ENVIRON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIO

THE USE OF A GAS-IMAGING DEVICE FOFUGITIVE EMISSIONS IN ETHYLENE FAC

Presented at the Texas Technology ShowcaseMarch 2003
METHOD 21 CAN BE COSTLY AND IN

 Method 21 requirement to monitor every component 

labor intensive.
METHOD 21 CAN BE COSTLY AND IN

 Method 21 requirement to monitor every component 

labor intensive.

 In a typical large U.S. refinery, the number of fugitive 

components is over 200,000 with annual LDAR operaexceeding $1,000,000.
METHOD 21 CAN BE COSTLY AND IN

 Analyses by the American Petroleum Institute have s

of controllable fugitive emissions come from only abopiping components.
METHOD 21 CAN BE COSTLY AND IN

 Analyses by the American Petroleum Institute have s

of controllable fugitive emissions come from only abopiping components.

0

102030405060708090

100

0 - 99 100 - 499 500 - 999 1,000 - 9,999 10,000 - 49,999 50,0

% total count % total emissions

Source: American Petroleum Institute, “Analysis of Refinery Screening Data,” API Publication 310, 1997.
METHOD 21 CAN BE COSTLY AND IN

API analysis conclusions...

 Leaks occur randomly Few significant repeat leakers Need improved method to more cost-effectively fi

leakers
OPTICAL GAS IMAGING

 Because of concerns about cost and effectiveness of 

are underway in both public and private sectors to demethods for detecting fugitive emissions
OPTICAL GAS IMAGING

 Because of concerns about cost and effectiveness of 

are underway in both public and private sectors to demethods for detecting fugitive emissions

 Optical gas imaging devices offers an operator the ab

components from a distance and identify - in some cainstantaneously - leaking components (of a sufficient line of sight of the optical imager 
OPTICAL GAS IMAGING

Laser Imaging

Systems

Sandia

National

Laboratory

Pacific

Advanced

Technology

Ion Optics

Principal ofoperation

IR IR IR IR 

Active orpassive

active active passive passive (?) 

Real-timeimaging

yes yes being

implemented

possible 

Status commercially

available

portableprototypetuneable laserdeveloped

methane leakdetectordeveloped

methane leakdetectorproposed

R&fiepeprno

Expectedavailability

6 to 12

months

6 months 12 to 24

months

12 

Expectedcost/unit

$125,000 $150,000 $50,000 to

$75,000

$50,000 to

$60,000

VOCs tested ethylene aliphatic

hydrocarbons

methane,propane,butane, acetone

mbu
OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

 Conduct a demonstration of a portable gas imaging d

the capability of the device in detecting fugitive emissplant operating conditions
OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

 Conduct a demonstration of a portable gas imaging d

the capability of the device in detecting fugitive emissplant operating conditions

 Identify, if possible, leaking equipment detected with 

gas imaging device but listed as non-leaking when mMethod 21 procedures
OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

 Conduct a demonstration of a portable gas imaging d

the capability of the device in detecting fugitive emissplant operating conditions

 Identify, if possible, leaking equipment detected with 

gas imaging device but listed as non-leaking when mMethod 21 procedures

 Gather data that could be used to establish the mass 

detection capability of the portable gas imaging devic
OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

 Conduct a demonstration of a portable gas imaging d

the capability of the device in detecting fugitive emissplant operating conditions

 Identify, if possible, leaking equipment detected with 

gas imaging device but listed as non-leaking when mMethod 21 procedures

 Gather data that could be used to establish the mass 

detection capability of the portable gas imaging devic

 Gather data that could begin to establish the sensitivi

optical gas imaging device to various factors that migduring routine use at a chemical plant
FIELD STUDIES

 Two field studies conducted as part of this project...

 Field study conducted at Site “A” during late May 2002
FIELD STUDIES

 Two field studies conducted as part of this project...

 Field study conducted at Site “A” during late May 2002 Field study conducted at Site “B” during early August 20
FIELD STUDIES

 Two field studies conducted as part of this project...

 Field study conducted at Site “A” during late May 2002 Field study conducted at Site “B” during early August 20 Both sites located in the Houston-Galveston area
CO2 LASER PERFORMANCE

 Three critical parameters for CO2 laser performance.

 Range - For the technology to visualize a leak, there mu

“backscattering” surface behind the leak.
SCHEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF 

BACKSCATTER/ABSORPTION GAS IM

Source: McRae, Tom, GasVue®: A Rapid Leak Location Technology for Large VOC fugitive Emissions (Presentation at the CS

Refining Sector Equipment Leaks Group, Washington, DC, Sep. 9, 1997)
CO2 LASER PERFORMANCE

 Three critical parameters for CO2 laser performance.

 Range - for the technology to visualize a leak, there mu

“backscattering” surface behind the leak.

 Detection Sensitivity - detection sensitivity depends mo

match between the laser wavelength and the wavelengabsorption by the gas of interest.

 detection sensitivity also affected by wind speed, optical r

motion, and viewing angle
LASER WAVELENGTH
CO2 LASER PERFORMANCE

 Three critical parameters for CO2 laser performance.

 Range - for the technology to visualize a leak, there mu

“backscattering” surface behind the leak.

 Detection Sensitivity - detection sensitivity depends mo

match between the laser wavelength and the wavelengabsorption by the gas of interest.

 detection sensitivity also affected by wind speed, optical r

motion, and viewing angle

 Atmospheric Window - an “atmospheric window” is defi

spectrum where there is minimal or no light absorption carbon dioxide, and water vapor that are normally found 

 major atmospheric windows in the infrared region are foun

and 8 to 13 micron wavelength regions
VISUAL VERSUS INFRARED IMAGE

Visual image of Open-ended Drain
VISUAL VERSUS INFRARED IMAGE

Visual image of Open-ended Drain Infrared ima

device of 
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 The field studies demonstrated that the CO

2 laser wa

leaking components while monitoring both traditional components under normal chemical plant operating c
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 The field studies demonstrated that the CO

2 laser wa

leaking components while monitoring both traditional components under normal chemical plant operating c

 At Site A:

 7,187 components were monitored in four days 95 leaking components were found (70 traditional and 25  The mass emission rate from leaking components (as det

ranged from 0.000563 g/hr to 23.2 g/hr.

 Six of the ten bagged leaks detected by the CO2 laser had 

excess of 0.1 g/hr. Four of these six components were ab
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 The field studies demonstrated that the CO

2 laser wa

leaking components while monitoring both traditional components under normal chemical plant operating c

 At Site A:

 7,187 components were monitored in four days 95 leaking components were found (70 traditional and 25  The mass emission rate from leaking components (as det

ranged from 0.000563 g/hr to 23.2 g/hr.

 Six of the ten bagged leaks detected by the CO2 laser had 

excess of 0.1 g/hr. Four of these six components were ab

 At Site B:

 1,178 components were monitored in four days 52 leaking components were found (49 traditional and 3 n The mass emission rate from leaking components (as det

ranged from 0.013 g/hr to 23.4 g/hr.

 18 of the 19 bagged leaks detected by the CO2 laser had 

excess of 0.1 g/hr. 15 of the 18 components were above 
EMISSION RATE OF BAGGED COMP

0.0001

0.0010

0.0100

0.1000

1.0000

Em issions Rate (g/hr)

Site A -notseen Site A -seen Site B -notseen Site B -s

0.0001 0.0010 0.0100 0.1000 1.0000 

Em ission Rate (g/hr)
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 The majority of components (traditional and nontradit

leaking had screening values above 1,000 ppmv.
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 The majority of components (traditional and nontradit

leaking had screening values above 1,000 ppmv.

 At Site A:

 96.7% of detected leaking components had screening val 63.3% of detected leaking components had screening val
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 The majority of components (traditional and nontradit

leaking had screening values above 1,000 ppmv.

 At Site A:

 96.7% of detected leaking components had screening val 63.3% of detected leaking components had screening val

 At Site B:

 83.0% of detected leaking components had screening val 56.0% of detected leaking components had screening val
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 Additional testing of the CO

2 laser is warranted to mo

sensitivity of the instruments to factors such as distanbackground, wind speed, sight lines, angle-of-view, aspecies.
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 Additional testing of the CO

2 laser is warranted to mo

sensitivity of the instruments to factors such as distanbackground, wind speed, sight lines, angle-of-view, aspecies.

 In the field studies, leaks from as close as 4 feet to as f

detected.

 component with the lowest mass rate was detected from a 

feet.

 component with the highest mass rate was detected from 

inch
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 Additional testing of the CO

2 laser is warranted to mo

sensitivity of the instruments to factors such as distanbackground, wind speed, sight lines, angle-of-view, aspecies.

 In the field studies, leaks from as close as 4 feet to as f

detected.

 The CO

2 laser successfully detected leaks against a va

reflective backgrounds found at petrochemical facilities
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 Additional testing of the CO

2 laser is warranted to mo

sensitivity of the instruments to factors such as distanbackground, wind speed, sight lines, angle-of-view, aspecies.

 In the field studies, leaks from as close as 4 feet to as f

detected.

 The CO

2 laser successfully detected leaks against a va

reflective backgrounds found at petrochemical facilities

 Leaking components were detected at eye-level, benea

elevations above normal Method 21 reach.
FIELD STUDY FINDINGS AND CONC

 Additional testing of the CO

2 laser is warranted to mo

sensitivity of the instruments to factors such as distanbackground, wind speed, sight lines, angle-of-view, aspecies.

 In the field studies, leaks from as close as 4 feet to as f

detected.

 The CO

2 laser successfully detected leaks against a va

reflective backgrounds found at petrochemical facilities

 Leaking components were detected at eye-level, benea

elevations above normal Method 21 reach.

 The CO

2 laser successfully detected leaks with wind sp

meters/second to 3.9 meters/second.
NEXT STEPS

 Determine the ability of gas-imaging technology to de

chemicals

propyleneformaldehydeacetaldehydeisopreneall butenes (butylenes)1, 3, butadienetoluene

all pentenesall trimethylbenall xylenesall ethyletolueneall hexenesall butanesall pentanes
NEXT STEPS

 Determine the ability of gas-imaging technology to de

chemicals

 Determine ability of gas-imaging device to estimate fu
NEXT STEPS

 Determine the ability of gas-imaging technology to de

chemicals

 Determine ability of gas-imaging device to estimate fu Develop an EPA protocol for the use of a gas-imaging 

alternative to current leak detection and evaluation m