Aerosol generation for stable, low-concentration delivery

US9254500B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US
• United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force · US

Inventors

• Jesse Allen Linnell · Chelmsford, US
• Trina Rae Vian · Westford, US
• Joseph Renard Morency · Salem, US
• Anlong Dai · Barrington, US
• Mark Bury · Acton, US
• Thomas Sebastian · Stuttgart, DE
• Carlos Andres Aguilar · Boston, US
• Joseph Lacirignola · Beverly, US
• Jay D. Eversole · Salem, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 9, 2014
• Grant date: Feb 9, 2016
• Expiry date: Oct 9, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2015/0046
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A feed aerosol comprising detectable particles is injected into a mix-enhancing swirler. Diluting gas is also injected into the mix-enhancing swirler and mixed with the feed aerosol in a swirling motion to form an aerosol with a particle concentration no greater than 1,000 particles per liter. The aerosol is then injected into a mixing chamber, where the aerosol is mixed and dried; the inner diameter of the mixing chamber is at least twice as great as that of the swirl chamber. The aerosol is then emitted through a flow straightener that removes swirl from the flow of the aerosol and passed through a delivery conduit, where the particles are detected and counted; and the particle count is compared with a target count. The respective flows of feed aerosol and diluting gas can then be increased or decreased based on a comparison of the particle count with the target count.