The Heath Optical Methane Detector: A Field Comparison to the Flame Ionization Unit

摘要

New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) owns and operates approximately 4,000 miles of natural gas distribution main in Upstate New York. NYSEG annually conducts more than 1,400 miles of natural gas leakage surveys on this system (some segments are surveyed > once per year). The NYSEG Energy Technology Group conducted a field comparison of the speed, precision, reliability, maintenance and economics of the Optical Methane Detector (OMD) to the Flame Ionization Unit (FIU). During the first test and comparison in Binghamton N.Y., the OMD operators were still unfamiliar with the OMD and operated the unit conservatively. Specifically, they drove at speeds they were comfortable with, based upon their background with the slower FIU. Even so, they recorded increases in the speed of their work without sacrificing the quality of results. The second test was done when the operators were more familiar with the speed-related abilities of the OMD. This side-by side test demonstrated that the OMD can be reliably used at speeds much higher than recorded in the first comparison at Binghamton, without sacrificing the reliability of the results. The third test determined that operators familiar with the high-speed performance of the OMD can actually achieve the results seen in Test Two on a routine, operational basis. The increased survey speed seen in Test Three indicated that the OMD can pay for itself in less than two years. The Heath Optical Methane Detector appears to be faster, easier to maintain and yields more precise leak location information without sacrificing reliability. It is presently deployed at NYSEG.