Backpack-based methane/ethane analyzer and sampler system for civil and environmental engineering and earth sciences

甲烷是一种强有力的温室气体（GHG），在100年的时间范围内，其全球变暖潜力是二氧化碳的34倍。因此，减少甲烷排放量是加拿大的一个重中之重。甲烷有许多生物源和热源，这些来源可以使用地球化学证据进行区分，特别是乙烷。来源归属对于准确的温室气体排放清单和制定有效的温室气体缓解战略至关重要。我们需要一种高度便携的基于背包的甲烷和乙烷浓度分析仪和采样系统，以支持调查石油和天然气系统以及城市和自然环境甲烷排放的几个研究项目。 所要求的分析仪系统提供高精度乙烷浓度分析（1 ppb）和精细的空间和时间尺度测量，这可以促进对甲烷排放分布和来源的新见解。该仪器的测量频率为1 Hz，便携性强，配备多个电池组，可连续使用20-40小时，因此可以直接在现场（包括偏远地区）分析许多样品。 所要求的移动的甲烷/乙烷系统对于申请人的NSERC资助的和其他关于甲烷排放的研究项目来说是迫切需要的：（1）石油和天然气系统，加拿大和许多其他石油和天然气生产国最大的甲烷人为排放源;（2）城市环境（垃圾填埋场、废水处理、下水道、运输），因为城市是世界上最大的温室气体排放源;和（3）融化永久冻土景观（湖泊和湿地），这代表了加拿大40-50%的土地。对于所有三个主题，乙烷为了解甲烷排放源提供了关键信息。 使用所要求的系统的结果将扩大关于甲烷排放量量化和减缓的科学和工程知识，并有助于加拿大在这一及时的研究领域发挥领导作用。此外，研究活动提供了对环境影响的重要理解，并为制定新的缓解解决方案奠定了基础。因此，研究结果对加拿大和其他地方的市、省和联邦各级的工业、研究人员和政策制定者至关重要。 所要求的分析仪系统将为高素质人员（HQP）提供一个独特的培训环境，以从事尖端的国际和跨学科研究，涵盖工程，地球科学和物理学。在甲烷排放监测、量化和缓解方面接受过培训的HQP受到政府机构和私营部门的高度评价。 所有五个PI都在开发项目，拥有广泛而多样化的研究合作者网络，遍布麦吉尔大学、多伦多大学、蒙特利尔大学、加拿大各地和国际上，因此，该系统的需求量将保持很高。

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with a global warming potential 34 times larger than carbon dioxide over a 100-year time horizon. Thus, mitigating methane emissions is a top priority for Canada. There are many biogenic and thermogenic sources of methane and these sources can be differentiated using geochemical evidence, in particular, ethane. Source attribution is critical for accurate GHG emissions inventories and developing effective GHG mitigation strategies. We are requesting a highly portable backpack-based analyzer and sampling system for methane and ethane concentrations to support several research programs that investigate methane emissions from oil and gas systems and urban and natural environments. The requested analyzer system provides high precision ethane concentration analysis (1 ppb) and fine spatial and temporal scale measurements, which can facilitate new insights on methane emissions distribution and origin. With a measurement frequency of 1 Hz, high portability, and multiple battery packs allowing for 20-40-hour use, the requested instrument can analyze many samples directly in the field, including in remote locations. The requested mobile methane/ethane system is urgently needed for the applicants' NSERC-funded and other research projects on methane emissions from: (1)Oil and gas systems, the largest anthropogenic emitter of methane in Canada and many other oil-and-gas-producing countries; (2)Urban environments (landfills, wastewater treatment, sewers, transportation), as cities are the largest source of GHG emissions in the world; and (3)Thawing permafrost landscapes (lakes and wetlands), which represent 40-50% of land in Canada. For all three themes, ethane provides critical information for understanding the source of the emitted methane. The results from the use of the requested system will expand science and engineering knowledge on methane emissions quantification and mitigation and contribute to Canadian leadership in this timely research area. Furthermore, the research activities provide critical understanding of environmental impacts and basis for development of new mitigation solutions. Therefore, the results are essential for industry, researchers, and policymakers at municipal, provincial, and federal levels in Canada and elsewhere. The requested analyzer system will provide a unique training environment for highly qualified personnel (HQP) to work on cutting-edge international and interdisciplinary research, spanning engineering, earth sciences, and physics. The HQP trained in methane emissions monitoring, quantification, and mitigation are highly valued by government agencies and the private sector. All five PIs are developing projects with a broad and diverse network of research collaborators throughout McGill, University of Toronto, University of Montreal, across Canada and internationally, and thus, the system will remain high in demand.