Wind direction-based air sampling

• US 10,119,890 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enrud Resources Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Enrud Resources Incorporated
• Inventors: Massengale, Roy W., Boudreaux, Jr., Wayne T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Larkin, Daniel S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Megna Fuentes, Anthony W
• Application Number:
  US15/017,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20170227428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 7386321, 7386323, 7386301
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2214 by sorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2247 Sampling from a flowing stream of gas
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/02 Indicating direction only, e.g. by weather vane

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for air sampling and emissions monitoring based on wind direction, including determining concentrations of air toxics, are contemplated. Some embodiments comprise detecting wind flowing in a first direction and a second direction, exposing a sample collection device to air in response to detecting the first direction and preventing exposure of the sample collection device to air in response to the second direction. Some apparatuses comprise a direction detector, an enclosure, and a sample preventer. Some embodiments comprise a purger configured to purge the sample collection device when preventing exposure of the sample collection device to air. In some embodiments, the sample collection device comprises a diffusive sorbent tube. In some embodiments, the diffusive sorbent tube is configured to collect samples of benzene. Some embodiments comprise a wind vane and sensor configured to provide indication of wind direction. Some embodiments comprise a data collector.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting wind flowing in a first direction;

exposing a sample collection device to air, wherein the exposing is in response to the detecting wind flowing in the first direction, wherein the exposing the sample collection device comprises exposing a sample collection device comprising a sorbent;

detecting the wind flowing in a second direction; and

preventing exposure of the sample collection device to air in response to the detecting the wind flowing in the second direction, wherein the preventing exposure of the sample collection device comprises at least one of

closing a sample isolating cup over an open end of an enclosure,

wherein the enclosure retains the sample collection device; and

purging the sample collection device with a purge gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the purging the sample collection device with the purge gas comprises purging the sample collection device with nitrogen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the purging the sample collection device with the purge gas comprises purging the sample collection device with purge air from a cylinder.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the exposing the sample collection device to air comprises enabling the sample collection device to collect an air toxic in the air via adsorption.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the exposing the sample collection device to air comprises enabling the sample collection device to collect benzene in the air via adsorption.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the enabling the sample collection device to collect benzene comprises enabling a sorbent tube to collect the benzene via diffusion.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a direction detector, wherein the direction detector is configured to receive indication of the direction of wind, wherein the direction detector is configured to detect wind in a first direction via the indication, wherein the direction detector is configured to detect wind in a second direction via the indication;

an enclosure, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain a sample collection device, wherein the sample collection device comprises a sorbent; and

a sample preventer, wherein the sample preventer is configured to prevent exposure of the sample collection device to air in response to the direction detector detecting the first direction, wherein the sample preventer is configured to expose the sample collection device to air in response to the direction detector detecting the second direction, wherein the sample preventer is configured to prevent exposure of the sample collection device to air by coupling a sample isolating lid to the enclosure.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a wind vane and a sensor coupled to the wind vane, wherein the sensor is configured to provide the indication of the direction of wind.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the sample collection device and a second collection device, wherein at least one of the sample collection device and the second collection device comprises a diffusive sorbent tube.

8. The apparatus of 7, further comprising a purger, wherein the purger is configured to supply purge gas to the enclosure in response to the direction detector detecting the first direction.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the enclosure comprises a sample collector enclosure, wherein the preventer is configured to prevent the exposure of the sample collection device to air by coupling the sample isolating lid to the sample collector enclosure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the purger comprises a purge gas cylinder, a pressure regulator, and a solenoid valve coupled to the sample collector enclosure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the direction detector comprises a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the solenoid valve.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising battery coupled to the microcontroller, further comprising a solar panel coupled to the battery.

15. A system, comprising:

a wind indicator, wherein the wind indicator is configured to sense a first direction and a second direction of wind;

a direction detector, wherein the direction detector is configured to receive indication of the first direction and the second direction of wind from the wind indicator; and

a plurality of sampling stations, wherein at least one sampling station of the plurality comprises an enclosure, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain a sample collection device, wherein the at least one sampling station comprises a sample preventer, wherein the sample preventer is configured to prevent exposure of the sample collection device to air via a sample isolating cup in response to the direction detector receiving indication of the first direction of wind, wherein the sample preventer is configured to prevent exposure of the sample collection device to air by coupling the sample isolating cup to the enclosure, wherein the sample preventer is configured to expose the sample collection device to air in response to the direction detector receiving indication of the second direction of wind.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a second sampling station of the plurality comprises a second enclosure, wherein the second enclosure is configured to retain a second sample collection device, wherein the second sampling station comprises a second sample preventer, wherein the second sample preventer is configured to prevent exposure of the second sample collection device to air in response to the direction detector receiving indication of the second direction of wind, wherein the second sample preventer is configured to expose the second sample collection device to air in response to the direction detector receiving indication of the first direction of wind.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sample collection device and the second sample collection device comprise diffusive sorbent tubes.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a first purger coupled to the enclosure and a second purger coupled to the second enclosure, wherein the first purger is configured to apply a first purge gas to the sample collection device in response to the direction detector receiving indication of the first direction of wind, wherein the second purger is configured to apply a second purge gas to the second sample collection device in response to the direction detector receiving indication of the second direction of wind.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising at least one computer, wherein the at least one computer is configured to enable the sample preventer to prevent the exposure of the sample collection device to air, wherein the at least one computer is configured to enable the second sample preventer to prevent the exposure of the second sample collection device to air.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the sampling station and the second sampling station comprises a sorbent tube coupled to a pump.