Methane Emission: Why it Matters

The world is buzzing with recent research and awareness of the dangerous properties and global effects of methane gas - its loss, reach, and impact. Let’s explore the top 3 important methane arenas.

  • Dangerous Greenhouse Gas: Methane is currently the third most prevalent greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and water vapor. Since it is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, methane emissions will leap as Earth warms.  (Princeton University, ScienceDaily, 27 March 2014). Additionally, methane as the main ingredient of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas that has more than 80 times the warming impact of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after its release. The methane lost to leakage is worth an estimated $2 billion, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, enough to heat 10 million homes in the U.S. (University of Colorado Boulder, 21 June, 2018).

  • Home Hazard: Since the natural gas delivered to your home is 85 to 95 percent methane, natural gas leaks are predominantly methane. While methane poses the greatest threat to the climate because of its greenhouse gas potency, natural gas contains other hydrocarbons that can degrade regional air quality and are bad for human health (CNBC, 2018: The US Natural Gas Industry Leaking Way More Methane Than Ever Before).

  • Oil & Gas Industry: The U.S. oil and gas industry emits 13 million metric tons of the potent greenhouse gas methane from its operations each year, 60 percent more than estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EDF.org). Researchers found most of the emissions came from leaks, equipment malfunctions and other "abnormal" operating conditions. The climate impact of these leaks in 2015 was roughly the same as the climate impact of carbon dioxide emissions from all U.S. coal-fired power plants operating in 2015. (University of Colorado Boulder, 21 June, 2018). Additionally, global oil and gas industries allow as much as 3.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas — and almost certainly far more — to escape into the atmosphere annually. The leakage rate represents at least $30 billion in lost revenues (Forbes.com, 2015).

Solution: "Natural gas emissions can, in fact, be significantly reduced if properly monitored," said Colm Sweeney, an atmospheric scientist in NOAA's Global Monitoring Division. "Identifying the biggest leakers could substantially reduce emissions that we have measured."

Enter the THzDC QuiC SLED™.

Science confirms methane is a problem that requires urgent attention, and our methane-tuned mid-IR LED (the methane QuiC SLED™) can be a driving force in assisting home and industry systems to monitor and mitigate methane gas emissions.

* Contact us today to learn more about how our methane LED can be instrumental in your solutions.

What are you breathing right now?

What is your PAQ™? What is the quality of the air you are breathing right now?  Everybody cares, nobody knows. THzDC QuiC SLED™ sensors and detectors enable hyper-local air quality monitoring, or what we like to call Personal Air Quality™ (PAQ™). With our LEDs you can have real-time access to information about your exposure to harmful gases like CO, C02, ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene, and other VOCs.

Personal Air Quality™ plays a crucial role in today’s sensor market.  Increasing indoor and outdoor air quality consciousness is driving PAQ™ sensor sales given the need for portable, networked, wearable and/or battery operated solutions.  According to WHO (World Health Organization), air pollution is ranked as the world’s largest environmental health risk which causes about 7 million deaths every year.  In fact 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air. From yet another perspective, air pollution causes more deaths annually than cigarette smoking.  So knowing the quality of the air around you is imperative now more than ever.

WHO estimates that around 7 million people die every year from exposure to polluted air that penetrates deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disea…

WHO estimates that around 7 million people die every year from exposure to polluted air that penetrates deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections, including pneumonia (Ccacoalition.org May, 2018).

THzDC  QuiC SLED™ sensors and detectors are specifically designed to protect personal health and environmental safety by assisting in the monitoring and regulation of C02, Ammonia, Formaldehyde and VOCs. Our products can be directly instrumental in solutions for personal air quality. Knowing your PAQ™ increases your awareness of both indoor and outdoor air quality, so you can live safer, healthier, and happier.  

Contact us today to learn more about our mid-IR LED products: info@thzdc.com

"The Greatest Showman" - Dr. Mark Miller

It’s been “Showtime” for Mark who was a notable speaker and presenter at both the IDTech Ex Show in Berlin and the SPIE Defense and Commercial Sensing Conference in Baltimore recently. The Thzdc team also exhibited at both shows and welcomed many familiar, friendly faces and exciting new connections as we discussed the impact of our gas sensing LEDs in today’s industrial markets.

It is always exciting to inform solution seekers of the impact our Quantum Interband Cascade Superlattice Light-Emitting Diodes (Quic SLED™) can have on environmental and health sensing needs. We specifically like to share how our LEDs perform better than lasers, alloys, or other less effective LED’s. We listen to your platform or module needs at these shows - and hear you! Below are just a few of the aspects we know you are looking for in a superior LED.

  • Network-capable

  • Battery operated

  • Lower power use

  • Higher power output

  • Maximum efficiency

  • Longevity

  • Selectivity

  • Multi-gas options

  • Low price, low price, low price!

We can easily answer these needs and many others with our new product line of improved CO2 LEDs and new LEDs targeting methane, formaldehyde, benzene, VOCs, even gases in the LWIR.

So if you are in the oil and gas industry, smart building / HVAC world, electric car race, or other environmental and health sensing realms, contact us today. We can help you find the solutions on your road to success!

Top 10 sensing applications for mid-IR LEDs

We hope your 2019 is off to a fantastic start and that exciting things are on the horizon for you this year!

 

Sitting at the proverbial round table here at THzDC, we are reflecting on the success and excitement of 2018.  The gas-sensing LED market continues to heat up, and as we set our sights on targets for this year, we thought we would share some market validation (and even a few cool surprises) for featured applications for our QuiC SLED™ (mid-IR LED’s).

Many gas sensing applications become possible because of or otherwise benefit from mid-IR LEDs. In comparison to the other options (MEMS, laser diodes, alloy LEDs, and thermal heat sources), our QuiC SLEDs provide increased light, higher power output, lower power consumption, no cooling required, lower cost, and increased longevity as some of the benefits our customers are seeking.

In previous years, we have shared this Harvard Study, conducted in Fall 2016. It has gained more traction this year. The gist of the article is that increased CO2 in your “personal air space” has a greater impact on your cognitive function than previously considered. This includes impacts of CO2 levels in your home, your car, your workplace, and even your child’s nursery and classrooms.

We are continually researching current and new applications for our cool semiconductor chips, and relish new ideas and conversations from the market. Some of the fun highlights from our interactions this last year include

  1. Personal space sensing – what is happening in your personal air space?  “Personal Air Quality” or PAQ™ is the latest and most impactful trend as we see the shift from global gas sensing to your own personal space.  “Personal air quality” is defined as: knowing the quality/health of the air (CO2, CO, VOCs, NOX, and other gases important for health) in my personal space and what I am exposed to throughout the day. Referencing (again), the Harvard Study (cognitive impacts of CO2 in homes, cars, workplace, classrooms, etc), this concept is becoming of paramount importance – possibly overshadowing the global environmental sensing opportunities. (More to come on this topic in the coming months).

  2. Popular gas sensing – Increased interest in methane, ozone, & formaldehyde. These sensor devices & systems already exist and are ready for our LEDs.

  3. Automotive sector – clean air cabins, emissions, fuel efficiency. These sensor devices & systems are in research and development phases.


Other items & applications of interest:

  1. Litter box – using gas sensors to create smart litter boxes. Your cat will be so impressed!

  2. Diapers – Is there really an effective and easy method to knowing if your child’s (or elderly or disabled) diaper is soiled before the chafing and rashes set in? It seems so…

  3. Carbon emissions – Industries are now providing increased compensation for decreased emissions.

  4. Home sensing – Alexa, Echo, Nest, Siri, et al – these home sensing devices are becoming very popular with increased distribution throughout our communities and increased sensing opportunities with each version.

  5. Health sensing in your breathe – these gases (including NH3, CO2, CO, CH4, NOx, VOCs and more) can be measured in people’s breath to signify/identify health risks & issues – both chronic and acute

  6. Mobile device sensing

  7. Local global & community air quality maps. (see cool AQI maps and other resources here)


Yes – ALL of these applications can be sensed with mid-IR LEDs. 

So what is your application for 2019 that wasn’t possible before?

Let us know what you are up to in the coming year! 

What is your Personal Air Quality™?

What is your PAQ™?

Personal Air Quality, or PAQ™ (we really like acronyms with “Qs” here), is defined as knowing the quality/health of the air (CO2, CO, VOCs, and other gasses important for health) in your personal space and understanding what you are exposed to throughout the day. 

In recent newsletters and blog posts, we have referenced PAQ™ as a growing priority for people in our communities — specifically with people who have health issues that relate to the air they breathe. 

While there seems to be limited information about PAQ™ and the monitoring of your personal air space, the online shopping sites have a great selection of devices that will help you monitor your air space. 

Here are some links to more information about air monitoring: 

  • The EPA has an “air monitor toolbox” here. 

  • Emerging technology means anyone with a smartphone can become a mobile environmental monitoring station. Read more from the Smithsonian Magazine here. 

Do you have experience with Personal Air Quality (PAQ™) monitoring? We would love to hear from you.

Studies showcase cognitive impairment from increased CO2

This Harvard Study, conducted in Fall 2016, has gained some traction in recent months. It currently (at the time of this publication) has been cited an estimated 137 times! The gist of the article is that increased CO2 in your “personal air space” has a greater impact on your cognitive function than previously considered. This includes impacts of CO2 in your home, your car, your workplace, and even your child’s classrooms. More to come on “personal air space”. 

Here are some recent articles that also reference (or resemble) this study: 

  1. Your Brain on Carbon Dioxide: Research Finds Even Low Levels of Indoor CO2 Impair Thinking (article featured in the Cal Berkeley Alumni Association website)

  2. The Impact of Green Buildings on Cognitive Function (Researchers from Harvard’s Center for Health and the Global Environment on how green buildings positively affect health, cognitive function)

  3. Research: Stale Office Air Is Making You Less Productive  

We will let you ponder these studies and leave you with a favorite quote from Ben Franklin: 

“I am persuaded that no common air from without is so unwholesome as the air within a close room that has been often breathed and not changed.”

Sensors Expo

Want to learn more about our mid-IR LEDs for health, environment or IoT sensing? Here’s a link to join us in San Jose next week.

  • Sensors Expo – Booth #1231

  • DATES: Wednesday – Thursday, June 27-28, 2018

  • LOCATION: San Jose, California

We will be showcasing our QuiC SLED™ CO2 sensor and detector, and can answer questions about your custom mid-IR LED needs including sensing at various wavelengths from 3µm – 12µm. These wavelengths are great for sensing CO2, CO, ethanol, NH3, methane, glucose, and more.

If you are interested in learning more about our mid-IR LEDs and how they are the best option for most sensing applications, then join us in San Jose, California next week and let’s talk.

Last year’s highlights included some fun and exciting interests for the sensing world. The prominent market demands that stood out for us included:

  • Automobile sensing – clean air cabins is a hot topic and the car industry is moving faster than we have ever experienced to install sensors for CO2, VOCs and more. What a refreshing change!

  • Smart Cities – San Jose has been on board for a bit but many other urban areas around the globe are using IoT technology and, more specifically, gas sensing technology on lamp posts to detect carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ground level ozone, sulfur dioxide, and gas leaks.

  • Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Buildings – smart HVAC can sense CO2, VOCs and other gases to save money and keep people thinking & functioning better. It’s kind of a big deal.

  • Wearables – between smart watches, smart phones, smart suits, and other devices, health sensing seems to be on the fast track, sensing everything from your heart rate to glucose to ethanol.

  • Robots – need we say more?!?

And guess what?

Our own patented QuiC SLED technology can be fine tuned at various mid-IR wavelengths to sense all of these and more!

Funny Story – Our CO2 sensing demonstration seemed to malfunction a bit, or so we thought, at the end of the first day of the expo. The next morning, when the demonstration oscilloscope peaked better than before, we realized that the levels of CO2 in the exhibition hall were impacting our ability to run our own demonstration…. No wonder everyone was dragging by the end of the day!

For more information about our mid-IR LEDs and how you can use them to improve your gas sensing products, contact us to discuss your specific sensing needs.

Mid-IR LEDs to compete with lasers?

Emerging Mid-IR LEDs are competing with lasers in health & environmental sensing, according to Dr. Mark Miller, as featured in the latest edition of Laser Focus World magazine.

LEDs emerge in environmental and health sensing markets

The voracious appetite of the internet-of-things for high-volume, inexpensive optical sensor nodes favors mid-infrared LEDs over lasers for many unmet environmental and health sensing needs. Quantum interband cascade superlattice light emitting diodes (QuiC SLEDs) bring the wavelengths and performance to make these billion-node applications possible.

In this article, there is a complete review of the evolution of mid-IR LEDs, quantum engineering, and a comparison of the QuiC SLED™ to other alloy LEDs, thermal heat sources, and laser diodes.

Click here to read the article.

Mid-IR LEDs and what we learned Sensors

Sensors Expo 2017 was a great event, as expected, and we connected with some wonderful people. We were pleasantly surprised with the interest in, and enthusiasm for, mid-IR LED sensors. The prominent market demands that stood out for us included a few surprises.

Top areas of interest at the conference:

Automobile sensing – clean air cabins is a hot topic and the car industry is moving faster than we have ever experienced to install sensors for CO2, VOCs and more. What a refreshing change!

Smart Cities – San Jose has been on board for a bit but many other urban areas around the globe are using IoT technology and, more specifically, gas sensing technology on lamp posts to detect carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ground level ozone, sulfur dioxide, and gas leaks. 

Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Buildings – smart HVAC can sense CO2, VOCs and other gases to save money and keep people thinking & functioning better. It’s kind of a big deal. 

Wearables – between smart watches, smart phones, smart suits, and other devices, health sensing seems to be on the fast track, sensing everything from your heart rate to glucose to ethanol. 

Robots – need we say more?!?

And guess what?

Our own patented QuiC SLED technology can be fine tuned at various mid-IR wavelengths to sense all of these and more!

Funny CO2 Sensing Story

Our CO2 sensing demonstration seemed to malfunction a bit, or so we thought, at the end of the first day of the expo. The next morning, when the demonstration oscilloscope peaked better than before, we realized that the levels of CO2 in the exhibition hall were impacting our ability to run our own demonstration…. No wonder everyone was dragging by the end of the day! 

For more information about our mid-IR LEDs and how you can use them to improve your gas sensing products, contact us to discuss your specific sensing needs.