevailing wind data alone is used to determine gas flow rate, then the measurement process is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to inaccurate wind speed accounting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple data sources (lidar distance information and prevailing wind data) into a unified local wind data model. This merging of information sources allows the system to account for wind variations caused by local structures, thereby improving gas flow rate measurement precision without requiring a completely new measurement system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational model that processes both lidar distance information and prevailing wind data to generate local wind data. This intermediary layer reconciles the simplicity of using prevailing wind data with the need for precise local wind conditions, resolving the contradiction between measurement simplicity and precision.
2Measurement precision
If lidar distance information is integrated with prevailing wind data to determine local wind data, then the gas flow rate measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the lidar system multi-functional by having it serve both its traditional distance measurement function and a new function of providing wind analysis data. This universality allows the system to improve gas flow rate measurement precision without adding separate dedicated wind measurement devices, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If local wind data is determined using computational fluid dynamics models, then the accuracy of wind speed representation improves, but the calculation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial CFD modeling rather than full-scale simulations. By using simplified CFD models that capture only the essential wind flow features around local structures, the system achieves sufficient wind speed representation accuracy while keeping calculation time acceptable for practical gas leak detection applications.
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
Enhances the accuracy of gas flow rate determination by integrating lidar distance information with local wind data, providing precise measurements of gas leakage rates despite varying wind conditions.
Implementation Method 1
using a lidar sensor to detect gas and to obtain distance information relating to solid structures in the sensor field of view
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for detecting and measuring gas flow are disclosed in which lidar distance information, acquired during the detection of gas using a lidar sensor, is used together with local wind data to determine a rate of flow for the detected gas. The local wind data, which may comprise one or more vectors or a 3D wind model, may be determined based on prevailing wind data and the lidar distance information, and can use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to determine the wind velocity through 3D structures identified using the lidar sensor. The detection of gas flow using the disclosed technology may be particularly useful for the remote detection and quantification of leaks from natural gas (methane) wells and pipelines to locate, quantify and map fugitive emissions.