Development of a van-portable remote-sensing laser system for selective detection of natural gas leaks. Final report, May 1982-June 1988

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5356720

Leonelli, J; van der Laan, J

The present method used to detect leaks from buried gas mains is to survey the street with an air-sampling manifold mounted on the front of a truck. Sample air is passed to a flame ionization detector (FID) that detects the hydrocarbon gas. The method has several shortcomings: (1) to obtain adequate sensitivity, the vehicle must travel at speeds as slow as 1 to 3 miles per hour; (2) because the FID is nonselective and responds to all hydrocarbons, such as those present in auto exhaust, it may be necessary to restrict operational hours to periods when traffic is light or nonexistent; (3) it can be used only in areas accessible to the sample intake of the vehicle. Significant benefits could be provided with a leak-survey system that was faster, and selective in its response to the presence of natural gas.

• Research Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5356720
• Report Number(s): PB-92-172444/XAB; CNN: GRI-5081-352-0529
• Resource Relation: Other Information: See also PB85-101939. Sponsored by Gas Research Inst., Chicago, IL
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
LEAK DETECTORS
DESIGN
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
LEAK TESTING
IONIZATION
LASERS
NATURAL GAS
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
SENSITIVITY
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TRUCKS
VELOCITY
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
TESTING
VEHICLES
020600* - Petroleum- Health & Safety
022000 - Petroleum- Transport
Handling
& Storage