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Amanda Polley |
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Participants Summer Internships 2002 Main Page
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GRC is developing gas-sensing technology for aeronautic and space applications. Sensor technology began in order to improve the detection of low concentration hydrogen gas leaks in Space Shuttle. Research has moved to detect other gases, such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen oxides, in recent years for such applications as fire detection and emissions monitoring for engines. I assisted with the gas sensing testing for a new “type” diode. This sensor was designed to detect hydrocarbons as well as hydrogen. The hydrocarbons tested were ethylene, methane, and propylene. The test consists of the designated flow of gas over the sensor—alternating oxidizing and reducing environments (by changing the gas flowing over the system). During the test the current, time, and voltage are monitored. The current versus time (IT) graph demonstrated visually if the sensor has detected the desired gas. The current versus voltage (IV) graph characterizes the diodes current carrying behavior. It was a time for me to review physics laws and learn new things. The Chemical Species Gas Sensor team has been testing sensor types since 1998. The center did not have a database for all the sensors. Using an old database in Microsoft Access, I model a new database with File Maker Pro. I spent a lot of my time learning the program. I did some learning by just playing, but majority of learning came from using other resources such as the NASA Glenn Learning Center. I had difficulties with connecting the data files to program. I did figure it by the end. I hope it will be a very useful tool for the researchers. Updating the website for the team was a complex challenge; however, it was a valuable project for me. I’ve never been exposed to chemical sensors before my internship. The website was a way for me to read and re-read information and gain a better understanding of what the team did. Another aspect of the website was learning the government regulations. Since September 11, 2001, government regulations became stricter. I not only saw this with security issues on the center but with the website as well. I attended seminars on laws and regulations for the site and implemented them. The website is not up for the public yet. Like most internship, L.E.R.C.I.P. is an excellent opportunity to network. Not only did I have the opportunity to interact with researchers and staff at GRC and other students from around the country in all majors, I attended the NASA Sensor Working Group Workshop for all NASA centers and members of industry and lectures from visiting faculty at Ohio Aerospace Institute. My position as chemical sensor intern was an excellent opportunity to learn from brilliant researchers and other students and observe how a federal agency is run. |
My name is Amanda Polley. I am a senior chemical engineering student at
Tri-State. This summer I had the opportunity to be an intern at the NASA
Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, Ohio. The internship was
through the Lewis Educational and Research Cooperative Internship Program
(L.E.R.C.I.P.) (