Overview
| Project No. | 495 |
|---|---|
| Contract No. | DTPH56-13-T-000005L |
| Research Award Recipient | Northeast Gas Association 20 Waterview Boulevard, 4th Floor Parsippany, NJ 07054 |
| AOR | Max Kieba |
| Researcher Contact Info | Daphne D'Zurko, 20 Waterview Boulevard, 4th Floor, Parsippany, NJ 07054 973-265-1900, ext.214; 973-263-0919 fax, ddzurko@northeastgas.org |
| Peer Review | Very Effective |
| Technology Demonstrated | Yes |
|---|---|
| Commercialized (in whole/part) | TBD |
| Commercial Partner | Empty Value |
| Net Improvement | Empty Value |
| Project Status | Closed |
|---|---|
| Start Fiscal Year | 2013 (09/01/2013) |
| End Fiscal Year | 2016 (04/30/2016) |
| PHMSA $$ Budgeted | $412,388.00 |
Main Objective
The project will carry out the design of the pre-commercial microresonator methane/natural gas sensor and complete the development of the commercial system(s) prior to introducing to the market. The focus will be on building pre-commercial prototype devices in two versions - an analytical instrument "A" and a safety monitor sensor "S" (alarm only). The analytical methane and natural gas sensor/instrument will include all necessary outputs, alarm signal with a preset concentration level, LCD display, operator setting of instrument parameters, and dual power capabilities. The safety monitor sensor will be based on the design approach developed for the full analytical instrument but with a number of functions and hardware elements removed. This safety sensor should have equivalent performance with the full analytical instrument but at reduced cost. The sensor will comply with necessary standards and regulations. The sensor has been proven in prior and on-going work to be robust, accurate, inexpensive, and immune to common industrial and household chemicals thus resulting in no false positives; something that has plagued many of the existing sensors in the market for decades.
Public Abstract
This project supports advanced development and technology transfer of a next generation, highly accurate, robust and low cost microresonator-based methane sensor that can be applied as an analytical in-line or off-line measurement tool for gas operations applications or a fixed safety monitoring (alarm) device for residential, commercial or industrial applications. The sensor has been proven in prior and on-going work to be robust, accurate, inexpensive, and immune to common industrial and household chemicals thus resulting in no false positives; something that has plagued many of the existing sensors in the market for decades. This work will be conducted by a team consisting of NYSEARCH, the North American R&D organization administered by Northeast Gas Association (NGA), the developer, Applied Nanotech Inc. (ANI), and a commercializer of this technology (to be determined based on current industry-funded work). This project will be completed in 15 months and will result in the commercial deployment of the sensor.
Summary and Conclusions
Using a contract manufacturer, a beta-version of the detector (alarm only) was designed, built and tested prior to submittal to Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for certification. After initial submission to UL in late 2015, the detector is currently undergoing redesign and will be resubmitted for certification testing in mid- 2016. At the completion of the certification testing, the detector will comply with necessary standards and regulations and will be ready for field trials via a pilot testing program to be funded and executed by NYSEARCH.