GAS DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

A method of identifying the presence of a first gas such as methane within a sample, for example containing natural gas. A detector is provided having a sensor responsive to a first wavelength, a sensor responsive to a second wavelength, and a sensor for collecting reference readings. A gas sample is analysed to obtain a first absorption reading corresponding to the first wavelength, a second absorption reading corresponding to the second wavelength and a reference reading. A first absorption figure is calculated using the first absorption reading and the reference reading, and a second absorption figure using the second absorption reading and the reference reading. A lineariser function is applied to each of the first and second absorption figures to calculate first and second concentration figures. The sensor for each wavelength is calibrated for detecting the first gas such that the data collected at each wavelength gives the same reading when only said first gas is present in a sample. The ratio of the first concentration figure to the second concentration figure is then calculated, and the ratio used to identify whether only the first gas is present in the sample.