Programmable atmospheric sampling systems and methods

• US 6,167,766 B1
• Filed: 10/17/1997
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Savannah River Company
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Savannah River Company
• Inventors: Pak, Donald J., Bushart, Bryan, Huffmann, Russell K., Dunn, David L., Immel, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US08/953,114
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 738/633.1, 738/630.1, 738/643.4
• US Class Current: 73/863.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/18 with provision for splitting samples into portions G01N1/12, G01N1/14 take precedence; fraction-collection apparatus for chromatography B01D15/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/26 with provision for intake from several spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2071 Removable sample bottle

Abstract

A sampling system controller includes a control unit for interfacing with a collection chamber module having a plurality of sampling chambers. The control unit controls the times at which the sampling chambers acquire samples of a fluid flow and control flow rates into the sampling chambers. The timing of the sampling chambers and the flow rates may be programmed by a user and downloaded into the control unit through an interface. The control unit measures the flow rate of the fluid flow to be sampled and controls the flow rate through each sampling chambers in order to achieve a desired and known rate through the sampling chambers. The flow rates through the fluid flow and through the sampling chambers are recorded on a data module. The control unit may be equipped with a portable weather station for monitoring weather conditions and with a global positioning system for determining a geographic position of the sampling chambers. The weather and location information may be recorded on the data module. The flow rates through the sampling chambers are controlled by a flow assembly that is easily removed and replaced. The flow assembly has a set of jumpers which specify the flow range of the assembly and which is read by the control unit. A hand-held service module is used to program the sampling system. The service module has a keypad for receiving inputs from a user and has a switch for toggling between an RS232 output or an RS485 output.

Claims

1. A sampling system for use with a collection chamber module having at least one collection chamber for obtaining a sample of a fluid flow and at least one valve for controlling fluid flow into the chamber, the sampling system comprising:

a pump for passing the portion of the fluid flow through the collection chamber when the valve is in a first state;

a flow controller for controlling a rate at which the portion of the fluid flow passes into the collection chamber;

an interface for receiving a desired rate at which the portion of the fluid flow should enter the collection chamber; and

a central processor for being programmed to have the desired rate from the interface and for communicating with the flow controller so that the rate at which the portion of the fluid flow passes into the collection chamber is the desired rate.

2. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a data module and a sensor for detecting the rate at which the portion of the fluid flow enters the collection chamber, wherein the central processor records the rate in the data module.

3. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a data module and a sensor for detecting a flow rate for the fluid flow, wherein the central processor records the flow rate in the data module.

4. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the collection chamber module includes a plurality of collection chambers and the central processor is for controlling fluid flow through each of the collection chambers.

5. The sampling system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the central processor independently activates each of the collection chambers.

6. The sampling system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the interface is for receiving an order out of plurality of possible orders in which the collection chambers are to sample the fluid flow and the central processor is programmed to control valves associated with the collection chamber to achieve the desired order.

7. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flow controller and the pump are detachably mounted to the central processor and the flow controller is for sampling a first analyte of interest, the system further comprising a second flow controller and second pump for sampling a second analyte of interest wherein the central processor controls the flow controllers so that sampling of the first analyte and the sampling of the second analyte occur simultaneously.

8. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the collection chamber module comprises a first collection chamber module and a second collection chamber module has at least one collection chamber and wherein the central processor is for switching to the second collection chamber module after each collection chamber in the first collection chamber module has been used.

9. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a weather station for detecting at least one weather condition and a data module for recording the at least one weather condition.

10. The sampling system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the valve is controlled by the central processor in response to an output of the weather station.

11. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system for determining a geographic position of the collection chamber and a data module for recording the geographic position.

12. The sampling system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the valve is controlled by the central processor in response to an output of the global positioning system.

13. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sampling system weighs less than 40 pounds.

14. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a data module for collecting data while the sample of the fluid flow is being obtained and wherein the data is capable of being retrieved during sampling of the fluid flow.

15. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a data module for collecting data while the sample of the fluid flow is being obtained and wherein the data module is removable from the sampling system.

16. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of collection chambers with each collection chamber being associated with one of a plurality of valves and wherein the central processor controls the valves so that a first set of collection chambers are receiving portions of the fluid flow and a second set of collection chambers are prevented from receiving any fluid flow.

17. The sampling system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the central processor controls the plurality of valves so that at least two of the collections chambers are concurrently activated.

18. The sampling system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the interface is for indicating the first set of valves and the second set of valves to the central processor.

19. The sampling system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the flow controller comprises a plurality of flow controllers and the central processor is programmed to independently set the flow controllers to desired rates of flow.

20. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for detecting a power failure and wherein the central processor recovers from the power failure in a user-defined manner.

21. The sampling system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for detecting a flow failure in the collection chamber and wherein the central processor recovers from the flow failure in a user-defined manner.

22. A sampling system for use with a collection chamber module having at least one collection chamber for obtaining a sample of a fluid flow, at least one pump for pumping fluid into the collection chamber and at least one valve for controlling fluid flow into the chamber, the sampling system comprising:

a first interface for receiving an operational command;

a central processor for receiving the operational command from the interface and for placing the operational command in memory, wherein the central processor is for receiving a desired flow rate from the first interface;

a flow controller for regulating fluid flow through the sampling system; and

a second interface for communications between the central processor and flow controller

wherein the central processor sends commands to the flow controller to control fluid flow in accordance with the operational command.

23. The sampling system of claim 22, wherein the central processor is for setting a desired flow rate for the flow controller through the second interface.

24. The sampling system of claim 23, wherein the central processor communicates with the flow controller, through the second interface, and wherein the flow controller receives feedback on an actual flow rate and adjusts the actual flow rate so that the actual flow rate is at the desired flow rate.

25. The sampling system of claim 22, wherein the central processor is for controlling the valve through the second interface.

26. The sampling system of claim 22, wherein the central processor is for controlling a solenoid through the second interface.

27. The sampling system of claim 22, wherein the central processor is for communicating with a plurality of flow controllers through the second interface.

28. The sampling system of claim 27, wherein the central processor assigns a unique identifier to each flow controller and communicates independently with each of the plurality of flow controllers.

29. The sampling system of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of valves, wherein the central processor independently controls each valve through the second interface.

30. The sampling system of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of solenoids, wherein the central processor independently controls each solenoid through the second interface.

31. A sampling system for use with a collection chamber module having at least one collection chamber for obtaining a sample of a fluid flow, at least one pump for pumping fluid into the collection chamber and at least one valve for controlling fluid flow into the chamber, the sampling system comprising:

a first interface for receiving an operational command;

a central processor for receiving the operational command from the interface and for placing the operational command in memory;

a flow controller for regulating fluid flow through the sampling system; and

a second interface for communications between the central processor and flow controller; and

a plurality of pumps, wherein each pump is associated with a different flow controller and the central processor independently controls each pump through the second interface;

wherein the central processor sends commands to the flow controller to control fluid flow in accordance with the operational command.