GLIDE – A NEW PORTABLE GAS LEAK DETECTION INSTRUMENT

摘要

Gas distribution companies use portable instruments to detect and measure natural gas leaks, in supportrnof their emergency response and surveillance services. It has been recognized for some time that opticalrnsensors based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) have the potential to meet userrnneeds in this application. Now for the first time, a portable instrument has been developed using thisrntechnology, that meets the often conflicting requirements of a low ppm limit of detection, accuracy on thernppm, %LEL and %volume scales and a fast (1s) response time. The novel sensor measures bothrnmethane and ethane in natural gas, and has no cross-sensitivity to other gases or vapors. We presentrndetails of the new instrument, its management audit system, the philosophy behind its design and earlyrnresults from the field.