Background
Many current sensors, including gas concentration analyzers based on laser absorption spectroscopy, provide simultaneous, precise, and accurate measurement of gases (e.g., CO2 and N2O) for agriculture, soil science, ecological, and emissions quantification applications. However, they are often expensive to produce and operate. Recent research in the field has focused on observing diurnal fluctuations of these gases at multiple study sites with different treatments simultaneously. The cost and availability of multiple sensors are significant hurdles in making such examinations possible. With the interest in greenhouse gases (GHG) growing, it is essential to measure CO2, N2O, CH4 for many agricultural and other settings cost effectively and simultaneously.
Invention Description
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed an auto-switching gas and fluid intake apparatus that can sample multiple sites simultaneously. This device utilizes several micro-controlled solenoid valves to every input sampling line from the study site that can utilize the high throughput characteristics of the sensor to analyze multiple sites. This can be extremely useful in natural system settings, including greenhouse and plot scale experiments.
Potential Applications
- Agricultural technology
- Soil and agronomy research
- Climate and environmental monitoring
- Industrial manufacturers
- Government agencies and NGOs
Benefits and Advantages
- Cost-effective
- High-throughput
- Enhanced research capabilities
- Improved data quality
- Scalable