Recovery Act - New Process Control Sensors for Improved Efficiencies in the Power Industry

This SBIR project addresses the development of new, in-situ process control sensors for performing real-time corrosion potential measurements in water supplies used by the U.S. Power Industry. Once commercialized, the proposed in-line sensors will improve the energy efficiencies of U.S. power plants by enhancing the operation and lifetime of facility components (i.e., boilers, condensers and piping); thereby, lowering the costs required to generate electricity. SBIR research and development efforts will focus on designing, fabricating and testing prototype sensors consisting of innovative, PCB-based electrochemical transducers that are able to rapidly identify the corrosive nature of water supplies used in the U.S. Power Industry. Once developed, this innovative sensor technology will be integrated with a new diagnostic analyzer employing mathematical pattern recognition methods to enable advanced corrosion monitoring within the internal components of critical power plant equipment. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The proposed process control sensors will find widespread commercial application within the U.S. Power Industry by enabling lower operating and maintenance costs (up to $4 billion per year) combined with improved energy efficiency for this $78 billion market segment.