Autonomous Electromechanical Gas Detection Microsystem for Mine Safety

说明(申请人提供)：尽管安全状况不断改善，法规不断加强，但地下矿山仍然是一个非常危险的工作环境，这从最近在Sago(2006年)、Darby(2006年)和Crandall Canyon(2007年)矿山发生的灾难中可见一斑。根据矿山安全技术和培训委员会的建议，需要新的、具有成本效益的技术来加强矿山内的监测。我们建议开发关键的传感器、仪器和数据分析技术，将这些技术集成在一起，形成一个微型智能电化学气体分析系统(IEGAS)，以满足矿山安全应用的需求和挑战。不同技术领域的重大创新将协同结合以下具体目标：1)开发和表征用于多种矿井气体检测和定量的微型电化学传感器阵列；2)设计和优化用于自主操作的紧凑型电化学仪器电子设备和智能算法；3)集成和表征用于矿山安全监测和危险状况预测的模型多种气体电化学微系统。通过创新的电化学传感器阵列方法，将开发用于检测多种矿井气体的室温离子液体和导电聚合物膜。一种创新的仪器芯片将实施多种电化学测量技术，以实现非常紧凑、低功耗的iEGAS系统微系统实施。新的高效传感器阵列数据分析算法将能够在混合气体环境中准确测量特定气体的浓度，并提供模式识别，以生成对矿山安全决策至关重要的信息。与现有的气体传感器相比，建议的微系统具有显著的优势。它将测量与火灾和爆炸有关的所有气体(CH4、CO、CO2、O2)以及有害废气(NO、NO2、SO2)。它将智能分析传感器数据，以预测危险条件、报告警报并帮助规划逃生路线。自主的iEGAS系统可以与矿工一起部署，也可以部署在矿井内的固定位置，以便在没有用户输入或培训的情况下进行长期监测。它将是廉价、超紧凑和轻便的，便于矿工和救援队携带。它将利用一个标准接口与现有的矿井基础设施或与无线矿井通信手机进行通信，以实现高度分布式、移动的多瓦斯监测网络。坚固耐用的传感器平台天生就能抵抗振动、烟雾、潮湿和其他常见的矿井干扰，传感器将针对不同的环境条件(温度、湿度)进行内部校准。拟议的iegas系统的操作模型将在实验室中实施和表征，在实验室中可以精确控制气体浓度和环境参数，以模拟地下矿山内的条件范围。多学科调查团队将在整个项目期间咨询矿山安全专家，以确保开发的技术满足矿业需求。 与公共健康相关：在美国和全世界，地雷历来都给工人带来了危险的环境。我们建议开发一种创新的用于矿山安全的自主电化学气体检测微系统，该系统能够对多种气体进行分布式长期监测，并对地下矿山的危险条件进行预测。如果成功，该项目将产生重大的科学和实际影响，可以通过防止爆炸或火灾来拯救生命，可以减少煤矿工人的健康问题，并可以保护数十亿美元的矿业资产。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite continued safety improvements and increased regulations, underground mines remain a very dangerous work environment, as evident from recent disasters at the Sago (2006), Darby (2006), and Crandall Canyon (2007) mines. As recommended by the Mine Safety Technology and Training Commission, new, cost- effective technologies are needed to enhance monitoring within mines. We propose to develop key sensor, instrumentation and data analysis technologies that will be integrated to form a miniaturized intelligent electrochemical gas analysis system (iEGAS) tailored to the needs and challenges of mine safety applications. Major innovations in diverse technical areas will be synergistically combined within the following specific aims: 1) Develop and characterize a miniaturized electrochemical sensor array for detection and quantification of multiple mine gases, 2) Design and optimize compact electrochemical instrumentation electronics and intelligent algorithms for autonomous operation, 3) Integrate and characterize a model multi- gas electrochemical microsystem for mine safety monitoring and hazardous condition prediction. Through an innovative electrochemical sensor array approach, room-temperature ionic liquids and conductive polymer membranes will be developed for detection of multiple mine gases. An innovative instrumentation chip will implement multiple electrochemical measurement techniques to enable a very compact, low power microsystem implementation of the iEGAS system. New, highly efficient sensor array data analysis algorithms will enable concentrations of specific gases to be accurately measured within a mixed-gas environment and provide pattern recognition to generate information critical to mine safety decision making. The proposed microsystem offers significant advantages over existing gas sensors. It will measure all gases linked to fires and explosions (CH4, CO, CO2, O2) as well as hazardous exhaust gases (NO, NO2, SO2). It will intelligently analyze sensor data to predict hazardous conditions, report alerts and aid escape route planning. The autonomous iEGAS system can be deployed with miners or at fixed locations within a mine for long-term monitoring without user input or training. It will be inexpensive, ultra compact and lightweight, easily carried by miners and rescue teams. It will utilize a standard interface to communicate with existing mine infrastructure or with wireless mine communication handsets to realize a highly distributed, mobile, multi-gas monitoring network. The robust sensor platform is inherently resistant to vibration, smoke, moisture, and other common mine interferents, and sensors will be internally calibrated for variable environmental conditions (temperature, humidity). An operational model of the proposed iEGAS system will be implemented and characterized in a laboratory where gas concentrations and environmental parameters can be accurately controlled to mimic the range of conditions within underground mines. The multidisciplinary team of investigators will consult with mine safety experts throughout the project to ensure the developed technologies meet mining industry needs. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Mines have historically presented dangerous environments for workers, in the United States and worldwide. We propose to develop an innovative autonomous electrochemical gas detection microsystem for mine safety that enables distributed long-term monitoring of multiple gases and predictions of hazardous conditions in underground mines. If successful, this project will have substantial scientific and practical impacts, could save lives by preventing explosions or fires, could reduce health problems for mine workers, and could protect billions of dollars of mining assets.