Project/Technology Description:
Continuous open path monitors for methane that utilize laser absorption spectroscopy. Laser absorption spectroscopy works by directing an infrared laser to a reflector that returns a signal to the monitor’s detector. The infrared laser signal is swept across an absorption peak, an electromagnetic wavelength, associated with methane. If methane is present, the reflected signal is attenuated, or weakened, whereas if no methane is detected, no such attenuation occurs. By comparing the two signals, after appropriate filtration and averaging, the amount of methane present is calculated. In field testing with PG&E following lab testing by SwRI in EDF Methane Detector Challenge.