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Updated: May 12, 2026
09:34
Implementation of Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) for the Real-driving Emissions (RDE) Regulation in Europe
Published on: December 4, 2016
Performance Evaluation of Fixed-Point Continuous Monitoring Systems: Influence of Averaging Time in Complex Emission
David Ball1, Nathan Eichenlaub1, Ali Lashgari1
1Project Canary, Denver, CO 80202, USA.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 14, 2025
Summary
Advanced continuous monitoring systems (CMSs) accurately quantify methane emissions, even with complex, overlapping sources. Aggregating data over time significantly improves estimates, showing CMSs
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Engineering
Background:
- Quantifying methane emissions from industrial facilities is challenging due to complex, dynamic, and overlapping emission events.
- Existing studies often use simplified testing setups with constant emission rates, not reflecting real-world scenarios.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the performance of continuous monitoring systems (CMSs) in complex emission scenarios with time-varying baselines and overlapping sources.
- To evaluate error metrics and the impact of averaging times on emission quantification accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a novel single-blind controlled release study with undisclosed methane release sources and rates.
- Defined and evaluated several error metrics across various averaging times for CMS performance analysis.
Main Results:
- Short-duration emission estimates showed significant error variance.
- Low bias in CMS performance led to substantially improved emission estimates when aggregated over longer timescales.
- Over 4 weeks, 700 kg of methane was released; the CMS estimated 673 kg (4% underestimation).
Conclusions:
- Advanced CMSs can accurately quantify cumulative site-level methane emissions in complex, dynamic scenarios.
- These findings highlight the potential of CMSs for enhanced emissions monitoring and regulatory applications in the oil and gas sector.
Keywords:
continuous monitoring systemsemissions quantificationfixed-point sensorsleak detection and repairmethane emissionssite-level emissionssource-level emissionsMore Related Videos
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