Unmanned aerial systems for trace gases

Zondlo, M. A.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-815014-6.00007-5

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…While effective for large sources, challenges such as flight altitude restrictions, cost, and the requirement for fast sensors can limit applicability and repeat measurements. More recently, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been used for small-scale mass balance (Gålfalk et al, 2021;Golston et al, 2018;Reuter et al, 2021;Zondlo, 2021), although not many sensors meet the precision as well as size, weight, and power requirements to deploy in this fashion.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ground-to-UAV, laser-based, multi-species emissions quantification at long standoff distances

Cossel

Waxman

Hoenig

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Determination of trace gas emissions from sources is critical for understanding and regulating air quality and climate change. Here, we demonstrate a method for rapid quantification of the emission rate of multiple gases from simple and complex sources using a mass-balance approach with a spatially scannable open-path sensor – in this case, an open-path dual-comb spectrometer. The open-path spectrometer measures the total column density of gases between the spectrometer and a retroreflector mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). By measuring slant columns at multiple UAV altitudes downwind of a source (or sink), the total emission rate can be rapidly determined without the need for an atmospheric dispersion model. Here, we demonstrate this technique using controlled releases of CH4 and C2H2. We show an emission rate determination to within 50 % of the known flux with a single 10-minute flight and within 10 % of the known flux after 10 flights. Furthermore, we estimate a detection limit for CH4 emissions to be 0.03 g CH4/s. This detection limit is approximately the same as the emissions from 25 head of beef cattle and is less than the average emissions from a small oil field pneumatic controller. Other gases including CO2, NH3, HDO, ethane, formaldehyde (HCHO), CO, and N2O can be measured by simply changing the dual-comb spectrometer.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ground-to-UAV, laser-based, multi-species emissions quantification at long standoff distances

Cossel

Waxman

Hoenig

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Ground-to-UAV, laser-based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances

Cossel,

Waxman,

Hoenig

et al. 2023

Atmos. Meas. Tech.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Determination of trace gas emissions from sources is critical for understanding and regulating air quality and climate change. Here, we demonstrate a method for rapid quantification of the emission rate of multiple gases from simple and complex sources using a mass balance approach with a spatially scannable open-path sensor – in this case, an open-path dual-comb spectrometer. The open-path spectrometer measures the total column density of gases between the spectrometer and a retroreflector mounted on an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV). By measuring slant columns at multiple UAV altitudes downwind of a source (or sink), the total emission rate can be rapidly determined without the need for an atmospheric dispersion model. Here, we demonstrate this technique using controlled releases of CH4 and C2H2. We show an emission rate determination to within 56 % of the known flux with a single 10 min flight and within 15 % of the known flux after 12 flights. Furthermore, we estimate the detection limit for CH4 emissions to be 0.03 g CH4 s−1. This detection limit is approximately the same as the emissions from 25 head of beef cattle and is less than the average emissions from a small oil field pneumatic controller. Other gases including CO2, NH3, HDO, ethane, formaldehyde (HCHO), CO, and N2O can be measured by simply changing the dual-comb spectrometer.

show abstract

Unmanned aerial systems for trace gases

Cited by 2 publications

References 41 publications

Ground-to-UAV, laser-based, multi-species emissions quantification at long standoff distances

Ground-to-UAV, laser-based, multi-species emissions quantification at long standoff distances

Ground-to-UAV, laser-based emissions quantification of methane and acetylene at long standoff distances

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About