Abstract:
A vapor trap for detecting VOCs includes a housing, having a first end portion, a second end portion and at least one opening for receiving gas vapor. The housing is at least partially buried in ground with a vapor containment mechanism detachably connected to the first end portion of the housing. The vapor containment mechanism can be removed and replaced with a vapor sampling mechanism. An organic vapor analyzer can be connected in fluid relationship to the vapor sampling mechanism to measure VOCs. Optionally, a vacuum pump can be utilized to draw vapor into the vapor trap and then subsequently into the organic vapor analyzer. There can be a first selector valve located between the vapor sampling mechanism and the vacuum pump and a second selector valve located between the vapor sampling mechanism and the organic vapor analyzer. A preferred organic vapor analyzer is a photo-ionization detector.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/698,616, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/962,950, filed 25 Sep. 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,068. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to the field of gas detection and, more particularly, to an apparatus for trapping volatile organic gasses.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Although gas and vapor are two terms that are typically used interchangeably, the term “gas” is normally used for substances that exist completely as gases in room temperature. An example of a gas is oxygen. The term “vapor” is more commonly used for substances that generally exist as a liquid or solid at room temperature, although certainly capable of being present in a gaseous phase. Vapor pressure is a physical property of specific materials and is normally measured at a standard temperature of 77° Fahrenheit (25° Celsius). Chemical liquids or other substances that have a vapor pressure greater than the surrounding atmospheric pressure will evaporate into the atmosphere as a vapor and then diffuse outwards until an equilibrium pressure and uniform concentration is reached. Normally, the diffusing vapor (or gas) will reach equilibrium sooner if the volume of the space into which the vapor diffuses is confined or otherwise limited, as in a container, room or beneath a foundation slab. When the available volume into which gases or vapors can diffuse is limited, the resulting vapor pressure and gaseous concentration may reach equilibrium with the evaporating solid or liquid parent material (liquid being the more common of the two types of parent material) and no more material will evaporate. In this situation, the material will exist side-by-side in two different phases. If the available volume into which a gas is diffusing is essentially unlimited, such as the atmosphere itself as found in an uncovered outdoors location, the material will continue to evaporate and diffuse until it is all in the vapor state and the gaseous concentrations are so low as to be difficult to detect. Materials that have a tendency to evaporate at standard temperature and pressure are said to be volatile. If the materials are also organic compounds, they are called volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”).  
         [0004]     A nonlimiting example of a VOC is perchloroethylene (also known by an assortment of common other names including perc, perchloroethene, tetrachloroethylene, tetrachloroethene, and a variety of trade names), the most widely used chemical in the dry cleaning industry. Perc has a vapor pressure greater than the normal atmospheric pressure of 14.7 p.s.i. at standard temperature and therefore behaves as a VOC and will evaporate. As a liquid, perc has a low interfacial tension and viscosity and readily penetrates into and through typical concrete slab foundations. Once perc has penetrated through a concrete slab into the subsurface beneath, perc begins or continues to evaporate. The accumulating perc vapors do not normally have sufficient pressure to migrate back upwards through the concrete slab (although human exposure to indoor VOC vapors moving upwards through expansion joints, cracks and other penetrations in slabs can become a problem). More often, the perc vapors effectively become trapped below the concrete slab in the pore spaces within the soil. These perc vapors move away from the source area, passing from pore space to pore space within the soil until the vapors become widely diffused in the subsurface beneath the concrete slab. The rate at which the VOC vapors accumulate and migrate depends on the amount of the liquid chemical that has been released, the organic content and the nature of the soil itself and the amount of fluid (normally water) that is also present in conjunction with the VOC or is already residing in the pore spaces.  
         [0005]     It is important to detect VOC vapors as close to the source of the release as possible. A basic risk-based closure of facilities that have had a minimal impact or exposure to a VOC, e.g., perc, normally costs tens of thousands of dollars, even without the undertaking of any significant remediation or cleanup effort. Facilities that are significantly impacted, such as perhaps including ground water contamination, easily run into hundreds of thousands of dollars for remediation. This does not include the lost business opportunities, third party liability considerations and other miscellaneous damage claims.  
         [0006]     There are a number of systems that monitor the VOC content of the air. Typically, these systems are expensive and difficult to maintain. If the subsurface has become impacted to the extent the VOC is in the aboveground air in a concentration that is capable of detection, the expense can already be overwhelming in terms of remediation and liability. Examples of this type of technology include that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,034, which issued on Sep. 5, 1978.  
         [0007]     The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In one aspect of the present invention, a vapor trap for detecting VOCs is disclosed. This system includes a housing, having a first end portion, a second end portion and at least one opening for receiving gas vapor, wherein the housing is at least partially buried in ground and a vapor containment or a vapor sampling mechanism is detachably connected in a fluid relationship to the first end portion of the housing.  
         [0009]     Yet another aspect of the present invention is that VOC releases can be detected before the costs for investigation and clean up become exorbitant.  
         [0010]     Still another aspect of the present invention is that VOC releases can be detected before tenants are overwhelmed with inconvenience and expense, which can force the tenant to vacate the premises or property owners to evict the tenant.  
         [0011]     Another aspect of the present invention is that VOC releases can be detected before contamination spreads to affect other tenants and property owners to create third party liability.  
         [0012]     Yet another aspect of the present invention is that VOC releases can be detected while the contamination is restricted to soil since the contamination of ground water raises the remediation costs and complications significantly.  
         [0013]     Another aspect of the present invention is that VOC measurements can be made by technicians without the need of highly specialized, environmental professionals.  
         [0014]     Yet another aspect of the present invention is that obtaining VOC measurements on a predetermined basis will demonstrate to an insurance company that the land owner is pro-active about pollution and has the ability to minimize potential problems, which should result in reduced insurance premiums.  
         [0015]     Still another aspect of the present invention is that obtaining VOC measurements on a predetermined basis will provide land owners with a mechanism for checking on the general housekeeping practices of a tenant to correct unsatisfactory work practices that can create additional spills and releases of VOCs as well as allowing the land owner to take appropriate steps to repair leaking equipment.  
         [0016]     Another aspect of the present invention is that obtaining VOC measurements on a regular basis provides the tenant with a reminder that the landowner is very serious about preventing pollution.  
         [0017]     Yet another aspect of the present invention is that obtaining VOC measurements on a predetermined basis provides evidence that may exonerate either the land owner or the tenant if accused of being a source of a VOC spill or keep either the land owner or the tenant from being falsely blamed as being the cause of unrelated contamination that is either located on-site or off-site.  
         [0018]     In another aspect of the present invention is the quick (less than a day), low cost (less than half the price of a regular Phase  1  environmental site assessment) installation with minimal disruption and downtime that can be done with separate self-contained equipment that prevents electrical overload situations at the property where the invention is being installed.  
         [0019]     Yet another aspect of the present invention is that very specific constituents in the vapor can be analyzed to minimize false alarms.  
         [0020]     Still another aspect of the present invention is that installed vapor traps can be easily removed.  
         [0021]     Another aspect of the present invention is that the monitoring of the vapor traps on a predetermined basis can be established through service contracts so that these costs can be budgeted as a regular operating expense.  
         [0022]     These are merely some of the innumerable illustrative aspects of this present invention and should not be deemed an all-inclusive listing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic process diagram of the vapor trap system associated with the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional view of a vapor trap associated with the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the vapor trap with an installed plug, shown in  FIG. 2 , associated with the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a coupling for the vapor trap, shown in  FIG. 2 , associated with the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of a plug for the vapor trap associated with the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of a plug for the vapor trap, shown in  FIG. 5 , associated with the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of an installed plug within a coupling attached to a housing, shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , associated with the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a vapor sampling mechanism associated with the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of the vapor sampling mechanism, shown in  FIG. 8 , for the vapor trap associated with the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 10  illustrates a detailed side view of an installed vapor sampling mechanism including a support structure on a plug cap installed within a coupling attached to a housing, shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , for the vapor trap associated with the present invention; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 11  illustrates a schematic process diagram of an alternative embodiment of the vapor trap system utilizing a three (3) way valve associated with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0035]     In the following detailed description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. For example, the invention is not limited in scope to the particular type of industry application, e.g., dry cleaning.  
         [0036]     Referring now to the drawings, and initially to  FIG. 1 , where  FIG. 1  is a vapor trap detection system of the present invention, which is generally indicated by numeral  10 . This vapor trap detection system  10  of the present invention provides an early warning capability against unknown spills, leaks or other releases of volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) that have somehow reached the ground&#39;s shallow subsurface. This particularly includes dry cleaning chemicals, such as perchloroethylene (“perc”) as an illustrative, nonlimiting example.  
         [0037]     There is a vapor trap for collecting perc and other VOC vapor that is generally indicated by numeral  12 . This vapor trap  12  is preferably installed in a strategic shallow subsurface where chemical releases potentially occur. The accumulation of detectable vapors in a below grade trap is a direct indication that a VOC, e.g., perc, is present and generating vapors in the ground&#39;s shallow subsurface under a concrete slab  46 . The initial presumption would be that a significant release of VOC has occurred at the facility. However, this release may be nothing more than a simple spill that has not been cleaned up. Even though the release occurs during a mere moment in time, the effects can be around for a very long period of time. The presence of a VOC can be detected as early as twelve (12) hours after the release.  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment includes tubing  14  extending from and in fluid connection with the vapor trap  12 . The tubing  14  is fluidly connected to the bottom inlet  26  of a t-connector  17 . A first side outlet  27  of the t-connector  17  is attached in a fluid relationship through tubing  5  to an inlet  30  for a first selector valve  16 . The outlet  31  for the first selector valve  16  is connected to tubing  8  that is attached in fluid relationship to a vacuum pump  20 . When the first selector valve  16  is open, vapors can be pulled out of the vapor trap  12 . A wide variety of commercially available vacuum pumps will suffice in this application, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,570, which issued on Oct. 13, 1987. Although a vacuum pump  20  is preferred, the vacuum pump  20  is not required in utilizing the vapor trap detection system  10  of the present invention.  
         [0039]     In addition, the second side outlet  28  of the t-connector  17  is attached in a fluid relationship through tubing  6  to an inlet  32  for a second selector valve  18 . The outlet  33  for the second selector valve  18  is connected to tubing  7  that is fluidly attached to an input  35  for an organic vapor analyzer  22 . There is an output  36  for the organic vapor analyzer  22  that is electrically connected to a computer  24  through cable  21 .  
         [0040]     The computer  24  can be a single computer processor or a whole series of computer processors. In addition, any of a wide variety of electronic controllers may suffice.  
         [0041]     An organic vapor analyzer  22  is commercially available and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,335, which issued Oct. 8, 1996 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,437, which issued on Mar. 24, 1992, which are both incorporated herein by reference. The preferred type of organic vapor analyzer due to the low cost and simplicity of operation is a photo-ionization detector (“PID”). A nonlimiting example of a PID is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,633, which issued on May 1, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the vapor trap  12  includes a housing  13  that is preferably in the form of a tube and can be manufactured out of a wide variety of materials. The preferred material for the housing  13  is polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) tubing. Although a wide variety of outer diameters will suffice, a two (2) inch (5.08 centimeters) outer diameter with schedule forty (40) PVC is preferred for most applications. Although the preferred shape is cylindrical, virtually any geometric shape will suffice.  
         [0043]     The housing  13  for the vapor trap  12  preferably includes slots  15 , screens or some other type of openings to allow for the intake of VOC vapors. The range of distances between the slots  15  can vary extensively with the preferred range between slots  15  being 0.010 inches (0.0254 centimeters) to 0.020 inches (0.0508 centimeters).  
         [0044]     The vapor trap  12  is preferably installed into and through the floor of the facility. A preferred, but nonlimiting, distance is approximately two (2) feet (60.96 centimeters) down into the ground  48  underneath the facility. Since perc has been known to penetrate typical concrete slabs  46 , which are typically five (5) inches (12.7 centimeters) to six (6) inches (15.24 centimeters) thick found in most commercial establishments, the accumulation of detectable vapors in a below ground vapor trap  12  is a direct indication that a VOC, e.g., perc, is present in the ground  48  and generating vapors in the shallow subsurface. The initial presumption would be that a significant release of perc has occurred at the facility and has been undetected until this point in time.  
         [0045]     The vapor trap  12  includes a pointed end cap  40  attached to the bottom of the housing  13  while the top of the housing  13  preferably includes a solid portion  42  that is unslotted.  
         [0046]     The vapor trap  12  is preferably installed by coring through the concrete slab  46  with an industrial diamond-tipped coring bit (not shown). The concrete core (not shown) is removed to expose the surface of the ground  48  beneath the concrete slab  46 . A cylindrical hole  50  is then dug into the ground  48  beneath the concrete slab  46  using an auger or other means (not shown).  
         [0047]     The housing  13  of the vapor trap  12  is then placed into the cylindrical hole  50  and the walls of the cylindrical hole  50  are filled with a porous medium  44  with sufficiently large pore spaces to permit vapor movement up to within a few inches of the surface of the ground  48 . A preferred, but nonlimiting example, of a porous medium  44  includes a transmissive washed pea gravel. The installation is completed by pouring in a sealing material  52  to position the housing  13  in a predetermined location. A preferred, but nonlimiting, example of sealing material  52  is non-shrink concrete grout. Typically, there is a layer of sand  47  located above the ground  48  and below the concrete slab  46 .  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a coupling  56 , is attached to enclose a top portion of the solid portion  42  of the housing  13 . On the top portion, e.g., top half, of the inside of the coupling  56  are internal threads  54  and on the bottom portion, e.g., bottom half, on the inside of the coupling  56  is an unthreaded portion  57 . This attachment is between the unthreaded portion  57  of the coupling  56  that preferably encloses the top portion of the solid portion  42  of the housing  13 . Attachment is preferably accomplished by the use of adhesives with a low VOC content, although a wide variety of attachment mechanisms will suffice. The coupling  56  can be any of a wide variety of diameters with the preferred inside diameter being two (2) inches (5.08 centimeters). On the inside of the coupling  56  are internal threads  54 . This coupling  56  is preferably a standard PVC-type of coupling that has a smooth outer surface.  
         [0049]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , there is a plug  58  having external threads  60  on the outside of the circumference of the plug  58  that threadedly interconnects to the internal threads  54  of the coupling  56 . The preferred outside diameter of the plug  58  being two (2) inches (5.08 centimeters). The top portion of the plug  58  includes a slot  62 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . This plug  58  is preferably a standard PVC-type of plug.  
         [0050]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the plug  58  is installed into the coupling  56  by the interconnection of the internal threads  54  and the external threads  60  where the solid portion  42  of the housing  13  is located inside of the coupling  56 .  
         [0051]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a vapor sampling mechanism  63  is disclosed. This includes a sampling vapor tubing nipple  64  that is attached to a support structure  66 . The support structure can be of any geometric shape but is preferably rectangular having a cavity or opening inside. The sampling vapor tubing nipple  64  is secured to the top of the support structure  66  by an optional nut  68  that engages outer threads  70  located on a bottom portion of the sampling vapor tubing nipple  64 . However, the preferred structure eliminates the nut  68  and uses a tapered sampling vapor tubing nipple  64  to secure the sampling vapor tubing nipple  64  to the top of the support structure  66 . This tapered sampling vapor tubing nipple  64  is tapered from base to tip such that when the tapered sampling vapor tubing nipple  64  is screwed into the support structure  66 , the outer threads  70  get tighter and tighter. This tapered fitting for the sampling vapor tubing nipple  64  is airtight and securely fastened without the need for the optional nut  68 . The preferred materials for the sampling vapor tubing nipple  64  include both brass and stainless steel.  
         [0052]     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , an installed vapor sampling mechanism  63  is revealed, which includes the sampling vapor tubing nipple  64  that is secured to the top of the support structure  66  by a nut  68 . This is where the plug  58  has been previously removed from the coupling  56  by an application of a screw driver-type device in the slot  62  of the plug  58 , shown in  FIG. 6 , and applying a counter-clockwise rotation to threadedly disengage the external threads  60  of the plug  58  from the internal threads  54  of the coupling  56 . The support structure  66  is fixedly attached to the top of a cap plug  72  or is an integral part thereof. There are external threads  74  on the cap plug  72  that threadedly engage the internal threads  54  of the coupling  56 . The preferred outside diameter of the cap plug  72  is approximately two (2) inches (5.08 centimeters). Other variations of the plug  58  and cap plug  72  may be substituted to function similarly.  
         [0053]     The installed vapor sampling mechanism  63 , which includes the sampling vapor tubing nipple  64 , can be formed out of a wide variety of materials. The preferred material can include plastic so that the final installation of the installed vapor sampling mechanism  63  can look like a plastic cap. After measuring a sample with the vapor sampling mechanism  63 , the cap plug  72  is threadedly removed from the internal threads  54  of the coupling  56  and is then replaced with the plug  58  where the plug  58  having external threads  60  threadedly interconnects with the internal threads  54  of the coupling  56 .  
         [0054]     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , as a first alternative embodiment, the t-connector  17  and the first selector valve  16  and the second selector valve  18  may be replaced by a single three (3)-way valve that is generally indicated by numeral  80 . The tubing  14  extending from and in fluid connection with the vapor trap  12  is fluidly connected to the bottom inlet  81  of the three (3)-way valve  80 . A first side outlet  83  of the three (3)-way valve  80  is attached in a fluid relationship to the vacuum pump  20  via tubing  8 . A second side outlet  82  of the three (3)-way valve  80  is attached in a fluid relationship to the organic vapor analyzer  22 , e.g., PID cell via tubing  7 . This operates in the same manner as the previously described preferred embodiment, where both the first side outlet  83  can be selectively opened or closed and the second side outlet  82  can be selectively opened or closed. There is the minor disadvantage of added complexity and expense for the three (3) way valve  80 , which can be prone to leakage.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0055]     The present invention is advantageously applicable in testing for the presence and nature of VOC vapors. When readings are desired, the plug  58  is threadedly removed from the coupling  56 . The cap plug  72 , having a support structure  66  with sampling vapor tubing nipple  64 , is then threadedly engaged to the coupling  56  through the interaction of the internal threads  54  of the coupling  56  and the external threads  74  of the cap plug  72 .  
         [0056]     There is tubing  14  attached to the sampling vapor tubing nipple  64 , which is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The tubing  14  goes from the sampling vapor tubing nipple  64  to the bottom inlet  26  of the t-connector  17 . The first side outlet  27  of the t-connector  17  is connected through tubing  5  to an inlet  30  to a first selector valve  16 . The outlet  31  of the first selector valve  16  is attached via tubing  8  to a vacuum pump  20 , however, for the initial reading, the first selector valve  16  is closed. Gas enters the vapor trap  12  through the bottom inlet  26  of the t-connector  17 . The gas enters through the second outlet  28  of the t-connector  17 , which is connected to tubing  6  that is attached to an inlet  32  to a second selector valve  18 , which is open for the initial reading. Both tubing  5  and  6  are preferably short, e.g., only a few inches or less, to minimize the dead air space between the first side outlet  27  for the t-connector  17  and the inlet  30  for the first selector valve  16  and the dead air space between the second side outlet  28  for the t-connector  17  and the inlet  32  for the second selector valve  18 .  
         [0057]     The outlet  33  of the second selector valve  18  is attached via tubing  7  to an input  35  for the organic vapor analyzer  22 . The preferred type of organic vapor analyzer  22  is a photoionization detector (“PID”). The PID is a field instrument that indicates whether or not airborne VOCs are present. If only air is present (no VOCs) in the vapor trap j 2 , no reading will be shown on the PID. If VOCs are present, the PID will provide a reading in parts per million (“ppm”). The PID cannot indicate exactly what type of VOC is present, however, a portable gas chromatograph can be used for this purpose. This further identification may be desirable when the VOC in question might be perhaps something other than perc.  
         [0058]     There is first an initial reading, which is the result of accumulated vapors collected in the vapor trap  12  over a predetermined time period. A nonlimiting example of a predetermined time period for accumulating vapors is ninety (90) days. This initial reading is due to the fact that the organic vapor analyzer  22  pulls a vacuum and creates a negative pressure drop, which causes soil vapors to move from the pore spaces in the soil (where the pressure is relatively higher than within the vapor trap  12 ) into the vapor trap  12 . This initial reading can be utilized by itself for a quick determination of whether VOCs are present or not.  
         [0059]     After the initial reading, the first selector valve  16  would be turned off and the second selector valve  18  would be turned on to seal the organic vapor analyzer  22 , e.g., PID cell, and aggressively pull more vapors into the cell from the surrounding ground  48  with the vacuum pump  20 . This vacuum from the vacuum pump  20  is much stronger than the vacuum produced by the organic vapor analyzer  22  and would pull vapors from the surrounding soil faster than the vacuum created by the organic vapor analyzer  22 , e.g., PID cell, as well as vapors that are relatively further out from the vapor trap  12  than those that can only be drawn in from the vacuum of the organic vapor analyzer  22 , e.g., PID cell. Therefore, this secondary reading may provide different values than the initial reading.  
         [0060]     After running the vacuum pump  20  for a short period of time, e.g., five (5) minutes, the vacuum pump  20  will be shut-off and the first selector valve  16  will be turned off and the second selector valve  18  will opened and the organic vapor analyzer  22 , e.g., PID cell, will be turned back on. As these vapors are pulled in by the lower vacuum of the organic vapor analyzer  22 , e.g., PID cell (as opposed to the first reading of the passively accumulated vapors over the predetermined period), readings are taken for this post vacuum period. It has been found that the dead air space between either the first side outlet  27  or the second side outlet  28  to either the first inlet  30  of the first selector valve  16  (when closed) or the first inlet  32  of the second selector valve  18  (when closed) does not affect either the efficiency of either the organic vapor analyzer  22 , e.g., PID cell or the vacuum pump  20 .  
         [0061]     The pre-vacuum and the post-vacuum readings would be compared. These comparisons of either two similar or two different readings, utilized in conjunction with soil and chemical property knowledge along with knowledge of the ultimate disposition and transportation of different substances, e.g., VOCs, in a variety of different media, provide invaluable insight into the potential distance and severity of a heretofore-undetected release of VOCs.  
         [0062]     The cost of basic risk-based closures of facilities having minimal perc impact is in the tens of thousands of dollars without performing any actual remediation or clean up. Facilities suffering from significant perc impact, which perhaps involves groundwater, can require hundreds of thousands of dollars of remediation. This does not include lost business opportunities, third-party liability considerations and other miscellaneous damage claims.  
         [0063]     This invention need not be limited to dry cleaning establishments only, but can be applied to any building or facility regardless of the commercial or industrial setting. The organic vapor analyzer  22  will simply need to be adapted to respond to a different application.  
         [0064]     Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.