SBIR Phase I: Novel Instrumentation for Methane Flux Measurements in Ambient Air

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目建议支持开发一种紧凑，坚固的甲烷通量现场测量仪器。该仪器是基于一种新的技术，称为离轴集成腔输出光谱（离轴ICOS）与建立涡度协方差技术相结合。这种新型仪器将以高灵敏度、准确度和特异性真实的实时测量甲烷通量。该仪器结合了廉价，坚固的近红外二极管激光器和离轴ICOS，这是一项专利创新技术，可提供极长的光程（通常为几公里），从而产生一种能够以最先进的精度（在10 Hz速率下，不确定性优于0.2%）连续记录现场数据的仪器。通过显著提高实地甲烷通量测量的准确性，该仪器将显著加强对全球变暖的研究，并促进地理上遥远地点之间的多年研究和比较。这些研究（可能涉及使用飞机上的仪器，以实现广泛的覆盖范围，并与卫星图像相关联）将有助于量化小和大空间尺度上的全球碳循环，并使科学家能够生成更可靠的气候变化模型，并确定环境影响。拟议的仪器有望在准确性，灵敏度，速度和可靠性，因此与现有技术（气相色谱仪、火焰离子化检测器）竞争有利。因此，所提出的新型仪器具有几个商业应用，包括工业过程控制，汽车发动机测试，大气和环境监测。对于工业过程控制，该仪器可应用于石化和化学生产工厂和车辆测试设施中的多种污染物的实时测量，以及石油和天然气勘探中的现场泥浆气体分析，其中现有技术太慢，昂贵或不敏感。例如，在发动机测试中，拟议的仪器应提供比现有技术更快的响应和三个数量级的灵敏度。此外，该仪器的低成本、便携性和可靠性应使大气化学、地质学、生物学和生态学研究人员能够更准确地监测和确定实地和飞机上的温室气体和污染物的源和汇。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to support the development of a compact, rugged instrument for field measurements of methane flux. The instrument is based on a new technology called Off-Axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy (Off-Axis ICOS) combined with established eddy covariance techniques. This novel instrument will measure methane flux with high sensitivity, accuracy and specificity in real time. The instrument combines inexpensive, robust telecommunications-grade near-infrared diode lasers with Off-Axis ICOS, a patented innovative technology that provides extremely long optical paths (several kilometers typical) to yield an instrument capable of continuously recording data in the field with state-of-the-art precision (better than 0.2% uncertainty at a 10-Hz rate). By significantly increasing the accuracy of methane flux measurements in the field, the instrument will significantly enhance studies of global warming and facilitate multi-year studies and comparisons between geographically distant sites. These studies (which could involve using the instruments aboard airplanes to enable wide coverage and to correlate with satellite images) will help quantify the global carbon cycle on small and large spatial scales, and enable scientists to generate more reliable models of climate change and to determine environmental impact.The proposed instrument is hoped to exceed current performance levels in accuracy, sensitivity, speed and reliability and thus compete favorably against existing technology (gas chromatographs, flame ionization detectors). As a result, the proposed novel instrument has several commercial applications including industrial process control, vehicle engine testing, and atmospheric and environmental monitoring. For industrial process control, the instrument may be applied to real-time measurements of multiple pollutants in petrochemical and chemical production plants and in vehicle test facilities, and for on-site mud gas analyses in oil and gas exploration, where existing technology is too slow, expensive or insensitive. In engine testing, for example, the proposed instrument should provide measurements with a faster response and a sensitivity that is three orders of magnitude better than current techniques. In addition, the low cost, portability, and reliability of the instrument should enable researchers in atmospheric chemistry, geology, biology and ecology to more accurately monitor, and determine the sources and sinks of, greenhouse gases and pollutants in the field and on board aircraft.