Gas detection systems and methods using search area indicators

• US 9,557,240 B1
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Picarro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Picarro, Inc.
• Inventors: Tan, Sze Meng, Crosson, Eric R., Rella, Chris W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kundu, Sujoy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Lynda
• Application Number:
  US13/733,857
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 702/51, 702/23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 65/006 Measuring or detecting fuel leakage of fuel injection apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/007 Leak detector calibration, standard leaks G01M3/207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/04 by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/16 using electric detection means G01M3/045, G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/26 by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/28 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves ; for welds
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2892 for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

In some embodiments, a computer system generates display content indicating a likely direction and estimated distance to a potential gas leak source. The content includes a street map and at least one search area indicator on the map that indicates a search area suspected to have a gas leak source. The search area indicator has an axis indicating a representative wind direction relative to a geo-referenced location of at least one gas concentration measurement point. The search area indicator also has a width relative to the axis. The width is indicative of a wind direction variability associated with a plurality of wind direction measurements in an area of the gas concentration measurement point. The axis also preferably has a length indicating an estimated maximum distance to the potential gas leak source.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

performing a gas leak detection survey by

measuring a plurality of gas concentration values at a corresponding plurality of measurement points using a gas concentration measurement device carried by a moving vehicle along a survey path,

determining a plurality of geospatially-referenced locations of the plurality of measurement points using a positioning device carried by the moving vehicle, and

measuring a plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle using a wind direction determination device carried by the moving vehicle, wherein the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle are measured within a time interval during which at least one of the plurality of gas concentration values is measured, the time interval being less than or equal to 2 minutes;

converting, using at least one hardware processor, the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle to a plurality of wind direction values relative to ground, wherein the hardware processor is connected to the wind direction determination device, the positioning device and the gas concentration measurement device; and

employing the at least one hardware processor to generate content to be displayed, the content including at least one search area indicator positioned on a street map, the search area indicator indicating a search area suspected to have a gas leak source, the search area indicator having an axis indicating a representative wind direction characterizing the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground, the search area indicator having a width relative to the axis, wherein the width is indicative of a wind direction variability characterizing the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground; and

transmitting the content to be displayed to a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the width is indicative of a variance or standard deviation of the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the search area indicator has the shape of a sector of a circle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a center of the circle is positioned on the map at a location of a measured gas concentration peak.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the angle subtended by the sector is proportional to a standard deviation of the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the representative wind direction represents a mean, median or mode of the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the axis has a length indicative of a maximum detection distance value representative of an estimated maximum distance from the gas leak source at which a gas leak is detectable by the survey, and wherein the length is determined according to data representative of wind speed in the search area.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the axis has a length indicative of a maximum detection distance value representative of an estimated maximum distance from the gas leak source at which a gas leak is detectable by the survey, and wherein the length is determined according to data representative of atmospheric stability conditions in the search area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the search area indicator is positioned on the map at a location of a measured gas concentration peak.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a gas concentration measurement device configured to measure a plurality of gas concentration values at a corresponding plurality of measurement points along a survey path travelled by a moving vehicle conducting a gas leak detection survey, the vehicle carrying the gas concentration measurement device,

a positioning device configured to determine a plurality of geospatially-referenced locations of the plurality of measurement points;

a wind direction determination device configured to measure a plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle, wherein the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle are measured within a time interval during which at least one of the plurality of gas concentration values is measured, the time interval being less than or equal to 2 minutes; and

at least one hardware processor coupled to the gas concentration measurement device, the positioning device, and the wind direction determination device, the at least one hardware processor being configured to;

convert the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle to a plurality of wind direction values relative to ground;

generate content to be displayed, the content including at least one search area indicator positioned on a street map, the search area indicator indicating a search area suspected to have a gas leak source, the search area indicator having an axis indicating a representative wind direction characterizing plurality of wind direction values relative to ground, the search area indicator having a width relative to the axis, wherein the width is indicative of a wind direction variability characterizing the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground; and

transmit the content to be displayed to a display device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the width is indicative of a variance or standard deviation of the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the search area indicator has the shape of a sector of a circle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a center of the circle is positioned on the map at a location of a measured gas concentration peak.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the angle subtended by the sector is proportional to a standard deviation of the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the representative wind direction represents a mean, median or mode of the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the axis has a length indicative of a maximum detection distance value representative of an estimated maximum distance from the gas leak source at which a leak is detectable by the survey, and wherein the length is determined according to data representative of wind speed in the search area.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the axis has a length indicative of a maximum detection distance value representative of an estimated maximum distance from the gas leak source at which a gas leak is detectable by the survey, and wherein the length is determined according to data representative of atmospheric stability conditions in the search area.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the search area indicator is positioned on the map at a location of a measured gas concentration peak.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions which, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to:

receive a plurality of gas concentration values measured at a corresponding plurality of measurement points along a survey path travelled by a moving vehicle conducting a gas leak detection survey, the vehicle carrying a gas concentration measurement device,

receive a plurality of geospatially-referenced locations of the plurality of measurement points determined using a positioning device carried by the moving vehicle,

receive a plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle, the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle being measured using a wind direction determination device carried by the moving vehicle, wherein the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle are measured within a time interval during which at least one of the plurality of gas concentration values is measured, the time interval being less than or equal to 2 minutes;

convert the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle to a plurality of wind direction values relative to ground,

generate content to be displayed, the content including at least one search area indicator positioned on a street map, the search area indicator indicating a search area suspected to have a gas leak source, the search area indicator having an axis indicating a representative wind direction characterizing the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground, the search area indicator having a width relative to the axis, wherein the width is indicative of a wind direction variability characterizing the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground; and

transmit the content to be displayed to a display device.

20. A method comprising:

receiving, using at least one hardware processor, a plurality of gas concentration values measured at a corresponding plurality of measurement points along a survey path travelled by a moving vehicle conducting a gas leak detection survey, the vehicle carrying a gas concentration measurement device;

receiving, using the at least one hardware processor, a plurality of geospatially-referenced locations of the plurality of measurement points determined using a positioning device carried by the moving vehicle,

receiving, using the at least one hardware processor, a plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle being measured using a wind direction determination device carried by the moving vehicle, wherein the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle are measured within a time interval during which at least one of the plurality of gas concentration values is measured, the time interval being less than or equal to 2 minutes;

converting, using the at least one hardware processor, the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle to a plurality of wind direction values relative to ground;

generating content to be displayed using the at least one hardware processor, the content including at least one search area indicator positioned on a street map, the search area indicator indicating a search area suspected to have a gas leak source, the search area indicator having an axis indicating a representative wind direction characterizing the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground, the axis having a length indicative of a maximum detection distance value representing an estimated maximum distance from the gas leak source at which a leak is detectable by the survey, wherein the length is determined according to data representative of wind speed along the survey path; and

transmitting the content to be displayed to a display device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the length is further determined according to data representative of atmospheric stability conditions in the search area.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the search area indicator has the shape of a sector of a circle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a center of the circle is positioned on the map at a location of a measured gas concentration peak.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the angle subtended by the sector is proportional to a standard deviation of the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the representative wind direction represents a mean, median or mode of the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the search area indicator is positioned on the map at a location of a measured gas concentration peak.

27. An apparatus comprising:

a gas concentration measurement device configured to measure a plurality of gas concentration values at a corresponding plurality of measurement points along a survey path travelled by a moving vehicle conducting a gas leak detection survey, the vehicle carrying the gas concentration measurement device;

a positioning device configured to determine a plurality of geospatially-referenced locations of the plurality of measurement points;

a wind direction determination device configured to measure a plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle, wherein the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle are measured within a time interval during which at least one of the plurality of gas concentration values is measured, the time interval being less than or equal to 2 minutes, and

at least one hardware processor coupled to the gas concentration measurement device, the positioning device, and the wind direction determination device, the at least one hardware processor being configured to;

convert the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle to a plurality of wind direction values relative to ground; and

generate content to be displayed, the content including at least one search area indicator positioned on a street map, the search area indicator indicating a search area suspected to have a gas leak source, the search area indicator having an axis indicating a representative wind direction characterizing the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground, and the axis having a length indicative of a maximum detection distance value representing an estimated maximum distance from the gas leak source at which a leak is detectable by the survey, wherein the length is determined according to data representative of wind speed along the survey path; and

transmit the content to be displayed to a display device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the search area indicator has the shape of a sector of a circle.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a center of the circle is positioned on the map at a location of a measured gas concentration peak.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the angle subtended by the sector is proportional to a standard deviation of the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the representative wind direction represents a mean, median or mode of the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the length is further determined according to data representative of atmospheric stability conditions in the search area.

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the search indicator is positioned on the map at a location of a measured gas concentration peak.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions which, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to:

receive a plurality of gas concentration values measured at a corresponding plurality of measurement points along a survey path travelled by a moving vehicle conducting a gas leak detection survey, the vehicle carrying a gas concentration measurement device;

receive a plurality of geospatially-referenced locations of the plurality of measurement points determined using a positioning device carried by the moving vehicle;

receive a plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle, the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle being measured using a wind direction determination device carried by the moving vehicle, wherein the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle are measured within a time interval during which at least one of the plurality of gas concentration values is measured, the time interval being less than or equal to 2 minute;

convert the plurality of wind direction values relative to the moving vehicle to a plurality of wind direction values relative to ground;

generate content to be displayed, the content including at least one search area indicator positioned on a street map, the search area indicator indicating a search area suspected to have a gas leak source, the search area indicator having an axis indicating a representative wind direction characterizing the plurality of wind direction values relative to ground, the axis having a length indicative of a maximum detection distance value representing an estimated maximum distance from the gas leak source at which a leak is detectable by the survey, wherein the length is determined according to data representative of wind speed along the survey path; and

transmit the content to be displayed to a display device.

35. The medium of claim 34, wherein the length is further determined according to data representative of atmospheric stability conditions in the search area.