Domestic conductance sensors

Testing conducted under the Domestic Preparedness Program has confirmed that the SAW sensor can detect and differentiate the HD and the G nerve agents. Results indicated that sensitivity toward the more volatile GB is lower than that of the less volatile GA. Humidity effects on detection were avoided with the use of a preconcentrator. Temperature affected some of the detection algorithms due to the insufficient size of the heater used. 

There yawns a large gap between commercial (micro)calorimeters with maximum vessel volumes of 25, 30 or 100 mL and instruments of many litres for smaller domestic animals. The only exception known to the authors is the Seta-ram GF 108 1-L instrument used in the Leyden group [72]. A low-price solution for an intermediate size calorimeter was found in cooling/warming boxes sold as picnic equipment for less than US 200 [73], They are equipped with a Peltier battery as a heat pump between the inner volume of the box and the environment. In the same way the heat pump can work as a Seebeck heat flow sensor to determine heat production rates inside the box. The inner walls of the box may be additionally covered by copper foil of high thermal conductivity to facilitate heat flow to the sensor. 

---