You are here

Large Area Leak Sensor for Sequestered Carbon Dioxide

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: DE-FG02-08ER85220
Agency Tracking Number: N/A
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: 04 b
Solicitation Number: DE-PS02-07ER07-36
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
67 Condesa Road
Santa Fe, NM 87508
United States
DUNS: 134161533
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Jeffrey Pilgrim
 Dr.
 (505) 466-3830
 jpilgrim@vistaphotonics.com
Business Contact
 Jeffrey Pilgrim
Title: Dr.
Phone: (505) 466-3830
Email: jpilgrim@vistaphotonics.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

In the future, coal fired power plants will require carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CCS). Without CCS, the emitted carbon dioxide could lead to irreversible climate change. It is critical to insure that sequestered carbon dioxide remain trapped. High-performance sensors are required to detect any leaks at their earliest stages. This project will develop an area-wide carbon dioxide leak detector. A simple, rugged, long-path optical spectrometer will be used to provide the required measurement precision for CO2 leak detection in the presence of the atmospheric background. Smart detection algorithms that take temporal and spatial variability into account will be used to isolate a wide range of leak mechanisms. A bread-boarded, fieldable, laser diode optical spectrometer will be constructed for Phase I proof-of-principle. The sensitivity and selectivity of the instrument for carbon dioxide will be determined over a range of temporal and spatial scales in the field. The requirements for calibration and measurement procedures also will be determined. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The spectrometer should meet a low price point, which would encourage widespread deployment in a variety of gas detection applications. Examples include atmospheric monitoring, environmental regulatory compliance, process gas analysis, and biomedical breath diagnostics.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government