Advanced Personal Gas Detectors for Mining Applications

描述（由申请人提供）：摘要由于存在可燃气体，地下矿井中的爆炸危险是严重的。拟议项目的总体长期目标是开发和商业化新一代负担得起、可靠和便携式的“智能卡”形式的危险气体探测器，用作个人安全工具。开发这种易于使用和佩戴的用于检测可燃气体（例如甲烷）的个人监测器将对工人的健康和安全有很大的益处。第一阶段项目的具体目标是开发这种监测器的关键元件，即低功耗，高性能可靠的气体微传感器，用于检测采矿环境中的可燃气体。目前市场上可用的可燃气体传感器通常涉及催化珠（pellistor），或者在永久安装的情况下，还涉及红外（IR）传感器技术。由于体积和成本（IR）或高功耗（催化珠），这些不适合个人监测。此外，需要改进现有可燃气体传感器的稳定性和可靠性，以便实现故障安全操作。Synkera提出了一种基于新型微传感器平台技术的新型改进型催化可燃气体微传感器的开发，将具有高表面积的精密工程纳米结构传感元件集成到坚固的单片陶瓷平台中。为了实现项目目标，在第一阶段，Synkera将（1）选择微传感器设计，以实现“智能卡”格式所需的低功耗;（2）生产具有各种纳米级形态的传感器基底;（2）开发催化剂配方;（3）评估和了解基底形态、催化剂配方和操作模式对传感器性能和稳定性的影响;以及（5）生产原型低功率传感器，并展示它们在实现便携式气体监测器所需性能方面的潜力。所提出的可燃气体微传感器将具有高灵敏度和选择性、低功耗、化学和机械稳定性以及快速响应等优点。第一阶段计划将为发展价格廉宜、方便使用、超便携及坚固耐用的个人气体监测器奠定基础。采矿业是最具挑战性的职业部门之一，涉及不利的工人条件，包括危险和可燃气体的存在。目前的气体监测是通过固定系统和便携式仪器完成的;然而，目前便携式仪器的尺寸和成本一直是所有采矿员工使用它们的障碍。拟议的传感器将支持一种新型的显着改进和廉价的便携式可燃气体监测器供个人使用，从而使一种新的方法来减轻这种职业的内在危险。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Abstract The risk of explosions in underground mines due to the presence of combustible gases is severe. The overall long-term objective of the proposed project is to develop and commercialize a new generation of affordable, reliable and portable hazardous gas detector in a "smart card" format for use as a personal safety tool. The development of such an easy to use and wear personal monitor for the detection of combustible gases (e.g. methane) would be a substantial benefit to worker health and safety. Specific goal of the Phase I project is to develop a critical element of such monitor, namely low power, high performance reliable gas microsensor for detection of combustible gases in mining environments. Combustible gas sensors available on the market today typically involve catalytic beads (pellistors), or in the case of permanent installations, also infrared (IR) sensor technology. These are not suitable for personal monitoring due either bulk and cost (IR) or high power consumption (catalytic bead). Additionally, the stability and reliability of existing combustible gas sensors need to be improved in order to enable fail-safe operation. Synkera proposes the development of a new and improved catalytic combustible gas microsensors based on a new microsensor platform technology, integrating precision-engineered nanostructured sensing elements with high surface area into a robust monolithic ceramic platform. In order to achieve the project objectives, in Phase I Synkera will (1) select microsensor design to achieve low power required by "smart card" format; (2) produce sensor substrates with varied nanoscale morphology; (2) develop catalyst formulations; (3) evaluate and develop an understanding of the effect of substrate morphology, catalyst formulation and operating mode on the sensor performance and stability; and (5) produce prototype low power sensors and demonstrate their potential in achieving performance required for portable gas monitors. The proposed combustible gas microsensors will have strong benefits in high sensitivity and selectivity, low power consumption, chemical and mechanical stability, and fast response. This Phase I project will lay the foundation for the development of inexpensive, user friendly, ultra- portable and robust personal gas monitors. The mining industry is one of the more challenging occupational sectors that involve adverse workers conditions, including the presence of hazardous and combustible gases. Current gas monitoring is accomplished via both fixed systems and portable instruments; however, the size and cost of current portable instruments has been a barrier to their use by all mining employees. Proposed sensor will support a new type of dramatically improved and inexpensive portable combustible gas monitors for individual use, thus enabling a new approach to alleviating intrinsic hazards of this occupation.