Vertical flow chemical detection portal
Abstract
A portal apparatus is described for screening objects or persons for the presence of trace amounts of chemical substances such as illicit drugs or explosives. The apparatus has a test space, in which a person may stand, defined by two generally upright sides spanned by a horizontal transom. One or more fans in the transom generate a downward air flow (uni-directional) within the test space. The air flows downwardly from a high pressure upper zone, past the object or person to be screened. Air moving past the object dislodges from the surface thereof both volatile and nonvolatile particles of the target substance. The particles are entrained into the air flow which continues flowing downward to a lower zone of reduced pressure, where the particle-bearing air stream is directed out of the test space and toward preconcentrator and detection components. The sides of the portal are specially configured to partially contain and maintain the air flow. 3 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6366899
- Patent Number(s):
- 5915268
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 8-995777
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corp., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 22 Dec 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; AIR FLOW; CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES; CONTAINERS; DESIGN; DETECTION; DRUGS; HUMAN POPULATIONS; MONITORING; SABOTAGE; SAMPLERS; SECURITY; EQUIPMENT; EXPLOSIVES; FLUID FLOW; GAS FLOW; POPULATIONS; 450000* - Military Technology, Weaponry, & National Defense
Citation Formats
Linker, K L, Hannum, D W, and Conrad, F J. Vertical flow chemical detection portal. United States: N. p., 1999.
Web.
Linker, K L, Hannum, D W, & Conrad, F J. Vertical flow chemical detection portal. United States.
Linker, K L, Hannum, D W, and Conrad, F J. Tue .
"Vertical flow chemical detection portal". United States.
@article{osti_6366899,
title = {Vertical flow chemical detection portal},
author = {Linker, K L and Hannum, D W and Conrad, F J},
abstractNote = {A portal apparatus is described for screening objects or persons for the presence of trace amounts of chemical substances such as illicit drugs or explosives. The apparatus has a test space, in which a person may stand, defined by two generally upright sides spanned by a horizontal transom. One or more fans in the transom generate a downward air flow (uni-directional) within the test space. The air flows downwardly from a high pressure upper zone, past the object or person to be screened. Air moving past the object dislodges from the surface thereof both volatile and nonvolatile particles of the target substance. The particles are entrained into the air flow which continues flowing downward to a lower zone of reduced pressure, where the particle-bearing air stream is directed out of the test space and toward preconcentrator and detection components. The sides of the portal are specially configured to partially contain and maintain the air flow. 3 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1999},
month = {6}
}