A new sensor system uses light and fiber-optics technology to detect rocket-fuel leaks, possibly helping to avoid waste, improve reliability, and protect personnel. Future iterations of the system could monitor other types of industrial chemical leaks, aid environmental monitoring, and support homeland security.

The technology was developed by InnoSense, LLC (Torrance, CA) with funding from the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) under Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I and II contracts. The contract was to develop a hydrazine leak detector for the sea-based Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) program.

The InnoSense all-optical leak detector can be calibrated to detect leaks in the parts-per-million or parts-per-billion range.

InnoSense developed a new type of leak detector for hydrazine-based hypergolic rocket fuel. Existing hydrazine detectors require maintenance, such as battery replacement, and some can’t withstand the harsh environments where the missile systems are deployed. In addition, some are not sufficiently sensitive. InnoSense addressed all of these concerns with its fiber-optics-based sensor.