DEVELOPMENT OF A PORTABLE FAST RESPONSE TRACER ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR CONCENTRATION FLUCTUATION MEASUREMENTS

CONCENTRATION FLUCTUATION MEASUREMENTS OF A TRACER GAS CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE DISPERSION AND TRANSPORT OF AN AIR MASS. THERE HAS BEEN A DEARTH OF SUCH DATA BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF INEXPENSIVE, SIMPLE-TO-OPERATE INSTRUMENTATION MEETING THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS OF FAST RESPONSE, HIGH SENSITIVITY, AND STABILITY. IT IS THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH PROGRAM TO DEVELOP AN INEXPENSIVE, HIGHLY SENSITIVE, AND FAST RESPONSE REAL-TIME TRACER ANALYSIS SYSTEM WHICH WOULD MAKE MULTIPLE-POINT CONCENTRATION FLUCTUATION MONITORING PRACTICAL. THE PROPOSED ANALYSIS SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A SAMPLE HEAD, WHICH DRAWS IN THE AIR SAMPLE AND DETECTS THE TRACER GAS; AND A SEPARATE ELECTRONICS PACKAGE, WHICH PROVIDES THE POWER FOR THE DETECTOR. A PROTOTYPE SYSTEM WILL BE DESIGNED, FABRICATED, AND COMPLETELY TESTED IN THE LABORATORY. FOLLOWING THE LABORATORY EVALUATION, THE SYSTEM WILL BE MODIFIED AS NECESSARY TO PREPARE THE SYSTEM FOR FIELD USE. ONE IMPORTANT MODIFICATION WILL BE THE REDESIGN OF THE SMAPLE HEAD SO THAT IT MINIMALLY AFFECTS THE FLOW OF AIR CONTAINING THE TRACER GAS. EXTERNAL POWER WILL NOT BE REQUIRED FOR THIS SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM WILL MAINTAIN A CONSTANT CALIBRATION FOR AT LEAST 90 MINUTES,AND FIELD CALIBRATION WILL BE SIMPLE.