Aerosol mobility imaging for rapid size distribution measurements
US9395281B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 8, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 8, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2015/0046
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A parallel plate dimensional electrical mobility separator and laminar flow water condensation provide rapid, mobility-based particle sizing at concentrations typical of the remote atmosphere. Particles are separated spatially within the electrical mobility separator, enlarged through water condensation, and imaged onto a CCD array. The mobility separation distributes particles in accordance with their size. The condensation enlarges size-separated particles by water condensation while they are still within the gap of the mobility drift tube. Once enlarged the particles are illuminated by a laser. At a pre-selected frequency, typically 10 Hz, the position of all of the individual particles illuminated by the laser are captured by CCD camera. This instantly records the particle number concentration at each position. Because the position is directly related to the particle size (or mobility), the particle size spectra is derived from the images recorded by the CCD.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.