Method for detecting fugitive emissions
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting fugitive emission solvent vapor, comprising:
- (a) providing a fugitive emissions sensor comprising;
(1) a dielectric substrate having a major surface,(2) a pair of interdigitated, electrically conductive electrodes disposed on said major surface of said substrate, and(3) a composite coating covering the interdigitated electrodes and comprising (i) a conductive polymer, and (ii) a dielectric polymer with an affinity for said solvent vapors to be detected, said solvent vapor selected from the group consisting of substantially non-polar hydrocarbon solvent vapor and polar solvent vapor;
(b) placing said fugitive emissions sensor near a potential source of leak of said solvent vapor; and
(c) providing means to measure a detectable signal from said sensor in the event of leak of said solvent vapor.
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Abstract
A novel, inexpensive sensor (10) for detecting volatile hydrocarbons and other solvent vapors detects leaks in the fittings and valves of petroleum refineries and chemical manufacturing and processing plants. The sensor comprises (a) a dielectric substrate (12) having a major surface; (b) a pair of interdigitated, electrically conductive electrodes (14a, 14b) disposed on the major surface of the substrate; and (c) a composite coating (16) covering the interdigitated electrodes and comprising (1) a conductive polymer, and (2) a dielectric polymer with an affinity for the solvent vapors to be detected.
24 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for detecting fugitive emission solvent vapor, comprising:
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(a) providing a fugitive emissions sensor comprising; (1) a dielectric substrate having a major surface, (2) a pair of interdigitated, electrically conductive electrodes disposed on said major surface of said substrate, and (3) a composite coating covering the interdigitated electrodes and comprising (i) a conductive polymer, and (ii) a dielectric polymer with an affinity for said solvent vapors to be detected, said solvent vapor selected from the group consisting of substantially non-polar hydrocarbon solvent vapor and polar solvent vapor; (b) placing said fugitive emissions sensor near a potential source of leak of said solvent vapor; and (c) providing means to measure a detectable signal from said sensor in the event of leak of said solvent vapor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting fugitive emissions solvent vapors, comprising:
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(a) providing a fugitive emissions sensor comprising; (1) a dielectric substrate having a major surface, (2) a pair of interdigitated, electrically conductive electrodes disposed on said major surface of said substrate, and (3) a composite coating covering the interdigitated electrodes and comprising (i) a conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polythiophene, polypyrrole, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), derivatives of these polymers, and mixtures of these materials, doped with appropriate dopants to provide the requisite conductivity, and (ii) a dielectric polymer with an affinity for said solvent vapors to be detected, said solvent vapors selected from the group consisting of non-polar hydrocarbon solvent vapors and polar solvent vapors; (b) placing said fugitive emissions sensor near a potential source of leak of said solvent vapor; and (c) providing means to measure a detectable signal from said sensor in the event of leak of said solvent vapor.
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16. A method for detecting fugitive emission solvent vapors, comprising:
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(a) providing a fugitive emissions sensor comprising; (1) a dielectric substrate having a major surface, (2) a pair of interdigitated, electrically conductive electrodes disposed on said major surface of said substrate, and (3) a composite coating covering the interdigitated electrodes and comprising (i) a conductive polymer having a conductivity of about 10-6 to 1 S/cm and being doped with appropriate dopants to provide the requisite conductivity, wherein said conductive polymer is polyaniline and said dopants are selected from the group consisting of salts of p-toluenesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, poly(styrenesulfonic acid), sulfuric acid, and hydrochloric acid, and (ii) a dielectric polymer with an affinity for said solvent vapors to be detected, said solvent vapors selected from the group consisting of substantially non-polar hydrocarbon solvent vapors and polar solvent vapors; (b) placing said fugitive emissions sensor near a potential source of leak of said solvent vapors; and (c) providing means to measure a detectable signal from said sensor in the event of leak of said solvent vapors.
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17. A method for detecting fugitive emission solvent vapors, comprising:
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(a) providing a fugitive emissions sensor comprising; (1) a dielectric substrate having a major surface, (2) a pair of interdigitated, electrically conductive electrodes disposed on said major surface of said substrate, and (3) a composite coating covering the interdigitated electrodes and comprising (i) a conductive polymer, and (ii) a dielectric polymer with an affinity for said solvent vapors to be detected, wherein said solvent vapors are substantially non-polar hydrocarbon solvent vapors and said dielectric polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(isobutylene), polybutadiene, polystyrene, and alkyl-substituted polystyrenes; (b) placing said fugitive emissions sensor near a potential source of leak of said solvent vapors; and (c) providing means to measure a detectable signal from said sensor in the event of leak of said solvent vapors.
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18. A method for detecting fugitive emission solvent vapors, comprising:
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(a) providing a fugitive emissions sensor comprising; (1) a dielectric substrate having a major surface, (2) a pair of interdigitated, electrically conductive electrodes disposed on said major surface of said substrate, and (3) a composite coating coveting the interdigitated electrodes and comprising (i) a conductive polymer, and (ii) a dielectric polymer with an affinity for said solvent vapors to be detected, wherein said solvent vapors are polar solvent vapors and said dielectric polymer contains a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amino, and carboxylate groups; (b) placing said fugitive emissions sensor near a potential source of leak of said solvent vapors; and (c) providing means to measure a detectable signal from said sensor in the event of leak of said solvent vapors.
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Specification