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US 11,307,129 B2Granted
Automatic gas sorption apparatus and method
AssigneeSavannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
InventorsSimona E. Hunyadi Murph, Henry T. Sessions, Michael A. Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Automated apparatuses for use in examining gas sorption materials are described. Devices utilize a noncontact magnetic induction heating approach for controlling the temperature of tested materials. The apparatuses can be used to generate single or multiple isotherms simultaneously. The apparatuses can examine nanogram or microgram-scale quantities of materials of interest and can do so automatically and unattended. Pressure-composition isotherms can be provided through use of disclosed apparatuses in a period of a few hours.
Claims20
A gas sorption apparatus comprising:
- a first sample holder;
- a gas inlet to the first sample holder, the gas inlet comprising a first valve;
- a gas outlet from the first sample holder, the gas outlet comprising a second valve;
- a heating system comprising a magnetic induction heating coil, where the first sample holder is locatable within a magnetic field of the magnetic induction heating coil;
- and
- a control system in communication with the first valve, the second valve, the first sample holder, and the magnetic induction heating coil, the control system being configured to selectively control operation of the first valve to allow a controlled amount of a gaseous sample to be fed to the first sample holder, the control system being configured to selectively control operation of the second valve to allow a controlled amount of the gaseous sample to be removed from the first sample holder, the control system being configured to selectively control current flow through the magnetic induction heating coil to control the temperature of a gas sample within the first sample holder.
3 more elements
A method for examining sorption characteristics of a gaseous sample comprising:
- introducing or removing a first aliquot of a gaseous sample to/from a sample holder, the sample holder comprising a sorption material and a magnetic material;
- controlling the temperature of the gaseous sample and the sorption material within the sample holder by controlled use of a magnetic induction heating coil, wherein the magnetic material is within a magnetic field of the magnetic induction heating coil and wherein the magnetic material is in thermal communication with the sorption material;
- measuring a change in pressure within the sample holder following the introduction or removal of the first aliquot of the gaseous sample to/from the sample holder to determine a first equilibrium pressure of the gaseous sample with the sorption material;
- automatically repeating the introducing, controlling, and equilibrium pressure determination steps a plurality of times;
- and
- developing a first pressure-composition isotherm diagram from data collected during the repetitions.
3 more elements
The method 10, further comprising:
- introducing or removing a second aliquot of a second gaseous sample to/from a second sample holder, the second sample holder comprising a second sorption material and a second magnetic material;
- controlling the temperature of the second gaseous sample and the second sorption material within the second sample holder by controlled use of the magnetic induction heating coil, wherein the second magnetic material is within the magnetic field of the magnetic induction heating coil and wherein the second magnetic material is in thermal communication with the second sorption material;
- measuring a change in pressure within the second sample holder following the introduction or removal of the second aliquot of the second gaseous sample to/from the second sample holder to determine a second equilibrium pressure of the second gaseous sample with the second sorption material;
- automatically repeating the introducing, controlling, and equilibrium pressure determination steps involving the second sample holder a plurality of times;
- and
- developing a second pressure-composition isotherm diagram from data collected during the repetitions;
- wherein
- the first pressure-composition isotherm diagram and the second pressure-composition isotherm diagram are developed simultaneously.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.