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Concurrent 22. Presentation for: Intelligent monitoring of fugitive emissions – comparison of continuous monitoring with intelligent analytics to other emissions monitoring technologies

Dennis S. Prince A *
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A Airdar Inc., Edmonton, AB, Canada.

* Correspondence to: dennis.prince@airdar.com

The APPEA Journal 62 - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21381
Published: 3 June 2022

Abstract

Presented on Thursday 19 May: Session 22

Studies have shown that fugitive emissions are dominated by a small number of sources with extremely high emission rates, known as super-emitters. These super-emitters present an opportunity to significantly reduce emissions in a cost-effective manner if they are managed effectively. This requires the ability to detect, locate, and accurately measure emissions. However, the uncertain nature of fugitive emissions presents challenges to monitoring. Existing and emerging technologies enable emissions management with varying levels of success. This paper provides a practical comparison of several fugitive emissions monitoring technologies, including handheld gas detectors, optical gas imaging cameras, vehicle-based systems, satellites, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles. These technologies provide periodic monitoring of a facility and are compared to continuous monitoring technologies that monitor emissions on a 24/7 basis using fixed sensors and advanced analytics to identify and track emission plumes. Continuous monitoring with intelligent analytics has demonstrated great potential in overcoming the challenges of monitoring fugitive emissions to reduce greenhouse gases and other problematic emissions. Features, capabilities, and limitations of these technologies are explored in the context of gas facilities, including their ability to detect intermittent sources, identify unsuspected and off-site sources, and quantify emissions. The range of monitoring for each technology and safety concerns associated with their use are discussed.

To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here

Keywords: continuous emissions monitoring, emissions management, fugitive emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, hydrogen sulfide, leak detection and repair, methane, super-emitters, VOCs.

Dennis Prince obtained a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering in 1993 from the University of Alberta and is a Professional Engineer with APEGA. With 25 years of experience in emissions monitoring, Dennis Prince is the inventor of the Airdar technology and currently the CEO of Airdar Inc. In 2003, Dennis realised that ambient air concentration data could be used to visualise plumes of airborne compounds and track them back to their sources. Since then, his focus has been on developing Airdar to help industry resolve emission problems to protect the environment and the people in it. Dennis has led numerous projects in the oil and gas, chemical, wastewater treatment, and waste management industries, using the Airdar technology to locate and quantify emissions related to problems such as odours and GHG emissions.