SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING GAS LEAKS

摘要

The invention is directed to improved systems, methods, and computer readable media for detecting gas leaks. More particularly, the invention detects gas leaks or discharges, such as methane or any other suitable gases, by analyzing reflected or direct light that passes through a region of enhanced target gas concentration. The invention collects light and processes spectral data of the light. All molecules are subject to rotational motions, vibrational motions, and/or combinations thereof (rovibrational motions), in which the atoms in the molecule are vibrating with respect to each other and/or rotating around each other. When the light passes through the region of the target gas, a portion of the light with certain wavelengths will be absorbed by the target gas due to the rovibrational motions of the target gas molecules. By analyzing the magnitude of absorption at certain wavelengths, one can determine the concentration of certain target gas or gases.

主权项

1. An apparatus for detecting gas leaks, comprising:
an optical component configured to collect light; a spectrometer configured to receive and process the light to generate raw spectral data; a memory that stores a module; and a processor configured to run the module stored in the memory that is configured to-cause the processor to:
receive the raw spectral data,generate preprocessed spectral data by subtracting noise from the raw spectral data,identify a first wavelength range that is sensitive to a target gas and a second wavelength range that is not sensitive to the target gas,process the preprocessed spectral data in the first wavelength range to generate an absorption power level,process the preprocessed spectral data in the second wavelength range to generate a reference power level, andcompare the absorption power level to the reference power level to determine a concentration of the target gas.