Autonomous rapid facility chemical agent monitor via smith-purcell terahertz spectrometry

• US 20080060455A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coyle, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,513,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/863.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2202 involving separation of sample components during sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/4022 by thermal techniques; Phase changes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/4033 sample concentrated on a cold spot, e.g. condensation or distillation

Abstract

A method and system for sampling high vapor pressure substances is provided. In one embodiment, a sample is pre-concentrated by compression and condensation, water is removed by a condensing gas dryer, particulates are removed from the sample with an electrostatic precipitator; and the sample is shuttled through a sintered core at high vapor pressure so that molecules are condensed on the surface of the sintered core. In another embodiment, a system for sampling high vapor pressure substances includes a shuttle having a first piston and second piston for shuttling a sample through a sintered core at high vapor pressure and a condensing heat exchanger between the first piston and the second piston, the condensing heat exchanger including the sintered core.

Claims

1. A method for sampling high vapor pressure substances, comprising:

pre-concentrating a sample by compression and condensation;

removing water by a condensing gas dryer;

removing particulates from the sample with an electrostatic precipitator; and

shuttling the sample through a sintered core at high vapor pressure so that molecules are condensed on the surface of the sintered core.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shuttling is performed by a shuttle having a first piston and a second piston for shuttling the sample through the sintered core, further wherein a condensing heat exchanger is between the first piston and the second piston, the condensing heat exchanger including the sintered core.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the condensing heat exchanger has a radial configuration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sintered core cools the sample to approximately room temperature.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rapidly cooling the sintered core by rarified pressure water boiling.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the sample at the sintered core through a heated inlet tube.

7. A system for sampling high vapor pressure substances, comprising:

a shuttle having a first piston and second piston for shuttling a sample through a sintered core at high vapor pressure; and

a condensing heat exchanger between the first piston and the second piston, the condensing heat exchanger including the sintered core.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sintered core is cooled rapidly by rarified pressure water boiling.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a heated inlet tube coupled to the sintered core for receiving the sample.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the condensing heat exchanger has a radial configuration.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

an electrostatic cleaner for receiving and filtering the sample.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a gas dryer coupled to the electrostatic cleaner for extracting water vapor from the sample.

13. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a compressor for compressing the sample.

14. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a spectrometer for measuring spectra of the sample.