Systems and methods for mobile environmental testing and analysis

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for a mobile scientific or measuring platform. In one aspect, a mobile scientific platform may include a vehicle having an electric energy source and a measuring device, such as a mass spectrometer, coupled to the electric energy source. An input line may be coupled to the measuring device and one or more sample collectors, for example, for obtaining gas samples. In some aspects, the input line may include a heating element configured to maintain a line temperature that is equal to or above the temperature of the samples collected, to reduce or prevent the formation of condensates in collected samples. In some aspects, the mobile scientific platform may run, or be switched to run, on electric, propone, compressed natural gas, or other similar fuel to enable the collection of gas samples free of (or having reduced levels of) vehicle caused contamination.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile measuring system comprising:
 a vehicle having an electric energy source;   a measuring device coupled to the electric energy source;   an input line coupled to the measuring device; and   a sample collector coupled to the input line, wherein the sample collector obtains a sample at a first temperature, and wherein the input line comprises a heating element configured to maintain a line temperature that is equal to or above the first temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises a propulsion source, and wherein the propulsion source further comprises a combustion engine. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the propulsion source can be operated using at least one of gas or diesel fuel, and wherein the propulsion source can be switched to operate using at least one of propane or compressed natural gas. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system comprises a switch operable to switch the source of fuel of the propulsion source from gasoline or diesel to propane or compressed natural gas based on whether the measuring device is receiving a sample from the input line. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the propulsion source comprises a cooling system, and wherein the input line is coupled to the cooling system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the input line comprises a sample tube and wherein the heating element comprises two heating tubes each adjacent to the sample tube, and wherein the two heating tubes are coupled to the cooling system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a trailer removably coupled to the vehicle, wherein the trailer houses at least a part of the electric power source. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle comprises a propulsion source, and wherein the propulsion source can be operated using at least one of gas or diesel fuel, and wherein the propulsion source can be switched to operate using at least one of propane or compressed natural gas, and wherein the trailer houses the propane or compressed natural gas. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric power source comprises an array of batteries configured to provide continuous operational power to the measuring device for at least twelve hours. 
     
     
         10 . A method of collecting air samples for measurement utilizing a mobile platform, the method comprising:
 detecting that a measuring device removably attached to a mobile platform is active;   based on the detecting, switching a propulsion source of the vehicle to one of propane, compressed natural gas, or electric;   obtaining an air sample using a sample collector that is coupled to the measuring device; and   analyzing the sample and generating a notification based on the analyzing.   
     
     
         11 . the method of  claim 10 , wherein obtaining the air sample further comprises obtaining the air sample via a supply line that is coupled to the measuring device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein obtaining the air sample further comprises maintaining a minimum temperature of the air sample in the supply line using liquid coolant obtained from a cooling system of the propulsion source of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid coolant runs adjacent to an air sample tube of the supply line. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein obtaining the air sample further comprises obtaining the air sample with a vapor collector, wherein the vapor collector comprises a first and second hollow tube each having perforations, and wherein the first tube is positioned at least partially inside the second tube such that the perforations of the first and second hollow tubes do not overlap. 
     
     
         15 . A portable scientific platform comprising:
 a mobile vehicle;   a sampling device coupled to the mobile vehicle for taking a gas sample;   a de-condensation device for removing condensation from the gas sample and outputting a processed sample; and   an analysis device for analyzing the processed sample.   
     
     
         16 . The portable scientific platform of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile vehicle comprises a propulsion source, wherein the propulsion source does not contaminate the gas sample. 
     
     
         16 . The portable scientific platform of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile vehicle is switchable from operating on a contaminating propulsion source to a non-contaminating propulsion source, to enable taking a contaminant-free gas sample while the vehicle is moving. 
     
     
         17 . The portable scientific platform of  claim 15 , wherein the sample device further comprises a two layered filtering device, wherein the two layers each have perforations, and wherein the perforations do not overlap. 
     
     
         18 . The portable scientific platform of  claim 17 , wherein the two layers each form a tube that is closed at a common end. 
     
     
         19 . The portable scientific platform of  claim 15 , wherein the de-condensation device comprises a supply line that is heated to at or above an ambient temperature of the gas sample taken. 
     
     
         20 . The portable scientific platform of  claim 19 , wherein the heating element comprises two lines adjacent to a sample line, wherein the two lines carry heated coolant from a heating/cooling system of the vehicle.