Gas detection & measurement
industries operate in the near future. As an example, one of the measures to be passed by the EU is a ban on flaring and venting by 2027. This will particularly impact the upstream oil and gas sector, where flaring and venting are still often used to dispose of excess gas. And the EU's law goes further still, forcing operators of fossil fuel infrastructure to measure and report emissions while regularly checking for emissions. This also applies to imports from non-EU countries, meaning
importers must demonstrate that their supply chain works to the same or equivalent monitoring standards.
The global picture is further complicated by the fact that 40 per cent of methane emissions come from natural sources, and these natural emissions are influenced by a range of human and non-human activities. For example, during the height of the pandemic, methane emissions rose sharply even as much of the world's heavy industry shut down. This was partly due to a decline in the production of hydroxyl radicals - highly reactive molecules that break down many other chemicals in the atmosphere, including methane. Ironically, they are one of the byproducts of air pollution, so the overall drop in emissions meant that natural methane emissions – largely produced by wetlands created by thawing ice – were left unchecked. This is a microcosm of the complexities and challenges involved in fighting climate change. Our environment is a delicately balanced series of interconnected systems, and changing things can have unintended or unexpected side effects. As tightening legislation makes it more important for businesses to tackle their methane emissions, it remains crucial to build a complete picture of the world's methane problem before taking the urgent action needed to address it – and building this picture is only possible with the right tools.
system to monitor for discrepancies between the two. Each gas has a unique structure that absorbs different wavelengths of light in different amounts, providing a unique chemical fingerprint that sensors can use to identify the target gas. Technology such as this is helping businesses fill in the picture on methane emissions and better focus their mitigation attempts. Combined with other methods, action on methane by the oil and gas sector today could cut human- caused emissions by as much as 45 per cent within 10 years. If achieved, this would stop global temperatures from warming by almost 0.3°C by 2045, according to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
This may sound like a relatively insignificant amount, but it would represent 20 per cent of progress towards the target of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5°C and would go a long way to helping achieve targets set out under the Paris Agreement.
Widespread adoption of gas detection technology will also vastly improve the data on harmful leaks available across other market sectors, such as engineering and manufacturing, while also facilitating preventative action. Investing in this equipment must therefore be central to any company's business operations; only by understanding where harmful leaks are occurring can industrial facilities hope to offer their people the protection they deserve.
INFRARED SENSORS POWERED BY ADVANCED OPTICAL COATINGS Although large-scale monitoring operations often rely on satellite technology, technological advances mean that businesses today can employ a wide range of on-the-ground equipment that can help them begin building better-quality data on emissions. Leading the way in this technology are high-performance infrared sensors, which pass lasers through a filter inside a sampling chamber to measure the attenuation of incoming light and determine the precise concentrations of gas that are present. The next-generation flexibility and sensitivity of gas sensing technology are largely driven by advances in electro-optical coatings. These coatings provide control over which wavelengths of light can reach the sensor. A sampling of the atmosphere is compared against a reference that enables a gas analysis
Instrumentation Monthly June 2024
As businesses move beyond estimations into a world of empirical measurement, a true revolution on methane is within reach. Modern technology is enabling accurate tracking of emission changes, providing a level of understanding that will make all industries more accountable, help guide regulations, and support companies with their own ESG goals. And the incentives for action here are not purely environmental. Gas leaks come with a significant cost, with billions of dollars' worth of natural gas being wasted every year – potential profits that are literally vanishing into thin air. The indirect economic impact is even more significant. The Climate and Clean Air Coalition report referenced earlier also found that slowing global heating by reducing methane emissions would also result in 775,000 asthma-related hospital visits, 26 million tonnes of crop losses, and 73 billion lost work hours due to the effects of heat exposure. A more rigorous gas detection approach, supported by technology, could enable more gas to be captured and sold, and have a real impact on a business's bottom line. There remains much work to be done. Due to the way methane emissions persist in the atmosphere, the global picture may get worse before it gets better. While it may worsen, it will also become much clearer, giving the world a better idea of where and how emissions are produced, where leaks are occurring – and how they can be fixed.
Umicore Coating Services
www.umicore.com/en
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