Biogas sampling apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11181513-B2
Application number	US-201816026504-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2018
Priority date	Jul 7, 2017
Publication date	Nov 23, 2021
Grant date	Nov 23, 2021

Abstract

There is provided a biogas flux chamber constructed in one embodiment from a metal can with an open bottom and an epoxy interior coating. The chamber is inserted into the soil to allow influx of soil gases. The lid includes a sampling septum and a vent tube to prevent pressure build-up when the lid is in place which allows for an increase in interior gas concentrations. The rubber sampling septum is installed in a hole in the lid. The vent tube is constructed using flexible copper tubing inserted through the lid and secured using a bulkhead-fitting, and rubber O-ring to seal the insertion hole. The copper tubing is bent to form a double-curved ‘C’ shape which positions the open ends of the tube above and below the lid surfaces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A biogas flux assembly for collecting biogas samples from the soil or other source, comprising:
(a) a collector formed of a gas impermeable material, said collector having a cylindrical sidewall, a collector top having a first and second aperture, and an open bottom, said sidewall and said collector top joined together to form a collector interior;
(b) a perforable septum installed in said first aperture of said collector top, wherein said septum is in fluid communication with said interior of said collector and with an exterior of said collector; and
(c) a hollow vent tube having a first and a second open terminus, said vent tube passing through said second aperture in said collector top and into said interior of said collector, said first terminus being situated external to said collector and said second terminus being situated within said collector interior, said vent tube providing fluid communication between said collector interior and an ambient atmosphere external to said collector.

2. The biogas flux assembly of claim 1 , wherein said collector top is removably joined to said cylindrical sidewall.

3. The biogas flux assembly of claim 1 , wherein said vent tube is made of copper.

4. The biogas flux assembly of claim 1 , wherein said vent tube comprises:
(c1) a hollow external vent tube and a hollow internal vent tube joined together at said second aperture,
said external vent tube being situated external to said collector and having an open external first terminus and an open external second terminus, said external first terminus being in fluid communication with an atmosphere external to said collector and with said collector interior through said external second terminus opening; and
said internal vent tube being situated within said collector interior and having an open internal first terminus and an open internal second terminus, said internal first terminus being in fluid communication with said atmosphere external to said collector through said external vent tube first terminus and in fluid communication with said collector interior through said internal second terminus.

5. An biogas flux assembly for collecting biogas samples from the soil or other source, comprising:
(a) a collector formed of a gas impermeable material, said collector having a cylindrical sidewall, a collector top having a first and second aperture, and an open bottom, said sidewall and said collector top joined together to form a collector interior;
(b) a perforable septum installed in said first aperture of said collector top, wherein said septum is in fluid communication with said interior of said collector and with an exterior of said collector;
(c) a hollow external vent tube and a hollow internal vent tube,
said external vent tube having an open first external end and an open second external end, said first external end being attached to said collector top at said second aperture, and said second external end being in communication with an atmosphere external to said collector,
said internal vent tube having an open first internal end and an open second internal end, said second internal end being attached to said collector top at said second aperture and in fluid communication with said first external end through said second aperture, said second internal end being in fluid communication with said interior of said collector.

6. The biogas flux assembly of claim 5 , wherein said external vent tube and said internal vent tube are made of copper.

Assignees

• Univ Oklahoma State

Inventors

• Konemann Charles E
• Kard Bradford M

Classifications

• Y02W30/40

  Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse · CPC title

• Y02E50/30

  Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel · CPC title

• C12M1/107

  with means for collecting fermentation gases, e.g. methane (producing methane by anaerobic treatment of sludge C02F11/04) · CPC title

• C05F17/90

  Apparatus therefor · CPC title

• C02F11/04

  Anaerobic treatment; Production of methane by such processes · CPC title