Fugitive methane detection using open-path stand-off chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fugitive methane detection using open-path stand-off chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy

AU - Chen, Yifeng

AU - Soskind, Michael

AU - McSpiritt, James

AU - Liu, Jie

AU - Wang, Rui

AU - Li, Nathan

AU - Guo, Xuehui

AU - Zondlo, Mark A.

AU - Wysocki, Gerard

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 2021 Optical Society of America

PY - 2021/7/1

Y1 - 2021/7/1

N2 - We report an open-path chirped laser dispersion spectrometer capable of detecting the atmospheric methane concentration above the background using both specular and diffusive reflective surfaces via two distinct operation modes in a stand-off detection configuration. The system is integrated with simultaneous ranging functionality, which enables average concentration measurements for varying optical pathlengths. The system was first tested for accuracy and characterized to achieve sensitivity of 2.9 ppm-m/Hz1/2 and pathlength precision of 0.2 m/Hz1/2 with a controlled release of methane outside the laboratory. The instrument was subsequently field-deployed in the proximity of a natural gas compressor station for fugitive methane detection. The instrument successfully detected methane plumes and narrowed down the location of the plume through multipath measurement. The field measurements were verified by a co-located reference mobile methane sensor.

AB - We report an open-path chirped laser dispersion spectrometer capable of detecting the atmospheric methane concentration above the background using both specular and diffusive reflective surfaces via two distinct operation modes in a stand-off detection configuration. The system is integrated with simultaneous ranging functionality, which enables average concentration measurements for varying optical pathlengths. The system was first tested for accuracy and characterized to achieve sensitivity of 2.9 ppm-m/Hz1/2 and pathlength precision of 0.2 m/Hz1/2 with a controlled release of methane outside the laboratory. The instrument was subsequently field-deployed in the proximity of a natural gas compressor station for fugitive methane detection. The instrument successfully detected methane plumes and narrowed down the location of the plume through multipath measurement. The field measurements were verified by a co-located reference mobile methane sensor.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85108608153

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85108608153#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1364/OL.427837

DO - 10.1364/OL.427837

M3 - Article

C2 - 34197365

SN - 0146-9592

VL - 46

SP - 3005

EP - 3008

JO - Optics Letters

JF - Optics Letters

IS - 13

ER -