A NOVEL MASS SPECTROMETER FOR COMBUSTION STUDIES

THE PROPOSED INNOVATION USES A NOVEL SCHEME TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY THE AMOUNT OF CHEMICAL INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM MASS SPECTROSCOPY AND USES THE ADDED INFORMATION TO SUPPORT AUTOMATED COMPUTERIZED DECONVOLUTION OF THE MASS SPECTRA OF COMBUSTION MIXTURES. THE RESULTS OBTAINED IN PHASE I WILL PROVIDE DIRECTLY THE CRITICAL DESIGN INFORMATION REQUIRED TO DEVELOP A PROTOTYPE INSTRUMENT. THEPHASE I PROGRAM TARGETS THE MASS SPECTROMETER HARDWARE AND THE COMPUTATIONAL SOFTWARE REQUIRED FOR A COMPLETELY SELF-CONTAINED SYSTEM THAT WOULD SAMPLE A COMBUSTION REACTION, COLLECT SPECTRA, IDENTIFY THE SPECIES PRESENT AND WOULD MAINTAIN AN EXPANDED DATA BASE. THE INNOVATION, AS DESCRIBED IN THE PROPOSAL, SHOWS SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES (AT COMPARABLE COST) OVER COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE COMPUTER-CONTROLLED QUADRUPOLE MASS SPECTROMETER SYSTEMS CURRENTLY USED FOR COMBUSTION DIAGNOSTICS.