OPTICAL DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTATION FOR USE IN HOT GAS STREAMS

A MAJOR OBSTACLE TO WIDER UTILIZATION OF COAL, TAR SAND, OIL SHALE, AND NATURAL GAS RESOURCES IS ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. THE EMPLOYMENT OF THESE ABUNDANT FUEL RESOURCES IS STILL FRAUGHT WITH THE UNACCEPTABLY COPIOUS EMISSION OF HAZARDOUS POLLUTANTS. IN ORDER TO ENFORCE COMPLIANCE WITH EMISSION CONTROL STANDARDS AND TO MONITOR THE NECESSARY CLEAN UP OF HOT AND FLUE GAS STREAMS, A REAL-TIME, EFFICIENT, AND RELIABLE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM IS NEEDED. CURRENT SYSTEMS ARE EXPENSIVE, DELICATE, AND CUMBERSOME. THIS PROJECT OFFERS A NOVEL OPTICAL DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CAPABLE OF IN-SITU, REAL-TIME, AND ACCURATE MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PLANNED SYSTEM TO ACCURATELY AND IN REAL TIME DETERMINE CONCENTRATIONS OF POLLUTING SPECIES GENERATED BY VARIOUS COMBUSTION AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES. THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY ENCOMPASSES THE INCORPORATION OF READILY AVAILABLE ELECTRO-OPTIC COMPONENTS SUCH AS LIGHT SOURCE, FIBER OPTICS SENSOR, CIRCULAR VARIABLE FILTER, FABRY-PEROT INTERFEROMETE, AND INFRARED DETECTOR INTO AN ADVANCED NOVEL INSTRUMENT. THE PHASE I EFFORT IS DIRECTED INTO THREE MAIN TASKS: (1) EVALUATION OF THE TRADE-OFF BETWEEN THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS TO YIELD BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE, (2) DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A BREADBOARD PROTOTYPE FOR A SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES (E.G., A SELECTED OPTICAL WAVELENGTH), AND (3) OVERALL INTEGRATION AND TESTING. PHASE I WILL PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL BASIS FOR EXTENDING THE DIAGNOSTICS TO OTHER SPECIES DURING PHASE II. ONCE FEASIBILITY IS PROVEN, A PROTOTYPE WILL BE DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED, AND FULLY TESTED.