Portable, fast-response gas sensor for measuring methane and ethane and propane in liquefied natural gas spills

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1137243· OSTI ID:5615527

Bingham, G E; Kiefer, R D; Gillespie, C H; McRae, T G; Goldwire, H C; Koopman, R P

We have developed a four-band, IR radiometer for measuring methane and ethane plus propane in the 1% to 100% gas per volume of air range in liquefied natural gas spills. The instrument is a small and lightweight open-cell, pyroelectric detector-based sensor designed for field use. It compensates for attenuation because of dense fog and is sufficiently hardened to allow continuous operation in the transient flame front of an ignited natural gas cloud. The sensor transmits five determinations of the gas concentration each second to a data-collection station on an interrupt-driven, serial data link. It has an operational power requirement of 15 W at 12 V dc.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, California 94550
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5615527
• Journal Information: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States), Vol. 54:10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
03 NATURAL GAS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ETHANE
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
GAS SPILLS
METHANE
PROPANE
RADIOMETERS
DESIGN
FABRICATION
ABSORPTIVITY
AIR POLLUTION
INFRARED RADIATION
OPACITY
POLLUTANTS
ALKANES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUEFIED GASES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NATURAL GAS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLLUTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
400102* - Chemical & Spectral Procedures
030800 - Natural Gas- Environmental Aspects
510200 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
400300 - Organic Chemistry- (-1987)