NASA 1996 SBIR Phase I

PROJECT TITLE : Quantitative Leak Detection Using Micro-Electronic Sensors

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)

Makel Engineering, Inc. (MEI) proposes to develop a compact, rugged, low cost, quantitative leak rate measurement system for hydrogen using micro-electronic electronic sensors. The micro-electronic leak detection system (MELDS) will provide quantitative measurement of leak rates using a "bagged" leak detection approach. The system will consist of (1) uniquely designed, reusable, leak enclosure bags to surround leak point of interests, (2) integrated micro-electronic sensor head with gas and flow sensors and microcontroller electronics. This system is intended to provide a low cost, rapidly deployable system for system leak checking which is currently being performed using complex and costly mass spectrometer systems. This system will fulfill NASA's need for leak checking hydrogen at ground test facilities. These integrated sensor heads can be formed into a modular, distributed, multi-point network connected to a facility data acquisition system. The proposed MELDS will provide: (1) real-time quantitative measurement of hydrogen leak rate, (2) low cost, rapidly installed modules, (3) digital communications immune to EMI and RFI, (4) built-in-test (BIT) and health monitoring capability, and (5) user friendly data acquisition interface. This system will be a major advance over existing leak detection technologies, enabling NASA to simultaneously improve test efficiency and reduce test costs.

The proposed MELDS is directly applicable to industrial gas production, transportation, and end users. The system can be used for hydrogen applications using the Pd alloy sensors or for natural gas applications using SnO2 sensors. Rapid commercialization of this system is expected because of the lower cost of this system and the flexibility of the design to use interchangeable sensors for different gases.

Dr. Darby B. Makel
Makel Engineering, Inc.
910 Florin Road, Suite 208
Sacramento, CA 95831

Makel Engineering, Inc.
910 Florin Road, Suite 208
Sacramento, CA 95831