Portable volatile organic compound monitoring system

• US 5,356,594 A
• Filed: 03/03/1992
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Thermo Environmental Instruments Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Thermo Environmental Instruments Incorporated
• Inventors: Dwinell, John F., Nemergut, Michael T. III, Neel, Edward M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David A.
• Application Number:
  US07/846,272
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 422/54, 422/83, 422/94, 422/95.98, 422/62, 422/67, 250/288, 436/3, 364/497, 364/499, 364/550, 364/551.01, 73/25.03, 73/25.05, 73/31.02, 73/31.03, 73/31.05
• US Class Current: 422/54
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/20 using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/205 Accessories or associated equipment; Pump constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/224 for valves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2276 Personal monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/626 using heat to ionise a gas
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0009 General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment G01N1/22 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable (handheld) volatile organic compound monitoring system for monitoring, for fugitive emissions, a device that includes a coded identification tag. The system includes a housing, a tag reader, analysis chamber structure, a sample probe coupled to the analysis chamber, and pump structure for drawing a gas sample to be analyzed through the sample probe into the analysis chamber. Ionization apparatus is coupled to the analysis chamber for ionizing a gas sample drawn into the analysis chamber from the device being monitored, and a sensor responsive to ionized gas in the chamber produces an output signal as a function of an ionization characteristic of the ionized gas. First storage stores a plurality of response factors as a function of various types of volatile organic compounds to be monitored, second storage stores tag information read by the tag reader, and circuitry responsive to tag information stored in the second storage selects a response factor from the first storage. Microprocessor apparatus responsive to tag information, selected response factor information, and the sensor output signal produces an output indicative of volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration at the monitored device.

Claims

1. A portable volatile organic compound monitoring system for monitoring a device that includes a coded identification tag, said system comprising housing structure, tag reader structure in said housing structure, and analyzer and data storage unit, said unit comprising:

means defining an analysis chamber, a sample probe fixed to said housing structure and coupled via a conduit to said analysis chamber;

means for drawing a gas sample to be analyzed through said sample probe into said analysis chamber;

ionization apparatus coupled to said analysis chamber for ionizing a gas sample drawn into said analysis chamber through said sample probe from the device being monitored;

sensor apparatus responsive to ionized gas in said analysis chamber for producing an output signal as a function of an ionization characteristic of the ionized gas;

first storage means for storing a plurality of response factors as a function of various types of volatile organic compounds to be monitored;

second storage means for storing tag information read by said tag reader structure;

circuitry means responsive to tag information stored in said second storage means for selecting a response factor from said first storage means; and

microprocessor apparatus responsive to response factor information from said first storage means selected in response to said stored tag information from said second storage means and said sensor apparatus output signal for producing an output indicative of volatile organic compound concentration at the monitored device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said ionization apparatus is of the flame type.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said response factors include factors for aromatic compounds, unsaturated compounds, saturated compounds, ketones, and alcohols.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said tag reader structure includes a laser that provides an output beam, scanner mirror structure for oscillating said output beam to scan a bar code, a reader sensor, and second mirror structure for reflecting radiation from said scanned bar code to said reader sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said ionization apparatus includes a conduit for supplying a gas sample from said probe to said analysis chamber, a collector electrode, an ignitor, a temperature sensor and the outlet port of a fuel supply tube, said collector electrode, ignitor, temperature sensor and tube outlet port being disposed in said analysis chamber, fuel supplied through said fuel supply tube being adapted to be ignited by said ignitor to ionize said gas sample for sensing by said collector electrode.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said system further includes a battery for powering said microprocessor apparatus.

7. A portable volatile organic compound monitoring system for monitoring a device that includes a coded identification tag, said system comprising housing structure, tag reader structure positioned and arranged as an integral part of said housing structure, and analyzer and data storage unit, said unit comprising:

means defining an analysis chamber, a sample probe coupled via a conduit to said analysis chamber;

means for drawing a gas sample to be analyzed through said sample probe into said analysis chamber;

ionization apparatus coupled to said analysis chamber for ionizing a gas sample drawn into said analysis chamber through said sample probe from the device being monitored;

sensor apparatus responsive to ionized gas in said analysis chamber for producing an output signal as a function of an ionization characteristic of the ionized gas;

first storage means for storing a plurality of response factors as a function of various types of volatile organic compounds to be monitored,

second storage means for storing tag information read by said tag reader structure;

circuitry means responsive to tag information stored in said second storage means for selecting a response factor from said first storage means; and

microprocessor apparatus responsive to response factor information from said first storage means selected in response to said stored tag information from said second storage means and said sensor apparatus output signal for producing an output indicative of volatile organic compound concentration at the monitored device.

8. A portable volatile organic compound monitoring system for monitoring a device that includes a coded identification tag, said system comprising a handheld probe-reader unit with a handle portion and tag reader structure, analyzer and data storage unit, said unit comprising:

means defining an analysis chamber, a sample probe coupled via a conduit to said analysis chamber;

means for drawing a gas sample to be analyzed through said sample probe into said analysis chamber;

ionization apparatus coupled to said analysis chamber for ionizing a gas sample drawn into said analysis chamber through said sample probe from the device being monitored;

sensor apparatus responsive to ionized gas in said analysis chamber for producing an output signal as a function of an ionization characteristic of the ionized gas;

first storage means for storing a plurality of response factors as a function of various types of volatile organic compounds to be monitored;

second storage means for storing tag information read by said tag reader structure;

circuitry means responsive to tag information stored in said second storage means for selecting a response factor from said first storage means; and

microprocessor apparatus connected to said probe-reader unit, said microprocessor apparatus being responsive to response factor information from said first storage means selected in response to said stored tag information from said second storage means and said sensor apparatus output signal for producing an output indicative of volatile organic compound concentration at the monitored device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said probe-reader unit includes a sample probe fixed to and protruding forwardly from said probe-reader unit and a scanner reader that generates a beam of radiation for reading a bar code on a tag that is associated with a component to be monitored.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said first storage means stores a plurality of parameters including leak limit values;

said response factors;

operating modes;

averaging times; and

background subtraction values.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said tag reader structure includes a laser that provides an output beam, scanner mirror structure for oscillating said output beam to scan a bar code, a reader sensor, and second mirror structure for reflecting radiation from a scanned bar code to said reader sensor.

12. A portable volatile organic compound monitoring system for monitoring a device that includes a coded identification tag, said system comprising a handheld probe-reader unit with a handle portion and an analyzer and data storage unit connected to said probe-reader unit, said probe-reader unit including a sample probe fixed to and protruding forwardly from said probe-reader unit and a reader that generates a beam of radiation for reading a bar code on a tag that is associated with a component to be monitored,

said analyzer including means defining an analysis chamber,

means for drawing a gas sample to be analyzed through said sample probe into said analysis chamber,

ionization apparatus coupled to said analysis chamber for ionizing a gas sample drawn into said analysis chamber through said sample probe from the device being monitored,

sensor apparatus responsive to ionized gas in said analysis chamber for producing an output signal as a function of an ionization characteristic of the ionized gas;

said data storage unit including first storage means for storing a plurality of response factors as a function of various types of volatile organic compounds to be monitored, and second storage means for storing tag information read by said reader,

circuitry means responsive to tag information stored in said second storage means for selecting a response factor from said first storage means, and

microprocessor apparatus responsive to response factor information from said first storage means selected in response to said stored tag information from said second storage means and said sensor apparatus output signal for producing an output indicative of volatile organic compound concentration at the monitored device.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said first storage means stores a plurality of parameters including leak limit values;

said response factors;

operating modes;

averaging times; and

background subtraction values;

said response factors including factors for aromatic compounds, unsaturated compounds, saturated compounds, ketones, and alcohols.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said ionization apparatus is of the flame type, and includes a conduit for supplying a gas sample from said sample probe to said analysis chamber, a collector electrode, an ignitor, a temperature sensor and a fuel supply tube, said collector electrode, ignitor, temperature sensor and outlet ports of said conduit and said fuel supply tube being disposed in said analysis chamber, the fuel supplied through said fuel supply tube being adapted to be ignited by said ignitor to ionize said gas sample for sensing by said collector electrode.