Wireless, Low-Cost, Low-Power Integrated Sensor Photonics

Introduction

Fugitive methane emissions (FME) from fossil fuels account for 20% of total methane emissions. Fugitive emissions are the result of loss of well and pipeline integrity, particularly in aging or decommissioned infrastructure.

Emission Reporting

Emissions are largely self-reported by fossil fuel companies, and one survey indicated leaks from approximately 47% of active wells in the area, indicating that actual methane emissions may be much higher than that reported by industry or estimated by government.

Current Technology Limitations

Gas analysers based on the current mid-infrared (mid IR) Laser Absorption Spectroscopy technology are still complex, delicate, and expensive, which limits their potential for deployment.

Project Overview: WILLOWISP

WILLOWISP will combine four recent breakthroughs to make an ultraportable gas analyser for methane. This analyser will be:

• Lightweight
• Streamlined
• Fully self-contained, comprising the laser, photothermal transducer, gas management, and electronics.

We will reduce a spectroscopy system that currently occupies 1m² on an optical bench to a 5cm x 5cm footprint, with the same and potentially better performance relative to the benchtop system.

Operating Environment

The system will be capable of operating in environments that are challenging for traditional spectroscopy systems, such as small unmanned aerial vehicles.

Innovative Design

WILLOWISP will realise a separate transducer chip and excitation chip that are indirectly coupled via the photothermal effect in the analyte. No optical elements (lenses, mirrors, fibres, etc.) are required to couple the two chips.

As a result, our gas analyser will have very high vibration and shock resistance. The two photonic chips can be assembled with standard electronics industry high throughput pick-and-place assembly tools.

Cost Efficiency and Opportunities

This simplicity and compactness translate into significantly reduced costs, by at least two orders of magnitude, creating a great opportunity for a spin-out company.