Fugitive emissions detection devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to detection and alarm systems for predicting and detecting the location of spills, leaks, emissions, and/or pollution sources, i.e., unwanted fluid (liquid/gas) flow/escape, at refineries, e.g., oiland gas refineries, and plants, e.g., petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical, and food processing plants, and avoiding said unwanted flow/escape. According to one embodiment, said system comprises at least one detector, at least one battery powered radio frequency transmitter, preferably, according to one embodiment, a 900 megahertz spread spectrum transmitter, and a central processing location which, according to one embodiment, is preferably capable of handling up to 3000 points in a single cell site.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for acquiring and transmitting data between two or more positions or locations relative to a detected condition and/or event in a plant, said method comprising the steps: 
 positioning or locating at least one detector in said plant to detect a condition or event at a plant position or location;    positioning at least one battery-powered radio frequency transmitter in said plant in communication with said at least one detector , said transmitter having a    transmittable identification code and capable of transmitting a signal relative to said identification code, the detector, and the battery;    providing a central processing location for receiving a signal from said battery-powered transmitter relative to the identification code, a condition or event detected at a position or location in said plant, and the battery; and    providing at least one other transmitter in communication with said central processing location, said other transmitter capable of transmitting signals relative to a condition or event detected at a position or location in said plant.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of positioning or locating at least one more detector and/or sensor to detect and/or sense a condition or event at a plant position or location.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising positioning at least one transmitter in communication with said at least one more detector and/or sensor.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the one battery-powered radio frequency transmitter is a spread spectrum transmitter.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the one battery-powered radio frequency transmitter is a 900 megahertz spread spectrum transmitter.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one battery-powered radio frequency transmitter is a 900 megahertz spread spectrum transmitter and transmits on predetermined time intervals.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one other transmitter comprises a radio frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one other transmitter comprises a spread spectrum radio frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one other transmitter comprises a 900 megahertz spread spectrum radio frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one other transmitter comprises a 900 megahertz spread spectrum radio frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a pharmaceutical plant.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a refinery.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a petrochemical plant.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a food processing plant.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plant is a pharmaceutical plant.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plant is a refinery.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plant is a petrochemical plant.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plant is a food processing plant.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector sensor is positioned in communication with a pipe in said plant.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector is positioned in communication with a valve in said plant.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector is positioned in communication with an enclosure in said plant.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one detector detects a temperature.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one detector detects a pressure.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector detects a level.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least on detector detects a level.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising at least a second detector in said plant, said second detector in communication with at least one battery-powered radio frequency spread spectrum transmitter, said second detector detecting temperature.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one detector detects emissions.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one detector is an adsorption detector.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector detects emissions.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector is positioned in communication with a pipe enclosure.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector is positioned in communication with a valve stuffing box enclosure.