Robots reduce fugitive emissions
ExRobotics is the leading expert in developing and selling reliable robots and robotic solutions for harsh environments that require IECEx and ATEX Zone 1 certification. At ExRobotics we have formulated a clear mission and vision: to create value for the market for Ex certified robots.
Emissions detection
As environmental concerns gain traction in the oil & gas industry, emissions and leak-detection is an increasingly high-profile robotic application. For example, methane is the main component of natural gas. A cheap, abundant, and versatile source of energy that produces less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels when burned. However, methane itself is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Methane is believed to be responsible for a quarter of all global warming. Methane leaks from wells, pipelines, or processing equipment can substantially increase the greenhouse gas emissions of the natural gas sector, while also wasting resources as the methane escapes into the atmosphere. About 25% of methane emissions come from the oil & gas industry. In the United States, fugitive emissions from the oil and gas industry total an estimated 13 million metric tons per year, amounting to $2 billion in lost revenue. Globally, the value of leaking gas is estimated to be $30 billion. However, a great proportion of these emissions currently goes unreported, meaning that the scale of the problem could be bigger than thought.
The importance of emission detection
A timely emissions test monitors the levels of hazardous substances escaping from machinery or plants. The goal of an emissions test is to help reduce the amount of pollutants that are harmful to your employees and the environment. Prolonged contact with fugitive emissions as for example ammonia, pentane, acetone, propane, and butane can cause respiratory tract irritation, eye irritation, headache, nausea, heart problems and nervous system damage. These factors and the dangerous health hazards make early emission detection so important.
ExRobotics created an emissions detector robot
Robotics are not new to the process industries. For decades, they have been used in dangerous environments such as deep-water oil exploration, subsea inspection, and the hazardous areas of industrial plants. Today, process plants and other industrial facilities need leaner and more efficient operations to compete, and also to cope with aging assets and workforces. More and more asset owners and governments are increasingly concerned about fugitive emissions. About 25% of methane emissions come from the oil & gas industry and the European Commission is working on a first-ever methane strategy that could play a “very significant role” in enabling the EU to increase its climate ambitions for 2030. ExRobotics created an emissions detector robot which will help to implement and pursue these plans.
ExRobotics’ Emission Detector robot
Our robot with high sensitivity gas sensors is designed to locate emissions and contribute to their reduction. Our emissions detector robot is kept permanently on location on its docking station which continuously charges its batteries. It operates with no human intervention. It typically performs daily autonomous missions around pre-planned routes. If any gas is detected at a ppm level, its range of gas detectors send an alarm to the control room. It represents a vital tool in the battle to reduce fugitive emissions of methane, benzene and other gases.
Features:
- Robots connect via 4G/LTE or WiFi to the cloud so that users can readily connect to the robot from any place on the world.
- Multiple high-sensitivity gas detectors to detect the presence of volatile organic compounds, light hydrocarbon and/or toxic gases.
- Different camera modules available with normal and thermograph camara (FLIR Boson) or IR camera (FLIR G300A).
- Integrated light module for night-time operations.
- Microphone to detect and record sounds.
- Robot autonomously undocks and follows an autonomous a predefine route around the plant and autonomous will re-docking for charging the batteries.
- Battery life offers 5 hours mission time.
- IECEx & ATEX Zone 1 certified for potentially explosive hydrocarbon gas atmospheres (II 2G Ex db eb ib mb qb IIB T4 Gb) and ambient temperatures from -40°C to +55°C.
This robotics solution is a vital tool for asset owners in the battle to reduce fugitive emissions of methane, H2S, benzene and other gases.
Would you also like to contribute towards solving the worldwide emissions problem? Want more information about detecting and reducing fugitive emissions? Or, about our emissions detector robot? We are happy to provide you with the information. When you’re looking for an out-of-the box, cost-efficient solution: contact ExRobotics!
