ABB introduces gas leak detection system for utilities

Governments around the world are seeking to reduce the inherent risks of gas leaks to public safety and the negative impact on global warming. ABB has now announced its portable MicroGuard, which complements the company’s MobileGuard vehicle-based gas leak detection system currently used by many utilities globally. Combined, they provide a solution for an entire natural gas infrastructure, according to ABB. MicroGuard can be used as a standalone device but becomes even more powerful when reading the maps generated by MobileGuard to enable surveyors to quickly find leaks on foot, generally within minutes.

Explaining how the solutions work, Dr Doug Baer, ABB’s Global Product Line Manager for Laser Analyzers, said: “Our LGR-ICOS laser absorption technology constitutes the analytical engine at the heart of MobileGuard and MicroGuard, and provides fast, highly sensitive measurements in air that enable us to distinguish quickly and reliably between naturally occurring methane — from livestock or landfills, for example — and gases leaking from a buried pipe or other potentially dangerous source.”

The hardware is selectively sensitive to natural gas, continuously measuring methane and ethane, wind velocity and local coordinates. Proprietary software incorporates these measurements into detailed fluid dynamics calculations, virtually eliminating false positives and drastically reducing search areas to provide surveyors with the data they need to reliably and quickly locate leaks. The solutions can generate and share digital reports in real time on a user-controlled and secure cloud server. The field data and comprehensive reports generated allow crews to intelligently prioritise resources and repairs.

MobileGuard can be used in vehicles driven at speeds of up to 88 km/h. MicroGuard will read maps generated by MobileGuard, which enables surveyors to leave their vehicle and search on foot to quickly pinpoint leak locations precisely — four times faster than conventional technology.

ABB is also planning to launch aerial and fixed solutions by the end of 2020: HoverGuard can be mounted on an aircraft or UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) to survey locations that are inaccessible by vehicles or technicians, and EverGuard, for fixed locations, can continuously monitor high-risk areas in well pads, gathering lines, pipelines, factories, distribution stations and storage facilities.

“These mobile technologies, used separately or in combination, will change the way utilities and service providers search for natural gas leaks in distribution and transmission pipelines, at oil and gas facilities, and other industrial sites,” said Dr Baer. “Detecting and finding leaks fast makes it possible to fix them quickly, boosting safety and decreasing harmful emissions to the environment.”