Robust and Reliable Hydrogen Leak Detection and Warning Systems

The Department of Energy seeks research and development to enable viable hydrogen leak detection technologies; including the integration with communications technologies that notify a system operator when a leak occurs in large or small facilities. This work will improve the safety of proposed hydrogen refueling stations, and has a general public benefit for improving the safety of many public or private spaces and worksites where the risk of gas leaks (such as carbon monoxide) poses a threat. This application proposes the development of a wireless mesh network, consisting of individually networked hydrogen sensor nodes, that will provide redundancy and reliability for quickly identifying and locating leaks and other types of facility failures (such as power loss to handling equipment). The overall objective of the Phase I SBIR is to install a meshed sensor network in a test facility for characterization of its reliability and to provide the instrumentation necessary to guide the regulation and requirements of a monitoring system for commercial refilling facilities. The Phase I proposal will outline the approach to the test and development of a meshed network of sensors. Briefly, this will include collaboration with two federal research facilities to determine the ideal physical placement of nodes in regards to detecting hydrogen plumes and diffusion, and to develop a simple algorithm to identify the location of potential sources of release. The partners will also to provide all relevant data and reports from their field trials to assist in hydrogen fueling safety system development. With this knowledge, the ideal physical placement of a large net of nodes will direct engineering efforts to focus on the development of the wireless network. It will be designed to ensure the maximum reliability of communication between each node, and to ensure system integrity due to node failure. This network will be equipped with both local (PC based) and remote (Cloud based) interfaces capable of displaying real-time relevant information. Redundancy will be provided with both local wireless and remote cellular connections, while on facility power or operating on battery backup. Federal research partners will facilitate the installation and evaluation of the prototype network at a federally operated hydrogen fueling station. The partners will also provide research grade, thin film hydrogen sensor samples to be integrated into test nodes and their performance will be compared to other commercial methods of hydrogen detection. A successful technology developed in Phase I will be instrumental in furthering other federal and research efforts. Some of these efforts will determine the safest design of a refueling facility, which in turn will guide engineering and research efforts for a Phase II project. Phase II will primarily focus on safety and sensor improvements for the network nodes. The commercialization of this technology will expand out to other industries and applications. For instance it can be adapted to create a large network of nodes for neighborhood air quality monitors, or as nodes wirelessly strung together to create mining safety alarms, or as a networked carbon monoxide/gas alarm for schools. The potential for commercial applications will be evident during the Phase I efforts as this proposed solution has a very high technology readiness level, and partners will be sought to quickly expand into alternative markets.