AIRFLOW SCIENCES CORP — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: C56-25e

Description

C56-25e-272785The emission of carbon dioxide gases from industrial facilities can be harmful to the environment and contribute to global warming. By using existing technologies to capture and store these gases in deep underground reservoirs, industry can meet emissions goals while still satisfying energy demand. To ensure permanence and prevent environmental impact, the carbon dioxide storage sites must be monitored for leakage of the gases to avoid any releases. A missing element in the monitoring process is a turn-key system for site storage operators to use on a daily basis. A successful leakage monitoring system will need to be affordable, reliable, and easy to operate and maintain, without sacrificing sensor precision. This project proposes to develop a turn-key monitoring system for carbon dioxide gases stored in underground reservoirs. This will be accomplished with an enhanced pressure and temperature measurement method to create a high precision system that is durable and easy to maintain. Ruggedized equipment will be installed in select underground locations to monitor the conditions at the top end of the storage reservoirs. All electronics and data collection equipment will be on the surface, allowing easy access and maintenance for operations personnel. The system will automatically perform all the leakage monitoring, calculations, instrument calibrations, and data transmittal to site operators. The success of this project will provide a new and unique monitoring system with the following benefits: (1) Fully functional, turn-key, with site-specific design for monitoring at any depth in new or existing storage reservoirs; (2) Long term deployment capability that can last for the entire monitoring timeframe with easy replacement of components; and (3) High precision, low drift, and capability to filter out noise for early leak detection. The public benefits of this monitoring system will include more reliable measurements, easier maintenance, and reduced costs for operators of carbon dioxide storage sites. The final system developed through the Phase I&II SBIR projects will allow for increased confidence in the safety and longevity of the carbon capture and storage technology. In the long term, this will lead to increased storage of carbon dioxide gases, reducing the environmental impact of industrial processes.