Grantee Research Project Results
Low Cost Imager for Pollutant Gas Leak Detection
EPA Contract Number: EPD08017Title: Low Cost Imager for Pollutant Gas Leak Detection
Investigators: Domash, Lawrence H.
Small Business: Agiltron Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 3, 2008 through August 31, 2008
Project Amount: $69,952
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2008) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Air and Climate
Description:
Infrared (IR) imaging is the best method for detecting leaks of pollutant gases, but current technology based on cooled IR imagers is far too expensive ($75,000 to $150,000) for everyday field use by those who need it to meet regulatory limits—electric and petrochemical utilities, manufacturing plants, and businesses such as supermarkets. Agiltron will demonstrate a new class of IR imager instrument for the detection of leaks of pollutant gases. Variants of the camera will be demonstrated for the long-wave (8-12 μm) and mid-wave (3-5 μm) IR, which between them will be able to locate leaks for dozens of pollutant gases. The proposed technology combines Agiltron’s LightLever™ photomechanical thermal imager technology with a tunable IR filter developed originally for the telecommunications industry. In Phase I, Agiltron will show the feasibility of the long-wave version using sulfur hexafluoride as a target gas. The mid-wave version will be able to visualize leaks for methane, benzene, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The new technology will lead to a hand-held gas leak viewer that can be sold to end users for less than $5,000.
American industry faces a costly problem in localizing leaks of pollutant gases to meet regulations or limit toxic releases. The proposed technology will save millions of dollars per year in industrial maintenance costs, permit much wider deployment of IR imaging for leak detection, and enable more efficient compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection (EPA) and state regulations.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, EPA, infrared imaging, IR, pollutant gas, pollutant gas leak detection, cooled IR imager, electric and petrochemical utilities, manufacturing plants, businesses, long-wave IR, mid-wave IR, photomechanical thermal imager technology, tunable IR filter, sulfur hexafluoride, methane, benzene, volatile organic compounds, VOCs, hand-held gas leak viewer, environmental regulation, toxic release,, Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, Environmental Monitoring, emissions control, emission reduction, gas leak detection, infrared imaging, gaseous effluent streamsProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase II:
Low Cost Imager for Pollutant Gas Leak Detection | Final ReportThe 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.