IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0883254
(2004-06-30)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Hubbell,Joel M.
- Sisson,James B.
- Schafer,Annette L.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
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Exfiltrometer apparatus includes a container for holding soil. A sample container for holding sample soil is positionable with respect to the container so that the sample soil contained in the sample container is in communication with soil contained in the container. A first tensiometer operatively
Exfiltrometer apparatus includes a container for holding soil. A sample container for holding sample soil is positionable with respect to the container so that the sample soil contained in the sample container is in communication with soil contained in the container. A first tensiometer operatively associated with the sample container senses a surface water potential at about a surface of the sample soil contained in the sample container. A second tensiometer operatively associated with the sample container senses a first subsurface water potential below the surface of the sample soil. A water content sensor operatively associated with the sample container senses a water content in the sample soil. A water supply supplies water to the sample soil. A data logger operatively connected to the first and second tensiometers, and to the water content sensor receives and processes data provided by the first and second tensiometers and by the water content sensor.
대표청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. Exfiltrometer apparatus for estimating at least one unsaturated hydrologic property of sample soil, comprising: a container for holding soil; a sample container for holding the sample soil, said sample container being positionable with respect to said container when said cont
What is claimed is: 1. Exfiltrometer apparatus for estimating at least one unsaturated hydrologic property of sample soil, comprising: a container for holding soil; a sample container for holding the sample soil, said sample container being positionable with respect to said container when said container contains the soil so that the sample soil contained in said sample container is in communication with the soil contained in said container; a first tensiometer operatively associated with said sample container so that said first tensiometer senses a surface water potential at about a surface of the sample soil contained in said sample container; a second tensiometer operatively associated with said sample container so that said second tensiometer senses a first subsurface water potential below the surface of the sample soil contained in said sample container; a water content sensor operatively associated with said sample container so that said water content sensor senses a water content in the sample soil contained in said sample container; a water reservoir operatively associated with said sample container so that water from said water reservoir may be introduced to the sample soil contained in the sample container; and a data logger operatively connected to said first and second tensiometers, and to said water content sensor, said data logger receiving and processing data provided by said first and second tensiometers and by said water content sensor. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sample container defines a first subsurface opening therein, said first subsurface opening being located at a first position below the surface of the sample soil contained within said sample container, said second tensiometer being operatively associated with said first subsurface opening so that said second tensiometer senses the first subsurface water potential. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sample container defines a surface opening therein, said surface opening being located at about the surface of sample soil contained within said sample container, said first tensiometer being operatively associated with said surface opening so that said first tensiometer senses the surface water potential. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third tensiometer operatively associated with said sample container so that said third tensiometer senses a second subsurface water potential below the surface of the sample soil contained in said sample container, said third tensiometer being connected to said data logger. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said sample container defines a second subsurface opening therein, said second subsurface opening being located at a second position below the surface of the sample soil contained within said sample container, said second position being below said first position, said third tensiometer being operatively associated with said second subsurface opening so that said third tensiometer senses the second subsurface water potential. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said water content sensor comprises at least one probe, said water content sensor being positioned with respect to said second tensiometer so that said at least one probe is located at about same subsurface depth as a subsurface depth of the first subsurface water potential sensed by said second tensiometer. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one probe of said water content sensor is mounted to an inner wall of said sample container. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said sample container defines at least one water content probe opening therein sized to receive said at least one probe of said water content sensor, so that said at least one probe of said water content sensor extends through said sample container into the sample soil contained within said sample container. 9. A method of estimating at least one unsaturated hydrologic property of sample soil, comprising: providing an amount of soil; positioning a sample container on the soil; filling the sample container with the sample soil so that the sample soil within the sample container communicates with the soil; adding water to the sample soil until the sample soil is substantially saturated; allowing the sample soil to dry by allowing the soil to absorb water from the sample soil contained in the sample container; and sensing at least a surface water potential, a subsurface water potential, and a water content of the sample soil as the sample soil dries. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing an amount of soil comprises providing an amount of soil having a tension of at least about 300 cm. 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising sensing a second subsurface water potential at a level below a level at which is sensed said subsurface water potential. 12. Exfiltrometer apparatus for estimating at least one unsaturated hydrologic property of in-situ soil contained in a soil environment, comprising: a sample container defining a proximal end, a substantially open distal end, and an interior region substantially between said proximal and distal ends, said sample container being positionable within the soil environment so that the distal end of said sample container penetrates to a depth in-situ soil in the soil environment, said sample container isolating an in-situ soil sample within the interior region defined by said sample container; a water supply operatively associated with said sample container so that water from said water supply may be introduced into the in-situ soil sample isolated by said sample container; a first tensiometer operatively associated with said sample container so that said first tensiometer senses a surface water potential at about a surface of the in-situ soil sample isolated by said sample container; a second tensiometer operatively associated with said sample container so that said second tensiometer senses a first subsurface water potential below the surface of the in-situ soil sample isolated by said sample container; a water content sensor operatively associated with said sample container so that said water content sensor senses a water content in the in-situ soil sample isolated by said sample container; and a data logger operatively connected to said first and second tensiometers and to said water content sensor, said data logger receiving and processing data provided by said first and second tensiometers and by said water content sensor. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said sample container defines a first subsurface opening therein, said first subsurface opening being located at a first position below the surface of the in-situ soil sample isolated by said sample container, said second tensiometer being operatively associated with said first subsurface opening so that said second tensiometer senses the first subsurface water potential. 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said sample container defines a surface opening therein, said surface opening being located at about the surface of the in-situ soil sample isolated by said sample container, said first tensiometer being operatively associated with said surface opening so that said first tensiometer senses the surface water potential. 15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a third tensiometer operatively associated with said sample container so that said third tensiometer senses a second subsurface water potential below the surface of the in-situ soil sample isolated by said sample container, said third tensiometer being connected to said data logger. 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said sample container defines a second subsurface opening therein, said second subsurface opening being located at a second position below the surface of the in-situ soil sample isolated by said sample container, said second position being below said first position, said third tensiometer being operatively associated with said second subsurface opening so that said third tensiometer senses the second subsurface water potential. 17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said water content sensor comprises at least one probe, said water content sensor being positioned with respect to said second tensiometer so that said at least one probe is located at about same subsurface depth in the in-situ soil sample isolated by said sample container as a subsurface depth of the first subsurface water potential sensed by said second tensiometer. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said at least one probe of said water content sensor is mounted to an inner wall of said sample container. 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said sample container defines at least one water content probe opening therein sized to receive said at least one probe of said water content sensor, so that said at least one probe of said water content sensor extends through said sample container into the in-situ soil sample isolated by said sample container. 20. A method of estimating at least one unsaturated hydrologic property of in-situ soil in a soil environment, comprising: positioning a sample container defining a proximal end, a substantially open distal end, and an interior region substantially between the proximal and distal ends within the soil environment so that the distal end of said sample container penetrates to a depth in-situ soil in the soil environment, said sample container isolating an in-situ soil sample within the interior region defined by the sample container; adding water to the sample container until the in-situ soil sample isolated by the sample container is substantially saturated; allowing the in-situ soil sample to dry using soil within the soil environment and not isolated by said sample container to pull water from the in-situ soil sample isolated by the sample container; and sensing at least a surface water potential, a subsurface water potential, and a water content of the soil sample isolated by the sample container as the soil dries. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising sensing a second subsurface water potential at a level below a level at which is sensed said subsurface water potential.
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