Device and Methods for Rapid Drying of Porous Materials

A system for drying an asphalt sample, comprising:

• a cabinet;
• a sealable chamber in the cabinet, the chamber having an interior sized and configured to enclose an asphalt sample, the chamber comprising a vacuum port configured to be in fluid communication with a vacuum pump, the chamber further comprising an inlet port;
• a lid configured to seal the chamber with the lid positioned to be releasable at an upper portion of the cabinet to provide user access to the chamber;
• a first valve in communication with the inlet port of the chamber;
• a vacuum gauge in the cabinet, the vacuum gauge configured to measure vacuum pressure in the interior of the chamber;
• and
• a controller that:
• opens and closes the first valve to cycle the chamber between a first mode and a second mode a plurality of times while drying the asphalt sample, wherein during the first mode the first valve is closed and the vacuum pump is operated such that air is evacuated out of the chamber through the vacuum port, and wherein during the second mode the first valve is open and air is supplied through the inlet port to the interior of the chamber;
• monitors vacuum pressure in the chamber while the chamber is cycled between the first mode and the second mode a plurality of times while drying the asphalt sample;
• and
• determines when the monitored vacuum pressure reaches a predetermined value to identify the asphalt sample as dry.

A system for drying an asphalt sample, comprising:

• a cabinet;
• a display held by the cabinet;
• a sealable chamber in the cabinet, the chamber having an interior sized and configured to enclose an asphalt sample, the chamber comprising first and second spaced-apart ports, wherein the second port is a vacuum port configured to be in fluid communication with a vacuum pump;
• a lid configured to seal the chamber with the lid positioned at a top portion of the cabinet;
• a first valve in communication with the first port of the chamber;
• and
• a controller that:
• opens and closes the first valve to cycle the chamber between a first sealed state and a second unsealed state multiple times while drying the asphalt sample, wherein during the first sealed state the first valve is closed and the vacuum pump is operated such that air is evacuated out of the chamber through the second port, and wherein during the second unsealed state the first valve is open and air is supplied through the first port to the interior of the chamber;
• monitors vacuum pressure in the chamber while the chamber is cycled between the first sealed state and the second unsealed state;
• and
• displays operational data on the display while the chamber is cycled between the first sealed state and a second unsealed state.