Engineered for Extremes: How Qube’s Continuous Monitoring Devices Thrive in the Harshest Conditions
Author: Ben Montgomery, Waseem Alkhayer
Extreme weather and industrial environments push emissions monitoring systems to their limits. Heat fries electronics. Cold slows sensor response times. Dust clogs components. Humidity skews readings. When monitoring fails, compliance, safety, and operational efficiency are at risk.
At Qube, we don’t just build sensors to survive harsh conditions—we engineer them to thrive. From the scorching deserts of the Middle East to the frozen oilfields of Canada, Qube’s continuous emissions monitoring technology delivers real-time, reliable data—no matter the challenge.
Qube’s devices have been tested across the world and in some of the most demanding environments, including heat, cold, humidity, and airborne dust.
Beating Humidity in North Carolina
North Carolina’s humidity often hovers near 100% RH, a nightmare for most sensors. Prolonged moisture exposure can degrade components, distort measurements, and drive up maintenance costs.
How Qube Stands Up to the Challenge:
Our sensors have been rigorously tested in extreme humidity conditions to ensure continuous, uninterrupted operation.
Unlike traditional systems that degrade over time, Qube’s advanced materials and protective coatings prevent moisture-related failures.
Importantly, methane measurements remained stable and accurate, even in near-saturation humidity levels.
Field Proof: Qube’s dashboard recorded continuous methane monitoring at a biogas lagoon despite near 100% RH (Fig. 1)
Figure 1. Qube’s dashboard demonstrating consistent methane monitoring at a biogas lagoon with near 100% RH.
Beating the Heat in the Middle East
Oman and Saudi Arabia are among the hottest places on Earth, with temperatures soaring above 50°C (122°F). Many emissions monitoring systems overheat or require cooling mechanisms.
How Qube Stands Up to the Challenge:
Designed with high-temperature-resistant components, our devices operate without performance loss in extreme heat.
Advanced thermal management ensures consistent data accuracy, eliminating the risk of overheating-induced failures.
Field Proof: Real-time emissions monitoring and plume modeling remained accurate above 50°C (Fig. 2)
Figure 2. Qube’s dashboard demonstrates emissions monitoring sensors deliver consistent and accurate emissions monitoring, including plume modeling, in extreme heat (>50°C / 122°F).
Cold-Tested, Field-Proven: Surviving Canadian Winters
On the other end of the spectrum, Qube’s devices are deployed in Northern Alberta and British Columbia, where temperatures plunge below -30°C (-22°F). Cold temperatures can cause battery failures, slow sensor response times, and damage internal components.
How Qube Stands Up to the Challenge:
Our devices use cold-resistant materials and low-temperature electronics to prevent freezing-related failures.
Proprietary firmware adaptations allow sensors to maintain high accuracy, even in subzero conditions.
Field Proof: Stable continuous emissions monitoring—even in the middle of a Canadian winter (Fig 3.).
Figure 3. Qube dashboard displaying consistent CH₄ measurements at close to -40°C / -40°F in Northern Alberta.
Fighting Dust in West Texas: Built for the Harshest Oilfields
West Texas is a proving ground for emissions monitoring, with its ultra-fine dust particles infiltrating and clogging equipment. Many sensors degrade quickly in this environment, leading to unreliable data and frequent maintenance.
Qube’s engineers refused to accept dust as an unavoidable problem. Instead, they took an innovative approach.
How Qube Stands Up to the Challenge:
Our team 3D-printed and tested multiple custom filter prototypes to create an optimal design (Fig. 4).
We even built a Texas dust chamber—filled with real West Texas dust—to rigorously test and refine our sensor protection (Fig. 4).
Field Proof: Qube’s real-world testing chamber replicated extreme West Texas conditions, establishing an emissions monitoring system that remains uncompromised, accurate, and reliable—even in the dustiest conditions.
Figure 4. Qube’s innovative testing to withstand fine, particulates especially in West Texas operations. Top panels, a custom built dust chamber used for testing filter prototypes. Bottom panel, the evolution of filter design to continue operating efficiently with continuous dust exposure.
Why It Matters: Reliable Data Reduces Risk
When emissions data is unreliable, companies can face costly downtime with their emissions monitoring systems. In addition, the operational risks of losing monitoring could lead to regulatory penalties and equipment suboptimization. Qube’s rugged, field-proven technology ensures that extreme environments never compromise your emissions monitoring.
Withstand the heat, cold, humidity, and dust—without missing a single data point.
For more insights into how Qube Technologies is driving emissions reduction in any environment, explore our other resources and case studies or reach out directly.