Drone-based gas leak detection from ABB
17 November 2021
ABB extended its position in mobile gas leak detection this year with the launch of HoverGuard – the world’s fastest, and most sensitive UAV-based solution to detect, map and quantify natural gas emissions.
Methane accounts for up to a third of human induced global warming. The source of which can be from cattle and dairy farming, food waste and importantly from the millions of kilometres of pipelines that traverse the globe, often crossing inhospitable terrain to supply industrial and domestic gas. Announced at COP26, an agreement has been reached between more than 80 countries to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
Operators of gas distribution networks must ensure the safety, integrity and reliability of their pipes but detection of odorless and invisible gas leaks can be challenging and expensive. ABB’s latest addition to its ABB Ability Mobile Gas Leak Detection System, HoverGuard, provides the solution by finding leaks faster and more reliably than ever before.
The cloud-connected, multi-gas solution is the first UAV-based system to quantify the three most important greenhouse gases methane, carbon dioxide and water vapor continuously while flying. Each greenhouse gas affects the environment differently and is present in the air in different amounts. Sourcing individual gases provides important information to scientists and researchers when studying the complex environmental processes affecting climate and pollution.
HoverGuard detects, quantifies and maps leaks up to 100 metres (328 ft) from natural gas distribution and transmission pipelines, gathering lines, storage facilities, and other potential sources quickly, safely and reliably. It automatically generates comprehensive digital reports that summarize results and can be shared in minutes after a survey.
Patented cavity enhanced laser absorption spectroscopy detects methane with a sensitivity more than 1,000 times higher than conventional leak detection tools. This sensitivity allows HoverGuard to detect leaks while flying at altitudes of 40 metres (130 ft), or higher, and at speeds greater than 88km/h (55mph). It can cover 10-15 times more land area per minute by operating on low-cost commercial, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) capable of carrying a payload of 3kg (6.6 lbs).
“HoverGuard represents an important step-change in gas leak detection and for the environment,” said Doug Baer, Ph.D., ABB Global Product Line Manager of Laser Analysers. “Previously inspectors had to rely on slow, qualitative, analog sensors or expensive delicate cameras to find leaks. Our ground-breaking solution effectively probes otherwise inaccessible locations by either walking or driving. It can increase safety across the pipeline network whether in remote or urban environments, detecting and mapping natural gas leaks around hard-to-reach sites such as bridges, areas with right-of-way restrictions or vegetation coverage, gas storage assets and pipelines.”
HoverGuard complements ABB’s existing gas leak detection offering with the vehicle-based MobileGuard and the hand-held MicroGuard. They are all designed to operate independently. Combining them provides the most comprehensive platform to detect, map and quantify leaks with unprecedented speed, reliability and accuracy throughout the entire natural gas infrastructure, including upstream, midstream, downstream, and gas utilities.
Find out more: https://new.abb.com/news/detail/75959/abb-launches-worlds-fastest-most-sensitive-drone-based-gas-leak-detection-and-greenhouse-gas-measuring-system
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