Grantee Research Project Results
Portable Methane Flux Meter
EPA Contract Number: 68D99069Title: Portable Methane Flux Meter
Investigators: Hovde, David Christian
Small Business: Southwest Sciences Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1999 through March 1, 2000
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Air Pollution , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Air Quality and Air Toxics
Description:
This Phase I project will investigate achieving a low power, portable system for measuring methane concentrations and fluxes. The system will combine diode laser-based trace gas concentration measurements with rapid wind speed measurements to determine fluxes using eddy correlation. By employing advanced diode laser modulation methods with signal processing electronics developed for the communications industry, a low-cost, lightweight system can be developed. Such a system can be deployed in remote locations and operated for extended periods using electricity generated by wind, solar panels, or traditional gasoline generators.The result of the research will be a demonstration of a novel modulation and signal recovery method and an estimate of the cost, weight, and electrical consumption of a system based on this technology. In Phase II, extensive field measurements will be performed.
The proposed research has applications in trace gas measurement instrumentation for the atmospheric research community, portable leak detectors for the natural gas pipeline system, and the detection of toxic or hazardous gases at chemical plants and refineries.
Supplemental Keywords:
Scientific Discipline, Air, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Toxics, Engineering, Chemistry, HAPS, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Monitoring/Modeling, air toxics, analyzer, innovative technologies, measurement, field portable systems, pollutant monitoring, detect, monitoring, field monitoring, air pollutants, continuous emissions monitoring, air pollutionProgress 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.