SwRI Wins Two 2017 R&D 100 Awards

SLED pipeline monitoring, HiPIPS surface coating technologies among
top inventions of the year

SAN ANTONIO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) took home two prestigious R&D 100
Awards from ceremonies held in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 17. R&D
Magazine recognized SwRI’s Smart Leak Detection and High Power Impulse
Plasma Source systems as being among the 100 most significant
innovations for 2017.

Smart LEak Detection

Leaks in the U.S. liquid hydrocarbon pipelines network exceeded 100,000
barrels each year between 2007 and 2012. Using algorithms to process
images from sensors scanning the infrastructure, SLED can autonomously
pinpoint small hazardous leaks before they become major problems, with
minimal false alarms. These sensors can be positioned at sensitive
pipeline junctures or deployed on drones to cost-effectively fly over
pipeline networks.

“It makes both environmental and economic sense to identify the smallest
oil and gas leaks as early as possible to help ensure environmental
safety and pipeline system reliability,” said SwRI’s Maria Araujo, lead
developer for SLED. “The SwRI solution fuses inputs from low-cost
optical sensors and applies machine learning techniques to reliably
detect the chemical ‘fingerprints’ of small hazardous liquid leaks,
before they become major spills. It can differentiate between a
hydrocarbon and an innocuous puddle of water.”

High Power Impulse Plasma Source surface coatings

SwRI’s HiPIPS system generates coatings using high-density, high-flux
plasmas at low temperatures and atmospheric pressures. These coatings
extend the life, enhance the properties and prevent damage and corrosion
of materials and components. HiPIPS is a convenient, cost-effective
alternative to surface engineering techniques that typically require
thermal processes or vacuum chambers. Potential applications include
coatings on plastics, textiles and biologically sensitive materials as
well as depositing protective metallic and ceramic coatings as an
environmentally friendly alternative to electroplating.

“HiPIPS has already had groundbreaking successes in developing coatings
for defense applications,” said SwRI’s Dr. Vicky Poenitzsch, who led
HiPIPS’ development. “HiPIPS outperforms other ambient pressure plasmas
and rivals vacuum plasma systems and could revolutionize the surface
engineering industry.”

“Since 1971, SwRI has won 43 R&D 100 Awards, which, in our business, are
considered the ‘Oscars of Invention,’” said SwRI President and CEO Adam
L. Hamilton, P.E. R&D 100 Awards are selected by an independent panel of
judges and editors of R&D Magazine to honor the top technology products
of the year.

For more information, visit http://swri.org.

https://www.swri.org/press-release/swri-wins-two-2017-rd-100-awards

Contacts

Southwest Research Institute
Deb Schmid, 210-522-2254
[email protected]