STTR Phase II: SMART Colorimetric Sensor for Airborne Methane Detection

STTR 第二阶段：用于空气甲烷检测的智能比色传感器

• 批准号: 1660263
• 负责人: Benson Fan
• 金额: $ 75万
• 依托单位: Calyx, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-04-01 至 2021-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1660263&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; II; SMART; Colorimetric

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project aims to develop a sensor with the ability to provide an accurate, small, cost-effective, and low-power device for the detection and quantification of natural gas. The current U.S. industrial natural gas leak detector market is estimated to be $325 million, while the residential natural gas detector market exceeds $2 billion, both of which indicate the strong market potential of this technology. Phage-based colorimetric sensing is a new sensing mechanism, and has the potential to replace and improve detection across many applications. This project, if successful, will have a number of broader impacts. Firstly, 670 billion cubic feet (cf) of methane is leaked annually in the U.S. natural gas industry. Better monitoring and recapturing of the lost gas will result in less reliance on imported gas (3 trillion cf in 2015), thus stimulating economic growth and reducing waste. Additionally, a new type of sensor that provides accurate, compact, inexpensive, and power-efficient natural gas monitoring with wireless communication capabilities will enable large scale natural gas emission monitoring studies, providing a tool for scientists and regulators. Finally, a reduction of methane emissions will help combat climate change, as methane is a powerful greenhouse gas.During the Phase I project, we have successfully fabricated colorimetric thin-film sensors, developed a data analysis algorithm, and shown our sensors are both consistent and selective against individual components of natural gas at industrially-suitable sensitivity. In Phase II, we will further improve the production and performance of the phage sensors. There are six objectives in this Phase II project. The first is to do sensor calibration using precise gas calibration instrumentation to improve sensor accuracy. Secondly, the sensors will undergo environmental stress testing to evaluate longevity. Third, a scale-up feasibility study will be undertaken to determine and optimize sensor cost. The fourth task involves the development of improved and more inexpensive sensor designs, while the fifth task will optimize the production process of the new sensor. The sixth objective involves a more comprehensive characterization of the sensor. It is anticipated that by the end of Phase II, we will have a precisely- calibrated gas sensor with data recognition algorithms, and an established and scalable manufacturing model, resulting in an improved colorimetric sensor development kit for natural gas that better meets customer needs in the field.

该小型企业技术转让（STTR）第二阶段项目旨在开发一种传感器，该传感器能够为天然气的检测和量化提供准确，小型，具有成本效益和低功耗的设备。目前美国工业天然气泄漏探测器市场估计为3.25亿美元，而住宅天然气探测器市场超过20亿美元，这两者都表明了这项技术的强大市场潜力。基于噬菌体的比色传感是一种新的传感机制，并且具有在许多应用中取代和改进检测的潜力。这个项目如果成功，将产生一些更广泛的影响。 首先，在美国天然气工业中，每年泄漏6700亿立方英尺（cf）的甲烷。更好地监测和回收损失的天然气将减少对进口天然气的依赖（2015年为3万亿立方英尺），从而刺激经济增长并减少浪费。 此外，一种新型的传感器，提供准确，紧凑，廉价和节能的天然气监测与无线通信功能，将使大规模的天然气排放监测研究，为科学家和监管机构提供一个工具。 最后，减少甲烷排放将有助于应对气候变化，因为甲烷是一种强大的温室气体。在第一阶段项目中，我们成功制造了比色薄膜传感器，开发了数据分析算法，并证明我们的传感器对天然气的单个成分具有一致性和选择性，具有工业适用的灵敏度。在第二阶段，我们将进一步提高噬菌体传感器的生产和性能。第二阶段项目有六个目标。首先是使用精确的气体校准仪器进行传感器校准，以提高传感器的准确度。其次，传感器将接受环境压力测试，以评估寿命。第三，将进行扩大规模的可行性研究，以确定和优化传感器成本。第四项任务涉及改进和更便宜的传感器设计的开发，而第五项任务将优化新传感器的生产过程。第六个目标涉及传感器的更全面表征。 预计到第二阶段结束时，我们将拥有一个具有数据识别算法的精确校准的气体传感器，以及一个成熟的可扩展的制造模型，从而改进天然气比色传感器开发套件，更好地满足客户在该领域的需求。