Molar content dynamics measurements in interior spaces

This work describes a method for following the dynamics of molar content in an interior space with a single connection to the outside. The molar conte nt can change due to a variety of causes: volume change of the space, chemi cal reaction between gas components, adsorption and desorption of the gas b y the space walls, dissociation of gas components, corrosion of the walls u sually accompanied by oxygen consumption and/or hydrogen release, etc. The work specifically deals with the problems at extremely low rates of the pro cess, which existing technologies fail to measure. The paper presents the t heoretical and mathematical grounding of the method, describes the experime ntal set-up and its use for detection and measurement of internal corrosion . The principles described in it were incorporated in an industrial device for mass-scale non-destructive testing of inaccessible interiors of objects . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.