PFI:AIR - TT: Prototype mid-infrared, methane sensor for natural gas leak detection on small unmanned aerial systems

PFI:AIR - TT：用于小型无人机系统天然气泄漏检测的原型中红外甲烷传感器

• 批准号: 1445031
• 负责人: Mark Zondlo
• 金额: $ 19.31万
• 依托单位: Princeton University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-15 至 2017-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1445031&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: PFI; AIR; TT; Prototype; mid

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating new advances in laser-based, trace gas detection to identify methane leaks in the natural gas supply chain by using small unmanned aerial systems. The laser-based methane sensor for small unmanned aerial systems is important because it will result in increased safety by preventing explosions, improve the environment through reduced emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and increase profits in the gas/oil sector through more product reaching their customers. The project will result in a prototype methane sensor for small unmanned aerial vehicles, which are rapidly increasing in their use and applications. No existing commercial methane sensors are sufficiently small, lightweight, and sensitive to be deployed on small unmanned aerial systems (those with wing spans of about a meter) for natural gas leak detection. The laser-based methane sensor has the following unique features: low mass (1 kg), small volume (1 L volume), fast response (10 measurements per second) and high-precision (2 parts per billion methane). These features will allow for efficient natural gas leak detection through decreased operating costs, increased safety of operation in populated areas, and more accurate leak identification when compared to the current method of visual, manned-aircraft patrols.This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. The project synthesizes two rapidly developing technologies, mid-infrared laser spectroscopy and small unmanned aerial systems, and capitalizes upon their desirable attributes of high sensitivity detection and high-dexterity sampling, respectively. A newly-developed, interband cascade laser (ICL) operating at a wavelength of 3.3 microns will be used to probe the strongest (fundamental) absorption band of methane to achieve the necessary sensitivity. The ICL will be coupled into an optical cavity and integrated onto a small unmanned aerial system. The sensor will be exposed directly to the free airstream and not require any sample cells, inlets, or manifolds, thereby reducing size and mass. Sensor accuracy, particularly critical during the wide range of atmospheric conditions and vibrations experienced in-flight, will be maintained through the use of an in-line reference cell with multiharmonic wavelength modulation spectroscopy. Sensor flight performance will be verified with controlled releases of methane, and flight demonstrations over pipelines will be conducted. In addition, key personnel involved in this project, a graduate student, will receive entrepreneurial experiences and see how laboratory discoveries are translated into commercial products through working with operators in the drone and gas/oil industries.The project engages a leading small unmanned aerial systems service provider to test and demonstrate the new sensors to its clients in the gas/oil industry at FAA-approved locations and operations. The technology will improve pipeline monitoring in specific and other trace gas detection in general in this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.

该PFI：AIR技术转换项目的重点是转换基于激光的痕量气体检测的新进展，以通过使用小型无人机系统来识别天然气供应链中的甲烷泄漏。用于小型无人机系统的基于激光的甲烷传感器非常重要，因为它将通过防止爆炸来提高安全性，通过减少温室气体向大气的排放来改善环境，并通过向客户提供更多产品来增加天然气/石油部门的利润。该项目将为小型无人驾驶飞行器制作一个原型甲烷传感器，小型无人驾驶飞行器的使用和应用正在迅速增加。现有的商业甲烷传感器都没有足够的小，重量轻，灵敏度可以部署在小型无人机系统（翼展约一米）上，用于天然气泄漏检测。基于激光的甲烷传感器具有以下独特功能：质量轻（1 kg），体积小（1 L体积），响应速度快（每秒10次测量）和精度高（十亿分之二甲烷）。这些功能将通过降低运营成本，提高在人口密集地区的运营安全性，以及与目前的目视、有人驾驶飞机巡逻方法相比更准确的泄漏识别，实现高效的天然气泄漏检测。该项目解决了从研究发现到商业应用的以下技术差距。该项目综合了两项迅速发展的技术，即中红外激光光谱学和小型无人驾驶航空系统，并分别利用其高灵敏度探测和高灵活性采样的可取属性。一个新开发的，带间级联激光器（ICL）工作在3.3微米的波长将被用来探测甲烷的最强（基本）吸收带，以实现必要的灵敏度。ICL将被耦合到一个光学腔中，并集成到一个小型无人驾驶航空系统中。传感器将直接暴露于自由气流，不需要任何样品池、入口或歧管，从而减小尺寸和质量。传感器的准确性，特别是在大范围的大气条件和飞行中经历的振动，将保持通过使用一个多谐波波长调制光谱在线参考电池。传感器的飞行性能将通过甲烷的受控释放进行验证，并将在管道上进行飞行演示。此外，参与该项目的关键人员，一名研究生，将获得创业经验，并了解如何通过与无人机和天然气/石油行业的运营商合作，将实验室发现转化为商业产品。该项目聘请了一家领先的小型无人机系统服务提供商，在FAA批准的地点和操作中向其天然气/石油行业的客户测试和演示新传感器。该技术将改善管道监测的具体和其他微量气体检测一般在这一技术转化的努力，从研究发现到商业现实。