You are here

SBIR Phase I: Airborne Soot Sensor for Improving Fuel Efficiency and Reducing Pollutants

Award Information
Agency: National Science Foundation
Branch: N/A
Contract: 0908567
Agency Tracking Number: 0908567
Amount: $98,458.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: EL
Solicitation Number: NSF 08-548
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
110 Glenn Way #15
San Carlos, CA 94070
United States
DUNS: 625147132
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 James White
 DPhil
 (650) 610-0720
 jwhite@activespectrum.com
Business Contact
 James White
Title: DPhil
Phone: (650) 610-0720
Email: jwhite@activespectrum.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project will test the feasibility of increasing diesel fuel economy while reducing soot to below EPA emissions standards for diesel exhaust by adjusting fuel injection timing using feedback from an inexpensive soot sensor that can be placed in the exhaust path and replace the currently employed expensive and fuel inefficient soot filtering devices. It is proposed to reduce fuel consumption 2-5% by replacing the current expensive (~$3000) diesel soot filter system with an inexpensive (<$150) sensor & feedback system that will keep soot levels below EPA standards and increase fuel economy by adjusting fuel injection timing. The proposal will determine if the measurements from this sensor can be used to adjust fuel injection timing to reduce soot levels to below EPA standards while increasing engine performance, both of which are theoretically possible. In addition to increasing fuel efficiency and decreasing diesel powered vehicle costs, the EPA will require the use of such sensors on all diesel vehicles starting in 2012. This sensor will be usable on all diesel engines, thus greatly reducing a major cause of pollutants in all major cities. In fact, the EPA estimates that 60,000 people die in the US each from airborne particulate matter pollutants. Finally, a fuel economy savings of 2-4% on diesel engines could have a significant economic impact.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government