1. NYSEARCH
Remote Methane Leak Detector RMLD vs. Flame Ionization Paul D. Wehnert
BEFORE I GET INTO THE DETAILS I NEED TO MENTION THE PROJECT TEAM AND SPONSORS INVOLVED
NYSEARCH contracted PSI and Heath Consultants to develop and commercialize a new survey tool to remotely detect natural gas.
NYSEARCH consist of Rochester Gas and Electric, NYSE&G, Niagara Mohawk, Orange and Rockland, Keyspan, Con Edison, National Fuel, Questar, Enbridge, PSE&G, and others
These companies provided R & D capital, sites and manpower to test the RMLD.
The project started in 2001 and completed Dec / Jan
Heath shipped its first RMLD out the last week of March.

2. Innovation Winner

3. RMLD Key Requirements Remotely detect methane up to 100’ away
Portable, lightweight and rugged
As effective as existing leak survey tools & methods
Not intended to be a leak pinpointing or measurement tool (CGI)
Specific to detect methane gas only
JUST LIKE WITH ANY OTHER RESEARCH PROJECT WE STARTED WITH AN OBJECTIVE OR GOAL.
Why – 100 feet: Avg. length of a service throughout the country is approx. 65 plus feet. Max. length that the laser would be effective at for the requirements asked.
Keep it around the same weight or lighter then current FI instruments – looking at 9 lbs. FI range in weight from 5 lbs to 14 lbs.
Want to be able to achieve sensitivity levels similar to FI instruments. Be able to detect leaks just as accurate as FI instruments
4. Though you can get a fair idea where the leak coming from underground - the RMLD like the FI is a search tool and the CGI is used to pinpoint
5. Unlike FI instruments which are non – selective hydrocarbon detector the RMLD is specific to methane only. This is done through a process called Tunable Diode Laser Absorportion Spectroscopy – which I will explain in the next few slides.

4. RMLD Operates Differently Than FI
Remotely detects gas everywhere within the laser path length
Measures PPM-Meter not PPM
PPM-Meter reading is concentration x plume width
Use of scanning techniques to detect and localize leaks
Unit is NOT intrinsically safe

5. RMLD Verses FI RMLD FI DETECTION METHOD
Tunable diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy
Selective to Methane
Flame Ionization
Non – selective hydrocarbon detector
MEASUREMENT RANGE
0 TO 99, 999 PPM –M
0 TO 10,000 PPM
SENSITIVITY
5 distance from 0 to 50 ft.
10 PPM-M or distance from 50 to 100 ft.
2 to 50 PPM depending on model and type
DETECTION DISTANCE
100 ft. nominal. Actual distance may vary due to background type and conditions. Detects line of sight. Scanning technique
Probe technique - must be within the plume. Detects locally.
DETECTION ALARM MODES
Advanced detection signal processing method
Simple threshold alarm

6. RMLD Verses FI (Cont’d)
SELF-TEST & CALIBRATION
Built in Self-Test & Calibration verifies operation and adjusts laser wavelength for maximum sensitivity. Test cell integrated with carrying case.
Requires operator to use complex configuration of gas bottles and regulators.
POWER SOURCE
Internal Battery Pack
Hydrogen gas and internal battery
SAFETY
IR Detector Laser: Class I
Green Spotter Laser: Class IIIa; do not stare into beam or view directly with optical instruments. Safer to use in traffic to survey gas lines remotely.
Requires the proper use and storage of highly flammable hydrogen gas.
Need to get in traffic lanes to survey gas lines, valves, etc.

7. RMLD Verses FI (Cont’d)
DISPLAY
Large easy to read backlit LCD (.75” numeric)
Analog meter
OPERATING TEMPERATURE
0 TO +120 Degree “F” (-17 to 50 “C”)
0 to Degree “F” (-17 to 50 “C”)
HUMIDITY
5 to 95 % RH, non-condensing
5 to 95 % RH, non - condensing
ENCLOSURE
IP 54 (water splash & Dust Resistant)
OPERATING TIME
8 hours at 32 Degree “F” with out backlight on (internal battery)
3 hours before recharge of hydrogen bottle

8. RMLD Concept Do not need to be in gas plume!
The idea of replacing an FI with a laser based device that can rapidly survey services, vents, etc. from a distance it was felt would have great appeal for gas companies.
This example illustrates the RMLD detection approach verses an FI. The RMLD detects methane along the line of sight of the instrument – between the surveyor and the background. The FI must be within the gas plume to detect gas or you need to walk the entire length of main and service to detect leak.
The laser beam would be projected from the road, sidewalk, over a wooden fence or backyard mains, above the path of the pipeline along the grass, up to the meter, through fences of enclosed reg stations, confine spaces or inside a building, pipes under bridges, vents, etc and the instrument would indicate the presence or absence of gas. If a leak is detected then the surveyor can walk the length of the line and localize the leak.
The time to take a measurement would be seconds and if the survey does not produce a leak response you would eliminate the need to walk any further. Thereby, reducing survey time and enabling more efficient use of manpower.
Do not need to be in gas plume!

9. Three Conditions Needed To Detect A Leak
Need a sufficient plume to detect a leak
The IR beam must pass through the plume
Need a background target to reflect beam
Three conditions must be met for the RMLD to detect gas:
The gas plume concentration and size must be greater then the minimum sensitivity of the instrument. Or – you need a sufficient plume to detect a leak. In other words you need to have a leak venting into the atmosphere. Unlike the FI, which has a pump / venturi system to pull in a sample the RMLD relies on the vent of a leak.
2. The IR beam must pass through the plume to detect gas.
The background target (need background in order for beam to bounce off of) – i.e. ground, building, grass, etc, has to reflect the IR beam back. To detect leaks some of the laser light is reflected back to the detector. This reflected light is collected and converted to an electrical signal that carries the information needed to deduce the methane concentration.
Note: Beam is conical in shape – picture a safety cone’ narrow at the top and expands. The laser will be about an inch in diameter at the beginning if you are looking downwards and as your search pattern expands the beam will widen – maximum length is 100 at 22 inches.

10. Based On TDLAS Technology
Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS)
Every gas absorbs specific wavelengths (frequencies) of light
The RMLD laser beam emits a specific wavelength which is absorbed by methane
The amount of laser light absorbed is proportional to the total amount of gas in the path of the laser beam
Concentration is then expressed as parts-per-million-metered, or “ppm-m”. Concentration times plume width.
TDLAS IS A HIGHLY SELECTIVE AND VERSTILE TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING GASES – this process have been around for a number of years in the Industrial environment for detecting releases of gases.
Gas molecules in the air path will absorb specific frequencies of light in a unique pattern as dictated by their structure. When the laser frequency (or wave length) is adjusted to match a specific gas the transmitted laser beam and return scattered light is absorbed by the gas present between the source, target and receiver.
The readings will be recorded in -
PPM – M: measures the gas cloud concentration times the width of the gas cloud. Gas escaping from the ground will produce a plume that varies in size. The plume is a variable and dependent on soil conditions, temperature, wind, and leak rate.
The gas plume concentration and size must be greater then the minimum sensitivity of the instrument – RMLD is sensitive to 5 PPM – M at 50 feet, 10 ppm – m or better from 50 to 100 feet. The PPM – M is based on the methane concentration times the width of the plume. While PPM measures absolute concentration. For example – you have a leak creating a gas cloud or plume at 100 ppm and is approx. a 1/2 meter in width or approx. 1.5 feet. The RMLD will read 50 PPM – M while the FI would read 100 PPM.
PPM-M indications cannot correlate with PPM reads – PPM-M is a distance reading or taken from a distance vs. PPM which is taken at the exact location of the leak. Readings will be different because of this factor and unless you take ppm reads with an FI and take PPM-M reads with an RMLD you may be able to compare but you defeat the purpose of the RMLD

11. Technical Approach
Laser light beam is remotely projected on to a target (e.g., grass, wall, etc.)
A fraction of the beam is scattered from the target surface and returned to the source
Returned light is collected and focused onto a detector
The presence of methane is encoded within the returned light
Methane readings are displayed in ppm-m D e t c o r L a s i S u n d A m b g h B k P E l y M T p f C R v
Use RMLD with bags on wall.
This technology allows long range and remote detection making difficult surveys safer and easier to detect methane
When the IR laser beam passes through a gas plume, and is reflected back, the reflected light is collected and converted to an electrical signal that carries needed to deduce the methane concentration.
Similar to the fI a hydrocarbon sample is taken thru its sample system. When the hydrocarbon reacts with the hydrogen flame it transmits an electronic signal to a meter giving the hydrocarbon concentration.
Here the laser light is selective only to methane and will not alarm on other hydrocarbons.
PPM - M is the products of the methane concentration times the width of the gas plume.

12. This example shows how the instruments reads are correlated – however – this is not something that a tech would be using in the field. Would defeat the purpose of the instrument.
As illustrated in this example – if the average concentration of the gas cloud is 20 ppm and is about 2 meters (1 meter =‘s feet) or about 6.5
feet in width, The RMLD will measure 40 ppm-m, plus a background level of 15 ppm – m – displaying a total value of 55 ppm – m
Background: There is always a small amount of methane in air and is also measured by the RMLD.
Foot print is the width of the beam – at 100 feet the beams width is 22 inches.
The beam is like a safety cone – narrow at top and as it expands gets larger. Beam size 2 to 22 inches.

13. Instrument Design

14. External Battery (Optional)
RMLD Parts
The RMLD kit includes:
Calibration Cell
Control Module
External Battery (Optional)
This is the set up slide – the next slides go into more detail.
The entire RMLD kit includes:
Transceiver
Beams out the infrared lasers that detect the methane gas.
Control Module
Provides the user interface display, menu selection buttons, and external connection ports.
It also houses the battery pack that runs the instrument.
Battery Charger with adapters
Ear piece
Carrying strap and there is also an ergonomic shoulder harness available (not shown)
Calibration cell (not shown but it is built into the carrying case)
External Battery pack (can be ordered, optional)
Carrying Strap
Transceiver
Ear Piece
Charger
Complete Kit

15. Control Module - Front

16. Control Module – Rear Panel

17. Internal Battery Rechargeable Li-ion battery Life – 2 to 3 years
Charge last 8 32 deg. F
Cold weather and constant use of spotter can drain battery faster
At this time we recommend that the instrument be returned to Heath to replace the battery.
Battery indicator currently shown is a good example of a troubleshooting problem. If the customer charges the instrument overnight, and the next day the indicator is at the same above location, the battery has developed a “memory” of sort. The instrument can be used, but the battery will need to be retrained.
Retraining a battery: will need to completely drain the battery. Keep instrument on, enable the backlit screen (helps in draining quicker), experience shows that it can take about 10 hours to completely drain. After the instrument goes completely dead, attach the charger and let it charger until the battery indicator light goes solid. Note: do not interrupt the battery cycle – you will just create the same situation.
Note: Only use Heath supplied battery charger or you run the risk of damaging the circuits and voiding warranty – if within one year of purchase.

18. Volume Level VOL Press up button to increase the volume level.
Press down button to decrease the volume level.
Example of user friendly button
Press – select to increase / decrease volume (bar graph on right shows level.
Note: Bar graph on left shows battery level.

19. Spotter Enabling And Disabling
Note – use of spotter can reduce battery life after a while.
Good for setting up survey when you are starting to walk – get your 15 – 20 feet set and you shouldn’t need spotter.
Spotter good for distance in and surveying service lines.
SPO
Press up button to enable or disable the spotter laser.

20. Alarm Detection Threshold
Press Up button to increase the Alarm detection threshold.
Press Down button to decrease the Alarm detection threshold.
Alarm level is also the sensitivity level. Analogy – FI instrument range, depending on brand is from 10 ppm to 10,000 ppm. When you are surveying with an FI you would survey on the lowest number or sensitivity to insure greater detection.
With the RMLD the same holds true – you want to survey with a low number. we have seen 7 – 14 works the best for surveys that will be inspecting lines over 50 feet in length. Using 10 has been good – less feedback. By feedback – have seen more beeps or indications because of movement of instrument when you are walking.
When in area of low pressure and short distances – lower then 10 would be good. Say around 4 – 5 on scale
Higher threshold = Less sensitivity

21. Display Backlight BACLI display backlight.
If light is low can put back light on to increase vision of LCD
BACLI
Press Up button to turn on or to turn off the
display backlight.

22. DMD Mode To turn on the DMD mode, press the DMD button.
The DMD icon is displayed, as shown.
DMD or Digital Methane Detection Mode
Is silent until and indication is detected
Note: You must be on the “run screen” to activate or
de-activate DMD mode.

23. Two Detection Modes DMD (Digital Methane Detection) Mode
Used in most survey situations.
Silent until methane is detected.
Higher the tone, the higher the methane concentration.
Pure Tones Mode
Continuous tone relative to methane concentration levels.
Most effective up close to help verify low level detections.
DMD mode is used to survey short and long distance
Pure Tone – used only in a short distance, within 10 to 15 feet. Trying to use long distance will create sounds that will be false positive leaks.

24. RMLD Overview: Parts and Functions
Transceiver
Green Spotter Laser * (approx 3” above IR laser)
Sighting Marking
Infrared (IR) Detector Laser (invisible beam)
Fiber Optic inside Cord
Spotter Trigger Switch
Green Spotter Laser – Class IIIa laser (see warnings/caution below)
Like ones used in business presentations
Green spot light is used to pinpoint where you are aiming. It is approximately 3” above IR Laser. (used intermittently – good in close up on meter sets and reg stations to pinpoint leaks; also used in long distances to pinpoint a found leak)
Flashes when the instrument is turned on but otherwise will only be on when it is enabled on the control module and the surveyor depresses the trigger switch
** WARNING / CAUTION: Do not stare into the beam or point at a persons or animals eyes.
Be courteous and not distract drivers with it.
Do not point it into a window if there are people inside as some people have thought it was a video camera or some type of gun
Infrared Detector Laser (class I laser – no warnings associate with it)
Invisible
The Infrared detection laser is invisible and is on and measuring methane concentration anytime the instrument is on.
IR – laser is designed to be eye safe at all ranges and is in accordance with federal guidelines.
Spotter Trigger Switch
Turns on Green Spotter laser when depressed by Surveyor if it is enabled on the control module
The trigger can be activated with a light touch. Squeezing too hard may cause hand cramping.
To aim, squeeze the spotter trigger to display the green spotter laser.
Sighting Marking
On side of Transceiver
Used to help aim laser
*Caution: Don’t stare into beam or view directly with optical instruments.
Transceiver

25. Laser Safety Infra-red Detector Laser Class I
Always on when instrument is on. This laser is invisible.
Green Spotter Laser
Class IIIa
Under the control of the operator
Same rating as pointer lasers commonly sold in stores and used for business presentations
Safe when handled properly
IR – laser is designed to be eye safe at all ranges and is in accordance with federal guidelines. This laser is always on when power button is turned on.
Spotter - You should not stare into the beam or view directly with optical instruments. This is always under the control of the operator. It cannot have a on/off switch due to safety

26. Survey Techniques – Keep Beam In Front Of You: 15 – 20 Feet

27. Greater Scanning Ability To Cover A Wide Area If Meter / Service Is Unknown
When it is unknown where a service is entering the house and the meter is inside the house you can scan the entire area in front and on the sides without having to walk the entire area.

28. RMLD Benefits To The Customer, Employee And Company
Less intrusion on property
Better customer relations
Help employee perform their job more efficiently
Reduce cost and increase productivity
Less Intrusion: Perform most surveys without physically walking the service. Reduce Survey challenges – CGI or Can’t get in’s or can’t gain access to property. Survey Backyard mains / services by looking Over or through fences when having no access.
By having the above ability with less intrusion of property you relationship with customers should be positive. Also shows them that you have invested in technology to increase their safety.
Help employees perform better: You will be able to survey Pipelines on bridges / overpasses, Can scan both sides of the street, Safer to inspect busy streets and intersections, Reduce survey challenges – such as dealing with dogs, uncooperative customers, landscaping (with FI you usually have to place probe, or even walking, inside landscaping and run risk of damage).
Able to remotely check inside buildings or confined spaces for presence of methane
Wider area of search due to sweeping of the beam
Significant advantage to detect leaks away from the pipe
Scanning technique verses probing technique
Productivity savings 20% to 40% for most utilities
Rapid warm-up
Built in self test and calibration
Verifies operation and adjusts laser wavelength for maximum sensitivity
All the above will / should reduce cost and increase productivity. Note: Due to line of site in some areas or where the meter was located may have to be surveyed no differently than with an FI. Therefore, productivity may not be a factor here, with the exception in reduction of CGI’s, can survey next yard without having to go into it.

29. Benefits Reduce survey challenges: Dogs Landscaping
Uncooperative Customers
Natural Disasters – Earth-Quakes, Hurricanes, Floods

30. Benefits Reduce Survey challenges: Backyard main/services.
Over or through fences / no access
Enclosed Regulator stations

31. 31

32. Benefits
Perform most surveys without physically walking service lines.
Can scan both sides of the street.
Safer to inspect busy street and intersections.

33. Benefits Compressor Stations:
Quicker and more efficient inspection of multiple exposed piping in a stations yard.

34. Benefits
More efficient survey of pipelines on bridges and overpasses

35. Benefits
Able to remotely check inside buildings or confined spaces for presence of methane.
Intrinsic Safety

36. Benefits – Emergency Situations

37. Benefits – Emergency Situations

38. Benefits

39. Benefits

40. Benefits Wider area of search due to sweeping of the beam
Significant advantage to detect leaks away from the pipe
Scanning technique verses probing technique
Productivity savings 20% to 40% for most utilities
Rapid warm-up
Built in self test and calibration
Verifies operation and adjusts laser wavelength for maximum sensitivity
1.Wider area – able to survey a lot more area then an FI when you are sweeping with the laser beam. Able to scan areas away from the pipe – or inspect other venting areas for leaks.
2. Side by side surveys were done with one person using the RMLD and one person using an FI. RMLD had higher production rate based on test done during research.
3. Rapid warm up no more then a few minutes
4. Built in cal – takes approx 45 seconds to run through an operation check and calibration to make sure the instrument is operating properly. Cal cell with 6% methane inside hermetically sealed glass placed inside carrying case reduces need for cal gas bottles

41. Questions?