An Intelligent Multi-modal CH4 Measurement System (AIMS)

Under Development

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DOE ARPA-E

Damage Prevention and Mitigation -- Leak Detection

This project is developing an energy-efficient, self-organizing mesh network to gather data over a distributed methane measurement system. Data will be passed to a cloud-based analytics system using custom models to quantify the amount and rate of methane leakage. The system will use new, low-cost tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) optical sensors for methane detection.

While today's optical sensors offer excellent sensitivity and selectivity, their high cost and power requirements prevent widespread adoption. To overcome these hurdles, IBM and its partners plan to produce a miniaturized, integrated, on-chip version that is less expensive and consumes less power.

Increased Safety - By advancing an affordable methane detection system that can be customized, IBM's technology could enable producers to more efficiently locate and repair methane leaks, and therefore reduce overall methane emissions.

Reduced Operations Cost - At a planned cost of about $300 per sensor, IBM's sensors will be 10 to 100 times cheaper than TDLAS sensors on the market today.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/?q=slick-sheet-project/multi-modal-methane-measurement-system
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-tiny-detection-chip-could-find-methane-leaks-autonomously/