HCl Monitor. Phase I.

Abstract

Because of potential environmental effects from the large quantities of HCl released into the atmosphere from Space Shuttle launches it is important to monitor the transport of HCl in both vapor and aerosol form into the surrounding areas. During Phase I of the Air Force 19834-1985 SBIR program, Spectral Sciences, Incorporated investigated the feasibility of developing a man portable HCl monitor capable of unattended operation. The major Phase I objectives were to experimentally demonstrate a novel infrared light source and to design and HCl monitor, based on the new infrared source, which should be build and field tested in Phase II. The spectral output of the HCl infrared lamp was measured and was found to be consistent with earlier theoretical predictions. This HCl lamp was used in conjunction with a room temperature HCl absorption cell to demonstrate the potential sensitivity of the approach to measure small ambient HCl concentrations. Even with the relatively crude nature in which the emission-absorption measurements were made, we were able to demonstrate detectable absorption down to 2 ppm for a field instrument. With the improved HCl lamp design and the real time self calibrating optical layout presented in this proposal, we are confident that ambient HCl concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm can be detected with the Phase II instrument.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA163119

Entities

People

  • F. Bien
  • L. S. Bernstein
  • M. W. Matthew

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption Coefficients
  • Absorption Spectra
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Cells
  • Coefficients
  • Detectors
  • Emission Spectra
  • Filters
  • Geometry
  • High Temperature
  • Lamps
  • Light Sources
  • Losses
  • Measurement
  • Radiation
  • Space Shuttles

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Physics

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Software Engineering
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Space