Sensor Network Fugitive Emissions Estimation for Large Leak Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manual methods for detecting fugitive gas emissions in industrial facilities are resource-intensive, inefficient, pose safety risks, and have high temporal latency, often missing large leaks due to infrequent monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A sensor network-based emissions monitoring system that uses a digital platform to collect and analyze data from various sensors, calculating emission indicator values and total emission levels, excluding maintenance-related events, to provide real-time and accurate fugitive emission monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual Method 21 inspections are used to monitor fugitive emissions, then measurement precision can be achieved at individual components, but productivity is extremely low due to resource-intensive manual labor and infrequent monitoring cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection methods with an automated sensor network system. Fixed sensors continuously monitor emissions at multiple components simultaneously, eliminating the need for manual portable detector inspections. This substitution maintains measurement precision while dramatically improving productivity through automated, continuous monitoring of numerous components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service monitoring where the sensor network autonomously detects and reports emissions without human intervention. The automated system continuously inspects components, processes data, and generates reports, freeing personnel from routine inspection tasks while maintaining accurate emission measurements.
2Reliability
If manual inspections are conducted frequently to improve detection timeliness, then reliability of leak detection improves, but labor costs and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring through fixed sensor networks that operate without interruption. Sensors continuously measure emissions at all monitored components, providing uninterrupted detection capability. This continuous action ensures reliable leak detection while eliminating the need for repeated manual inspection cycles, thereby reducing labor resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated sensor network replaces manual inspection labor with electronic sensing and data processing. The system continuously monitors emissions without human intervention, maintaining high detection reliability while eliminating the proportional increase in labor costs that would result from more frequent manual inspections.
3Measurement precision
If manual Method 21 procedures are used to ensure accurate emission measurements, then measurement precision is maintained, but the complexity of operation increases due to strict procedural requirements and data management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual measurement procedures with automated sensor-based detection. Fixed sensors continuously measure emissions and automatically transmit data to a central system, eliminating the need for inspectors to follow complex Method 21 procedures. The system maintains measurement precision through calibrated sensors while dramatically simplifying operation through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system performs self-service by automatically collecting, processing, and reporting emission data without human intervention. The automated system handles all measurement and data management tasks, eliminating the procedural complexity that inspectors would otherwise need to navigate while maintaining accurate emissions measurements.
4Reliability
If comprehensive component inspection is performed to improve detection coverage, then reliability of emission monitoring improves, but productivity decreases due to the vast number of components requiring inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the facility into multiple monitoring zones with dedicated fixed sensors assigned to specific components or areas. This segmentation allows simultaneous monitoring of numerous components across the facility, achieving comprehensive coverage while maintaining high productivity through parallel detection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated sensor network replaces sequential manual inspection with parallel electronic monitoring. Multiple sensors simultaneously monitor numerous components throughout the facility, achieving comprehensive coverage of all components while maintaining high productivity through concurrent detection operations rather than sequential manual inspection.
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 enables timely detection of large leaks, reduces labor costs, improves safety, and provides continuous monitoring, allowing for more accurate fugitive emission tracking and prioritization of repairs.
Implementation Method 1
receive, from a plurality of sensors in a facility, sensor outputs associated with gas plume detections
Data Source
AI summary
Computer systems, methods, and apparatuses for estimating changes in gas emissions are described. A computer system may monitor overall emission levels based on sensor outputs from a plurality of gas sensors in a facility. The computer system may estimate a total emission level over a time interval based on the accumulative, gas-response-factor weighted detections of the gas sensors. Emissions from maintenance activities may be excluded as appropriate. The total emission level may be compared with total emission level estimated from different time intervals and/or different facilities. The computer system may be further used for comparing emissions across multiple facilities, or emissions from facilities across multiple regions.