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IPRO team engineers smarter, safer rail transport.
Problem
In spite of exemplary safety records, railroads and equipment suppliers continue to focus on innovative ways
to make their systems even safer. Union Tank Car Company, part of the Chicago-based Marmon Group, enlisted
the help of IIT students to create a new system to remotely identify chlorine and other gas leaks from
chemical transport tank cars. The system needed to allow leaks to be detected on any car, in any location
and transmit that information to the shipper at their location.
Solution
After learning the properties of the chemicals being shipped, the IPRO team developed categories of sensors
to detect those chemicals, the wireless communications network to report leaks, and the business plans to
allow a company to produce, price and market the sensor system profitably. This team effort was sustained
over a two-year period in collaboration with Union Tank Car. Students from chemical engineering, chemistry,
electrical engineering and other fields were guided by faculty with expertise in chemical sensors and other
advisers that helped the team address the telecommunication challenges.
Sponsors
Union Tank Car, a member of The Marmon Group of companies and the National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance (NCIIA)
Faculty Advisor
Joseph Stetter, Research Professor of Chemistry
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