High-sensitivity gas-mapping 3D imager and method of operation

Patent · Tue Jul 02 04:00:00 EDT 2019

OSTI ID:1568552

Kreitinger, Aaron; Thorpe, Michael

Measurement apparatuses and methods are disclosed for generating high-precision and -accuracy gas concentration maps that can be overlaid with 3D topographic images by rapidly scanning one or several modulated laser beams with a spatially-encoded transmitter over a scene to build-up imagery. Independent measurements of the topographic target distance and path-integrated gas concentration are combined to yield a map of the path-averaged concentration between the sensor and each point in the image. This type of image is particularly useful for finding localized regions of elevated (or anomalous) gas concentration making it ideal for large-area leak detection and quantification applications including: oil and gas pipeline monitoring, chemical processing facility monitoring, and environmental monitoring.

• Research Organization: Bridger Photonics, Inc., Bozeman, MT (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
• DOE Contract Number: AR0000544
• Assignee: Bridger Photonics, Inc. (Bozeman, MT)
• Patent Number(s): 10,337,859
• Application Number: 15/936,247
• OSTI ID: 1568552
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English