Low Cost Feedback Pollutant Control for Small Industrial Boilers

This Small Bussiness Innovation Research Phase I Project will develop a new, low-cost carbon monoxide sensor for small industrial burner feedback control systems that will help meet requlatory goals of minimizing pollution as well as optimizing heat release for these systems. This device will permit precise control of the burner using a simple fully solid state optical sensor using MEMS technology and directly providing a feedback control signal to control the fuel-air ratio. In Phase I, this methodology shall be tested and evaluated on a laboratory scale burner and evaluated for use in industrial boiler for Phase II development. The successful completion of this SBIR program would lead to a simple, low cost, rugged feedback control sensor suitable for a variey of industirla combustion platforms used to generate heat. It could be used with only minor modification to monitor other gases at ppm concentration levels and would have commercial application beyond process control as a continuous emissions monitor (CEM) for enviornmental and safety applications as well.