Proposed algorithm for determining the delta intercept of a thermocouple psychrometer curve
The USGS Hydrologic Investigations Program is currently developing instrumentation to study the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Surface-based boreholes up to 2,500 feet in depth will be drilled, and then instrumented in order to define the water potential field within the unsaturated zone. Thermocouple psychrometers will be used to monitor the in-situ water potential. An algorithm is proposed for simply and efficiently reducing a six wire thermocouple psychrometer voltage output curve to a single value, the delta intercept. The algorithm identifies a plateau region in the psychrometer curve and extrapolates a linear regression back to the initial start of relaxation. When properly conditioned for the measurements being made, the algorithm results in reasonable results even with incomplete or noisy psychrometer curves over a 1 to 60 bar range.
- Research Organization:
- US Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AI08-92NV10874
- OSTI ID:
- 138658
- Report Number(s):
- USGS-OFR-92-490; ON: DE93016278; TRN: 93:016534
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
HYDROLOGY
PSYCHROMETRY
ALGORITHMS
WATER SATURATION
DATA ANALYSIS
THERMOCOUPLES
EXTRAPOLATION
MEDIUM PRESSURE
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
WATER VAPOR
VAPOR CONDENSATION
EVAPORATION
CALIBRATION
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
PASCAL
COMPUTER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
Yucca Mountain Project