Mining Contract: Multivariable Gas Sensors for Personal Monitoring of Breathable Air

Contract Status & Impact

This contract is complete. To receive a copy of the final report, send a request to mining@cdc.gov.

Existing personal monitors for breathable air (CH4, CO, and O2 gases) utilize individual gas sensors that are based on mature traditional gas-sensing technologies. Although these personal monitors are adopted in the mining industry, they have three prominent recognized limitations that are addressed under this research contract: (i) high system cost leading to inability to provide each worker with a personal monitor, (ii) high gas cross-sensitivity leading to false alarms, and (iii) poor stability leading to frequently scheduled functional tests (bump tests). Under previous NIOSH research contracts, GE Global Research has developed low energy multivariable sensors that are capable of quantifying multiple gases, immune to interferences and offer the potential for low-cost manufacturing.

By developing a single, wearable monitor for breathable gases based on multivariable gas sensing technology, GE Global Research will provide a simplified, single-sensor electronic device that is efficient in both power usage and cost. The combined monitor will also offer enhanced detection selectivity and more stable responses than current technologies.