Frequency Combs for Methane Detection

Frequency Combs for Methane Detection


Program:
MONITOR
Award:
$4,817,612
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
05/08/2015 - 03/31/2021

Technology Description:

The University of Colorado-Boulder (CU-Boulder) will team up with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (a partnership between CU-Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to develop a reduced-cost, dual frequency comb spectrometer. The frequency comb would consist of 105 evenly spaced, sharp, single frequency laser lines covering a broad wavelength range that includes the unique absorption signatures of natural gas constituents like methane. The team has shown that frequency comb spectrometers can measure methane and other gases at parts-per-billion concentration levels over kilometer-long path lengths. Current, long-range sensing systems cannot detect methane with high sensitivity, accuracy, or stability. The team’s frequency combs, however, are planned to be able to detect and distinguish methane, ethane, propane, and other gases without frequent calibration. When integrated into a complete methane detection system, the combs could lower the costs of methane sensing due to their ability to survey large areas or multiple gas fields simultaneously. When employed as part of a complete methane detection system, the team’s innovation aims to improve the accuracy of methane detection while decreasing the costs of systems, which could encourage widespread adoption of methane emission mitigation at natural gas sites.

Potential Impact:

If successful, CU-Boulder’s frequency combs could be a useful component of more cost-effective and accurate methane monitoring systems for natural gas producers.

Security:

Better methane detection technologies could improve the sustainability of domestic natural gas production and the safety of operations.

Environment:

Enhanced detection sensors could enable greater mitigation of methane leakage and lead to an overall reduction in harmful methane emissions associated with natural gas development.

Economy:

Since the team’s frequency combs could be used to survey large areas with greater accuracy, the innovation could lower the expense of large-scale methane monitoring.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Joseph King
Project Contact:
Prof. Gregory Rieker
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
greg.rieker@colorado.edu

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Release Date:
04/29/2014