An investigation of potential markets for an instrument for measuring non-methane hydrocarbons in ambient air by a cryogenic technique

Technical Report · Wed Jun 11 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:5009857

Seaton, C H

An instrument for measuring non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) in ambient air by using a cryogenic technique is investigated. This instrument, the cryogenic methane separator (CMS), provides a means of separately measuring total hydrocarbons, then methane, in ambient air, so that the difference between the two measurements is a measure of the NMHC in ambient air. This is accomplished by including a cryogenic cold trap which may be switched into or out of the internal flow lines, that condenses the NMHC when the flow passes through it, leaving only the methane to be measured by a flame ionization detector. When the flow bypasses the cold trap, the total hydrocarbons pass through and are measured. The potential market is defined and evaluated for instruments that have the capability to measure non-methane hydrocarbons and specifically, to evaluate markets for the CMS. Substantial attention is directed to the influence of EPA requirements for NMHC measurements on the market.

• Research Organization: Proformagen, Inc., San Diego, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5009857
• Report Number(s): PB-80-118557
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102 -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOL MONITORING
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORS
ALKANES
COLD TRAPS
CONDENSERS
CRYOGENICS
DESIGN
EVALUATION
HYDROCARBONS
MARKETING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METHANE
MONITORING
MONITORS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
TRAPS
VAPOR CONDENSERS