Because the sensor is all-optical, there are no batteries to replace over its 10-year expected lifetime. The sensor can be calibrated to detect leaks in the parts-per-billion or parts-per-million range. In addition to its capability of sensing a static level of fuel molecules in the environment, it can also be configured to sense the rate of accumulation over time. The device has met MDA’s temperature range requirements of -46°C to 71°C, a significant technical achievement for InnoSense. The sensing unit is also small and lightweight, so users can easily deploy as many units as required.

To fabricate the sensor, InnoSense starts with a standard communications fiber. The outer layer, or cladding, is removed and replaced with a coating developed at their lab. The optical properties of the coating are affected by exposure to hydrazine, resulting in detectable changes in light transmitted through the fiber. In a typical application, transmit/receive fibers from an array of sensors are attached to a central electronics/ display module.

Where it Stands

Apart from rocket fuel, hydrazine is found in a wide variety of civilian applications, including manufacturing printed circuit boards, treating industrial boilers to inhibit corrosion, curing rubber, fabricating textile dyes, and processing pharmaceuticals. Suppliers, transporters, and end users of hydrazine could all benefit from a sensitive, maintenancefree leak detector. Additional R&D could result in coatings to detect the presence of chlorine or other dangerous chemicals. A handheld unit could quickly assess conditions in the field without the need to bring samples back to a lab for analysis.

The company plans to complete a round of harsh field testing and perform tests that will simulate a full 10 years of use. After that, InnoSense hopes to find a manufacturing partner when the devices are ready for production. InnoSense seeks funding partners to commercialize its technologies for the defense and aerospace markets.

More Information

For more information on InnoSense LLC’s optical leak-detection sensor, click here. (Source: MDA TechUpdate, Missile Defense Agency, National Technology Transfer Center Washington Operations.)