A remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multi-mode bioaerosol sampling system

Abstract

This invention discloses a remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multi-mode bioaerosol sampling system. The system includes an inertial bioaerosol sampler, an electrostatic field bioaerosol sampler, and a remote controller. The inertial sampler captures aerosol particles using the principle of inertial impaction and is equipped with sampling heads with different flow rates of 1000 / 1300 / 1500 L / min. The electrostatic field sampler employs the principles of corona discharge and electrostatic adsorption, with a uniquely designed air duct that creates a descending and then ascending inlet airflow and a uniformly flowing outlet airflow. When used together, the two systems achieve a capture efficiency of ≥98% for particles larger than 1µm, with a wide particle size sampling range of 0.01-100 µm. The remote controller wirelessly controls the two samplers at a distance of ≥100 m, enabling synchronous or time-sharing multi-mode sampling of aerosols with a wide particle size range. The advantage of this invention is that it balances high efficiency and high flow rate sampling of aerosols with a wide particle size range while reducing biosafety risks to personnel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention discloses a remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system, belonging to the field of bioaerosol sampling technology. Specifically, it relates to a multimode aerosol sampling device and method that combines inertial impaction sampling and electrostatic adsorption sampling and is wirelessly remotely controlled. Background Technology

[0002] Bioaerosols are aerosols containing biological particles such as bacteria and viruses suspended in the air. Their collection is a prerequisite for infectious disease pathogen detection, biosafety monitoring, and bioterrorism prevention. Efficient, safe, and broad-spectrum aerosol sampling techniques are the foundation for subsequent detection and analysis.

[0003] Currently, existing bioaerosol sampling technologies mainly suffer from the following technical shortcomings: First, a single sampling mode cannot simultaneously address the collection efficiency for particles of different sizes. Inertial / cyclone samplers have a high sampling flow rate, making them suitable for rapidly collecting large-diameter particles (such as bacteria), but their collection efficiency for small-diameter particles (such as viruses) is relatively low. Electrostatic samplers are highly efficient at collecting small-diameter particles, but their sampling flow rate is low, which cannot meet the needs of large-scale rapid collection. Currently, there is a lack of technical solutions that organically combine the two.

[0004] Second, on-site emergency sampling poses biosafety risks to personnel. In the event of a sudden biological contamination incident or a leak of highly pathogenic pathogens, sampling personnel need to enter the core contaminated area to manually set up and operate sampling equipment, which carries the risk of infection. Most existing sampling equipment lacks remote control capabilities, making safe operation from a distance impossible.

[0005] Third, aerosol samplers lack adaptability to various field applications. Existing samplers lack a portable sampling system that can meet the needs of multiple application scenarios, possess both high flow rate capability and efficient collection of small-diameter particles, while also being remotely controllable. This fails to meet the specific technical requirements of personnel in different field sampling scenarios.

[0006] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a multi-mode bioaerosol sampling system that can efficiently collect aerosols of both large flow rates and large and small particle sizes, while also having remote control capabilities and being portable for on-site deployment, in order to solve the technical problems existing in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention first provides a remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system, the system comprising: an inertial bioaerosol sampler, an electrostatic field bioaerosol sampler, and a remote controller.

[0008] The inertial bioaerosol sampler is mainly used to collect large-diameter bioaerosol particles (such as bacteria) by inertial impaction. It has a large sampling flow rate and can quickly capture airborne bacteria and other aerosols.

[0009] The electrostatic field bioaerosol sampler is mainly used to collect small-diameter bioaerosol particles (such as viruses) by electrostatic adsorption. It has high capture efficiency for small-diameter particles and can effectively enrich airborne aerosols such as viruses.

[0010] The remote controller is connected to the inertial sampler and the electrostatic field sampler via wireless communication, with a remote control distance exceeding 100 m, and is used to remotely control the two samplers.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the inertial bioaerosol sampler includes: a fan unit, a sampling head unit, a sampler base, a local control module, and a remote control module. The fan unit uses a high-volume fan with an operating voltage of 12V and a current of 6.5A to provide negative pressure. The sampling head unit is equipped with three different, quickly detachable, high-flow-rate sampling heads with sampling flow rates of 1000 L / min, 1300 L / min, and 1500 L / min, respectively. The top of the sampling head has a double-layer structure with a filter screen in the middle. The sampling tube base is made of polished material or aluminum alloy, with a horizontally extended bottom that seamlessly connects to the fan. The top is threaded to the sampling head and fitted with a sealing ring. The sampler contains a petri dish holder for holding agar culture medium.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the inertial bioaerosol sampler is equipped with three high-flow sampling heads with different flow rates of 1000 L / min, 1300 L / min and 1500 L / min, with a mass ≤2000g.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the electrostatic field bioaerosol sampler includes: a high-voltage module, an aerosol ionization module, an aerosol collection module, a local control module, and a remote control module. The high-voltage module generates a 9kV high-voltage electric field. The aerosol ionization module includes a negative electrode needle mounted on the instrument cover and a positive electrode culture dish below it. Under the influence of the strong electric field, it ionizes the gas passing through the field. The free ions generated by ionization collide with aerosol particles, causing the aerosol particles to become negatively charged. The aerosol collection module includes a positively charged collection dish made of stainless steel. Using the principle of electrostatic adsorption, the negatively charged aerosol particles migrate towards the collection dish and fall into the sampling liquid. The local control module and the remote control module are used to control the start and stop of the fan and the aerosol ionization module, and to communicate with the remote controller. In a preferred embodiment, the electrostatic bioaerosol sampler features an upper inlet and a lower outlet design. The bottom of the inlet is lower than the upper edge of the sampling dish, creating a descending and then rising airflow that allows for more efficient particle collection by the sampling liquid. The air ducts around the sampling dish tray are designed in a ring shape, ensuring uniform airflow from around the dish, effectively reducing wind speed and improving collection efficiency. The sampling flow rate is ≥20 L / min, and the mass is ≤1600g.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the electrostatic bioaerosol sampler supports both direct power supply from 220V AC and power supply from an internal 12V rechargeable battery.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the remote controller is connected to the inertial sampler and the electrostatic field sampler via wireless communication, with a remote control distance exceeding 100 m, for realizing synchronous sampling or time-division sampling in inertial mode and electrostatic field mode. The combined use of inertial-electrostatic field sampling achieves a capture efficiency of ≥98% for particles larger than 1µm, with a particle size acquisition range of 0.01-100µm.

[0016] The present invention also provides a bioaerosol sampling method based on the above system, comprising the following steps: (1) Deployment steps: Deploy the inertial bioaerosol sampler and the electrostatic bioaerosol sampler at the sampling site. Install agar culture medium on the inertial sampler and add sampling liquid to the collection dish of the electrostatic sampler.

[0017] (2) Remote start-up procedure: The operator starts the two samplers remotely from a safe area 100 m away from the sampling point using a remote controller.

[0018] (3) Inertial sampling procedure: The inertial sampler collects large-diameter aerosol particles (bacteria, etc.) in the air at a high flow rate (1000 / 1300 / 1500 L / min), causing the particles to collide and be captured on the surface of the agar medium.

[0019] (4) Electrostatic sampling steps: The electrostatic sampler collects small-diameter aerosol particles (viruses, etc.) in the air at a flow rate of 20 L / min or higher. The particles are charged by corona discharge and migrate to the sampling liquid in the collection dish under the action of the electrostatic field.

[0020] (5) Recovery steps: After sampling is completed, the sampler is stopped remotely by remote control, and the operator safely recovers the culture medium and sample solution for subsequent analysis.

[0021] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: First, multi-mode sampling was achieved, accommodating efficient collection of particles of different sizes. The inertial sampler has a high flow rate (up to 1500 L / min), suitable for rapid collection of large aerosol particles such as bacteria; the electrostatic field sampler has high capture efficiency for small particles, suitable for enriching small aerosol particles such as viruses. The inertial and electrostatic field sampling devices can be used simultaneously via a remote controller, achieving a capture efficiency of ≥98% for particles larger than 1µm, with a particle size collection range covering 0.01-100 µm, realizing efficient collection of bioaerosols with a wide particle size spectrum.

[0022] Secondly, it enables remote control of aerosol sampling, reducing biosafety risks to personnel. Using a wireless remote control, operators can control the sampler from an area of ​​over 100 meters without entering the core contaminated area, making it particularly suitable for emergency on-site sampling scenarios involving highly pathogenic pathogens.

[0023] Third, the entire set of equipment is portable and flexible in field deployment. The inertial sampler weighs ≤2000g and the electrostatic field sampler weighs ≤1600g. It is compact in size, supports battery power, and can be quickly deployed in field environments, airports, train stations, large event venues, etc. for emergency on-site sampling. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure and principle of a remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system in this embodiment of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. The advantages and features of the present invention will become clearer as the description unfolds. However, these embodiments are merely exemplary and do not constitute any limitation on the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention.

[0026] Example 1: Construction of System Components 1. Construction of an inertial bioaerosol sampler module This embodiment provides a bioaerosol inertial sampler based on inertial filtration technology. Its core principle is: when a high-speed airflow encounters a sampling dish on the sampler base, the airflow direction suddenly changes. Due to their large inertia, large-diameter particles are difficult to change direction with the airflow and will break away from the streamlines and collide with the surface of the sampling dish to be collected.

[0027] The inertial bioaerosol sampler includes a fan unit, a sampling head unit, a sampler base, a local control module, and a remote control module. The fan unit uses a high-volume fan with an operating voltage of 12V and a current of 6.5A to provide negative pressure. The sampling head unit is equipped with three quickly detachable, high-flow-rate sampling heads, with sampling flow rates set to 1000 L / min, 1300 L / min, and 1500 L / min, respectively. The top of the sampling head has a double-layer structure with a filter screen in the middle for filtering particles larger than 100µm. The sampler base is made of polished material or aluminum alloy, with a horizontally extended bottom for seamless connection to the fan. The top is threaded to the sampling head and fitted with a sealing ring. A tray support is provided on the inner wall of the top of the sampling tube for holding agar culture medium.

[0028] The inertial bioaerosol sampler is equipped with three high-flow sampling heads with different flow rates of 1000 L / min, 1300 L / min and 1500 L / min, with a mass ≤2000g.

[0029] 2. Construction of the electrostatic field bioaerosol sampler module This embodiment provides an aerosol sampler based on electrostatic and ionization technology. The electrostatic field bioaerosol sampler includes a high-voltage module, an aerosol ionization module, an aerosol collection module, a local control module, a remote control module, and a safety switch.

[0030] The high-voltage module is a 9kV high-voltage transformer. The aerosol ionization module includes a negative electrode needle mounted on the instrument cover and a positive electrode culture dish below. The aerosol collection module includes a collection dish made of stainless steel, which is positively charged. Electrostatic adsorption is used to cause negatively charged aerosol particles to migrate towards the collection dish and fall into the sampling liquid. Its core principle includes three steps: first, particle charging, where the aerosol ionization module uses corona discharge to cause aerosol particles to carry a negative charge; second, applying an electric field, where a high-voltage power supply drives the needle-plate structure to establish an electrostatic field; and third, particle migration and collection, where charged particles migrate towards the opposite polarity collection electrode under the influence of Coulomb force in the electric field and deposit there.

[0031] The electrical components include: a power switch, a charging port (220V input), a 12V battery, a digital display, a fan, a 9kV high-voltage generator, a micro switch, a local control module, and a remote control module. To ensure users do not touch the high-voltage electrodes, the instrument is equipped with a safety switch. The instrument will only activate the electrostatic field when the equipment is correctly installed. When the sampling head is installed on the equipment, it presses the safety switch, energizing the high-voltage module and generating high voltage. When the sampling head is not installed, the high-voltage module is not energized and no high voltage is generated. The instrument supports both direct 220V AC power supply and internal battery power. The local and remote control modules are used to control the start and stop of the fan and aerosol ionization module, as well as communication with the remote controller.

[0032] The main technical parameters of this electrostatic field sampling prototype are as follows: a uniquely designed and manufactured air duct with a descending and then ascending airflow and a uniformly flowing out annular airflow; a sampling flow rate ≥ 20 L / min; and a total mass ≤ 1600g. Compared with existing impact or cyclone samplers, it significantly improves the collection efficiency of small-diameter particles.

[0033] 3. Construction of a dual-mode sampling cascade and remote control system This embodiment describes in detail the cascade control and remote control functions of the inertial sampler and the electrostatic field sampler. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system of the present invention.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the electrostatic field sampler and inertial sampler are connected to a remote controller via wireless communication technology, with a remote control distance of ≥100 m. The remote controller can remotely control the synchronous start / stop of both samplers or start / stop one sampler individually.

[0035] This unique dual-mode cascade design can utilize the high flow rate advantage of the inertial sampler to quickly collect large-particle aerosols such as bacteria, while also utilizing the efficient small-particle capture capability of the electrostatic field sampler to collect aerosols such as viruses. At the same time, remote control avoids the biosafety risks of personnel entering contaminated areas for emergency sampling.

[0036] Example 2. Application Example In a typical emergency sampling scenario, when a suspected aerosol leak occurs in a biosafety laboratory, operators in the control room activate a remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multi-mode bioaerosol sampling system deployed near the leak area via a remote controller (100 m away). The inertial sampler runs at a flow rate of 1500 L / min for 2 minutes, capturing airborne aerosol particles such as bacteria on agar medium. The electrostatic field sampler runs at a flow rate of 20 L / min for 15 minutes, enriching airborne aerosol particles such as viruses in the sampling solution. After sampling, the operators remotely stop the equipment, don protective gear, and enter the area to recover the culture medium and sampling solution, which are then sent to the laboratory for analysis. In this sampling, the aerosol particle size range covered 0.01-100 µm, with a capture efficiency of 98% for particles larger than 1 µm. Throughout the process, the operators stayed away from the core contaminated area during sampling, reducing biosafety risks.

Claims

1. A remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system, characterized in that, The sampling system includes: an inertial bioaerosol sampler for collecting bioaerosol particles by inertial impaction; an electrostatic bioaerosol sampler for collecting bioaerosol particles by electrostatic adsorption; and a remote controller that connects the inertial bioaerosol sampler and the electrostatic bioaerosol sampler via wireless communication and remotely controls the simultaneous operation of the two samplers.

2. The remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multi-mode bioaerosol sampling system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inertial bioaerosol sampler includes: a fan unit, a sampling head unit, a sampler base, a local control module, and a remote control module.

3. The remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multi-mode bioaerosol sampling system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The fan unit in the inertial bioaerosol sampler uses a fan with a working voltage of 12V and a current of 6.5A to provide negative pressure power; The sampling head unit includes sampling heads with different flow rates that can be quickly disassembled and installed. The top of the sampling head has a double-layer structure with a filter screen in the middle for filtering particles larger than 100µm. The sampler base is made of polished material or aluminum alloy. The bottom extends laterally and is seamlessly connected to the fan. The top is connected to the sampling head by threads and fitted with a sealing ring. The sampler is equipped with a petri dish support for placing agar culture medium. The local control module and the remote control module are used to control the start and stop of the fan and to communicate with the remote controller.

4. The remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sampling heads consist of three units, with sampling flow rates of 1000 L / min, 1300 L / min, and 1500 L / min, respectively.

5. The remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrostatic field bioaerosol sampler includes a high-voltage module, an aerosol ionization module, an aerosol acquisition module, a local control module, and a remote control module. The aerosol ionization module includes a negative electrode needle set on the top cover of the instrument and a positive electrode culture dish below it. The sampled gas is ionized by electric field discharge. The free ions generated by ionization collide with aerosol particles, making the aerosol particles negatively charged. The aerosol collection module includes a collection dish made of stainless steel. The collection dish is positively charged and uses the principle of electrostatic adsorption to cause negatively charged aerosol particles to migrate toward the collection dish and fall into the sampling liquid. The local control module and the remote control module are used to control the start and stop of the fan and the aerosol ionization module and to communicate with the remote controller.

6. The remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The high-voltage module is a 9kV high-voltage transformer.

7. The remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The electrostatic field bioaerosol sampler is designed with an upper air inlet and a lower air outlet. The bottom of the air inlet is lower than the upper edge of the sampling dish, creating an airflow that descends and then rises, allowing particles to be collected by the sampling liquid. The air duct around the sampling dish tray is designed in a ring shape, so that the airflow flows out evenly from around the sampling dish.

8. The remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The electric field discharge of the aerosol ionization module is corona discharge.

9. The remotely controllable inertial-electrostatic field multimode bioaerosol sampling system according to claim 1, characterized in that... The remote control operating modes include synchronous sampling or time-division sampling in inertial mode and electrostatic field mode.

10. A method for bioaerosol sampling based on the system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Deploy the inertial bioaerosol sampler and the electrostatic bioaerosol sampler at the sampling site. Install agar culture medium on the inertial sampler and add sampling liquid to the collection dish of the electrostatic sampler. S2: The operator, in a safe area 100 m away from the sampling point, remotely starts the inertial bioaerosol sampler and the electrostatic field bioaerosol sampler simultaneously via remote control. S3: The inertial bioaerosol sampler collects aerosol particles from the air at different high flow rates of 1000 L / min, 1300 L / min and 1500 L / min, causing the particles to collide with and be captured on the surface of the agar medium. S4: The electrostatic field sampler collects aerosol particles in the air at a flow rate of 20L / min or higher. The particles are charged by corona discharge and migrate to the sampling liquid in the collection dish under the action of the electrostatic field. S5: When used together, the capture efficiency of particles larger than 1µm is ≥98%, with a wide particle size collection range of 0.01-100 µm. After sampling, the sampler is stopped by remote control, and the operator can safely recover the culture medium and sample solution for subsequent analysis.

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