Grantee Research Project Results
Portable Engine Emission Analyzer
EPA Contract Number: 68D01010Title: Portable Engine Emission Analyzer
Investigators: Mlcak, Richard
Small Business: Boston MicroSystems Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: April 1, 2001 through September 1, 2001
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , SBIR - Monitoring , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
A strategic need exists for harsh-environment, foul-resistant engine exhaust emission sensors. No presently available devices combine the requisite sensitivity and selectivity to hydrocarbons, CO, CO2, and NOx with thermal and chemical robustness, low power drain, rapid response, and reasonable cost. Boston MicroSystems, Inc., proposes to develop a hand-held portable engine emissions analyzer that is capable of satisfying the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's requirements. Boston MicroSystems, Inc.'s proprietary SiC micromachining and thin-film technologies are used to fabricate arrays of SiC microhotplates with integrated thin-film gas-sensitive semiconducting metal oxides. Exceptional gas species selectivity results from the ability to precisely control and rapidly cycle the microhotplate sensors to high temperatures using mW power levels and ms response times. The Phase I objective is to identify the optimum combination of film composition and thermal programming needed to achieve stable performance, high sensitivity to NOx,, and high selectivity relative to interference gases. A menu-driven, microprocessor-controlled analyzer will be designed for use in a portable, hand-held instrument. This instrument will fill the need for a reliable and robust portable exhaust emissions analyzer for automotive and aeronautic propulsion systems, power generation, and incineration applications.Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, engine emissions, NOx, engineering, chemistry, EPA, emission sensors, CO, CO2, hydrocarbons, monitoring., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Toxics, Waste, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, air toxics, Chemistry, HAPS, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, mobile sources, Environmental Engineering, Engineering, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Incineration/Combustion, Nitrogen Oxides, Nitrogen dioxide, monitoring, hydrocarbon, engines, analyzer, emissions, automotive exhaust, emissions analyzer, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, automotive, combustion engines, nitrogen oxides (Nox)Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.