公开(公告)号：US10190976B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-29

申请号：US15923794

申请日：2018-03-16

Applicant: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.

Inventor： Allen M. Waxman ,  Jason M. Bylsma ,  Allan Vaitses

IPC: G01N21/35 ,  G01N21/3518 ,  G01F1/76 ,  G01N21/3504 ,  G01M3/38

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for rapidly detecting, localizing, imaging, and quantifying leaks of natural gas and other hydrocarbon and greenhouse gases. Scanning sensors, scan patterns, and data processing algorithms enable monitoring a site to rapidly detect, localize, image, and quantify amounts and rates of hydrocarbon leaks. Multispectral short-wave infrared detectors sense non-thermal infrared radiation from natural solar or artificial illumination sources by differential absorption spectroscopy. A multispectral sensor is scanned to envelop an area of interest, detect the presence and location of a leak, and raster scan the area around the leak to create an image of the leak. The resulting absorption image related to differential spectral optical depth is color mapped to render the degree of gas absorption across the scene. Analysis of this optical depth image, with factors including known inline pressures and/or surface wind speed measurements, enable estimation of the leak rate, i.e., emission mass flux of gas.

公开(公告)号：US20180266944A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-20

申请号：US15923794

申请日：2018-03-16

Applicant: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.

Inventor： Allen M. Waxman ,  Jason M. Bylsma ,  Allan Vaitses

IPC: G01N21/3518 ,  G01F1/76

CPC classification number: G01N21/3518 ,  G01F1/76 ,  G01M3/38 ,  G01N2021/3513

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for rapidly detecting, localizing, imaging, and quantifying leaks of natural gas and other hydrocarbon and greenhouse gases. Scanning sensors, scan patterns, and data processing algorithms enable monitoring a site to rapidly detect, localize, image, and quantify amounts and rates of hydrocarbon leaks. Multispectral short-wave infrared detectors sense non-thermal infrared radiation from natural solar or artificial illumination sources by differential absorption spectroscopy. A multispectral sensor is scanned to envelop an area of interest, detect the presence and location of a leak, and raster scan the area around the leak to create an image of the leak. The resulting absorption image related to differential spectral optical depth is color mapped to render the degree of gas absorption across the scene. Analysis of this optical depth image, with factors including known inline pressures and/or surface wind speed measurements, enable estimation of the leak rate, i.e., emission mass flux of gas.

公开(公告)号：US11686677B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-27

申请号：US17424311

申请日：2020-01-24

Applicant: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.

Inventor： Allen M. Waxman ,  Stefan Bokaemper ,  Terrence K. Jones ,  Claude V. Robotham

IPC: G01N21/359 ,  G01N21/3504

CPC classification number: G01N21/359 ,  G01N21/3504 ,  G01N2201/061 ,  G01N2201/0636

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods directed to a multispectral absorption-based imaging approach offering improved detection, localization, and quantification of gas emission. The imaging technology described herein utilizes an optical sensor and broadband illumination in combination with specialized reflector installments mounted about the site. The optical sensor detects light (e.g., reflected) from locations along the reflector installment. Lines-of-sight from the optical sensor to locations along the reflector installment sweep out an “optical curtain” partially enclosing and/or forming a boundary near various assets to be monitored. Optical absorption signatures from leaking gas crossing the optical curtain can be used to detect, localize, and obtain quantitative measures characterizing the leak. Measurements from reflector installments can be combined with measurements obtained via reflection of ambient light from background materials in a hybrid approach that expands monitoring capabilities and offers improvements in detection.

公开(公告)号：US11143572B2

公开(公告)日：2021-10-12

申请号：US16183072

申请日：2018-11-07

Applicant: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.

Inventor： Allen M. Waxman ,  Jason M. Bylsma ,  Allan Vaitses

IPC: G01M3/38 ,  G01N21/3504 ,  G01N21/359 ,  G01N21/31 ,  G01N21/85 ,  G01N33/00 ,  G01J3/28 ,  G01F1/66

Abstract: This invention consists of sensors and algorithms to image, detect, and quantify the presence of hydrocarbon gas (for example from leaks) using a short-wave infrared radiation detector array with multiple spectral filters under natural sunlight or artificial illumination, in combination with the hydrodynamics of turbulent gas jets and buoyant plumes. Multiple embodiments are recited and address detection and quantification of methane gas leaks. Quantification includes gas column densities, gas concentration estimates, total mass, hole size estimates, and estimated emission flux (leak rate) of gas from holes and cracks in pressurized vessels, pipes, components, and general gas infrastructure, and from surface patches (for example due to gas leaks in underground pipes) under the action of buoyancy and wind. These and similar embodiments are applicable more generally to natural gas and other hydrocarbon gases, liquids, emulsions, solids, and particulates, and to emissions monitoring of greenhouse gases methane and carbon dioxide.

公开(公告)号：US20210223169A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-22

申请号：US17227008

申请日：2021-04-09

Applicant: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.

Inventor： Allen M. Waxman ,  Stefan Bokaemper ,  Terrence K. Jones ,  Claude V. Robotham

IPC: G01N21/359 ,  G01N21/3504

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods directed to a multispectral absorption-based imaging approach that provides for rapid and accurate detection, localization, and quantification of gas emission from within a site to be monitored. The imaging technology described herein utilizes an optical sensor and broadband illumination in combination with specialized reflector installments mounted about the site. The optical sensor detects light (e.g., reflected) from a plurality of sampled locations along the reflector installment, for example by imaging multiple sampled locations at a time and/or scanning an instantaneous field of view (ifov) of the optical sensor. Lines-of-sight from the optical sensor to sampled locations along the reflector installment sweep out an “optical curtain” partially enclosing and/or forming a boundary near various assets to be monitored. Optical absorption signatures from leaking gas crossing the optical curtain can be used to detect, localize, and obtain quantitative measures characterizing the leak.

公开(公告)号：US20200240906A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-30

申请号：US16413272

申请日：2019-05-15

Applicant: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.

Inventor： Allen M. Waxman ,  Stefan Bokaemper ,  Terrence K. Jones ,  Claude V. Robotham

IPC: G01N21/359 ,  G01N21/3504

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods directed to a multispectral absorption-based imaging approach that provides for rapid and accurate detection, localization, and quantification of gas emission from within a site to be monitored. The imaging technology described herein utilizes an optical sensor and broadband illumination in combination with specialized reflector installments mounted about the site. The optical sensor detects light (e.g., reflected) from a plurality of sampled locations along the reflector installment, for example by imaging multiple sampled locations at a time and/or scanning an instantaneous field of view (ifov) of the optical sensor. Lines-of-sight from the optical sensor to sampled locations along the reflector installment sweep out an “optical curtain” partially enclosing and/or forming a boundary near various assets to be monitored. Optical absorption signatures from leaking gas crossing the optical curtain can be used to detect, localize, and obtain quantitative measures characterizing the leak.

公开(公告)号：US10436710B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-08

申请号：US16183045

申请日：2018-11-07

Applicant: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.

Inventor： Allen M. Waxman ,  Jason M. Bylsma ,  Allan Vaitses

IPC: G01N21/3518 ,  G01M3/38 ,  G01F1/76 ,  G01J3/06 ,  G01J3/42 ,  G01J3/44 ,  G01J5/00 ,  G01N21/3504 ,  G01N21/31

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for rapidly detecting, localizing, imaging, and quantifying leaks of natural gas and other hydrocarbon and greenhouse gases. Scanning sensors, scan patterns, and data processing algorithms enable monitoring a site to rapidly detect, localize, image, and quantify amounts and rates of hydrocarbon leaks. Multispectral short-wave infrared detectors sense non-thermal infrared radiation from natural solar or artificial illumination sources by differential absorption spectroscopy. A multispectral sensor is scanned to envelop an area of interest, detect the presence and location of a leak, and raster scan the area around the leak to create an image of the leak. The resulting absorption image related to differential spectral optical depth is color mapped to render the degree of gas absorption across the scene. Analysis of this optical depth image, with factors including known inline pressures and/or surface wind speed measurements, enable estimation of the leak rate, i.e., emission mass flux of gas.

公开(公告)号：US10371627B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-06

申请号：US16129731

申请日：2018-09-12

Applicant: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.

Inventor： Allen M. Waxman ,  Terrence K. Jones ,  Jason M. Bylsma ,  Stefan Bokaemper

IPC: G01N21/3504 ,  G01N33/22 ,  G01N21/359

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods directed to a multispectral absorption-based imaging approach that provides for rapid and accurate detection, localization, and quantification of gas leaks. The imaging technology described herein utilizes a scanning optical sensor in combination with structured and scannable illumination to detect and image spectral signatures produced by absorption of light by leaking gas in a quantitative manner over wide areas, at distance, and in the presence of background such as ambient gas and vapor. Moreover, the specifically structured and scannable illumination source of the systems and methods described herein provides a consistent source of illumination for the scanning optical sensor, allowing imaging to be performed even in the absence of sufficient natural light, such as sunlight. The imaging approaches described herein can, accordingly, be used for a variety of gas leak detection, emissions monitoring, and safety applications.