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FY2005 FRED Database Project Description:

Project Information

 

 

Project Title:

BNL: In Field, Continuous, Non-invasive Soil Carbon Scanning System

 

Project I.D.:

13W0205-AACH133

 

FE Program:

Carbon Sequestration

 

Research Type:

Applied Research        

 

Funding Memorandum:

Field Office Work Agreement            

 

 

Project Performer

 

 

Performer Type:

DOE/National Laboratory

 

Performer:

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)

 

Performer Address:

P.O. Box 5000
Brookhaven National Laboratory

 

Other Project Team Members:

 

 

 

Project Dates

 

 

Project Start Date:

1-Jun-03

 

Project End Date:

30-Sep-05

 

 

Project Location

 

 

City:

Upton

 

State:

NY

 

ZIP Code:

11973-5000

 

Congressional District:

1

 

Responsible FE Site:

NETL

 

 

Project Contact

 

 

Name:

Wielopolski, Lucian

 

Telephone:

(631) 344-3656

 

Fax Number:

         

 

Email Address:

lwielo@bnl.gov

 

 

DOE/FE Contact

 

 

Name:

Litynski, John T

 

Telephone Number:

(304) 285-1339

 

Site Location:

NETL

 

Email Address:

John.Litynski@netl.doe.gov

 

 

Cost & Funding Info.

 

 

Total Estimated Cost:

$885,200

 

DOE Share:

$885,200

 

Non-DOE Share:

$0

 

 

Project Description

 

 

Project Description:

This project develops a robust; flexible; non-invasive; scanning system for monitoring and verifying temporal changes in soil carbon in situ over large areas.  The objectives of this project are: (1) to design and construct a continuous Soil Carbon Scanning (SCS) system for field measurements; and (2) to characterize; calibrate and test the SCS system in a calibrated sand pit and in well characterized fields. The method is based on Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) of fast neutrons from the carbon nucleus and detection of the subsequently emitted 4.4 MeV gamma rays.  Proof-of-principle has been demonstrated in a double blind studies at three different sites where the results of an INS system were compered successfully versus chemical analysis of core samples taken from the same place. The results from feasibility studies suggested that the requirement to measure changes of 100 gC/M2 could be met with a precision of about 5%. The proposed system will be towed in the field at normal speeds of 5 to 10 mph. Since the events of inducing carbon gamma radiation are very fast; below a microsecond; at these scanning speeds the soil is being analyzed continuously resulting in a measurement of the true carbon mean value over the measured area. In the future the system performance can be improved by using taged neutrons from a system that is being developed. The scanning times of large fields will depend on the final footprint that is covered by a single pass of the system. The anticipated benefit from such a system is its capability to monitor belowground carbon balances without disturbing the soil. Furthermore; the system enables continuous scanning of large areas thus providing a true mean carbon concentration in soil. The proposed system enables for the first time repetitive measurement of the same site resulting in sequential monitoring of large areas. Collaboration with soil scientists from USDA ARC; as recommended by the NETL staff; will be established for final system testing using theirs well characterized fields.This novel system for stationary measurements was initially funded by the Cerbon Sequestration Research Program in the DOE Office of Science.



Key Words: Scanning System; Gamma Spectroscopy; Neutron Generator; Carbon Sequestration; Inelastic Neutron Scattering

 

Project Background:

 

 

Project Accomplishments:

[NOTE: Updated information not available beginning 2004]

 

 

 

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