Fugitive Emission Monitoring System Using Land-Based Sensors for Industrial Applications

Metal-oxide based emission detection sensors are typically used for point measurements of hydrocarbon emissions. They are low-cost sensors and can be used for continuous monitoring of emissions. This paper describes an analytical framework that uses time series data from a collection of such sensors deployed at a customer site, along with weather conditions, to detect anomalies in emission data, identify possible emission sources and estimate the leak rate from fugitive emissions. The analytical framework also comprises an optimization module that helps in determining the optimal number of sensors required and their potential location at a customer site. The paper discusses results of the different steps in the analytical framework obtained using concentration data generated using numerical simulations and obtained through controlled leak field tests.