1. Utilizing NeSSI™ for Analytical Applications
Brian Marquardt
Dave Veltkamp
Center for Process Analytical Chemistry (CPAC)
University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2. Project Overview
Goal is to support NeSSI™ related development within CPAC
Developing infrastructure and platforms
Developing sensors and applications
Promote and support wider NeSSI™ adoption and use
Web based support
Interaction with NeSSI community

3. What does NeSSI™ Provide
Simple “Lego®-like ” assembly (√)
Easy to re-configure
No special tools or skills required
Overall lower cost of build – reduce time to configure/install by 75%
Improved reliability
Lower cost of ownership – reduce total cost by 40%
Standardized flow components (√)
“Mix-and-match” compatibility between vendors
Growing list of components
Standardized electrical and communication (+)
“Plug-and-play” integration of multiple devices
Simplified interface for programmatic I/O and control
Advanced analytics (+)
Micro-analyzers
Integrated analysis or “smart” systems
√ now + soon

4. The NeSSI™ “rail” Concept
*Sensor/Actuator Manager
Standard Mechanical Interface “Rail”
Standard Electrical (Digital) Interface “Rail”
Anyone’s Sensor
Anyone’s Actuator
SAM*
Standard
“Applets” P V
“connectivity”
ISA/ANSI SP76
NeSSI™ Bus
Enabler for Micro Analytical
Opportunities exist to exploit NeSSI™ standards in other laboratory applications
It is really about creating a set of standard interfaces, so current and new analytical devices and sample system components can be quickly and easily integrated into the process environment.
A standard electrical interface that will provide power, a standard communication format, and standard protocol between these devices.
A standard software package that will allow for inter device communication, control, and diagnostics at the installation level. And a standardized portal and protocol for communication with the plant DCS or Enterprise Management System.
A standard mechanical interface. A standardized footprint for interfacing these devices and components with the process sample.

5. NeSSI™ Sensing Technologies
Chromatography
Thermal Desorption (?)
GC (+)
LC (chip based) (+)
SEC, IC (?)
Dielectric (√)
Spectroscopies
IR (+), NIR (+)
UV- Vis (+)
Raman (√)
Fluorescence (+)
Refractive Index (√)
Vapochromic Sensors (+)
GLRS (+)
Particle Sizing
Light scattering (?)
Conductivity (√)
Turbidity (+)
pH (√)
SPR (+)
Mass Spectrometry (√)
Impedance (+)
Terrahertz (?), NMR (?)
√ now + soon ? maybe

6. Where Does NeSSI™ Fit in the Lab
Instrument/Sensor Interfaces
Design standards make development simpler
Simplified design, construction, and reconfiguration
Reduced sample variability to account for
Calibration/validation built-in
Consistent physical environment for measurement
Stream switching and/or mixing allow generation of standards to match analytical requirements
Bridge to micro analytical developments
Reaction monitoring
Microreactors and continuous flow reactors
Batch reactors (with fast loop)
Sample Preparation
Gas handling (mixing, generation, delivery)
Liquid handling (mixing, dilution, conditioning, etc.)

7. Agilent NeSSI™ Dielectric Sensor
Cable to Agilent Network Analyzer
Dielectric Probe
Close up of Coaxial Probe Tip
Inner Body
O-ring (inside)
Swagelok 2-Port Valve Base
Outer Body
Exploded View

8. Vapochromic Sensor Interface
Optical sensor based on vapochromatic compounds
Responds to different analytes by intensity and wavelength shifts in fluorescence signal
Optical detection using simple spectrometer
LED excitation light source
Simple reflectance 2 fiber optical measurement
Use of BallProbe™ to provide single-sided optical interface
Vapochrome coated on ball surface
Inserted into standard NeSSI™ tube fitting block
NeSSI™ system provides controlled delivery and mixing of gas streams to sensor

9. NeSSI™ Gas Mixing System
Using a customized Ballprobe™ reflectance probe for vapochromic detection
Ocean optics USB VIS spectrometer
Ballprobe™ coated with vapochrome
Swagelok NeSSI™ system
Brooks MFC’s and controller

10. Vapochromic O2 Sensor Response

11. New Gas Sensor Testing System
More capability to generate analytical vapors, gas blending, and on-line dilution of vapor streams for method development work
Vapor generation initially off-system – research opportunity for integrating onto NeSSI™ platform
Serial dilution possibilities allows wide concentration range to be investigated

12. NeSSI Raman Sampling Block
Parker Intraflow NeSSI substrate
Sample conditioning to induce backpressure to reduce bubble formation and the heated substrate allows analysis at reactor conditions

13. NeSSI™ Microreactor Delivery /Calibration System
Reactor Feed 1
Pump 1
Product Stream
Reactor Feed 2
Real-time
Calibration
waste
prod
Pump 2
Raman
Probe

14. Parker Intraflow™ System

15. IMM Microreactors and MicroMixers
Liquid Microreactor
Micro Mixer
Heat Exchanger
Mixer-Heat Exchanger 
Caterpillar Mixer
Backbone Block
NeSSI™ Adapter

16. Fuel Cell Research
Goal: to study the water uptake properties of Nafion 112 by varying the relative humidity of the input gas streams to better understand membrane hydration and its effects on fuel cell performance.
NeSSI™ System for gas flow and humidity sensing
3 Voltmeters,1 Ammeter
Thermocouple and Humidity sensor
Thermocouple and Humidity sensors
H2 in
PEM Fuel Cell
Air in
Both Streams Purge to outside environment
Fan/Blower
Or Pump
Tank (might run system without a tank)

17. Where Are We Now? Development continues on control system
Data I/O, comm., and control hardware
Software for DAQ, automation and control
NeSSI microreactor system becoming reality
Parker Intraflow™ fluidic system designed and being built
IMM, Microglass, CPC mixers and reactor components here or coming soon
LC, Raman, dielectric, RI detection demonstrated or close to
Headspace and media sampling systems
RGA analyzer, Thermo MS systems running
Filter system from CIRCOR functionally tested
Vapochromatic sensor test and development platform operational and providing good results
Large improvement over traditional lab gas handling systems
NeSSI™ flexibility allows for evolutionary improvements

18. What’s Ahead
Continue gas sensing work with focus on application development
Vapochromatic BTEX sensor (array)
Vapochromatic humidity sensor for fuel cells
Fermentation headspace/off-gas monitoring
Continue development of control and acquisition software
Begin characterizing flows and dispersion in the NeSSI™ systems
Important for analytical and mixing applications
Continue developing analytical interfaces to bring more instrumentation to NeSSI™
Working with Vendors of new technology
In-house fiber optic flow cell for NeSSI™

19. Acknowledgements
Swagelok, CIRCOR, and Parker (NeSSI™ systems and components)
Brooks Instruments and Flowmatrix (MFCs)
Thermo and Merk/Horiba (Mass Spec.)
Agilent (Dielectric)
IMM, Microglass, and CPC (microreactors)
UOP (server for NeSSI™ web sites)
ExxonMobil, Kraft, others (applications)
NeSSI™ Steering Team
CPAC