Installation for the simulation of subterranean environments

摘要

Subterranean environment simulator unit comprises: (a) a hermetically sealed box (101), the internal atmosphere of which is insulated from the surroundings and controlled by a circulating gas; (b) a unit (12) for the supply of inert gas (N2) within the circulating gas; (c) a means for the measurement of the concentration (41) of each gaseous constituent of the circulating gas; (d) an oxyhydric reactor (34) having a noble metal catalyst in which hydrogen, supplied in response to the oxygen concentration in the circulating gas, is reacted with the oxygen; and (e) a means for the supply of gaseous carbon dioxide (26) to convey this to the circulating gas to give a pre-determined concentration of carbon dioxide in the circulating gas.