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Title: Vertical flow chemical detection portal

Abstract

A portal apparatus 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.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
  2. Russellville, SC
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
872350
Patent Number(s):
5915268
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
vertical; flow; chemical; detection; portal; apparatus; screening; persons; presence; trace; amounts; substances; illicit; drugs; explosives; space; person; stand; defined; upright; spanned; horizontal; transom; fans; generate; downward; air; uni-directional; flows; downwardly; pressure; upper; zone; past; screened; moving; dislodges; surface; volatile; nonvolatile; particles; target; substance; entrained; continues; flowing; reduced; particle-bearing; stream; directed; preconcentrator; components; specially; configured; partially; contain; maintain; upper zone; air flows; reduced pressure; air stream; air flow; chemical substance; trace amounts; trace amount; flows downwardly; air moving; chemical detection; vertical flow; flowing downward; /73/422/

Citation Formats

Linker, Kevin L, Hannum, David W, and Conrad, Frank James. Vertical flow chemical detection portal. United States: N. p., 1999. Web.
Linker, Kevin L, Hannum, David W, & Conrad, Frank James. Vertical flow chemical detection portal. United States.
Linker, Kevin L, Hannum, David W, and Conrad, Frank James. Fri . "Vertical flow chemical detection portal". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872350.
@article{osti_872350,
title = {Vertical flow chemical detection portal},
author = {Linker, Kevin L and Hannum, David W and Conrad, Frank James},
abstractNote = {A portal apparatus 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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1999},
month = {1}
}