SBIR Phase I: Portable, Low-Cost, and Robust Black Carbon Measurement Instrument using Radio Frequency Sensing

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将研究使用无线电频率提供黑碳排放实时测量的可行性。为了应对日益严格的排放法规，对炭黑测量系统的需求不断增长。 由于缺乏适合现场使用的低成本和便携式测量系统，环境和源炭黑排放的准确测量和表征受到阻碍。 这些信息对于评估黑碳水平、确定来源并最终减少排放至关重要。 Filter Sensing Technologies计划利用无线电频率提供对黑碳的直接实时测量。 该研究将调查使用廉价的组件，类似于蜂窝电话中使用的组件，非常适合用于便携式测量系统。这项研究的更广泛/商业影响是，目前颗粒物和炭黑测量系统的市场正在迅速超过其他类型的排放分析仪的市场。 提供便携式、实时、低成本的测量系统来监测这些排放是一个显著的未满足的需求。最近的研究表明，黑碳具有显著的变暖潜力，并且还将污染物与一系列不利的健康影响联系起来。 监管机构和源头运营商都需要工具来监控黑碳排放，确保使用中的合规性，并提高流程效率。 目前，很少有技术可以将黑碳与其他类型的颗粒物区分开来。 所提出的技术很好地利用了这一增长，提供了一个强大的，便携式的，成本低得多的替代目前可用的仪器。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will investigate the feasibility of using radio-frequencies to provide a real-time measurement of black carbon emissions. There is a growing demand for black carbon measurement systems in response to increasingly stringent emissions regulations. Accurate measurement and characterization of ambient and source black carbon emissions are hampered by the lack of low-cost and portable measurement systems suitable for use in the field. This information is critical to assess black carbon levels, identify sources, and ultimately reduce emissions. Filter Sensing Technologies plans to utilize radio frequencies to provide a direct, real-time measurement of black carbon. The research will investigate using inexpensive components, similar to those used in cellular phones, ideally suited for use in a portable measurement system. The broader/commercial impacts of this research are that currently the market for particulate matter and black carbon measurement systems is rapidly outpacing the markets for other types of emissions analyzers. There is a significant unmet need to provide portable, real-time, low-cost measurement systems to monitor these emissions. Recent studies indicate a significant warming potential for black carbon, and have also linked the pollutant to a range of adverse health effects. Regulators and source operators alike require tools to monitor black carbon emissions, ensure in-use compliance, and improve process efficiencies. Currently, few technologies can distinguish black carbon from other types of particulate matter. The proposed technology is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth, providing a robust, portable, and much lower-cost alternative to currently available instruments.