16
In Situ
Optical Monitor for Waste Tank Gases—Vista
Photonics, Inc., 67 Condesa Road, Santa Fe, NM
87508-8136; 505-466-3953
Dr.
Jeffrey S. Pilgrim, Principal Investigator, jpilgrim@vistaphotonics.com
Dr.
Jeffrey S. Pilgrim, Business Official, jpilgrim@vistaphotonics.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-05ER84307
Amount:
$750,000
Department
of Energy waste storage tanks require continuous monitoring of species in solid,
liquid and gaseous phases. Gas phase
species of interest include ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. This
project will develop in situ optical sensors that selectively and
sensitively detect ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and oxygen in the
waste tank headspace. The sensors
will take advantage of a rugged, compact, optical absorption method and
inexpensive near-infrared lasers. In
Phase I, an optical spectrometer for the detection of ammonia, methane, carbon
dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen was constructed, based on a single common sample
cell. The sensitivity of the
spectrometer for each species was quantified. In
Phase II, fully-integrated sensor prototypes, based on laser-diode photoacoustic
spectroscopy, will be constructed for waste tank headspace analysis, and
standard operating protocols for the sensors will be established.
The prototypes will be refined through beta-testing in several field
applications, which are also Phase III commercialization opportunities.
Commercial
Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee:
The new
spectrometer, which would offer high-performance in a rugged compact package,
could be manufactured inexpensively relative to existing devices of comparable
performance. The instrument would
offer a compelling blend of price, performance, and physical advantages in a
variety of gas detection applications. Applications
include atmospheric monitoring, environmental regulatory compliance, process gas
analysis, and biomedical breath diagnostics.