State Board of Higher Education for and on Behalf of the University of

John C Cooper

Harvey E Birdseye

Russell J Donnelly

Apparatus and method relating to the monitoring of a gas supply to determine the level of certain gas constituents in the supply. There is disclosed a method of monitoring air to determine the hydrocarbon content thereof exclusive of methane. Air is fed through a cold trap maintained at a temperature which produces condensation of the higher hydrocarbons normally found in ambient air at an urban location. Methane, however, passes through the trap. From the cold trap the air is directed to an analyzer, which continuously analyzes the air for hydrocarbon content. Air having all original hydrocarbons is fed the analyzer during intervals interspersed with intervals when the air fed the analyzer has had higher hydrocarbons removed. By comparing the hydrocarbon content of the two types of air, one is enabled to determine the content in such air of hydrocarbons exclusive of methane.

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Eugene, OR, United States of America

John C Cooper