Every form of energy exploration and development, every choice in energy infrastructure and consumption, affects our land, water, and air. Duke researchers are at the forefront of efforts to understand and measure the environmental impact of energy production and use, and to find affordable, scalable and sustainable ways to meet growing global energy demands.
Our researchers examine materials, tools and processes that supply energy around the world and at all points along the production chain. The goal is to develop economically viable technologies and practices that will ensure a steady supply of energy into the future, while protecting human health and the environment.
With funding from ARPA-E, a Pratt laboratory has set out to revolutionize mass spectrometry, developing a portable and affordable device with specific applications to detect leaks of methane, one of the most important greenhouse gases, during energy production. Mass spectrometers are used to detect and differentiate elements and chemicals. They’re extremely sensitive devices—and also quite large, which means they are usually stationary. The team, led by professor of electrical and computer engineering Jeffrey Glass, has applied a “coded aperture” design that reduces size and cost while increasing sensitivity. This new device will be used as a tool to check for leaks at natural gas platforms, leading to increased production efficiency and reduced emissions.
Learn more about the Glass Laboratory’s project.
Learn more about Lynch’s research program.
Read more about the Vengosh team.