Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: Advanced technologies are needed to confirm permanence of CO2 storage in geologic sequestr

Description

Advanced technologies are needed to confirm permanence of CO2 storage in geologic sequestration sites, where it is injected into underground reservoirs. Monitoring, validation and accounting technology is needed for groundwater carbonization levels to ensure that CO2 remains within the injection formation and potable ground water sources are protected. A new low-cost technology is critically needed with improved accuracy. To address these needs, development of a new Large-Area Low-Cost Monitoring device is proposed. The device provides CO2 monitoring to detect, quantify, and locate its leakage into groundwater. The innovative system design is based on proven nondispersive infrared absorption principles and incorporates novel all-reflective optics that minimizes its dimensions while allowing for an extended optical path to provide high sensitivity and accuracy at reduced cost. In order to cover large areas of monitoring, the LALCOM system incorporates readily- available wireless networking adapters to not only meet large-area monitoring requirements but also to further reduce cost. In Phase I, feasibility of the proposed technology will be demonstrated by assembling a small- scale network comprised of a control station and five sensor nodes for laboratory validation, supporting its design and scalability with numerical simulation and theoretical analysis, and verifying system metrological parameters including sensitivity and accuracy. Wireless capabilities for a network covering a large area will also be investigated and developed. In Phase II, we plan to optimize and scale up the Phase I design to build a working networked prototype system for validation in the field. The project will also include the investigation and planning for technology transition and commercialization paths of the technology based on a preliminary survey of prospective users to identify the most promising commercial applications of the LALCOM system. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: To stop global warming without harming the national economy, we need safe, economical underground storage and monitoring of industrially-generated CO2. As a new, low-cost monitoring tool, the proposed device can improve both the economy and the environment significantly with more secure carbon capture and storage. In the near term, the device can be used by the Carbon Sequestration projects that validate field technologies and support commercialization. Fully developed it will find applications in monitoring CO2 for industrial carbon sequestration programs. In the future, the system can be generalized to detect and monitor other species in ground water in addition to CO2, which can be applied to a broad range of commercial markets for industrial and environmental monitoring.