Location
University of Utah
Start Date
6-12-1996 2:15 PM
Description
NASA needs sensors to accurately monitor the water and atmospheric quality in its space habitat. Concerns for health and safety necessitate the development of sensors to measure common atmospheric gas concentrations, as well as trace contaminants (low ppm or ppb), including both combustible and non-combustible gases. The University of Utah is developing an enhanced Raman monitoring system to detect airborne contaminants at levels of less than 5 ppm. We have collected laboratory data to benchmark current laser Raman technology for gas analysis which provides a reference for future developments. Minimum detection measurements were obtained for the RASCAL™ and RASCAL II Raman technology. The results show that the RASCAL II is capable of detecting -40 ppm of nitrogen. Improvements are needed that will increase its sensitivity to meet the level of detection required by NASA for air quality monitoring. New ceo arrays with high sensitivity and low noise are now available for obtaining Raman spectra in parallel. Additional improvements planned for the enhanced system are better collection efficiency and a larger numerical aperture.
Raman Monitoring of Environmental Contaiminants in a Space Habitat
University of Utah
NASA needs sensors to accurately monitor the water and atmospheric quality in its space habitat. Concerns for health and safety necessitate the development of sensors to measure common atmospheric gas concentrations, as well as trace contaminants (low ppm or ppb), including both combustible and non-combustible gases. The University of Utah is developing an enhanced Raman monitoring system to detect airborne contaminants at levels of less than 5 ppm. We have collected laboratory data to benchmark current laser Raman technology for gas analysis which provides a reference for future developments. Minimum detection measurements were obtained for the RASCAL™ and RASCAL II Raman technology. The results show that the RASCAL II is capable of detecting -40 ppm of nitrogen. Improvements are needed that will increase its sensitivity to meet the level of detection required by NASA for air quality monitoring. New ceo arrays with high sensitivity and low noise are now available for obtaining Raman spectra in parallel. Additional improvements planned for the enhanced system are better collection efficiency and a larger numerical aperture.