Patent · US Expired

Virtual impactor

US4689052A · kind A · utility

57Cited by
11References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 19, 1986
Grant dateAug 25, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 19, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01D45/04
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Disclosed is a virtual impactor for separating particles of a predetermined size range from an aerosol, and for transporting the separated particles from the region they are separated from the aerosol to an analysis/collection region remote therefrom. The device comprises a conduit member having an inlet end and an outlet end. The conduit member is configured to define a substantially enclosed passageway between the inlet end and the outlet end. At least a portion of the conduit member is gas-permeable. The outlet end of the conduit member is positioned adjacent to the analysis/collection region. The virtual impactor is moved relative to the aerosol to be sampled (or the aerosol is moved relative to the impactor). The virtual impactor utilizes an operating gas that is introduced into the impactor through the gas-permeable portion of the conduit member. The operating gas is then bifurcated into a counterflow fraction that exits the inlet end of the conduit member, and a transporting flow fraction that passes along the conduit member to the analysis/collection region. The counterflow fraction is readily adjustable to control the size of the particles entering the analysis/collection …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.