Method and system for measuring emission and quantifying emission source

Abstract

A system and method for quantifying an emission source is provided. The system and method obtain a plurality of emission concentration measurements at one or more sampling points and wind data over the time the emission concentrations are measured. For each sampling point, a virtual sampling arc can be constructed using the emission concentration measurements taken at the sampling point, the wind data for when the emission concentration measurement were taken and an approximate distance to the emission source. The virtual sampling arcs can then be used to construct one or more virtual sampling grids and the amount of emissions emanating from the emissions source approximated from the virtual sampling grids.

1 . A method for quantifying an emission source comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of emission concentrations measurements at a plurality of sampling points;   obtaining wind speed measurements and wind direction measurements when the plurality of emission concentration measurements are taken;   for each sampling point, constructing a virtual sampling arc made up of a plurality of points, each point based on:
 an emission concentration measurement taken at the sampling point; 
 a wind direction when the emission concentration measurement was taken; and 
 an approximate distance to the emission source, wherein all of the emission concentration measurements used to construct one of the virtual sampling arcs were taken at substantially the same wind speed; 
   grouping virtual sampling arcs made of emission concentrations measurements at substantially the same wind speed into a virtual sampling grid; and   approximating the amount of emissions passing through the virtual sampling grid.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sampling points are vertically spaced. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the sampling points are vertically aligned. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wind speed measurements and the wind direction measurements are taken at the plurality of sampling points. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the approximate distance to the emission source from the sampling point is an estimated distance. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing an additional sampling point spaced laterally apart from the plurality of sampling points; 
 using emission concentration measurements taken at the additional sampling point to determine a first trajectory of emissions from the emission source; 
 determining a second trajectory of emissions from the emission source using emission concentration measurements taken at the plurality of sampling points; and 
 using the first trajectory and second trajectory to approximate the distance to the emission source. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the amount of emissions passing through the virtual sampling grid and the distance to the emission source are iteratively approximated. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of emissions passing through the virtual sampling grid is determined by dividing the virtual sampling grid into sections; approximating the flowrate of emissions through each section; and
 determining an approximate total flowrate of an emissions plume through the virtual sampling grid. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising determining whether each section falls within an emission plume originating from the emission source. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising approximating a shape of an emission plume originating from the emission source. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising interpolating additional points in the virtual sampling grid where no points are present. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising extrapolating additional points beyond the virtual sampling grid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the emission concentration measurements are taken with at least one open-path gas detector. 
     
     
         14 . A method for quantifying an emission source comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of emission concentrations measurements at a single sampling point;   obtaining wind speed measurements and wind direction measurements when the plurality of emission concentration measurements are taken;   constructing a virtual sampling arc made up of a plurality of points, each point based on:
 an emission concentration measurement taken at the single sampling point; 
 a wind direction when the emission concentration measurement was taken; and 
 an approximate distance to the emission source, 
 wherein all of the emission concentration measurements used to construct the virtual sampling arcs were taken at substantially the same wind speed; 
   estimating an emissions plume shape with the virtual sampling arc passing through it;   extrapolating points in the emission plume shape using points from the virtual sampling arc; and   approximating the amount of emissions passing through the emission plume shape.