Remote Lidar Methane Sensor (RELMS)

Water reservoirs often produce methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. With more reservoirs being constructed to produce electricity, it is important to determine how much methane gas reservoirs emit into the atmosphere. The eddy covariance devices that are frequently used to measure the quantity of methane gas that reservoirs produce are severely limited in the number of locations where they can make methane measurements. This technology will use laser beams to make methane measurements in locations where eddy covariance devices cannot be placed. The technology can measure methane concentration, wind speed, and turbulence in a chosen small volume of air. The technology is based on a new method for measuring wind and turbulence in a specific remote location. There are two main objectives for Phase I: (1) demonstrate that the new methane-sensing method can accurately measure methane concentrations and wind speed, and (2) develop a preliminary Phase II prototype design with down-selection of key system components. The optical and signal processing methods that this new methane sensing technique relies on will be tested. The Phase I study will allow evaluation of system performance in methane concentration and wind velocity measurement. This technology can be adopted in a wide range of applications in industry, research, and the military. This technology will be able to detect methane that is leaking out of pipes and storage tanks. The detection can be done from a safe distance. The wind measurement capability of the proposed instrument will make the tracking of methane plumes faster and easier. This technology can be modified to detect other molecules, including hazardous ones, by using different laser wavelengths. Wind farm operators could use this laser-based wind sensor technology to evaluate potential wind farm sites and make existing wind farms more efficient. This technology will also provide data that can assist in the effort to quantify the effects of greenhouse gases such as methane on the Earth’s climate. In military applications, this technology can be used to detect and track chemical and biological agents in the air.