CO2 and CH4 emission meter in hydroelectric plants on aquatic surface

Abstract

The recent intensification of human activities has led to a significant increase in the emission of certain gases, called greenhouse gases (GHG), such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄). The Earth’s climate changes together through United Nations Organizations (ONU) to create strategies to reduce the impacts of gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. Of all the GHG generation activities, the energy sector is the one that most contributes to global warming, the reservoirs of hydroelectric plants are potential emitters of greenhouse gases. Considering the importance of developing new policies to slow global warming, the proposer work will help to compare the studies carried out on automated gas emission measurement tool, which allows the identification of an estimated amount of pollution in reservoirs that a hydroelectric plant is capable of to produce and emit to the atmosphere. Currently, this measurement is performed using stationary sensors manually positioned whit the aid of boats. The robotic model allows data collection through gas sensors and moves around the water surface by means of engines and guided by GPS. The prototype was applying to a reservoir at the Mourão Hydroelectric Plant in the city of Campo Mourão, Paraná, Brazil, for accurate and reliable data, it was necessary to consider parameter that influence gas measurements, such as humidity, temperature, and climate. The data collected may contribute to future studies for the development of methods for recovering water conditions, through preservation actions.