Electronic field permeameter

Patent · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:867099

Chandler, Mark A ^[1]; Goggin, David J ^[2]; Horne, Patrick J ^[2]; Kocurek, Gary G ^[3]; Lake, Larry W ^[2]

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1. Madison, WI
2. Austin, TX
3. Roundrock, TX

For making rapid, non-destructive permeability measurements in the field, a portable minipermeameter of the kind having a manually-operated gas injection tip is provided with a microcomputer system which operates a flow controller to precisely regulate gas flow rate to a test sample, and reads a pressure sensor which senses the pressure across the test sample. The microcomputer system automatically turns on the gas supply at the start of each measurement, senses when a steady-state is reached, collects and records pressure and flow rate data, and shuts off the gas supply immediately after the measurement is completed. Preferably temperature is also sensed to correct for changes in gas viscosity. The microcomputer system may also provide automatic zero-point adjustment, sensor calibration, over-range sensing, and may select controllers, sensors, and set-points for obtaining the most precise measurements. Electronic sensors may provide increased accuracy and precision. Preferably one microcomputer is used for sensing instrument control and data collection, and a second microcomputer is used which is dedicated to recording and processing the data, selecting the sensors and set-points for obtaining the most precise measurements, and instructing the user how to set-up and operate the minipermeameter. To provide mass data collection and user-friendly operation, the second microcomputer is preferably a lap-type portable microcomputer having a non-volatile or battery-backed CMOS memory.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA
• Assignee: Board of Regents University of Texas System (Austin, TX)
• Patent Number(s): US 4864845
• OSTI ID: 867099
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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