US 12,111,335 B2
Measurement of gas flow rate
Murray Keith Reed, Bristol (GB); and Xiao Ai, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to QLM Technology Limited, (GB)
Filed by QLM Technology Limited, Bristol (GB)
Filed on Apr. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/296,096.
Claims priority of application No. 2205038 (GB), filed on Apr. 6, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0324430 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. G01P 5/26 (2006.01); G01M 3/18 (2006.01); G01P 5/02 (2006.01); G01S 7/48 (2006.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01)
CPC G01P 5/26 (2013.01) [G01M 3/186 (2013.01); G01P 5/02 (2013.01); G01S 7/4808 (2013.01); G01S 17/89 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of detecting and measuring a gas flow, the method comprising:
receiving gas detection data from a field of view of a lidar sensor;
receiving distance information relating to solid structures in the field of view;
using the distance information to obtain 3D structure information relating to the solid structures;
determining a location of the detected gas;
receiving prevailing wind data for the location of the detected gas;
determining local wind data for the location of the detected gas based on the prevailing wind data and the distance information;
determining the rate of flow of the gas using the lidar gas detection data and the local wind data; and
determining gas concentration pathlengths for points in the field of view based on the gas detection data and the distance information,
wherein determining a location of the detected gas comprises determining a location of a source of the detected gas, and wherein the location of the source of the detected gas is determined from the gas concentration pathlengths, and
wherein determining the location of the source of the detected gas comprises identifying an area of the field of view in which a gas concentration pathlength exceeds a threshold, and wherein determining the location of the source of the detected gas comprises determining the location of the source of the detected gas from the sensor location and determining the lidar range from the sensor to the area.