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Portable vapor diffusion coefficient meter

Patent ·
OSTI ID:909586
An apparatus for measuring the effective vapor diffusion coefficient of a test vapor diffusing through a sample of porous media contained within a test chamber. A chemical sensor measures the time-varying concentration of vapor that has diffused a known distance through the porous media. A data processor contained within the apparatus compares the measured sensor data with analytical predictions of the response curve based on the transient diffusion equation using Fick's Law, iterating on the choice of an effective vapor diffusion coefficient until the difference between the predicted and measured curves is minimized. Optionally, a purge fluid can forced through the porous media, permitting the apparatus to also measure a gas-phase permeability. The apparatus can be made lightweight, self-powered, and portable for use in the field.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM
Sponsoring Organization:
United States Department of Energy
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Number(s):
7,229,593
Application Number:
10/280,231
OSTI ID:
909586
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (5)

A Comparison of Methods for Predicting Gaseous Diffusion Coefficients journal July 1965
Gas Diffusion in Porous Media journal July 1959
An experimental investigation of air venting of volatile liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from homogeneous and heterogeneous porous media journal November 1992
In-Situ Chemiresistor Sensor Package for Real-Time Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds in Soil and Groundwater journal January 2002
Analytical Inverse Model for Multicomponent Soil Vapor Extraction journal June 1998

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