TECHNICAL PAPERS
Oct 1, 1990

Gas‐Transfer Measurements Using Headspace Analysis of Propane

Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 116, Issue 6

Abstract

A sampling and analysis procedure for the tracer measurement of gas transfer is presented. Dissolved propane was used as a gas‐transfer tracer. The propane samples were analyzed by a headspace gas chromatographic technique that was tested as an alternative to the purge‐and‐trap technique previously used for tracer measurements. Headspace analysis is simple, fast, precise, and does not require the extensive apparatus required by the purge‐and‐trap technique, so that any gas‐chromatography laboratory can perform it. Headspace analysis was found to give excellent results with low uncertainty and a low limit of detection. Gas‐transfer measurements were performed on flow across a large‐scale laboratory weir. A detailed uncertainty analysis was conducted for the transfer measurements. The results are applicable to other tracer measurements of gas transfer, and the head‐space technique may be applied, with modifications, for the laboratory analysis of any volatile compound.

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Published In

Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 116Issue 6October 1990
Pages: 1107 - 1124

History

Published online: Oct 1, 1990
Published in print: Oct 1990

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Authors

Affiliations

John R. Thene, Associate Member, ASCE
Civ. Engr., Harza Engrg. Co., 150 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606
John S. Gulliver, Member, ASCE
Assoc. Prof., St. Anthony Falls Hydr. Lab., Dept. of Civ. and Mineral Engrg., Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455

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