High Temperature Electronic Nose for In-Situ Exhaust Measurement

76022-In order to actively control both combustion efficiency and pollution suppression in industrial boilers, power generation turbines, and other engines, real-time measurement of exhaust gas composition is required. Current detection techniques are large and expensive and, therefore, not suited for the in situ measurement of the exhaust streams of these engines. This project will develop a high-temperature, small-form-factor platform that will allow multiple gas microsensors to perform in situ measurements on turbine and other engine exhaust streams, allowing the information from these sensors to control combustion parameters and minimize pollution. In Phase I, sensor designs, interconnects and sensor mounting techniques will be developed, packaged, and tested to withstand 600 ¿C while operating and communicating. Phase II will expand the effort to include a broad range of sensors that address all exhaust gas species of interest; data fusion techniques will be developed to provide useful, real time analysis of the exhaust; and the packaging will be integrated with a high-temperature probe capable of withstanding 900 ¿C. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to gas turbine generators and industrial boilers, the high-temperature electronic nose should find use in almost any combustion engine, including aircraft and automobile engines, which also require ever stricter emissions controls.