HoverGuard™ will transform safety and environmental measurement
capabilities for operators of millions of kilometers of pipelines
traversing the globe.
QUEBEC, April 1, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Pipelines often
cross inaccessible terrain to supply industrial and domestic gas.
Operators of these networks must ensure the safety, integrity and
reliability of their pipelines but accurate detection of odorless
and invisible gas leaks can be challenging and expensive. ABB's
latest addition to its ABB Ability™ Mobile Gas Leak Detection
System, HoverGuard™, provides the solution by finding leaks faster
and more reliably than ever before.
HoverGuard detects, quantifies and maps leaks up to 100 meters
from natural gas distribution and transmission pipelines, gathering
lines, storage facilities, and other potential sources quickly,
safely and reliably. It automatically generates comprehensive
digital reports that summarize results and can be shared in minutes
after a survey.
The cloud-connected, multi-gas solution is also the first
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based system to quantify the three
most important greenhouse gases methane, carbon dioxide and water
vapor continuously while flying. Each greenhouse gas affects the
environment differently and is present in the air in different
amounts. The extremely fast response and high precision of the
analyzer allows scientists and researchers to reliably quantify
greenhouse gas fluxes which provides important information when
studying the complex environmental processes affecting climate and
pollution.
Patented cavity enhanced laser absorption spectroscopy detects
methane with a sensitivity more than 1,000 times higher and over 10
times faster than conventional leak detection tools. This
sensitivity and speed allow HoverGuard to detect leaks while flying
at altitudes of 40 meters, or higher, and at speeds greater than 88
km/h. It can cover 10-15 times more land area per minute by
operating on low-cost commercial UAV capable of carrying a payload
of 3 kg.
"HoverGuard represents an important step-change in gas leak
detection and for the environment." said Doug Baer, Ph.D., ABB Global Product Line
Manager of Laser Analyzers. "Previously inspectors had to rely on
slow, qualitative, analog sensors or expensive delicate cameras to
find leaks. Our groundbreaking solution effectively probes
locations otherwise inaccessible by either walking or driving. It
will increase safety across the pipeline network whether in remote
or urban environments, by detecting and mapping natural gas leaks
around hard-to-reach sites such as bridges, areas with right-of-way
restrictions or vegetation coverage, gas storage assets and
pipelines."
HoverGuard complements ABB's existing gas leak detection
offering with the vehicle-based MobileGuard™, hand-held MicroGuard™
and stationary EverGuard™ (to be launched later in 2021). They are
all designed to operate independently. Combining them provides the
most comprehensive platform to detect, map and quantify leaks with
unprecedented speed, reliability and accuracy throughout the entire
natural gas infrastructure, including upstream, midstream,
downstream, and gas utilities.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology
company that energizes the transformation of society and industry
to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting
software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion
portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive
performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching
back more than 130 years, ABB's success is driven by about 105,000
talented employees in over 100 countries.
www.abb.com
SOURCE ABB inc.