A research group at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science has created a laser-based three-dimensional imaging system for remote methane detection. The device allows visualization of small leaks, precise identification of sources and calculation of emission volumes. Results appeared in Environmental Science & Technology.
Methane releases from pipelines create safety hazards and add to climate effects. Older pan-tilt methods use single-point readings that are easily disrupted by wind, while other imaging tools often prove expensive or limited in range.
The team applied Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy with dynamic scanning. They built a complete telemetry unit that includes an optical transceiver, control circuits, a custom scanning platform and software. A coaxial optical design improves signal return over distance and cuts losses.
By merging scan results with wind models, researchers developed a method to calculate leak rates from measured flux. The approach shifts detection from simple presence checks to reliable quantity estimates, aiding pipeline oversight.
