Collapsible Heat-Sealable Sampling Pouch for Soil Gas Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional soil and gas sampling methods using rigid containers lead to isotopic signature alteration and contamination due to atmospheric gases, making subsequent analysis difficult, especially in remote locations where bulky and expensive equipment is impractical.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible sample collection pouch with a heat-sealable, multilayer film bag featuring a removable funnel for protected sample loading, a mechanical seal, and an air-tight port for controlled gas sampling, along with a clip for securing the pouch and creating multiple seals to prevent contamination and dilution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid containers are used for sample collection, then sample containment is achieved, but sample dilution and contamination by atmospheric gases occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible pouch made of heat-sealable film material instead of rigid containers. This flexible film allows the pouch to be collapsed and sealed around the sample, creating a tight seal that prevents atmospheric gas contamination while maintaining reliable sample containment during transport and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The pouch is designed with a pre-formed structure that allows air to be squeezed out before sealing. The user can compress the pouch to remove atmospheric gases from the headspace before final sealing, preventing contamination and dilution of the sample by atmospheric gases.
2Reliability
If rigid containers are used for sample collection, then sample containment is achieved, but device portability and cost-effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible pouch made of thin film material is significantly lighter than rigid containers while providing adequate sample containment. This enables portability for field work in remote regions without sacrificing sample containment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pouch is designed as a disposable, low-cost device that can be easily replaced. This eliminates the need for expensive, heavy rigid containers and complex cleaning protocols, making the system both portable and cost-effective for field operations.
3Reliability
If samples are stored in containers with headspace, then sample storage is achieved, but isotopic fractionation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch design allows users to squeeze out air and minimize headspace before sealing. By removing atmospheric gases from the headspace prior to sealing, the pouch prevents isotopic fractionation that would otherwise occur during storage, maintaining the stability of the sample's isotopic signature.
Solution Approach 2:
The pouch creates an inert environment by excluding atmospheric gases from the headspace. This prevents chemical reactions and isotopic exchange between the sample and atmospheric gases, preserving the original isotopic composition during storage.
4Ease of operation
If traditional sampling equipment is used in remote regions, then sample collection is achieved, but logistical cost and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable pouch eliminates the need for expensive, complex rigid containers and their associated cleaning and sterilization equipment. Users can simply use, seal, and dispose of the pouch in the field, greatly simplifying operations in remote regions without requiring complex logistical support.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible, lightweight pouch is easy to transport and deploy in remote areas without requiring heavy equipment or complex infrastructure. Its simplicity makes it ideal for field operations where logistical support is limited.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pouch effectively reduces sample dilution and contamination, maintaining the isotopic signature by allowing controlled air removal and providing a secure, portable means for collecting and storing samples without fractionation, enhancing the accuracy of isotopic analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the film defining the interior portion and adjacent said opening comprising a heat sealable material
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible bag or pouch for collecting samples of soil, mud, liquid and gases, having an internal mechanical seal and a heat sealable area near the opening that is protected during sample loading, preferably by a funnel detachable from the pouch. After loading and prior to heat sealing the pouch is secured from the outside by mechanical interlocking seal. The bag also has an air-tight port for sampling the gaseous headspace after the bag is sealed.