US 8,712,692 B2 · Method of measuring the flux of a soil gas

Abstract

A method for determining a flux of a gas contained in a medium through a boundary of the medium comprises 1) measuring at least twice with a probe a concentration C of the gas over a time interval Δt and 2) determining the flux of the gas using the following mathematical equation: (I) where F is the gas flux, D is the diffusivity value and ΔC is a variation in the gas concentration during the time interval Δt. The probe is placed proximate the boundary. The probe has a gas inlet, a cavity, a gas concentration sensor and a membrane. Each element is in fluid communication with each other so that the gas flows from the gas inlet through the membrane and contacts the gas concentration sensor. F = ( D ⁢ ∂ C ⁡ ( z , t ) ∂ z ) z = 0 = D ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ C πΔ ⁢ ⁢ t ( I )

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for determining a flux of a gas contained in a medium through a boundary, the method comprising:

measuring at least twice with a probe a concentration C of the gas over a time interval Δt, said probe being placed proximate the boundary, said probe having a gas inlet, a cavity, a gas concentration sensor and a membrane in fluid communication with each other so that the gas flows from said gas inlet through said membrane and contacts said gas concentration sensor;
and
determining the flux of the gas using the following mathematical relation:
F
=
(
D
⁢
∂
C
⁡
(
z
,
t
)
∂
z
)
z
=
0
where F is the gas flux, D is a diffusivity value of the gas and C(z,t) is said gas concentration as a function of both depth and time.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of measuring the flux of a soil gas

Life of this patent

Method of measuring the flux of a soil gas

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23