Agricultural Gas Sensor Systems

粪便的生产会释放出生化反应产生的化合物。传感器将安装在粪坑的顶部，以检测上升气体的组成和浓度。传感器应具有较短的响应和恢复时间，以便对粪便状况进行持续监测。线网安装需要是半永久性和免维护的。因此，传感器应该是轻便、便携、自动化和电池供电(低功率)的。这意味着较低的工作温度(室内或环境)，因为加热会对传感器系统提出显著的能量和安全要求。甲烷和氨传感器应该配置在一个芯片上，并作为一个传感器系统运行，以减轻重量和系统复杂性。良好的候选传感器应对甲烷和氨气具有合理的灵敏度，对干扰气体具有较高的选择性，并具有良好的长期稳定性。 惯性微电子机械系统(MEMS)气体传感器可以(I)同时检测多种气体，(Ii)实时，(Iii)满足低气体浓度要求。存在更复杂的传感器，但它们体积庞大，不适合便携应用，需要手动处理和处理。 在过去的十年里，申请者在微型气体传感器的设计、制造和表征方面建立了卓越的个人和团队合作记录。他们实验室的互补能力现在是加拿大最好的微型气体传感器开发、测试和表征设施之一。潜在的探测器聚合物、传感机制和气体识别技术已经在前面演示过。该项目将整合这些能力，开发一种独特的传感器系统，用于监测粪坑和泻湖。

The production of manure releases chemical compounds generated from biochemical reactions. The sensors will be installed on top of the manure pits to detect the composition and concentration of rising gases. The sensors should have short response and recovery times to allow for continuous monitoring of manure conditions. The wire-grid installation needs to be semi-permanent and maintenance-free. As a result, the sensors should be lightweight, portable, automated, and battery-powered (low power). This implies low (room or ambient) operating temperature as heating would impose significant energy and safety requirements on the sensor system. Methane and Ammonia sensors should be collocated on a single chip and operate as a single sensor system to reduce weight and system complexity. Good candidate sensors should have reasonable sensitivity to methane and ammonia, high selectivity against interferents gases, and good long-term stability. Inertial Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) gas sensors can (i) detect a multiplicity of those gases simultaneously, (ii) in real-time, and (iii) meet low gas concentrations requirements. More sophisticated sensors exist but they are bulky, unsuitable for portable applications, and require manual handling and processing. Over the last decade, the applicants have established a track record of excellence in micro gas sensor design, fabrication, and characterization working both individually and as group. The complementary capabilities of their laboratories are now one of the best micro gas sensor development, test, and characterization facilities in Canada. The underlying detector polymers, sensing mechanism, and gas identification technology have been previously demonstrated. This project will marshal those capabilities to develop a unique sensor system for monitoring of manure pits and lagoons.