Chemical trace detection portal based on the natural airflow and heat transfer of vehicles

Abstract

A portal is provided with a detector for detecting trace amounts of substances of interest that may be retained on the surface or interior of a vehicular subject. The portal relies upon the continuous process by which microscopic flakes of dust, dirt, pollen, and other surface and interior contaminants as well as adsorbed analyte media and analyte vapors continuously separate from the surface of vehicular subjects and escape from the interior of vehicular subjects. The portal further leverages the existence of a vehicular thermal plume consisting of a layer of warm air adjacent to the vehicular subject. The warm air rises in the cooler surrounding air and transports the microscopic flakes of surface contaminants, desorbed analyte, and analyte vapors upwardly. The portal capitalizes on this phenomenon by providing at least a partial enclosure with a funnel-shaped collector above the vehicular subject. A low speed flow of relatively dense cool air may be introduced into the portal to buoyantly lift the warmer air of the vehicular thermal plume upwardly. The air stream defined by the vehicular thermal plume and the contaminant particles, analyte media, and analyte vapors therein moves to a trap in the funnel-shaped collector above the portal. The trap cooperates with a detector for detecting the presence of molecules of interest.