AN OPTICAL METHANOMETER FOR THE REMOTE DETECTION OF METHANE GAS IN HAZARDOUS AREAS

THE NEED FOR A PORTABLE REMOTE METHANE DETECTION INSTRUMENT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY. THE KEY FEATURE OF THIS DEVICE WOULD BE TO IDENTIFY AND QUANTIFY METHANE GAS AT A SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL DISTANCE FROM THE GAS. THE AAILABILITY OF THIS TYPE OF INSTRUMENT WOULD INCREASE COAL MINE PRODUCTIVITY AND IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF MINING OPERATIONS. BECAUSE OF THE HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH A REMOTE METHANOMETER WOULD BE USED, IT MUST NOT ONLY MEET THE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT OF METHANE BUT ALSO BE STRUCTURALLY STRONG AND INTRINSICALLY SAFE. A PROOF OF CONCEPT DEMONSTRATION WAS DEVELOPED THAT USES THE DETECTION OF DIFFERENTIAL ABSORPTION OF INFRARED ENERGY AS ITS OPERATING PRINCIPLE. THE PROOF OF CONCEPT INSTRUMENT WAS NOT AN OPTIMAL OR MANUFACTURABLE DESIGN AND WASNOT SUITABLE FOR EVALUATION, TEST, AND THE REQUISITE ADDITIONAL RESEARCH IN AN UNDERGROUND MINEBECAUSE OF BOTH ELECTRONIC AND MECHANICAL DESIGN. THE PLANNED PROJECT BUILDS ON THE PROOF OF CONCEPT WORK AND DEVELOPS ADVANCED PROTOTYPE INSTRUMENTS SUITABLE FOR PHASE II RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN A WORKING COAL MINE. THE PHASE I WORK PLAN INCLUDES THE COMPLETION OF AN ADVANCED PROTOTYPE DESIGN, IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF PROPRIETARY COMPONENT SUPPLIERS, PROCUREMENT OF REQUISITE MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SMALL NUMBER OF PROTOTYPE INSTRUMENTS. IN ADDITION, THE PHASE I WORK PLAN DETAILS THE SUBSEQUENT ACTIVITIES REQUIRED TO PROCEED FROM ADVANCED PROTOTYPES (PHASE I) THROUGH EVALUATION, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FINAL DESIGN STAGE (PHASE II) PRIOR TO FULL COMMERCIALIZATION (PHASE III).