Grantee Research Project Results
Fresnel Sapphire Split-Prism Spectrometer for Engine Emissions Diagnostics
EPA Contract Number: 68D01038Title: Fresnel Sapphire Split-Prism Spectrometer for Engine Emissions Diagnostics
Investigators: Rentz, Julia
Small Business: OPTRA Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: April 1, 2001 through September 1, 2001
Project Amount: $69,594
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:
OPTRA, Inc., is proposing a low-resolution ( 15 nm) Fresnel sapphire split-prism spectrometer specifically tailored to the identification of molecular species present in the emissions from an engine source. The proposed approach will examine the 3-5.5 µm spectral region, allowing for the extraction of concentration information of CO2, CO, NO, HCs, and particulate matter. Sapphire was chosen because of its very high dispersion in this spectral region. The split-prism configuration is used to counter the effects of the birefringence of sapphire, which otherwise would produce separate overlapping spectra for the s and p polarizations. The Fresnel realization of the prism allows for a more compact system and potentially higher throughput. The spectral bandwidth for each detector channel is selected to maximize signal-to-noise while retaining adequate spectral resolution for the identification of molecular species. A room-temperature amorphous silicon microbolometer array will be used as the detector, allowing coverage of the full 3-5.5 µm spectral region. Using reflective optics and containing no moving parts, this spectrometer will be compact, rugged, and ideally suited for its purpose.Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, engine emissions, split-prism spectrometer, sapphire, optics, engineering, chemistry, EPA, CO2, CO, NO, hydrocarbons, particulate matter, PM, air pollution., RFA, Air, Scientific Discipline, Engineering, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, particulate matter, mobile sources, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, air toxics, Environmental Engineering, hydrocarbons, emissions, hydrocarbon, fresnel sapphire, Nitrogen Oxides, diagnostics, carbon monoxide, monitoring, engines, particulates, engine, spectrometer, air pollution, split-prism spectrometer, carbon dioxideProgress 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.