Wireless Gas Detection Source Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial gas detection systems lack efficient methods to identify the source of hazardous gas leaks between neighboring facilities, often requiring extensive power and signaling hardwiring and failing to accurately determine leak direction.
Innovation Solution
A portable gas detection system using wireless sensors that transmit data to a computing unit for processing, which identifies gas levels above thresholds, calculates time differences between sensor locations to determine the source of the gas, and provides alerts, thereby reducing the need for extensive wiring and facilitating leak direction identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If portable wireless gas sensors are used instead of hardwired systems, then device complexity and installation cost are reduced, but measurement precision and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hardwired connection system with a wireless communication system. Gas sensors transmit data wirelessly to remote monitoring stations, eliminating the need for extensive power and signaling wiring while maintaining detection functionality. This substitution reduces installation complexity and cost without significantly compromising measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If multiple gas sensors are deployed at neighboring facilities to identify leak sources, then measurement precision for source identification is improved, but device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into multiple independent sensor nodes deployed at different facilities. Each sensor independently detects gas levels and transmits data to its local monitoring station. The centralized system then correlates data from multiple facilities using time synchronization and spatial analysis to identify the leak source, breaking down the complex problem into manageable segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where sensor data from multiple facilities is continuously monitored and correlated. When gas levels exceed thresholds at multiple locations, the system uses time-stamped data to trace the leak source back to the originating facility, providing feedback that improves source identification accuracy over time.
3Reliability
If real-time gas level monitoring is implemented across multiple facilities, then safety and detection speed are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of gas levels rather than continuous monitoring. Sensors take measurements at predetermined intervals and transmit data to monitoring stations. This periodic operation maintains safety monitoring reliability by detecting gas leaks within acceptable timeframes while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations comprising identifying a first gas level of a gas at a first location at a first time; determining that the first gas level of the gas is above a first threshold; in response to determining that the first gas level of the gas is above the first threshold, identifying a second gas level of the gas at a second location at a second time; determining that the second gas level of the gas is above a second threshold; in response to determining that the second gas level of the gas is above the second threshold, calculating a difference between the second time and the first time; based on the difference, determining that one of the first location and the second location as a source of the gas; and providing an alert based on determining the location of the source of the gas.