GasAnalyzer: A lightweight gas analyzer based on MEMS sensors and their respective firmware applied to combined cycle plants fueled with natural gas.

Index Introduction. Fabrication process. Bibliographic references.

Introduction In view of the ever greater global demand for energy, the number of gas-fired combined cycle electricity generation plants is expected to increase [Biliyok et al. 13]. Natural gas is less polluting than other fossil fuels such as coal and fuel-oil [Ma et al. 13]. It is a chemical compound made up of methane, ethane, nitrogen or carbon dioxide. During the industrial processes carried out at plants, accurate monitoring of variations in the properties of natural gas is technically important. Plants use chromatography equipment to learn the composition of the gas. This is based on a technique that separates the blend of gases into its component parts and measures the concentration of each gas. The system to be developed in this project would provide a more economical way of making measurements by chromatographic techniques. It would do this by using gas sensor technology [Yamazoe et al. 09]. It is designed to make measurements periodically or continuously. An alarm is activated if the gas contents exceed set limits.

Fabrication process 1. Preparation of a microelectronic gas sensor specification report, e.g. active material, interdigitated electrodes, substrate, deposition technique, etc. 2. Subcontracting of a clean-room environment to fabricate sensor prototypes. 3. Structural and electrical characterization (test beds) of sensor prototypes. 4. Connection to a microcontroller and/or FPGA. Computation and communication capabilities.

Bibliographic references [Biliyok et al. 13] C. Biliyok, R. Canepa, M. Wang y H. Yeung. "Techno-Economic Analysis of a Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant with CO2 Capture". Energy Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, volume 32, 2013. Pages 187-192. [CDM4161A 13] Figaro Engineering, Inc. "CDM4161A - Pre-calibrated module for carbon dioxide". Product Information, January 2014. [ESBI 13] ESB International. Available at: http://www.esbi.ie [Ma et al. 13] L. Ma, J. Geng, W. Li, P. Liu y Z. Li. "The development of natural gas as an automotive fuel in China". Energy Policy, volume 62, November 2013. Pages 531-539. [Texas 13] Texas Instruments. "Stellaris LM3S8962". Microcontroller Technical Datasheet, November 2013. [Yamazoe et al. 09] N. Yamazoe y K. Shimanoe. "New perspectives of gas sensor technology". Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, volume 138, 24 April 2009. Pages 100-107.