Functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube based sensors for distributed methane leak detection

This paper presents a highly sensitive, energy efficient and low-cost distributed methane (CH₄) sensor system (DMSS) for continuous monitoring, detection and localization of CH₄ leaks in natural gas infrastructure such as transmission and distribution pipelines, wells, and production pads. The CH₄ sensing element, a key component of the DMSS, consists of a metal oxide functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) mesh which, in comparison to existing literature, shows stronger relative resistance change while interacting with lower ppm concentration of CH₄. For the DMSS a Gaussian plume triangulation algorithm has been developed, which, given a geometric model of the surrounding environment, can precisely detect and localize a CH₄ leak as well as estimate its mass flow rate.