Patent ID: 6615145
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: B01D,G01N

Abstract:
A method for systematically determining substances (S) having a particle character which are moving with a vertical component in a fluid flow towards a multiplet of calibrated sediment traps each having known trap and flow parameters, wherein a plurality of accumulation equations are utilized for determining mass accumulations of a plurality of particle groups (P1, P2, . . . Pn), the steps of the method comprising:a) determining trap-specific mass accumulations in a plurality of sediment traps T1 . . . TN, wherein the number of the plurality of sediment traps is equal to the number of the plurality of particle groups (P1, P2, . . . Pn), each sediment trap having different trap parameters which lie above a range of measuring uncertainties and a sinking/raising velocity spectrum (VM) of the plurality of particle groups (P1, P2, . . . Pn); and b) determining a vertical in-situ mass flux [(ISM)Pn] of the plurality of different particle groups (P1, P2, . . . Pn) and a derived total in-situ mass flux [(ISM)P] of a collectable particle spectrum (P) of a free fluid column (FC) representing a regional measuring site (MA) in a multiplicity of selected time intervals (tN) at a plurality of measuring locations (MPN), wherein all of the plurality of particle groups (P1, P2 . . . Pn) are present, by solving the plurality of utilized accumulation equations thereby producing concentrations c0n of the plurality of particle groups (P1, P2, . . . Pn) which, when multiplied by the sinking/raising velocity spectrum (VM), provides the vertical in-situ mass flux [(ISM)Pn] and the derived total in-situ mass flux [(ISM)P] values.