PFI:AIR - TT: Prototype mid-infrared, methane sensor for natural gas leak detection on small unmanned aerial systems

这个PFI：空气技术转化项目的重点是转化基于激光的痕量气体检测方面的新进展，以通过使用小型无人机系统来识别天然气供应链中的甲烷泄漏。基于激光的甲烷传感器对于小型无人驾驶航空系统非常重要，因为它将通过防止爆炸来提高安全性，通过减少向大气中排放温室气体来改善环境，并通过向客户提供更多产品来增加天然气/石油部门的利润。该项目将产生一种用于小型无人机的甲烷传感器原型，这种飞行器的使用和应用正在迅速增加。现有的商用甲烷传感器都不够小、足够轻、足够灵敏，可以部署在小型无人驾驶航空系统(翼展约一米)上进行天然气泄漏检测。该激光甲烷传感器具有质量小(1公斤)、体积小(1 L体积)、响应快(每秒10次)和高精度(万分之2甲烷)等特点。与当前的目视、载人飞机巡逻方法相比，这些功能将通过降低运营成本、提高人口稠密地区的运营安全性以及更准确地识别泄漏来实现高效的天然气泄漏检测。该项目解决了以下技术差距，将其从研究发现转化为商业应用。该项目综合了两种快速发展的技术-中红外激光光谱和小型无人机系统，并分别利用了它们理想的高灵敏度检测和高灵敏采样属性。一种新开发的工作在3.3微米波长的带间级联激光器(ICL)将被用来探测甲烷最强的(基本)吸收带，以获得必要的灵敏度。ICL将耦合到一个光学腔中，并集成到一个小型无人驾驶航空系统上。传感器将直接暴露在自由气流中，不需要任何样品池、进气口或歧管，从而减小了尺寸和质量。传感器的准确度，在大范围的大气条件和飞行中经历的振动中尤其关键，将通过使用具有多谐波长调制光谱的在线参考单元来保持。传感器的飞行性能将通过甲烷的受控释放进行验证，并将在管道上进行飞行演示。此外，参与该项目的关键人员，一名研究生，将获得创业经验，并通过与无人机和天然气/石油行业的运营商合作，了解如何将实验室发现转化为商业产品。该项目聘请一家领先的小型无人机系统服务提供商，在美国联邦航空局批准的地点和运营地点向天然气/石油行业的客户测试和演示新传感器。该技术将改善管道监测中的特定和其他微量气体检测，在这项技术从研究发现向商业现实的转化努力中。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating new advances in laser-based, trace gas detection to identify methane leaks in the natural gas supply chain by using small unmanned aerial systems. The laser-based methane sensor for small unmanned aerial systems is important because it will result in increased safety by preventing explosions, improve the environment through reduced emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and increase profits in the gas/oil sector through more product reaching their customers. The project will result in a prototype methane sensor for small unmanned aerial vehicles, which are rapidly increasing in their use and applications. No existing commercial methane sensors are sufficiently small, lightweight, and sensitive to be deployed on small unmanned aerial systems (those with wing spans of about a meter) for natural gas leak detection. The laser-based methane sensor has the following unique features: low mass (1 kg), small volume (1 L volume), fast response (10 measurements per second) and high-precision (2 parts per billion methane). These features will allow for efficient natural gas leak detection through decreased operating costs, increased safety of operation in populated areas, and more accurate leak identification when compared to the current method of visual, manned-aircraft patrols.This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. The project synthesizes two rapidly developing technologies, mid-infrared laser spectroscopy and small unmanned aerial systems, and capitalizes upon their desirable attributes of high sensitivity detection and high-dexterity sampling, respectively. A newly-developed, interband cascade laser (ICL) operating at a wavelength of 3.3 microns will be used to probe the strongest (fundamental) absorption band of methane to achieve the necessary sensitivity. The ICL will be coupled into an optical cavity and integrated onto a small unmanned aerial system. The sensor will be exposed directly to the free airstream and not require any sample cells, inlets, or manifolds, thereby reducing size and mass. Sensor accuracy, particularly critical during the wide range of atmospheric conditions and vibrations experienced in-flight, will be maintained through the use of an in-line reference cell with multiharmonic wavelength modulation spectroscopy. Sensor flight performance will be verified with controlled releases of methane, and flight demonstrations over pipelines will be conducted. In addition, key personnel involved in this project, a graduate student, will receive entrepreneurial experiences and see how laboratory discoveries are translated into commercial products through working with operators in the drone and gas/oil industries.The project engages a leading small unmanned aerial systems service provider to test and demonstrate the new sensors to its clients in the gas/oil industry at FAA-approved locations and operations. The technology will improve pipeline monitoring in specific and other trace gas detection in general in this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.