Equipment for detecting liquid contents in aerosols and its usage methods

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for detecting the properties of particulate liquid contents, the apparatus comprising: one or more fluid flow inlets configured to receive at least one fluid sample comprising a first plurality of particles and a second plurality of particles, the apparatus being configured to determine the properties of the particulate liquid contents at least in part based on a comparison of first particle data and second particle data. In various embodiments, the apparatus may include a heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the particles within a second fluid sample. In various embodiments, the apparatus may include a fluid sensor configured to generate first particle data using optical scattering operations and a fluid composition sensor configured to generate second particle data using particle imaging operations. Various embodiments relate to systems and methods for controlling a fluid flow monitoring system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Exemplary implementations generally relate to devices for estimating the abundance of airborne droplets (e.g., liquid contents) in the air of an ambient environment, and to systems configured to control one or more conditions in the ambient environment based at least in part on the estimation of airborne droplets in the air. Background Technology

[0002] Sensors and devices can be used to characterize various aspects of fluids in a variety of applications. As just one example, sensor devices can be used to monitor air conditions, such as monitoring and characterizing the particulate content of airflows. However, existing fluid sensor devices offer limited functionality in generating data indicating certain properties of the fluid, such as the unique characteristics and concentrations of individual particles, including droplets contained within the fluid flow. Fluid sensor devices can use particle imaging methods to characterize the particulate properties and concentrations of particulate matter in collected sample fluids. Improvements in various aspects of particle and droplet sampling and analysis are desired. Generally, fluid sampling devices are advantageous in identifying and characterizing the abundance of droplets present in the air of an environment, thus helping to avoid the inhalation of droplets containing dangerous pathogens and other harmful substances. For devices that collect data associated with a given volume of air to determine the abundance of droplets therein, it is desirable to avoid measurement inaccuracies caused by the volatile nature of droplets present in the air and the limitations of various measuring devices, in order to provide an accurate and effective characterization of the relative abundance of droplets in the environment.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for improved fluid flow equipment capable of accurately collecting and analyzing the particulate contents of fluid samples from the surrounding environment in order to estimate the abundance of droplets present in the air. Furthermore, HVAC and other building control systems are needed to proactively respond to the presence of airborne droplets in order to improve indoor air quality and mitigate potential health hazards caused by droplet propagation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Various embodiments relate to apparatus and methods for detecting the characteristics of particulate liquid contents. In various embodiments, the apparatus for detecting the characteristics of particulate liquid contents includes: one or more fluid flow device inlets configured to receive a first fluid sample comprising a first plurality of particles and a second fluid sample comprising a second plurality of particles; a heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the second plurality of particles, such that one or more of the second plurality of particles comprise one or more heated particles; a flow sensor configured to receive the first fluid sample and capture first particle data associated with the first plurality of particles; and a controller configured to determine the characteristics of the particulate liquid contents based at least in part on the first particle data and the second particle data associated with the one or more heated particles, wherein the characteristics of the particulate liquid contents are at least in part defined by the liquid particle portion of the one or more particles received by the fluid flow device.

[0005] In various embodiments, the flow sensor may include a fluid sensor configured to capture first particle data associated with a first plurality of particles using optical scattering operations. In various embodiments, the flow sensor may include a fluid composition sensor configured to capture first particle data associated with a first plurality of particles using particle imaging operations. In some embodiments, particle imaging operations may include lensless holography. Additionally, in various embodiments, the flow sensor may also be configured to receive a second fluid sample and capture second particle data associated with one or more heated particles. In various embodiments, the fluid flow device may further include a first fluid flow path configured to receive a first fluid sample and a second fluid flow path configured to receive a second fluid sample. In some embodiments, the fluid flow device may further include a second flow sensor configured to receive one or more heated particles from a second fluid delivery conduit and capture second particle data associated with at least a portion of the one or more heated particles. In some embodiments, the second flow sensor may include a fluid sensor configured to capture second particle data associated with at least a portion of one or more heated particles using optical scattering operations.

[0006] In various embodiments, the particulate liquid content characteristics may include a ratio at least partially defined by a first particle characteristic value and a second particle characteristic value, wherein the first particle characteristic value is defined by first particle data associated with a first plurality of particles, and wherein the second particle characteristic value is defined by second particle data associated with one or more heated particles. In various embodiments, the particulate liquid content characteristics may include a difference between the first particle characteristic value and the second particle characteristic value, wherein the first particle characteristic value is defined by first particle data associated with a first plurality of particles, and wherein the second particle characteristic value is defined by second particle data associated with one or more heated particles. In various embodiments, the controller may also be configured to determine that the particulate liquid content characteristics meet a threshold liquid content concentration value; and when it is determined that the particulate liquid content characteristics meet the threshold liquid content concentration value, generate a control signal for transmission to an external device. In various embodiments, the heating element may be configured to heat at least a portion of a second plurality of particles within a fluid flow conduit fluidly connected to at least one of the inlets of one or more fluid flow devices, such that at least a portion of the fluid flow conduit defines a heated flow path.

[0007] Various embodiments may relate to a fluid flow device for detecting the properties of particulate liquid contents, the device comprising: a fluid sensor configured to receive a fluid sample comprising a plurality of particles disposed therein and to generate first particle data associated with the plurality of particles using an optical scattering operation; a fluid composition sensor configured to receive the fluid sample comprising the plurality of particles and to generate second particle data associated with the plurality of particles using a particle imaging operation; and a controller configured to determine the particulate liquid contents properties associated with the fluid sample based at least in part on a comparison of the first particle data and the second particle data, wherein the particulate liquid contents properties are at least in part defined by a liquid particle portion within one or more of the plurality of particles received by the fluid flow device.

[0008] In various embodiments, the fluid composition sensor may include an imaging device configured to capture particle images of one or more of a plurality of particles using lensless holography. In various embodiments, the particulate liquid content characteristics may be at least partially based on a ratio of a second particle characteristic value to a first particle characteristic value, wherein the second particle characteristic value is defined by second particle data associated with the plurality of particles, and wherein the first particle characteristic value is defined by first particle data associated with the plurality of particles. In various embodiments, the particulate liquid content characteristics may be at least partially based on the difference between the second particle characteristic value and the first particle characteristic value, wherein the second particle characteristic value is defined by second particle data associated with the plurality of particles, and wherein the first particle characteristic value is defined by first particle data associated with the plurality of particles. Additionally, in various embodiments, the controller may be configured to determine that the particulate liquid content characteristics meet a threshold liquid content concentration value; and when it is determined that the particulate liquid content characteristics meet the threshold liquid content concentration value, generate a control signal for transmission to an external device. In various embodiments, the fluid sensor is capable of defining at least a portion of a fluid flow path, and wherein the fluid sensor and the fluid composition sensor are positioned along the fluid flow path such that a fluid sample flows upstream of the fluid composition sensor.

[0009] Various embodiments relate to a method for controlling a fluid flow monitoring system, the method comprising: monitoring particulate liquid content characteristics associated with a fluid sample received by the fluid flow device via a fluid flow device, wherein the particulate liquid content characteristics are at least partially defined by liquid particle portions within one or more of a plurality of particles; and generating a control signal for sending to a second system device of the fluid flow monitoring system when it is determined that the particulate liquid content characteristics meet a particulate liquid content threshold, wherein the particulate liquid content threshold defines a threshold particulate liquid content concentration indicating the presence of one or more droplets within the fluid sample received by the fluid flow device.

[0010] In various embodiments, the method may further include performing one or more responsive mitigation operations in response to receiving the control signal at a secondary system device to reduce the concentration of particulate liquid contents associated with one or more particles within the fluid sample. Additionally, in various embodiments, performing one or more responsive mitigation operations may include causing an environmental condition controller to adjust one or more environmental conditions defining at least a portion of the surrounding environment within the facility. In various embodiments, the method may further include sending an alarm signal to one or more client devices associated with the fluid flow monitoring system in response to receiving the control signal at a secondary system device. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Now refer to the accompanying drawings, which may not be drawn to scale, and in which:

[0012] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a fluid sensing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary device according to one embodiment described herein is shown;

[0014] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary device according to one embodiment described herein is shown;

[0015] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of an exemplary apparatus according to various embodiments described herein is shown;

[0016] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an exemplary apparatus according to various embodiments is shown;

[0017] Figures 6A to 6B A schematic diagram of an exemplary apparatus according to various embodiments is shown;

[0018] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of an exemplary apparatus according to various embodiments is shown;

[0019] Figure 8 These are exemplary flowcharts illustrating the steps of example methods according to various embodiments of this disclosure;

[0020] Figure 9 These are exemplary flowcharts illustrating the steps of example methods according to various embodiments of this disclosure; and

[0021] Figure 10 Various data flows within an exemplary system according to some of the implementations discussed herein are illustrated schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0022] This disclosure describes various embodiments more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that some, but not all, of the embodiments are shown and described herein. In fact, embodiments may take many different forms, and therefore this disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to enable this disclosure to meet applicable legal requirements. Throughout the document, similar reference numerals refer to similar elements.

[0023] First, it should be understood that although exemplary embodiments of one or more aspects are shown below, the disclosed components, systems, and methods can be implemented using any number of techniques (whether currently known or not yet available). This disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary embodiments, drawings, and techniques shown below, but modifications can be made within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Although dimensional values ​​for various elements are disclosed, the drawings may not be drawn to scale.

[0024] The terms “example” or “exemplary” as used herein are intended to mean “served as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as an “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily more preferred or advantageous than other implementations. As used herein, “fluid” can refer to a gas, a liquid, or a combination of gas and liquid in a single flow. Thus, the term “fluid” includes a variety of easily flowing substances, such as, but not limited to, liquids and / or gases (e.g., air, oil, etc.). Consequently, various embodiments relate to fluid sensing systems, such as gas sensing systems (e.g., some embodiments are specifically configured to operate with air; others are configured to operate with other gases, such as inert gases, volatile gases, etc.), liquid sensing systems, etc.

[0025] Certain implementations involve fluid flow devices, fluid flow monitoring systems, and various methods of using them in various environments. This document describes a device (which may be referred to as a fluid flow device, fluid particle sensor, gas particle sensor, or air particle sensor as discussed herein) configured to characterize and monitor particulate matter within a volume of fluid to provide an accurate estimate of the relative abundance of airborne droplets in the surrounding environment. During normal conversation, breathing, sneezing, and coughing, airborne droplets are continuously exhaled or ejected. These droplets may carry infectious pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Methods for detecting the abundance of airborne droplets would be useful tools for monitoring and reducing exposure to air that is more likely to infect humans. Some air quality sensors configured to identify and / or measure the amount of particulate matter in the air of an environment are not configured to distinguish between liquid and solid contents within detected particles. Therefore, such sensors may fail to determine the abundance of droplets, which are typically of particular importance relative to the spread of infectious diseases and are present in the ambient air.

[0026] Furthermore, while some fluid sensors can be configured to distinguish between detected liquid and detected solid contents, the volatile nature of the liquid contents of droplets confined within the air of the environment can lead to various measurement inaccuracies and / or the sensor's inability to detect particles within the droplets. For example, droplets dispersed in the air of the environment can exhibit a wide range of sizes (e.g., from submicrometers to tens of micrometers). Typically, large particles larger than at least about 10 micrometers tend to fall rapidly in the air. However, smaller airborne particles (including droplets and particles more likely to be trapped in the upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract, and / or lungs) can remain airborne and disperse over long distances. In cases where most exhaled and exhaled droplets can comprise various liquid substances (such as water), droplets typically evaporate over time, causing them to shrink. This can alter how they are dispersed in the air and / or the composition of the droplets, increasing the difficulty and complexity associated with detecting, measuring, and / or characterizing droplets in the air.

[0027] The apparatus and methods discussed herein can be configured to detect and characterize the abundance of airborne droplets present within a given volume of fluid (e.g., air) in an environment. In various embodiments, the invention utilizes one or more sensors configured to receive a first fluid sample and a second fluid sample from the surrounding environment. As described herein, the invention can be configured to apply heat to one of the two fluid samples in an intentional, defined heating operation prior to the fluid sample being received and / or characterized by the fluid sensing device. In various embodiments, both the first fluid sample and the second fluid sample, which includes a plurality of heated particles, are received by a flow sensor configured to capture particle data associated with the respective plurality of particles. As described herein, the invention can be configured to compare the first particle data associated with a plurality of unheated particles and the second particle data associated with a plurality of heated particles to identify one or more differences caused by evaporation of liquid contents within the plurality of heated particles. The invention is configured to determine the relative abundance of droplets in the air based at least in part on comparisons of particle data associated with the heated fluid sample and particle data associated with the unheated fluid sample, and the isolation of one or more differences between them.

[0028] Additionally, in various embodiments, the invention may include receiving a first fluid sample at a fluid sensor configured to capture first particle data using one or more optical scattering operations, and additionally, receiving a second fluid sample at a fluid composition sensor configured to capture second particle data using one or more particle imaging operations. Different operational and / or physical configurations of the fluid sensor and the fluid composition sensor may cause the second particle data to differ at least partially from the first particle data captured by the fluid sensor. In various embodiments, the invention may be configured to compare the first particle data captured by the fluid sensor and the second particle data captured by the fluid composition sensor to identify one or more differences between the corresponding data. Furthermore, the invention may be configured to correlate the degree to which the first particle data and / or the second particle data are affected by the different physical configurations presented by the fluid sensor and the fluid composition sensor with the abundance of droplets present in the ambient air. The systems, apparatus, and methods described herein can minimize sensor errors and / or invalidities in the detection characterization of airborne droplets relative to the environment, thereby normalizing output data and improving data consistency. Furthermore, the invention embodies a more flexible sensor configuration, which can be adapted to a variety of use cases defined by different situations, configurations, and requirements. This invention utilizes robust design to provide fluid flow devices, fluid flow monitoring systems, and various related methods for using them, which are configured to measure the relative abundance of airborne droplets in an environment.

[0029] In various embodiments, an exemplary fluid flow device may be configured to receive a volume of fluid flowing through it. Specifically, the fluid flow device may be configured to receive a volume of gas, such as air, flowing through it. In various embodiments, the fluid flow device may be configured to determine at least one particle characteristic of a plurality of particles within a volume of fluid, based at least in part on particle data associated with at least a portion of a plurality of particles. For example, in various embodiments, the fluid flow device may include one or more flow sensors configured to collect, capture, generate, store, and / or such various particle measurements associated with a plurality of particles within a volume of fluid, which may be utilized by the exemplary fluid flow device to generate corresponding particle data. As a non-limiting example, an exemplary fluid flow device may include one or more flow sensors configured to measure and / or characterize particulate matter mass concentration data, particle number data, particle size data, etc. Additionally, in various embodiments, the fluid flow device may include a controller configured to generate and / or process particle data associated with one or more particles within the received volume of fluid, and further determine the particle characteristics of the plurality of particles within the volume of fluid received by the fluid flow device. As described in further detail herein, exemplary fluid flow devices can be configured to detect, monitor, and / or characterize one or more particles of liquid contents (e.g., droplets, aerosols) and solid contents within a fluid (e.g., a fluid sample) flowing through one or more volumes therethrough. For example, in various embodiments, exemplary particles may be defined at least partially by liquid particle portions and solid particle portions. In various embodiments, exemplary fluid flow devices can be configured to generate and / or process particle data, such as liquid-to-solid particle content ratios, liquid particle portion volumes, etc., based on one or more particle characteristics associated with the liquid particle portions and / or solid particle portions.

[0030] Now for reference Figure 1This document provides a schematic diagram of an exemplary fluid flow device 10 configured for fluid sensing. The fluid flow device 10 may include a controller 300, associated with or otherwise communicating with the controller, which includes, for example, one or more processors 302 and one or more memory devices 301, and one or more flow sensors, such as a first flow sensor 100. In various embodiments, the one or more fluid sensors of the exemplary fluid flow device 10 may include a plurality of flow sensors, including a first flow sensor 100 and a second flow sensor 200. Additionally, in various embodiments, the exemplary fluid flow device 10 may include an image database 107, associated with or otherwise communicating with the image database. In various embodiments, the fluid flow device 10 may be embodied in or associated with a plurality of computing devices communicating with or otherwise networking with each other. For example, at least a portion of one or more flow sensors (e.g., one or both of the first flow sensor 100 and the second flow sensor 200) may have a processor communicating with another processor. In various embodiments, some or all of the mentioned components may be embodied as a flow device. For example, an exemplary fluid flow device 10 may include a controller 300, which includes a processor 302 and a memory 301, a first flow sensor 100, a second flow sensor 200, and optionally, an imaging database 107, as described in further detail herein.

[0031] In various embodiments, one or more flow sensors of an exemplary fluid flow device may include any sensor configured to monitor a particle composition of one or more particles within a volume of fluid, for example by measuring and / or characterizing the particulate matter mass concentration, number of particles, particle size, etc., associated with one or more particles.

[0032] In various embodiments, one or more flow sensors of the exemplary fluid flow device 10 (e.g., first flow sensor 100, second flow sensor 200) may include fluid sensors that include optical scattering sensors. For example, the fluid sensor may be configured to detect, measure, and / or characterize particulate matter mass concentration, particle number, particle size, etc., associated with one or more particles within a fluid sample received by the fluid flow device, at least in part, based on optical scattering. As a non-limiting example, in some embodiments, the fluid sensor may specifically embody a fluid (e.g., air) sensor including a particulate matter sensor (e.g., Honeywell HPM series particulate matter sensor), a particle size analyzer / counter (e.g., TSI OPS series optical particle size analyzer sensor), and / or any other suitable device capable of measuring particulate contents within one or more volumes of fluid using one or more optical scattering operations. In various embodiments, the exemplary fluid sensor may include a processor configured to generate various control signals and / or to be combined with the processor, as described herein.

[0033] As described herein, in various embodiments, the first flow sensor may include a fluid sensor. For example, such as Figure 2As shown, the exemplary fluid sensor 400 may include an optical scattering sensor. In various embodiments, a first flow sensor including a fluid sensor (e.g., the exemplary fluid sensor 400) can capture particle data associated with one or more particles of a first plurality of particles within a first fluid sample. For example, the exemplary fluid sensor 400 can capture particle data, such as particulate matter mass concentration data, particle number data, particle size data, etc., by utilizing a particle detector including a beam generator and a pulse detector configured to monitor signal pulses generated at a pulse detector based on the presence of one or more particles within the fluid sensor 400. As shown, the fluid sensor 400 may be equipped with a beam generator (e.g., illumination source 421) and a pulse detector (e.g., photodiode element 422), each of which may be positioned within an internal portion of a fluid sensor housing 401 of the fluid sensor 400 and within at least a portion of a fluid flow path extending between a fluid sensor inlet 411 and a fluid sensor outlet 412 within the housing 401. In addition, the fluid sensor 400 may be configured to have a photoconverter 423. In various embodiments, the illumination source 421 of the exemplary fluid sensor 400 may be a laser, lamp, light-emitting diode (LED), etc., which may operate in conjunction with one or more lenses configured to generate a light beam (e.g., ultraviolet, visible, infrared, or multicolor light) that is directed across a fluid flow path that passes through the detection cavity of the fluid sensor 400. For example, the fluid sensor 400 may be configured to detect particles within a volume of fluid (e.g., a first fluid sample) using laser-based light scattering particle sensing. In various embodiments, the fluid sensor 400 may include a fan 430 for drawing a fluid sample (e.g., at least a portion of a volume of fluid in the adjacent surrounding environment) into the fluid sensor inlet 411 and across the fluid flow path through the fluid sensor 400. Additionally, the fluid sensor 400, specifically embodying the first fluid sensor, may include a first fluid flow conduit 413 configured to receive a first fluid sample comprising a first plurality of particles. As shown, the first fluid flow conduit 413 may be defined by a portion of a fluid flow path within an exemplary fluid sensor 400 located downstream of the first fluid sensor fluid inlet 411 and / or upstream of a detection chamber. In some embodiments, fluid may flow through a detection chamber at least partially defined by a portion of an internal portion within the fluid sensor housing 401 configured to enclose an illumination source 421 (e.g., a laser, lamp, LED, etc.), such that multiple particles or other properties of the fluid flow may reflect at least a portion of the light generated by the illumination source 421, thereby enabling a photodiode element 422 to capture light pulses reflected from at least a portion of the multiple particles in the fluid sample.In some embodiments, photodiode element 422 may send one or more signals to photoconverter 423, the one or more signals including data indicating light reflected from one or more particles in a sample fluid. For example, as described herein, in various embodiments, particle data captured by a first flow sensor including a fluid sensor (e.g., exemplary fluid sensor 400) may be at least partially based on data signals received and / or processed by photoconverter 423. In various embodiments, as described in further detail herein, exemplary fluid sensor 400 may be configured to send one or more signals (e.g., data signals, control signals) to one or more components of an exemplary fluid flow device, such as controller 300. It should be understood that... Figure 2 The exemplary configuration of the fluid sensor 400 shown is merely an example, and various embodiments, such as the fluid flow devices described herein, may incorporate fluid sensors with other configurations for detecting one or more particle characteristics.

[0034] Alternatively or otherwise, in various embodiments, the first flow sensor of an exemplary fluid flow device may include a fluid composition sensor. For example, see reference... Figure 3 An exemplary first fluid sample (e.g., a first plurality of particles) may be received by a fluid flow device at a first flow sensor embodied by an exemplary fluid composition sensor 500. Figure 3 An exemplary fluid composition sensor 500, embodying a first flow sensor of an exemplary fluid flow device according to various embodiments, is illustrated. As shown, the exemplary fluid composition sensor 500 may include a particle imaging sensor. For example, first particle data associated with one or more particles of a first plurality of particles received by the fluid flow device may be captured by the exemplary fluid composition sensor 500. In such exemplary cases, the exemplary fluid composition sensor 500 may capture particle data of one or more particles of the first plurality of particles received by the fluid composition sensor 500, such as particle images as described herein. Additionally, in various embodiments, the first particle data captured by the fluid composition sensor 500 may also include first particle data generated by the fluid composition sensor 500 at least in part based on the captured particle images, such as particle type data, particulate matter mass concentration data, particle number data, particle size data, etc.

[0035] As shown in the figure, in various non-limiting exemplary embodiments, an exemplary fluid composition sensor 500 may include a housing 501, an impactor nozzle 504, a collection medium 506, a substrate 508 that is at least partially transparent, and an imaging device 510. In some embodiments, the fluid composition sensor 500 may also include a power supply 514 and a fan or pump 512, the power supply being configured to supply power to the fluid composition sensor 500, and the fan or pump being configured to allow a volume of fluid to enter and pass through the fluid composition sensor 100. In various embodiments, the fan or pump 512 is calibrated such that the flow rate of the fluid moving through the device is at least partially based on the operating characteristics of the fan or pump 512 (e.g., operating power) being known / determined. In various embodiments, a fluid composition sensor 500, including a collection medium 506, may be configured to guide at least a portion of a first fluid sample received by the fluid composition sensor 500 along a fluid flow path within a sensor housing 501 in a direction perpendicular to the receiving surface of the collection medium 506, such that the first fluid sample (e.g., one or more particles of a first plurality of particles) can interact with the collection medium 506. As shown, the fluid composition sensor 500, embodying a first fluid sensor, may include a first fluid flow conduit 513 configured to receive the first fluid sample comprising the first plurality of particles. As shown, the first fluid flow conduit 513 may be defined by a portion of a fluid flow path within the exemplary fluid composition sensor 500 located downstream of a fluid inlet 511 of the first fluid sensor and / or upstream of the collection medium 506. As a non-limiting example, in various embodiments, the collection medium 506 may include an adhesive (i.e., viscous) material, such as a gel, and may be configured to receive one or more particles of the first plurality of particles through interaction with the first fluid sample. In various embodiments, an exemplary fluid composition sensor 500 may have a designated field of view for permanently and / or temporarily capturing particle images of at least a portion of a first plurality of particles simultaneously. For example, a collection medium 506 may reside at least partially within the field of view of an imaging device 510 as described herein, such that at least a portion of the first plurality of particles captured by the collection medium 506 is visible to the imaging device 510, and first particle data including particle images may be captured by the fluid composition sensor 500 (e.g., by the imaging device 510).

[0036] In various embodiments, the fluid composition sensor 500 may include a lensless microscope. In such exemplary embodiments, the fluid composition sensor 500 may capture a particle image by performing one or more imaging techniques (e.g., lensless holography) to capture first particle data including a particle image of one or more of a first plurality of particles. Alternatively or in addition, in various embodiments, the fluid composition sensor 500 may include a lens-based imaging device or any other device configured to capture a particle image that may at least partially define the first particle data as described herein. In various embodiments, the lens-based imaging device may utilize one or more imaging techniques (e.g., optical microscopy) to capture a particle image of one or more of a first plurality of particles. In various embodiments, optical microscopy may include passing light through one or more lenses to magnify and capture a particle image of at least a portion of a plurality of particles within a collection medium 506, the light being transmitted through or reflected from the collection medium and / or the plurality of particles disposed in the collection medium. In various embodiments, as described in further detail herein, the exemplary fluid composition sensor 500 may be configured to send one or more signals (e.g., data signals, control signals) to one or more components of the exemplary fluid flow device, such as controller 300. It should be understood that... Figure 3 The exemplary configuration of the fluid composition sensor 500 shown is merely an example, and various embodiments, such as the fluid flow devices described herein, may incorporate fluid composition sensors with other configurations for detecting one or more particle characteristics.

[0037] Figure 4 An exemplary fluid flow device according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Specifically, Figure 4 An exemplary fluid flow device 10 is shown, comprising a plurality of fluid flow conduits, each configured to receive a corresponding fluid sample comprising a plurality of particles via a respective fluid inlet, which may be fluidly connected to the surrounding environment. As shown, the fluid flow device 10 may include a first fluid flow conduit 110 configured to receive a first fluid sample via a first fluid inlet 111; and a second fluid flow conduit 210 configured to receive a second fluid sample via a second fluid inlet 211. In various embodiments, the first fluid flow conduit 110 and the second fluid flow conduit 210 may be defined by corresponding portions of two different fluid flow paths.

[0038] In various implementation schemes, such as Figure 4As shown, the exemplary fluid flow device 10 may include a first flow sensor 100 and a second flow sensor 200. In various embodiments, the first flow sensor 100 may be fluidly connected to and / or may include a first fluid flow conduit 110, such that at least a portion of a first fluid flow path defined within the first flow sensor 100 is disposed downstream of the first fluid flow conduit 110. Similarly, in various embodiments, the second flow sensor 200 may be fluidly connected to and / or may include a second fluid flow conduit 210, such that at least a portion of a second fluid flow path defined within the second flow sensor 200 is disposed downstream of the second fluid flow conduit 210. Additionally, in various embodiments, the exemplary fluid flow device 10 may be configured such that both the first fluid sensor 100 and the second fluid sensor 200 are in electronic communication with a controller 300. For example, each of the first fluid sensor 100 and the second fluid sensor 200 may be configured to send and / or receive one or more signals (e.g., data signals, control signals) to and / or to the controller 300 to perform at least a portion of one or more operations described herein.

[0039] In various embodiments, the exemplary fluid flow device 10 may include a first fluid outlet 131 defined by a downstream end of a first fluid flow path configured to be fluidly connected to a first flow sensor 100, such that at least a portion of a first fluid sample received by the first fluid sensor 100 may be dispensed from the first fluid sensor 100 and / or from the fluid flow device 10 by flow through it. Similarly, as shown, the exemplary fluid flow device 10 including a second flow sensor 200 may also include a second fluid outlet 231 defined by a downstream end of a second fluid flow path configured to be fluidly connected to the second flow sensor 200, such that at least a portion of a second fluid sample received by the second fluid sensor 200 may be dispensed from the second fluid sensor 200 and / or from the fluid flow device 10 by flow through it.

[0040] In various embodiments, as described herein, the exemplary fluid flow device 10 shown in the figure may include flow conditioning elements, such as heating elements. In various embodiments, the heating element, as described in further detail herein, may include one or more elements configured to generate heat energy that can be at least partially transferred, such that heat is applied through a fluid sample to one or more of a plurality of particles received by the fluid flow device 10. For example, in various embodiments, the heating element may be configured to apply heat to one or more particles present within a fluid flow conduit. Additionally, in various embodiments, the heating element may be configured to apply heat to one or more particles received (e.g., disposed therein) by a collection medium of an exemplary fluid composition sensor. In such exemplary cases, the exemplary fluid composition sensor may include a collection medium configured to receive one or more of a second plurality of particles as described herein, the collection medium comprising and / or being positioned at least substantially adjacent to a heated surface heated by the heating element of the fluid flow device 10.

[0041] like Figure 4 As shown, in various embodiments, heating element 601 may be configured to generate thermal energy that can be at least partially transferred to a second fluid flow conduit (e.g., within the second flow sensor 200), the second fluid flow conduit being configured to receive a second fluid sample comprising a second plurality of particles. For example, heating element (e.g., heating bar, heating sleeve, etc.) may apply heat to at least a portion of the outer surface of the second fluid flow conduit 210, which may be formed of at least partially thermally conductive material, such that at least a portion of the interior of the second fluid flow conduit 210, which is disposed at least substantially adjacent to heating element 601, is heated. For example, the heated interior portion of the fluid flow conduit may define a heating chamber 600. As described herein, the heating chamber may be at least partially defined by a portion of a second fluid flow path along which one or more particles of the second plurality of particles within the second fluid sample may be subjected to the heating conditions generated by heating element 601. For example, in various embodiments, the heating chamber 601 may be defined by a portion of a fluid flow conduit 201 configured to receive a second plurality of particles within a second fluid sample flowing through it, and positioned at least substantially adjacent to the heating element 601. As shown, the heating chamber 600 may be positioned upstream of at least a portion of the second flow sensor 200 (e.g., the detection chamber, the collection medium) along the second fluid flow path.

[0042] Figure 5 An exemplary fluid flow device according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Specifically, Figure 5An exemplary fluid flow device 10 is shown, including a first flow sensor 100 comprising a first fluid flow conduit 110 configured to receive a first fluid sample via a first fluid inlet 111; and a second fluid flow conduit 120 configured to receive a second fluid sample via a second fluid inlet 121. As shown, the exemplary fluid flow device 10 may be configured such that the first fluid flow conduit 110 and the second fluid flow conduit 120, as described herein, are defined by corresponding portions of two fluid flow paths disposed within the first flow sensor 100 that are different from the fluid flow path. In such exemplary cases, an exemplary first flow sensor 100 (e.g., a fluid sensor, a fluid composition sensor) including a first fluid flow conduit 110 configured to receive a first fluid sample and a second fluid sample, respectively, and a fluid-different second fluid flow conduit 120, may be configured to selectively receive the first fluid sample and the second fluid sample in one or more operations that can be performed at least substantially continuously by the first flow sensor 100. As a non-limiting example, Figure 5 The first flow sensor 100 shown may include a fluid composition sensor, such as those referenced herein. Figure 3 The exemplary fluid composition sensor 500 is described above. In such an exemplary case, the first flow sensor 100 may include one or more collection media positioned downstream of each of a first fluid flow conduit 110 and a second fluid flow conduit 120, such that the one or more collection media are capable of interacting with at least a portion of a first plurality of particles in a first fluid sample dispensed from the first fluid flow conduit 110 and at least a portion of a second plurality of particles in a second fluid sample from the second fluid flow conduit 120.

[0043] As shown, an exemplary first flow sensor 100 including a fluid composition sensor may include an imaging device having a designated field of view for permanently and / or temporarily capturing, simultaneously or continuously, at least a portion of a first plurality of particles and / or a second plurality of particles. For example, a collection medium may reside at least partially within the field of view of an imaging device 110 as described herein, such that at least a portion of the first plurality of particles and at least a portion of the second plurality of particles captured by the collection medium are visible to the imaging device 110. As described herein, first particle data including a first particle image of one or more of the first plurality of particles and second particle data including a second particle image of one or more of the second plurality of particles may be captured by the first flow sensor 100 (e.g., by the imaging device 110). In various embodiments, an exemplary first flow sensor 100 may include one or more fluid outlets 132 defined by the downstream ends of one or more fluid flow paths configured to be fluidly connected to one or more of a first fluid flow conduit 110 and a second fluid flow conduit 120, such that at least a portion of a first fluid sample and a second fluid sample received by the first fluid sensor 100 may be distributed from the first fluid sensor 100 and / or from the fluid flow device 10 by flow through them.

[0044] Figures 6A to 6B Exemplary fluid flow devices according to various exemplary embodiments are shown. Specifically, Figures 6A to 6B Exemplary fluid flow devices 10 are shown, each including a first flow sensor 100 and a second flow sensor 200 arranged along the same fluid flow path, such that the fluid flow device 10 is configured to perform one or more sequential particle data capture operations. In various embodiments, the first flow sensor 100 and the second flow sensor 200 of the exemplary fluid flow device 10 may be arranged along the same fluid flow path, such that the second flow sensor 200 is positioned downstream of the first flow sensor 100. The exemplary fluid flow device 10 may be configured such that a first fluid sample dispensed from the first flow sensor 100 may be delivered to a second fluid flow conduit 210 disposed between the first flow sensor 100 and the second flow sensor 200. For example, in such exemplary cases, the first fluid sample received by the first flow sensor 100 and the second fluid sample subsequently received by the second flow sensor 200 may at least substantially comprise a fluid sample. Figure 6AAs shown, an exemplary fluid flow device 10 may include a heating chamber 600 disposed within a fluid flow conduit portion extending between a first flow sensor 100 and a second flow sensor 200, such that a fluid sample may be selectively heated before being received by the second flow sensor 200, as described herein. In such an exemplary configuration, the fluid flow device 10 is configured such that a fluid sample received by the fluid flow device 10 may be received sequentially by the first flow sensor 100, the heating chamber 600, and the second flow sensor 200, respectively arranged sequentially along a fluid flow path, and both first particle data captured by the first flow sensor 100 and second particle data captured by the second flow sensor 200 may be associated with the same fluid sample. For example, the first particle data captured by the first flow sensor 100 may be associated with one or more particles among a plurality of particles within the fluid sample, wherein the one or more particles associated with the first particle data include an unheated particle configuration. Additionally, in various embodiments, the second particle data captured by the second flow sensor 200 can be associated with one or more particles among a plurality of particles in a fluid sample distributed from the upstream first flow sensor 100, wherein the one or more particles associated with the second particle data include a heated particle configuration. For example... Figure 6B As shown, in various embodiments, the exemplary fluid flow device may at least substantially exclude the heating element 601, such that the heating element is not defined along the fluid flow path of the exemplary device. As a non-limiting example, such as Figure 6B The exemplary fluid flow device 10 shown can be used to perform one or more operations as described herein as in the exemplary method 2000.

[0045] like Figure 7 As shown, controller 300 may include memory 301, processor 302, input / output circuitry 303, communication circuitry 305, imaging device data storage 107, particle imaging circuitry 306, particle type identification circuitry 307, relative particle characteristic calculation circuitry 308, and fluid flow management system circuitry 309. Controller 300 may be configured to perform the operations described herein. While the components are described with respect to functional limitations, it should be understood that a particular implementation necessarily involves the use of specific hardware. It should also be understood that some components described herein may include similar or common hardware. For example, both sets of circuits may use the same processor, network interface, storage medium, etc., to perform their associated functions, so that each set of circuits does not require duplicate hardware. Therefore, it should be understood that the use of the term "circuit" as used herein with respect to components of controller 200 includes specific hardware configured to perform functions associated with a particular circuit described herein.

[0046] The term "circuit" should be broadly understood to include hardware, and in some embodiments, to include software used to configure the hardware. For example, in some embodiments, "circuit" may include processing circuitry, storage media, network interfaces, input / output devices, etc. In some embodiments, other elements of the controller 300 may provide or supplement the functionality of a particular circuit. For example, the processor 302 may provide processing functionality, the memory 301 may provide storage functionality, and the communication circuitry 305 may provide network interface functionality, etc.

[0047] In some embodiments, processor 302 (and / or coprocessor or any other processing circuitry assisting or otherwise associated with the processor) may communicate with memory 301 via a bus for transferring information between components of the device. Memory 301 may be non-transitory and may include, for example, one or more volatile and / or non-volatile memories. For example, memory 301 may be an electronic storage device (e.g., a computer-readable storage medium). In various embodiments, memory 301 may be configured to store information, data, content, applications, instructions, etc., for enabling the device to perform various functions according to exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. It should be understood that memory 301 may be configured to store, in part or in whole, any electronic information, data, data structures, embodiments, examples, graphics, processes, operations, techniques, algorithms, instructions, systems, apparatuses, methods, lookup tables, or computer program products described herein, or any combination thereof. As a non-limiting example, memory 301 may be configured to store particle size data, particle type data, particle impact depth data, particle image data, particle shape data, particle cross-sectional area data, particle mass data, particle density data, particle mass concentration data, particle number data, particle concentration data, particle liquid contents data, relative particle characteristics data, timestamp data, location data, etc., associated with a volume of fluid (e.g., a fluid sample).

[0048] Processor 302 can be embodied in a variety of different ways and may include, for example, one or more processing devices configured to execute independently. Alternatively, the processor may include one or more processors configured in series via a bus to enable independent execution of instructions, pipelines, and / or multiple threads. The term "processing circuitry" can be understood to include single-core processors, multi-core processors, multiple processors within a device, and / or remote or "cloud" processors.

[0049] In an exemplary embodiment, processor 302 may be configured to execute instructions stored in memory 301 or otherwise accessible to the processor. Alternatively or otherwise, the processor may be configured to perform hard-coded functions. Thus, whether configured by hardware or software methods, or by a combination thereof, the processor may represent an entity capable of performing operations and being configured accordingly according to embodiments of this disclosure (e.g., physically embodied in circuit form). Alternatively, for example, when the processor embodies an executor of software instructions, the instructions may specifically configure the processor to perform the algorithms and / or operations described herein when executing the instructions.

[0050] In some embodiments, controller 300 may include input / output circuitry 303, which can then communicate with processor 302 to provide output to a user, and in some embodiments, receive user-provided input such as commands. Input / output circuitry 303 may include a user interface, such as a graphical user interface (GUI), and may include a display, which may include a web user interface, a GUI application, a mobile application, a client device, or any other suitable hardware or software. In some embodiments, input / output circuitry 303 may also include a display device, a display screen, a user input element (such as a touchscreen), a touch area, soft keys, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a speaker (e.g., a buzzer), a light-emitting device (e.g., a red light-emitting diode (LED), a green LED, a blue LED, a white LED, an infrared (IR) LED, or a combination thereof), or other input / output mechanisms. Processor 302, input / output circuitry 303 (which may utilize processing circuitry), or both may be configured to control one or more functions of one or more user interface elements via computer-executable program code instructions (e.g., software, firmware) stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., memory 301). Input / output circuitry 303 is optional, and in some embodiments, controller 300 may not include input / output circuitry. For example, where controller 300 does not directly interact with the user, controller 300 may generate user interface data for display on one or more other devices with which one or more users directly interact, and send the generated user interface data to one or more of these devices. For example, controller 300 may use user interface circuitry to generate user interface data for display on one or more display devices, and send the generated user interface data to those display devices.

[0051] The communication circuit 305 may be a device or circuit embodied in hardware or a combination of hardware and software, configured to receive and / or transmit data to and from a network and / or to any other device, circuit, or module communicating with device 300. For example, the communication circuit 305 may be configured to communicate with one or more computing devices via wired (e.g., USB) or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular, etc.) communication protocols. For example, as described in further detail herein, the communication circuit 305 may be configured to facilitate communication between an exemplary fluid flow device and one or more computing devices of an exemplary fluid flow management system via wired (e.g., USB, Ethernet, etc.) or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular, etc.) communication protocols, as described in further detail herein.

[0052] In various embodiments, processor 302 may be configured to communicate with particle imaging circuitry 306. Particle imaging circuitry 306 may be a device and / or circuit embodied in hardware or a combination of hardware and software, configured to receive, process, generate, and / or transmit data (e.g., particle data), such as particle images captured by an exemplary fluid composition sensor (e.g., via imaging device 110). In various embodiments, particle imaging circuitry 306 may also be configured to analyze one or more images captured by imaging device 110 of fluid composition sensor 100 to determine one or more particle characteristics, such as particle size, particle mass concentration, particle number, particle density, etc., associated with at least a portion of one or more of a plurality of particles received from a fluid sample by the fluid composition sensor (e.g., at a collection medium). In various embodiments, particle size may be defined by the cross-sectional area of ​​the particle. In various embodiments, particle imaging circuitry 306 may be configured to determine the particle size of particles having any of a plurality of particle sizes. For example, particle imaging circuit 306 may be configured to determine the particle size of particles with diameters between about 0.3 micrometers and about 200 micrometers (e.g., 2.5 micrometers), and thus determine the particle size category that the particles can be associated with, such as PM10, PM4, PM2.5, or PM1. In various embodiments, controller 300 and / or particle imaging circuit 306 may also be configured to analyze particle data comprising one or more images captured by an imaging device of a fluid composition sensor to determine the particle concentration defined by one or more particles among a plurality of particles disposed at (e.g., within) a collection medium of an exemplary fluid composition sensor. Particle imaging circuit 306 may also be configured to use one or more image focusing techniques to determine the particle impact depth of at least a portion of a plurality of particles embedded within the collection medium. Particle imaging circuit 306 may be configured to execute instructions stored, for example, in memory 301, for performing one or more image focusing techniques. In various embodiments, the one or more image focusing techniques may include one or more computational techniques such as angular spectral propagation (ASP) or machine learning (ML).

[0053] In various embodiments, particle imaging circuit 306 may send and / or receive data from imaging device data storage 107. In various embodiments, particle imaging circuit 306 may be configured to use one or more machine learning techniques to determine one or more particle characteristics of one or more particles as described herein. In various embodiments, the one or more machine learning techniques used by particle imaging circuit 306 to determine one or more particle characteristics of one or more particles may include deep supervised learning using one or more labeled datasets having one or more known particle characteristics (e.g., particle type, particle velocity, particle size, particle shape, particle concentration, particle number, particle mass concentration, and / or any other data generated, sent, and / or received by controller 300) to estimate one or more particle characteristics of one or more particles. In various embodiments, particle imaging circuit 306 may be configured to analyze particle data including captured particle images to identify liquid particle portions of one or more of a plurality of particles. For example, in an exemplary embodiment where the particles in a plurality of particles disposed at a collection medium comprise liquid particle portions and solid particle portions, particle imaging circuit 306 may be configured to identify one or both of the liquid particle portions and / or solid particle portions to distinguish the two particle portions. As a non-limiting example, in various embodiments, the particle imaging circuit 306 may be configured to identify the liquid particle portion of a particle disposed within a collection medium based at least in part on the refractive index or transparency exhibited by the liquid particle portion.

[0054] Furthermore, in various embodiments, particle imaging circuitry 306 may be configured to analyze particle data comprising one or more images captured by a fluid composition sensor of a fluid flow device (e.g., via imaging device 110) to determine which particles among a plurality of particles present in the collection medium were newly received by the collection medium during a recent particle analysis operation. Particle imaging circuitry 306 may receive, for example, a first captured particle image and a second captured particle image captured at a first time and a second time, respectively, where the first time indicates that the fluid flow device 10 begins analyzing one or more particles among a plurality of particles captured by the collection medium, and the second time occurs after the first time. In such a configuration, fluid flow device 10 may be configured to distinguish particles present in the collection medium at the start of particle analysis from particles newly received by the collection medium by comparing the corresponding particle images captured at the first time and the second time, and identifying any particles from the second captured particle image that were not captured in the first captured particle image.

[0055] In various embodiments, processor 302 may be configured to communicate with particle type identification circuitry 307. Particle type identification circuitry 307 may be a device or circuit embodied in hardware or a combination of hardware and software, configured to identify the particle type and / or particle species of one or more particles among a plurality of particles received by the collection medium of an exemplary fluid composition sensor. In various embodiments, the plurality of particles within a fluid sample received by the fluid composition sensor (e.g., within a volume of fluid) may include one or more particles of various particle types, such as bacteria, pollen, spores, mold, biological particles, soot, inorganic particles, organic particles, and droplets. In various embodiments, particle type identification circuitry 307 may use one or more machine learning techniques to determine the particle type and / or particle species of each of the plurality of particles received by the collection medium. In various embodiments, one or more machine learning techniques used by particle type identification circuit 307 to determine the particle type and / or particle species of each of one or more particles from a plurality of particles may include analyzing particle data, particle size data, particle shape data, particle concentration data, particle number data, particle mass concentration data, and / or any other data generated, transmitted, and / or received by controller 300, including particle images captured by imaging equipment. In various embodiments, particle type identification circuit 307 may transmit and / or receive data from imaging equipment data storage 107.

[0056] The relative particle characteristic calculation circuit 308 may be a device or circuit embodied in hardware or a combination of hardware and software, configured to determine one or more relative particle characteristics based at least in part on a comparison of first particle data and second particle data. For example, the relative particle characteristic calculation circuit 308 may be configured to compare at least a portion of the first particle data associated with a first flow sensor and / or a first fluid sample with corresponding second particle data associated with a second flow sensor and / or a second fluid sample. In various embodiments, such as those referenced herein... Figure 8In an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary method 1000 shown, a relative particle characteristic calculation circuit 308 may compare at least a portion of first particle data associated with a first fluid sample (e.g., an unheated fluid sample) and at least a portion of second particle data associated with a second fluid sample (e.g., a heated sample comprising one or more heated particles) to identify, determine, characterize, and / or calculate one or more relative particle characteristics associated with both the first and second fluid samples. For example, as described herein, in various embodiments, both the first plurality of particles and the second plurality of particles may consist of a plurality of particles, each comprising a liquid particle portion and a solid particle portion. In various embodiments, the second particle data associated with one or more heated particles from the second plurality of particles may define at least one particle characteristic associated with the heated particles that is at least substantially different from the corresponding particle characteristics associated with one or more particles from the first plurality of particles from the first fluid sample (e.g., an unheated sample).

[0057] In various embodiments, the relative particle characteristic calculation circuit 308 may be configured to identify the relative particle characteristic as the difference between a first particle characteristic defined by first particle data and a second particle characteristic defined by second particle data. In such exemplary cases, the relative particle characteristic calculation circuit 308 may be configured to determine the relative particle characteristic in a programmatic manner based at least in part on the following formula:

[0058] Difference = α[Second particle characteristic] - β[First particle characteristic]

[0059] Additionally, in various embodiments, the relative particle characteristic calculation circuit 308 may be configured to identify the relative particle characteristic as the ratio of a second particle characteristic defined by second particle data to a first particle characteristic defined by first particle data. In such exemplary cases, the relative particle characteristic calculation circuit 308 may be configured to determine the relative particle characteristic in a programmatic manner, at least in part, based on the following formula:

[0060]

[0061] In various implementations, the relative particle characteristic calculation circuit 308 may be configured to retrieve data (e.g., α, β, γ) including one or more sensor calibration coefficients from the memory 301.

[0062] In various embodiments, processor 302 may be configured to communicate with fluid flow system management circuitry 309. Fluid flow system management circuitry 309 may be a device or circuit embodied in hardware or a combination of hardware and software, configured to determine that particulate liquid content characteristics associated with a fluid sample meet a particulate liquid content threshold. In various embodiments, when it is determined that the particulate liquid content characteristics meet the particulate liquid content threshold, fluid flow system management circuitry 309 may be configured to generate control signals for transmission to a second system device (e.g., management computing entity 40) of the fluid flow monitoring system. Additionally, in various embodiments, fluid flow system management circuitry 309 may generate one or more additional signals for transmission to one or more components of the fluid flow system management system as described herein, to facilitate one or more fluid flow monitoring operations and / or various responsive mitigation operations.

[0063] In various embodiments, the exemplary fluid flow device 10 may be configured to have or communicate with an imaging device data store 107. The imaging device data store 107 may be at least partially stored on the system's memory 301. In some embodiments, the imaging device data store 107 may be remote from but integrated with the device 10. The imaging device data store 107 may contain information, such as images associated with one or more potential components of the fluid. In some embodiments, the imaging device data store 107 and / or other similar reference databases communicating with the device 10 may include non-image information for identifying particles (e.g., for fluorescent particles, a spectrometer may be used by the fluid composition sensor 100 discussed herein, and the device 10 may receive spectral information to identify and / or classify particles). In some implementations, device 10 may also use machine learning to identify and / or classify particles, such that device 10 may be initially trained using a reference database such as imaging device data storage 107, and then the device may be configured to identify and / or classify particles without referencing imaging device data storage 107 or other reference databases (e.g., the system may not actively communicate with imaging device data storage 107 during normal operation).

[0064] In various embodiments, one or more flow sensors of the exemplary fluid flow device 10 (e.g., a first flow sensor 100, a second flow sensor 200) may include a fluid composition sensor that includes a particle imaging sensor. The fluid composition sensor may be configured to detect, measure, characterize, and / or identify one or more particles within a volume of fluid, as described herein, based at least in part on images of one or more particles. For example, an exemplary flow sensor including a fluid composition sensor may be configured to capture images of one or more particles among a plurality of particles present within a received volume of fluid. In various embodiments, the fluid composition sensor may include a lensless microscope configured to capture particle images of one or more particles within a fluid sample received by the fluid flow device using one or more particle imaging techniques (e.g., lensless holography). Additionally, in various embodiments, the fluid composition sensor may include a lens-based imaging device or any other device configured to capture analyzable images, as described herein, to determine one or more particle characteristics of one or more imaged particles. For example, a lens-based imaging device may utilize one or more particle imaging techniques (e.g., optical microscopy) to capture particle images of one or more particles within a fluid sample received by the fluid flow device. In various embodiments, as further detailed herein, optical microscopy may include passing light through one or more lenses to magnify and capture an image of at least a portion of one or more particles of a plurality of particles within a collection medium, the light being transmitted through or reflected from the collection medium and / or the plurality of particles disposed in the collection medium. As a non-limiting example, in some embodiments, the fluid sensor may be specifically embodied as a fluid (e.g., air) composition sensor, including a Honeywell air detection sensor and / or any other suitable device capable of measuring the particulate contents within one or more volumes of fluid using one or more particle imaging operations. As another non-limiting example, the fluid composition sensor may be specifically embodied as a UV fluorescence system, a conventional microscope, a Burkard sampler and trap, an Allergenco sampler and / or an oil slide, etc. In various embodiments, exemplary fluid composition sensors may include a processor configured to generate various control signals and / or for use in conjunction with such a processor, as described herein.

[0065] In various embodiments, as described in further detail herein, exemplary flow sensors (e.g., fluid sensors and / or fluid composition sensors) may be configured to receive one or more volumes of fluid defining a plurality of fluid samples. For example, the fluid sensors of exemplary fluid flow device 10 (e.g., first fluid sensor 100, second fluid sensor 200) may receive a first fluid sample comprising a first plurality of particles and a second fluid sample comprising a second plurality of particles. In various embodiments, exemplary flow sensors may include a first fluid flow conduit configured to receive the first fluid sample and a second fluid flow conduit configured to receive the second fluid sample. As described herein, exemplary fluid flow devices including a first fluid flow conduit and a second fluid flow conduit may also include flow conditioning elements, such as heating elements. For example, the flow conditioning element may be arranged at least substantially adjacent to the second fluid flow conduit and configured to selectively condition at least a portion of the particles within the second fluid sample when the second fluid sample is disposed within the second fluid flow conduit. In such exemplary cases, an exemplary fluid flow device may be configured to generate and / or process particle data based at least in part on a comparison of a first measured particle characteristic from a first fluid sample (e.g., an unconditioned fluid sample) and a second measured particle characteristic from a second fluid sample (e.g., a conditioned fluid sample), the particle data including, for example, liquid-to-solid particle content ratio, liquid particle partial volume, etc., associated with one or both of the first and second fluid samples.

[0066] As described herein, in various embodiments, an exemplary fluid flow device configured to receive at least a portion of a volume of fluid from the surrounding environment can be configured to determine particulate liquid content characteristics associated with the volume of fluid, at least in part, based on captured particle data associated with one or more fluid samples received by the fluid flow device through the volume of fluid. For example, now referring to Figure 8 A flowchart of an exemplary method 1000 for determining the properties of particulate liquid contents associated with a given volume of fluid is provided. In some embodiments, one or more operations of the exemplary method 1000 shown may be performed by controlling a fluid flow device according to one or more example embodiments described herein. For example, the various operations with respect to the exemplary method 1000 discussed below may be performed using an exemplary fluid flow device (e.g., as referenced above). Figure 1The exemplary fluid flow device 1000 is performed using various components. In various embodiments, the exemplary fluid flow device for performing one or more operations of the exemplary method 1000 may include a controller comprising one or more processors, a first flow sensor, and a flow conditioning element. In various embodiments, the first fluid flow sensor may include a fluid sensor or a fluid composition sensor, as described herein. Additionally, in various embodiments, the exemplary fluid flow device for performing one or more operations of the exemplary method 1000 may also include a second flow sensor, which may include a fluid sensor or a fluid composition sensor. In various embodiments, the exemplary fluid flow device may communicate with one or more external devices, such that control signals generated by the fluid flow device may be sent to the one or more external devices. Various components mentioned in connection with the exemplary fluid flow device may be included in or communicate with the fluid flow device.

[0067] like Figure 8 As shown, at block 1002, exemplary method 1000 may include receiving a first fluid sample comprising a first plurality of particles at a fluid flow device through a volume of fluid. In various embodiments, the first fluid sample may specifically represent a first sample volume of fluid defining at least a portion of the volume of fluid and including the first plurality of particles. In various embodiments, the volume of fluid partially defined by the first fluid sample may correspond to fluid within the surrounding environment, such that particles present in a sample fluid (e.g., the first fluid sample) from the volume of fluid may be defined by one or more particle characteristics that are at least substantially similar to the particle characteristics of the fluid within the surrounding environment. For example, in various embodiments, the first plurality of particles received by the exemplary fluid flow device may represent a plurality of particles present in the fluid within the surrounding environment.

[0068] Additionally, at block 1004, first particle data associated with one or more of a first plurality of particles received by the fluid flow device can be captured. In various embodiments, as described herein, the first particle data associated with the first fluid sample can be captured by the first flow sensor 100. In various embodiments, the first plurality of particles within the first fluid sample can be received by the first flow sensor 100 configured to receive the first fluid sample. For example, the first fluid sample can be received at a first fluid flow conduit of the first flow sensor 100. In various embodiments, an exemplary first flow sensor 100 can be configured such that the first fluid flow conduit is disposed downstream of the fluid inlet of the first flow sensor and / or upstream of a detection cavity. For example, the first fluid sample (e.g., the first plurality of particles) can travel from the first flow sensor fluid inlet of the first flow sensor 100 to the first fluid flow conduit and can also travel along the first fluid flow conduit such that the first fluid flow conduit defines at least a portion of the fluid flow path of the first fluid sample.

[0069] Now, for reference Figure 8 According to block 1006, exemplary method 1000 may include receiving a second fluid sample comprising a second plurality of particles at a fluid flow device through a volume of fluid. In various embodiments, the second fluid sample may specifically represent a second sample volume of fluid that defines at least a portion of the volume of fluid and includes the second plurality of particles. In various embodiments, the volume of fluid partially defined by the second fluid sample may be at least substantially the same volume of fluid in the surrounding environment, as described herein, that fluid is partially defined by a first fluid sample. In such exemplary cases, the second plurality of particles present within the second fluid sample from the volume of fluid may be defined by one or more particle characteristics that are at least substantially similar to the particle characteristics of the fluid in the surrounding environment. For example, in various embodiments, the second plurality of particles received by the exemplary fluid flow device may at least partially represent a plurality of particles present in the fluid (e.g., air) in the surrounding environment.

[0070] In various embodiments, a second fluid sample, including a second plurality of particles, may be received by a fluid flow device at the first flow sensor 100. For example, in various embodiments, an exemplary first flow sensor 100 configured to receive a first fluid sample may include a plurality of fluid flow conduits, each defining at least a portion of a different fluid flow path for a corresponding fluid, including a first fluid flow conduit configured to receive a first fluid sample as described above, and a second fluid flow conduit configured to receive a second fluid sample. For example, this document describes relative to... Figure 5Such an exemplary configuration of the exemplary flow sensor 100 shown. In such exemplary cases, an exemplary first flow sensor 100 (e.g., a fluid sensor, a fluid composition sensor) including a first fluid flow conduit and a second fluid flow conduit configured to receive fluids different from the first fluid sample and the second fluid sample, respectively, may be configured to selectively receive the first fluid sample and the second fluid sample in corresponding operations that may be performed at least substantially simultaneously and / or continuously.

[0071] As another non-limiting example, in various embodiments, the first flow sensor 100 may be configured to receive both a first fluid sample and a second fluid sample at the same first fluid flow conduit. In such exemplary cases, the fluid flow device may include a single flow sensor, for example, an exemplary first flow sensor 100 including a single fluid flow conduit configured to receive both the first fluid sample and the second fluid sample as described herein. For example, the first flow sensor 100 may be configured to selectively receive the first fluid sample and the second fluid sample in corresponding operations that can be performed continuously. In various embodiments, for example, the first flow sensor 100 may initially receive the first fluid sample at the first fluid flow conduit, and after the first fluid sample exits the first fluid flow conduit (e.g., after the first fluid sample exits the first flow sensor 100), the first flow sensor 100 may subsequently receive the second fluid sample at the first fluid flow conduit. In such exemplary configurations, as described in further detail herein with respect to block 1008, the fluid flow device may be configured to selectively perform one or more heating operations (e.g., via a heating element) such that at least a portion of a second plurality of particles present within the second fluid sample is heated within the first flow sensor.

[0072] Alternatively or otherwise, a second fluid sample comprising a second plurality of particles may be received by the exemplary fluid flow device 10 at the second flow sensor 200. In various embodiments, the exemplary fluid flow device 10 may include a first fluid sensor 100 and a second flow sensor 200. For example, this document describes relative to Figure 4Such exemplary configurations of the exemplary fluid flow device 10 shown herein. For example, in the case where the fluid flow device 10 includes a first flow sensor and a second flow sensor, the first flow sensor 100 may be configured to receive a first fluid sample comprising a first plurality of particles, and the second flow sensor 200 may be configured to receive a second fluid sample comprising a second plurality of particles. For example, the second flow sensor 200 may include a fluid sensor (e.g., fluid sensor 400) or a fluid composition sensor (e.g., fluid composition sensor 500), as described herein with respect to the first flow sensor 100. In some embodiments, in the case where the exemplary fluid flow device includes a first flow sensor 100 and a second flow sensor 200, the first flow sensor 100 and the second flow sensor 200 may include the same sensor type, such that both the first flow sensor 100 and the second flow sensor 200 include a fluid sensor (e.g., fluid sensor 400), or alternatively, both sensor 100 and sensor 200 include a fluid composition sensor (e.g., fluid composition sensor 500). Alternatively, an exemplary fluid flow device may include a first flow sensor 100 and a second flow sensor 200 having different sensor types, such that one of the first flow sensor 100 and the second flow sensor 200 includes a fluid sensor, while the other includes a fluid composition sensor.

[0073] Referring now to block 1008, at least a portion of a second plurality of particles within a second fluid sample may be heated, such that the second plurality of particles includes one or more heated particles having a heated particle configuration. In various embodiments, heat may be applied to one or more of the plurality of particles received by a fluid flow device through the fluid sample. For example, in various embodiments, a heating element may be configured to apply heat to one or more particles present within a fluid flow conduit. For example, in various embodiments, heat may be applied to a fluid flow conduit configured to receive a second fluid sample within a fluid flow device (e.g., within a first flow sensor and / or a second flow sensor). In such exemplary cases, at least a portion of the applied heat to the fluid flow conduit may define a heating chamber in which heat may be applied to at least a portion of the plurality of particles passing through it. Alternatively or additionally, in various embodiments, heat may be applied to a collection medium disposed within an exemplary fluid composition sensor and configured to engage with the second fluid sample, as described herein. In such exemplary cases, heat may be applied to a collection medium configured to receive at least a portion of a second plurality of particles from a second fluid sample via a heating element (e.g., a heated surface) positioned at least substantially adjacent to the collection medium, in order to heat one or more of the second plurality of particles received by the collection medium.

[0074] In various embodiments, as described herein, exemplary fluid flow devices may include flow conditioning elements, such as heating elements. In various embodiments, the heating element may be configured to generate heat energy that can be at least partially transferred to a fluid flow conduit within a flow sensor (e.g., a first flow sensor 100, a second flow sensor 200) to apply heat to one or more particles present within the fluid flow conduit. For example, in various embodiments, the heating element may include a resistance heater (e.g., a resistance mesh), an electromagnetic heater (e.g., a microwave), a solid-state thermoelectric heat exchanger, a counter-current shell-and-tube heat exchanger, a plate heat exchanger, a plate-and-shell heat exchanger, an adiabatic wheel heat exchanger, a plate-fin heat exchanger, a pillow plate heat exchanger, an optical heater, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0075] In various embodiments, exemplary fluid flow devices (e.g., a first flow sensor 100 or a second flow sensor 200 as described herein) may include a heated chamber at least partially defined by a portion of a fluid flow path along which particles within a fluid sample may be subjected to thermal conditions generated by a heating element. For example, in various embodiments, the heated chamber may be defined by a portion of a fluid flow conduit configured to receive a plurality of particles within a fluid sample flowing through it, and positioned at least substantially adjacent to the heating element. As a non-limiting example, in various embodiments where the fluid flow device includes a first flow sensor 100 configured to receive a first fluid sample and a second flow sensor 200 configured to receive a second fluid sample, the fluid flow device may include a heating element configured to apply a predetermined amount of heat to a second fluid flow conduit within the second flow sensor, wherein the second fluid flow conduit includes a portion of the fluid flow path located upstream of a detection / imaging device positioned within the second flow sensor, as described herein. For example, the heating element may be arranged at least substantially adjacent to the outer surface of the second fluid flow conduit. In such exemplary cases, the heated chamber of the fluid flow device is defined within the second fluid flow conduit. Alternatively or in addition, as another non-limiting example, in various embodiments in which the fluid flow device is configured to receive both a first fluid sample and a second fluid sample via a first fluid conduit at a first flow sensor 100, a heating element may apply a predetermined amount of heat to the first fluid flow conduit within the first flow sensor 100, wherein the first fluid flow conduit includes a portion of the fluid flow path located upstream of a detection / imaging device within the first flow sensor, as described herein. In such exemplary cases, a heating chamber of the fluid flow device is defined within the first fluid flow conduit, and additionally, after at least substantially all of the first fluid sample has passed through the first fluid flow conduit, an adjustment element (e.g., a heating element) may selectively initiate one or more heating operations (e.g., at least in part based on signals including one or more executable instructions) such that the heating chamber is heated upon receiving the second fluid sample. In various embodiments, the heating elements (e.g., heating chambers, heated surfaces, etc.) of the exemplary fluid flow apparatus described herein may be configured according to a heating element configuration at least in part by one or more dimensional characteristics (e.g., length, cross-sectional surface area, etc.) and / or one or more operational characteristics (e.g., power, duty cycle, heating element type, etc.). In various embodiments, the heating element configuration of the exemplary heating element may be configured to generate heat sufficient to evaporate at least a portion (e.g., at least substantially all) of the liquid contents within the fluid sample.

[0076] In various embodiments, exemplary fluid flow devices may be configured such that particles within a second plurality of particles present in a second fluid sample, as described herein, may each embody a heated particle configuration upon exiting (e.g., flowing through) a heating chamber. In various embodiments, the heated particle configuration may be at least partially defined by one or more heated particle characteristics. As described herein, particles may include liquid particle portions and solid particle portions, defined respectively by liquid contents and solid contents constituting the particles. As a non-limiting illustrative example, the liquid contents of the particles may include a variety of at least partially liquid substances, such as mucus, saliva, electrolytes, proteins, pathogens, water, one or more volatile liquids, etc. As another non-limiting illustrative example, the solid contents of the particles may include a variety of at least partially solid substances, such as one or more of bacteria, pollen, spores, mold, biological particles, soot, inorganic particles, organic particles, etc. In various embodiments, applying heat to one or more particles may cause at least a portion of the liquid contents (e.g., the liquid particle portions) within one or more particles to evaporate. Therefore, in various embodiments, the configuration of heated particles may be at least partially defined by one or more particle characteristics (e.g., heated particle characteristics) corresponding to a reduction in the liquid contents within one or more particles and / or a decrease in the liquid-to-solid particle content ratio within the particles, such as by the ratio of the volume, composition, and / or similarity of the liquid particle portion within the particles to the volume, composition, and / or similarity of the corresponding solid particle portion of the particles. In various embodiments, the configuration of heated particles may at least partially correspond to one or more controlled local conditions within the heating chamber, such as chamber temperature, chamber humidity, chamber flow rate, chamber pressure, etc.

[0077] As described herein, in various embodiments, the exemplary heating element may be electronically communicative with controller 300 and may be configured to receive one or more electronic signals including executable instructions for initiating and / or terminating heating operations, so as to selectively modulate at least a portion of a second plurality of particles within the second fluid sample when the second fluid sample is present in the heating chamber. In various embodiments, when heating one or more of the second plurality of particles to provide one or more heated particles, a fluid conditioning element within the fluid flow device may be configured to cool at least a portion of the fluid flow device to at least substantially ambient temperature. For example, such exemplary cooling operations may be selectively performed by the fluid flow device via a fluid conditioning element (e.g., a cooling element) including a thermoelectric heat exchanger (e.g., a Peltier cooler), a thermally coupled configuration utilizing a coolant fluid, a thermally coupled configuration utilizing the surrounding environment, etc.

[0078] Referring now to block 1010, exemplary method 1000 may include capturing second particle data associated with one or more heated particles. As described herein, the second particle data may include particle data associated with one or more of a second plurality of particles received by a fluid flow device from within a second fluid sample, the one or more of the second plurality of particles having flowed along a fluid flow path through the heating chamber of the fluid flow device so as to be at least partially defined by the heated particle configuration. In various embodiments, the second particle data may be captured by a flow sensor within the fluid flow device, the flow sensor being configured to receive the second plurality of particles, such as one or more heated particles. For example, in exemplary fluid flow devices including a second flow sensor 200 fluidly connected to and / or including the heating chamber of the fluid flow device and configured to receive a second fluid sample, as described herein with respect to various non-limiting, illustrative embodiments, the second particle data may be captured by the second flow sensor 200. Alternatively or otherwise, the second particle data may be captured by a first flow sensor 100 in an exemplary embodiment, wherein the first flow sensor 100 is fluidly connected to and / or includes a heated chamber of a fluid flow device and is configured to receive the second fluid sample.

[0079] As described in reference box 1004 above, this includes one or more operations, wherein first particle data associated with a first plurality of particles within a first fluid sample is captured by an exemplary fluid flow device, and second particle data may be captured by a flow sensor including a fluid sensor (e.g., fluid sensor 400) or a fluid composition sensor (e.g., fluid composition sensor 500). For example, in an exemplary case where one or more heated particles are received by a flow sensor including a fluid sensor (e.g., exemplary fluid sensor 400), the fluid sensor may capture second particle data associated with one or more heated particles within a second fluid sample, such as particulate matter mass concentration data, particle number data, particle size data, etc., by utilizing a particle detector, which includes a beam generator and a pulse detector configured to monitor signal pulses generated at a pulse detector based on the presence of one or more particles within the exemplary fluid sensor.

[0080] Additionally, in an alternative embodiment where one or more heated particles are received by a flow sensor including a fluid composition sensor, such that second particle data is captured by an exemplary fluid composition sensor (e.g., fluid composition sensor 500), the second particle data may include, for example, particle images (e.g., second particle images). For instance, second particle data including second particle images may include images of one or more heated particles received by the exemplary fluid composition sensor. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the second particle data captured by the fluid composition sensor may also include second particle data generated by the fluid composition sensor based at least in part on the captured second particle images, such as particle type data, particulate matter mass concentration data, particle number data, particle size data, etc. In various embodiments, the second particle data may be based at least in part on the heated particle configuration presented by the one or more heated particles.

[0081] Now for reference Figure 8 In block 1012, exemplary method 1000 may include determining one or more relative particle characteristics based at least in part on a comparison of first particle data and second particle data. For example, in various embodiments, the one or more relative particle characteristics may be defined at least in part by a heated particle configuration exhibited by one or more heated particles. In various embodiments, the relative particle characteristics may include one or more comparison data, images, particle characteristics, etc., that define a first particle characteristic associated with a first fluid sample relative to a corresponding second particle characteristic associated with a second fluid sample. For example, the relative particle characteristics may include a comparison of one or more particles of a first plurality of particles in the first fluid sample with one or more particles of a second plurality of particles in the second fluid sample, such that the relative particle characteristics define one or more relationships, differences, similarities, evolutions, etc., between the first plurality of particles and the second plurality of particles.

[0082] In various embodiments, at least a portion of first particle data associated with a first fluid sample (e.g., an unheated sample) and at least a portion of second particle data associated with a second fluid sample (e.g., a heated sample comprising one or more heated particles) can be compared to identify, determine, characterize, and / or calculate relative particle properties associated with both the first and second fluid samples. For example, as described herein, in various embodiments, both the first plurality of particles and the second plurality of particles can consist of a plurality of particles, each comprising a liquid particle portion and a solid particle portion. In various embodiments, the second particle data associated with one or more heated particles from the second plurality of particles can define at least one particle property associated with the heated particles, at least partially based on at least partial evaporation of the particulate liquid contents within the one or more heated particles, which at least one particle property is at least substantially different from the corresponding particle properties associated with one or more particles from the first plurality of particles from the first fluid sample (e.g., an unheated sample). For example, in various embodiments, as described herein, at least partial evaporation of the liquid particle portion caused by one or more of the second plurality of particles being exposed to a certain amount of heat in the heating chamber may affect one or more of the particulate matter mass concentration, particle number, particle size, particle relative abundance, etc., associated with one or more of the heated particles. In various embodiments, the amount and / or rate of evaporation exhibited by the liquid particle portion of one of the heated particles from the second fluid sample may be at least partially based on a configuration of the heated particles that may at least partially correspond to one or more controlled local conditions in the exemplary heating chamber, such as chamber temperature, chamber humidity, chamber flow rate, chamber pressure, etc.

[0083] Specifically, in various embodiments, at least partial evaporation of the liquid particle portion of one or more heated particles can result in a reduction in the particulate matter mass concentration and / or particle number associated with one or more heated particles. As a non-limiting example, in various embodiments, when the liquid particle portion of the heated particles evaporates, the particle size (e.g., particle cross-sectional area, particle diameter, particle size class) of the heated particles may decrease. Additionally, in such exemplary cases, the particle size of one or more heated particles may decrease to below a detectable threshold, making it impossible for exemplary flow sensors (e.g., fluid sensors and / or fluid composition sensors) to detect the heated particles. In such exemplary cases, second particle data associated with one or more heated particles may be at least partially defined by the reduced particle concentration (e.g., particulate matter mass concentration and / or particle number), such that relative particle characteristics may include a relative particle concentration defined by a comparison (e.g., difference) of a first particle concentration associated with a first plurality of particles in a first fluid sample and a second particle concentration distribution associated with one or more heated particles in a second fluid sample. In contrast, in various embodiments, the abundance of the liquid contents within the second fluid sample may be at least substantially low, such that the difference between the first particle concentration associated with the first plurality of particles and the second particle concentration associated with one or more heated particles is negligible (e.g., indicating a relative particle concentration with at least substantially zero change).

[0084] Additionally, in various embodiments where the liquid particle portion of one or more heated particles undergoes at least partial evaporation, the solid particle portion of one or more heated particles may remain at least substantially unaffected. In such exemplary cases, the relative abundance of one or more heated particles may shift towards smaller particle sizes because the non-volatile components of the exemplary droplet may remain at least substantially consistent, while the droplet size associated with the exemplary droplet may decrease. Therefore, as described herein, a relative particle characteristic defined by a comparison (e.g., difference) of a first particle size distribution associated with at least a portion of a first plurality of particles in a first fluid sample and a second particle size distribution associated with at least a portion of one or more heated particles in a second fluid sample can serve as an indicator of the total liquid contents within a given volume of fluid. For example, in various embodiments, a relative particle characteristic including a relative particle size distribution corresponding to at least substantially negligible (e.g., approximately zero) particle size distribution variation and / or shift relative to the second particle data may indicate that the abundance of liquid contents within the second fluid sample received by the exemplary flow device is at least substantially small.

[0085] Referring now to box 1014, exemplary method 1000 may include determining particulate liquid content characteristics associated with a volume of fluid, at least in part, based on one or more relative particle characteristics. In various embodiments, particulate liquid content characteristics may include particle characteristics defined at least in part by measuring and / or characterizing a plurality of particles and / or liquid content within a volume of fluid. For example, in various embodiments, particulate liquid content characteristics may include a liquid-to-solid particle content ratio, a liquid particle portion volume, a solid particle portion volume, etc.

[0086] As described herein, in various embodiments, the extent to which one or more particle characteristics associated with one or more heated particles are affected by the evaporation of liquid particle portions within one or more heated particles may be related to the abundance of liquid contents (e.g., droplets) within a second fluid sample received by an exemplary fluid flow device. Therefore, as described herein, one or more relative particle characteristics defined by comparing one or more first particle characteristics (e.g., first particle mass concentration, first particle number, first particle size, first particle size distribution, etc.) associated with at least a portion of a first plurality of particles within a first fluid sample and one or more corresponding second particle characteristics associated with at least a portion of one or more heated particles in the second fluid sample can serve as an indicator of one or more particulate liquid content characteristics (e.g., liquid-to-solid particle content ratio associated with a given volume of fluid).

[0087] Referring now to box 1016, the exemplary method 1000 may include applying compensation factors to at least a portion of first particle data and second particle data, at least in part, based on one or more of fluid temperature, fluid pressure, fluid humidity, and fluid flow rate associated with a volume of fluid. In various embodiments, compensation factors may be applied to the estimated mass of each particle in the particles to address one or both of sensor operating conditions associated with the exemplary fluid flow device and environmental conditions associated with the surrounding environment. In various embodiments, for example, compensation factors may be applied to one or more measured particle characteristics associated with at least a portion of a plurality of particles within the fluid sample to address ambient temperature, ambient pressure, and / or ambient humidity, since each of ambient temperature, ambient pressure, and ambient humidity may affect at least one operating configuration of one or more components of the exemplary sensor (e.g., a fluid composition sensor including a binder collection medium) and / or may affect one or more operating conditions of the exemplary sensor, such as the operating conditions of a heating chamber configured to define one or more heated particles. In various implementations, ambient temperature, ambient pressure, and ambient humidity and / or fluid flow rate may be measured by one or more auxiliary sensors of the fluid flow device or by one or more remote sensors configured to send temperature, pressure, humidity, and / or flow data to the fluid flow device.

[0088] Now for reference Figure 8 Box 1018, exemplary method 1000 may include generating a control signal for an external device when it is determined that a particulate liquid content characteristic meets a particulate liquid content threshold. As described herein, when it is determined that a liquid particle portion characteristic (e.g., the ratio of liquid content to solid content and / or the percentage of particles defined by the particulate liquid content) exceeds a threshold, the control signal may be generated by exemplary fluid flow device 10 for transmission to an external device, such as one or more components of an exemplary fluid flow monitoring system, as described herein. In such exemplary cases, a control signal may be generated for transmission to, as referenced herein... Figure 10 The aforementioned management computing entity, one or more client devices, and one or more environmental condition controllers may be considered. In various embodiments, control signals may include electrical signals and / or data signals. In some embodiments, control signals may specifically manifest as indications to external devices that the ratio of liquid to solid contents within one or more particles of a fluid sample received by the fluid flow device 10 has exceeded a predefined safety threshold.

[0089] In various embodiments, as described herein, exemplary fluid flow devices configured to receive a fluid sample defining at least a portion of a volume of fluid from the surrounding environment can also be configured to determine particulate liquid content characteristics associated with the volume of fluid. In various embodiments, the particulate liquid content characteristics associated with the volume of fluid (e.g., associated with the fluid sample) may be based at least in part on a comparison of first particle data captured by a fluid sensor and second particle data captured by a fluid composition sensor, wherein the first and second particle data are each associated with at least a portion of a plurality of particles within the fluid sample. For example, now referring to… Figure 9 A flowchart of an exemplary method 2000 for determining the properties of particulate liquid contents associated with a given volume of fluid is provided. In some embodiments, one or more operations of the exemplary method 2000 shown may be performed by controlling a fluid flow device according to one or more example embodiments described herein. For example, various operations relative to the exemplary method 2000 discussed below may be performed using an exemplary fluid flow device (e.g., as referenced above). Figure 1 The exemplary fluid flow device 10) is executed by various components. In various embodiments, the exemplary fluid flow device for performing one or more operations of the exemplary method 2000 may include a controller, which includes one or more processors, a first flow sensor including a fluid sensor, and a second flow sensor including a fluid composition sensor. In various embodiments, the fluid sensor for performing one or more operations of the exemplary method 2000 may include, as referenced herein, Figure 2 The exemplary fluid sensor 400 is described above. Additionally, in various embodiments, the fluid composition sensor for performing one or more operations of the exemplary method 2000 may include, as referenced herein. Figure 3 The exemplary fluid composition sensor 500 is described above. In various embodiments, an exemplary fluid flow device configured to perform one or more operations of the exemplary method 2000 may communicate with one or more external devices, such that control signals generated by the fluid flow device may be sent to the one or more external devices. Various components mentioned in connection with the exemplary fluid flow device may be included in or communicate with the fluid flow device.

[0090] like Figure 9As shown, at block 2002, exemplary method 2000 may include receiving a first sample comprising a plurality of particles at a fluid sensor through a volume of fluid. In various embodiments, the fluid sample may specifically represent a sample volume of fluid that defines at least a portion of a volume of fluid and includes the plurality of particles therein. In various embodiments, the volume of fluid partially defined by the fluid sample may correspond to fluid in the surrounding environment, such that particles present in the fluid sample may be defined by one or more particle characteristics that are at least substantially similar to the particle characteristics of the fluid in the surrounding environment (e.g., the volume of fluid). For example, in various embodiments, the plurality of particles received by the exemplary fluid sensor may represent a plurality of particles present in the fluid in the surrounding environment.

[0091] Additionally, at block 2004, first particle data associated with one or more of a plurality of particles within a fluid sample can be captured via a fluid sensor. In various embodiments, as described herein, the first particle data associated with the fluid sample can be captured by a fluid sensor. In various embodiments, a plurality of particles within the fluid sample can be received by a fluid sensor. In various embodiments, the first particle data can be captured by a fluid sensor configured to detect, measure, and / or characterize one or more particle characteristics (e.g., particulate matter mass concentration, particle number, particle size, etc.) associated with one or more of a plurality of particles within the fluid sample, at least in part based on optical scattering techniques. For example, as described herein, the first particle data associated with a plurality of particles within a fluid sample can be captured using a fluid sensor, specifically embodied as one or more of a particulate matter sensor, a particle size analyzer / counter, and / or any other suitable device capable of detecting and / or measuring particulate contents within one or more volumes of fluid. In various implementations, a fluid sensor can capture first particle data, such as particulate matter mass concentration data, particle number data, particle size data, etc., associated with one or more of a plurality of particles within a fluid sample by utilizing a particle detector, the particle detector including a beam generator and a pulse detector configured to monitor signal pulses generated at a pulse detector based on the presence of one or more particles within an exemplary fluid sensor.

[0092] Referring now to frame 2006, exemplary method 2000 may include receiving a fluid sample at a fluid composition sensor. In various embodiments, exemplary fluid composition sensors configured to receive fluid samples may include those referenced herein. Figure 3The exemplary fluid composition sensor 500 described herein and / or any other suitable particle imaging sensor capable of measuring particulate contents within one or more volumes of fluid using one or more particle imaging operations. As described herein, the exemplary fluid composition sensor may be configured to receive one or more particles from a plurality of particles within a fluid sample at a collection medium disposed therein. In various embodiments, the collection medium may include an adhesive material medium (e.g., a viscous gel), a liquid medium, a solid or quasi-solid surface, a heated medium, etc.

[0093] At block 2008, exemplary method 2000 may further include capturing second particle data associated with one or more of a plurality of particles within a fluid sample. For example, as described herein, a fluid composition sensor may be configured to generate, identify, calculate, and / or capture particle data associated with a particle composition of one or more of a plurality of particles within a fluid sample. In various embodiments, the second particle data captured by the fluid composition sensor may include particle images captured using one or more particle imaging techniques (e.g., lensless holography, fluorescence imaging, etc.). Additionally, in various embodiments, the fluid composition sensor may use one or more image focusing techniques, such as computational techniques (e.g., angular spectral propagation) and / or mechanical techniques (e.g., optomechanical adjustment), to capture additional second particle data. In various embodiments, the captured second particle data may also include particle data generated at least in part based on the captured particle images, such as particle type data, particulate matter mass concentration data, particle number data, particle size data, etc., associated with one or more of a plurality of particles within a fluid sample.

[0094] Referring now to frame 2010, exemplary method 2000 may further include determining one or more relative particle characteristics based at least in part on a comparison of first particle data and second particle data. In various embodiments, the relative particle characteristics may include one or more comparison data, images, particle characteristics, etc., defining a first particle characteristic associated with a fluid sample detected by a fluid sensor relative to a corresponding second particle characteristic associated with a fluid sample measured by a fluid composition sensor. For example, in various embodiments, the relative particle characteristics may include a comparison of one or more particle characteristics defined by first particle data captured by a fluid sensor and one or more particle characteristics defined by second particle data captured by a fluid composition sensor.

[0095] In various implementations, relative particle characteristics may correspond to one or more relationships, differences, similarities, evolutions, etc., between first particle data captured using, for example, one or more optical scattering techniques and second particle data captured using, for example, one or more particle imaging techniques. For example, as described herein, the relative particle characteristics associated with the first and second particle data may be defined at least in part by the difference between the first particle characteristics detected by a fluid sensor and the corresponding second particle characteristics detected by a fluid composition sensor, wherein the difference defining the relative particle characteristics may be the result of different particle detection / measurement configurations and / or limitations presented by the fluid sensor and the fluid composition sensor, respectively. For example, one or more particle characteristics defined within the first particle data captured by an exemplary fluid sensor may be affected by the fluid sensor's inability to use optical scattering techniques to classify particles by particle type and / or its inability to distinguish between liquid and solid particle portions within one or more particles. As another non-limiting example, one or more particle characteristics defined within the first or second particle data may be affected at least in part by the physical configuration of the fluid sensor and / or the fluid composition sensor, such as the range of particle sizes detected by the configured sensor (e.g., PM10, PM4, PM2.5, or PM1).

[0096] As another non-limiting example, an exemplary fluid composition sensor may be configured to capture at least a portion of a plurality of particles within a fluid sample at a collection medium within the fluid composition sensor to achieve the capture of second particle data as described herein. In contrast, first particle data may be captured by an exemplary fluid sensor using one or more optical scattering operations, eliminating the need for physically capturing one or more particles. Therefore, different operational and / or physical configurations of the fluid sensor and the fluid composition sensor may cause the second particle data to differ at least partially from the first particle data captured by the fluid sensor. For example, in various embodiments, the second particle data may be defined at least partially by particle concentration data and / or particle size data that is at least substantially smaller than the corresponding particle concentration data and / or particle size data defined within the first particle data, based at least in part on the physical interaction of one or more particles (e.g., liquid particle portions) with the collection medium. As a non-limiting example, in an exemplary case where a fluid composition sensor uses an impactor nozzle to capture one or more particles from a plurality of particles within a fluid sample at a viscous adhesive material, one or more shear forces encountered in the compressed airflow passing through the impactor nozzle may cause weakly bonded particles (e.g., particles including liquid particle portions) to at least partially deteriorate and / or break down into one or more smaller particle elements. Additionally, in various embodiments, the high airflow velocity defined by one or more particles from a plurality of particles traveling through the exemplary impactor nozzle of the fluid composition sensor may cause at least a portion of the liquid particle portion within one or more particles to evaporate. Furthermore, in such exemplary cases, the liquid particle portion may include a refractive index at least substantially similar to the refractive index of the viscous adhesive material of the collection medium, such that the liquid particle portion of one or more particles received by the fluid composition sensor at the collection medium can be distinguished from the solid particle portion of one or more particles. As described herein, in various embodiments where the collection medium within the fluid composition sensor includes a liquid medium, a solid surface, and / or a heated solid surface, the liquid particle portion of one or more particles from a plurality of particles physically bonded to the collection medium may respectively dissolve, deform (e.g., due to surface tension) and / or evaporate.

[0097] In various implementations, relative particle characteristics may include the difference between a first particle characteristic defined by first particle data and a second particle characteristic defined by second particle data, as described herein. In such exemplary cases, the relative particle characteristics can be determined using the following formula:

[0098] Difference = α [Second particle characteristic] - βα [First particle characteristic]

[0099] In the exemplary formulas above, α and β may each represent a corresponding sensor calibration coefficient that can be empirically determined and may at least partially correspond to a specific type of sensor used to capture the first particle data and / or the second particle data as described herein. For example, the relative particle characteristics (e.g., differences) generated by the exemplary formulas provided above may be calibrated such that a difference that is at least substantially zero may indicate a low concentration of liquid contents (e.g., droplets) of multiple particles within a fluid sample. In contrast, relative particle characteristics generated by the formulas above, whose differences are at least substantially different from zero, may indicate a relatively high (e.g., non-negligible) concentration of liquid contents of at least a portion of multiple particles within a fluid sample. In various embodiments, the calibration coefficients α and β provided above may also define one or more compensation coefficients, which may be selectively defined to address one or more environmental parameters, such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and / or location.

[0100] Additionally, in various implementations, the relative particle characteristics may include the ratio of a first particle characteristic defined by first particle data to a second particle characteristic defined by second particle data, as described herein. In such exemplary cases, the relative particle characteristics can be determined using the following formula:

[0101]

[0102] In the exemplary formulas above, γ represents a sensor calibration coefficient that can be determined empirically and corresponds at least in part to a specific type of sensor used to capture the first particle data and / or the second particle data as described herein. For example, the relative particle characteristics (e.g., ratios) generated by the exemplary formulas provided above can be calibrated such that the ratio value is at least about one when the concentration of the liquid contents (e.g., droplets) is at least about zero. In contrast, relative particle characteristics generated by the formulas above whose ratio values ​​differ from a value of at least about one may indicate that the concentration of the liquid contents in at least a portion of the plurality of particles within the fluid sample is relatively high (e.g., not negligible). In various embodiments, the sensor calibration coefficient γ provided above may also define a compensation coefficient, which may be selectively defined to address one or more environmental parameters, such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and / or location.

[0103] Referring now to frame 2012, exemplary method 2000 may include determining particulate liquid content characteristics associated with a volume of fluid, at least in part, based on one or more relative particle characteristics. As described herein, in various embodiments, particulate liquid content characteristics may include particle characteristics defined at least in part by measuring and / or characterizing a plurality of particles and / or liquid content within a volume of fluid. For example, in various embodiments, particulate liquid content characteristics may include liquid-to-solid particle content ratio, liquid particle partial volume, solid particle partial volume, etc.

[0104] As described herein, in various embodiments, the extent to which the first particle data, the second particle data, and / or one or more relative particle characteristics associated with multiple particles within a fluid sample are affected by different physical configurations presented by the fluid sensor and the fluid composition sensor may be related to the abundance of liquid contents (e.g., droplets) within a fluid sample received by an exemplary fluid flow device. Therefore, as described herein, one or more relative particle characteristics defined by comparing one or more first particle characteristics (e.g., first particle mass concentration, first particle number, first particle size, first particle size distribution, etc.) associated with the first particle data captured by the fluid sensor and one or more corresponding second particle characteristics associated with the second particle data captured by the fluid composition sensor can serve as an indicator of one or more particulate liquid content characteristics (e.g., the liquid-to-solid particle content ratio associated with a given volume of fluid).

[0105] Blocks 2014 and 2016 of exemplary method 2000 correspond to various operations that are at least substantially similar to the steps described previously with respect to blocks 1016 and 1018, such as Figure 8 As shown.

[0106] Figure 10 An example fluid flow management system 1 according to various embodiments discussed herein is illustrated. Specifically, the exemplary fluid flow management system 1 can be configured to monitor and / or control one or more environmental conditions within a facility using the exemplary fluid flow device 10 as described herein. As shown, the fluid flow management system 1 may include industrial equipment, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for facilities (e.g., buildings), such as office buildings (e.g., commercial office buildings) or retail facilities. However, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to a particular type of facility or a particular type of industrial equipment. For example, embodiments of this disclosure can be used in process plant systems, conveyor systems, or any other type of industrial and / or commercial environment accessible to one or more persons.

[0107] Figure 10Various data flows between components of an exemplary fluid flow management system 1 according to some embodiments discussed herein are also schematically illustrated. For example... Figure 10 As shown, the fluid flow management system 1 may include various components for monitoring and / or controlling one or more environmental conditions within the facility. For example, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the fluid flow management system 1 may include the exemplary fluid flow device 10 and HVAC system 11 as described herein. As illustrated, in various embodiments, the HVAC system 11 may include one or more client devices 20 (e.g., 21, 22, 23), one or more environmental condition controllers 30 (e.g., 31, 32, 33), management computing entity 40, etc. Various components of the fluid flow management system 1 may electronically communicate with, for example, another component of the fluid flow management system 1 via various wireless or wired communication networks 140 as described herein. In various embodiments, the fluid flow device 10 and / or management computing entity 40 may be configured to communicate with one or more system components (e.g., client device 21 executing a mobile application). In various embodiments, the client device may include, but is not limited to, smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches), personal computers, etc. The client device may execute an "application" to interact with one or more components of the fluid flow monitoring system 1 (e.g., the fluid flow device and management computing entity 40).

[0108] In various implementations, each component of the HVAC system 11 of the fluid flow monitoring system 1 and the fluid flow device 10 may communicate electronically with each other, for example, through the same or different wireless or wired networks 50 (including, for example, wired or wireless personal area networks (PANs), local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), etc.). For example, in various implementations, one or more communication networks 50 described herein may use any of a variety of protocols, such as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000), CDMA2000 1X (1xRTT), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rate GSM Evolution (EDGE), Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), Evolved Data Optimization (EVDO), High Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA), High Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, 802.16 (WiMAX), Ultra Wideband (UWB), Infrared (IR) protocol, Near Field Communication (NFC) protocol, Wibree, Bluetooth protocol, Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol, and / or any other wireless protocol. In addition, although... Figure 1 Some system entities may be shown as separate, independent entities, but various implementations are not limited to this particular example architecture.

[0109] As described herein, the exemplary HVAC system 11 can be used to monitor, control, and / or adjust one or more environmental conditions within a facility, at least in part, based on one or more control signals as described herein. In various embodiments, the management computing entity 40 may include a computing device, such as a server, associated with the fluid flow monitoring system 1. In various embodiments, the management computing entity 40 may be accessible to authorized personal and / or client devices. The management computing entity 40 may be configured to store and / or transmit data associated with the exemplary HVAC system 11 and / or particle data captured by the exemplary fluid flow device 10. For example, in various embodiments, the management computing entity 40 may be configured to perform one or more operations to enable the fluid flow monitoring system 1 to track various particle data captured by the fluid flow device 10, including liquid content concentrations (e.g., the ratio of liquid content to solid content and / or the percentage of various particles defined by particulate liquid content), determine the location of one or more particles within the facility defined by at least substantially high liquid content concentrations, comprehensively analyze the facility ecosystem defined by various fluid flow paths extending through the facility using location data, a digital model of the facility, various operational data associated with the HVAC system 11, and / or occupant data, determine the predicted and / or actual location of one or more occupants within the facility, and / or determine one or more appropriate mitigation responses to at least substantially minimize particulate liquid content within a surrounding volume of fluid, thereby minimizing contact with one or more facility occupants. In various embodiments, the management computing entity 40 may be configured to display at its associated interface at at least a portion of the particle data captured by the exemplary fluid flow device 10, including, as a non-limiting example, one or more particulate liquid content characteristics. In various implementations, the management computing entity 40 may be configured to receive and / or process one or more control signals generated by the fluid flow device 10, and subsequently send (e.g., selectively distribute) the control signals to one or more environmental condition controllers and / or execute one or more instructions corresponding to one or more mitigation response operations, as described in further detail herein.

[0110] In various embodiments, an exemplary environmental condition controller may include a device configured to receive instruction signals and determine, set, and / or change corresponding environmental conditions within at least a portion of a facility, such as one or more zones (e.g., rooms, areas, spaces, and / or floors) of the facility, to maintain the zone in a comfortable and / or safe state for one or more occupants. As a non-limiting example, one or more environmental condition controllers 30 of an exemplary fluid flow monitoring system 1 may include thermostats, humidifiers, flow valves, etc. For example, as described herein, an exemplary fluid flow management system 1 may be configured to selectively and / or automatically control at least a portion (e.g., via one or more environmental condition controllers 30) of one or more environmental conditions within a facility, at least in part, based on control signals generated by the fluid flow device 10.

[0111] In various embodiments, the fluid flow device 10 may be configured to operate at least substantially continuously, enabling it to detect hazardous conditions within a facility in near real-time. In various embodiments, as described herein, the exemplary fluid flow device 10 may determine particulate liquid content characteristics associated with a given volume of fluid based at least in part on relative particle characteristics, determined by comparing first and second particle data, as described herein, captured at corresponding stages of a substantially two-stage particle detection / characterization operation. For example, the fluid flow sensor 10 may be configured to determine particulate liquid content characteristics, including the ratio of liquid to solid content within one or more of a plurality of particles received by the fluid flow device 10 through a fluid sample. Additionally, in various embodiments, the fluid flow device 10 may be configured to further determine that the determined particulate liquid content characteristics satisfy one or more particle criteria, including a threshold. For example, the fluid flow device 10 may determine that the ratio of liquid to solid content within one or more particles exceeds a threshold ratio value. In various embodiments, when it is determined that a liquid particle portion characteristic (e.g., the ratio of liquid contents to solid contents and / or the percentage of particles defined by the particulate liquid contents) exceeds a threshold, the fluid flow device 10 may generate a control signal for transmission to an external device (e.g., the management computing entity 40 of the fluid flow monitoring system 1). In various embodiments, the control signal may include electrical signals and / or data signals. In some embodiments, the control signal may specifically be an indication to the external device that the ratio of liquid contents to solid contents within one or more particles of a fluid sample received by the fluid flow device 10 has exceeded a predefined safety threshold. For example, in various embodiments where the fluid flow device 10 determines that the particulate liquid contents characteristics associated with a fluid sample obtained from a first location within the facility have met the particulate liquid contents threshold, the fluid flow monitoring system 1 may be configured (e.g., at the management computing entity 40) to store historical system data including timestamp data, location data, and particle data captured by the fluid flow device 10, so as to associate specific instances that have met (e.g., exceeded) the threshold with corresponding timestamps and corresponding locations within the facility.

[0112] In various embodiments, the fluid flow device 10 may be configured to send generated control signals to one or more components of the fluid flow monitoring system 1 via one or more communication networks 50, such as management computing entity 40 and / or one or more client devices among client devices 20 of the HVAC system 11. In various embodiments, the generated control signals may include one or more executable instructions configured to cause management computing entity 40 to send a corresponding alarm signal to each of the client devices 21, 22, 23 associated with the HVAC system 11. For example, the alarm signals sent to client devices 21, 22, 23 may include data configured to be displayed at the user interface of the client device, which may include, for example, warning messages, graphical representations of values ​​of liquid particle characteristics determined by the fluid flow device, corresponding location data, evacuation instructions associated with the facility, etc.

[0113] In various embodiments, the control signals generated by the fluid flow device 10 may include one or more executable instructions configured to cause the HVAC system 11 to initiate and / or perform one or more responsive mitigation operations upon receiving a control signal from the fluid flow device 10. In various embodiments, the fluid flow monitoring system 1 may be configured to perform one or more responsive mitigation operations, including sending one or more signals including executable instructions to an environmental condition controller 31 configured to cause the environmental condition controller 31 to adjust corresponding environmental conditions. As a non-limiting example provided for illustrative purposes, such exemplary responsive mitigation operations may include adjusting one or more of the environmental condition controllers 20 to increase fluid circulation throughout at least a portion of the facility (e.g., increased airflow volume and / or increased airflow velocity), disperse at least a portion of airflow throughout multiple zones within the facility, discharge at least a portion of the fluid circulating throughout the facility from the facility via a facility fluid discharge device, and increase / decrease the temperature and / or humidity within the facility. Additionally, in various embodiments, the fluid flow monitoring system 1 may be configured to perform one or more responsive mitigation operations, including applying increased fluid filtration, disinfection, and / or sterilization to at least a portion of the facility using one or more of radiation, electrical, chemical, and / or thermal treatment devices, and / or selectively redirecting at least a portion of the airflow to disperse it across multiple zones of the facility to divert and / or contain one or more concerning particles (e.g., particles defined by high concentrations of liquid contents) that may be diverted away from critical areas within the facility. For example, in various embodiments, the fluid flow monitoring system 1 may include one or more air diverter valves selectively configured between multiple locations to define a directional configuration of at least a portion of the airflow across the facility.

[0114] In various implementations, an exemplary fluid flow device 10 of the fluid flow monitoring system 1 may be configured to send one or more information signals to the HVAC system 11 in response to determining that the ratio of liquid contents to solid contents within one or more air volumes (e.g., liquid concentration) has returned to a value that is at least substantially below the threshold ratio value described herein.

[0115] Many modifications and other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains, which have the benefits of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terminology is used herein, it is used only in a general and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. A fluid flow apparatus for detecting the properties of particulate liquid contents, the apparatus comprising: One or more fluid flow device inlets, the one or more fluid flow device inlets being configured to receive a first fluid sample comprising a first plurality of particles and a second fluid sample comprising a second plurality of particles; A heating element configured to heat the second fluid sample, such that one or more of the second plurality of particles include one or more heated particles; Flow sensor, the flow sensor being configured to: Receive the first fluid sample and capture first particle data associated with the first plurality of particles; and Receive the second fluid sample and capture second particle data associated with the one or more heated particles; A controller configured to determine particulate liquid content characteristics based at least in part on first particle data and second particle data associated with the one or more heated particles, wherein the particulate liquid content characteristics are at least in part defined by the liquid particle portion of one or more particles received by the fluid flow device, wherein the controller is configured to apply a compensation coefficient to the first particle data and the second particle data based on the temperature of the first fluid sample and the second fluid sample. The controller is further configured to determine whether the particulate liquid content characteristics meet a threshold liquid content concentration value; and when it is determined that the particulate liquid content characteristics meet the threshold liquid content concentration value, to generate a control signal for sending to an external device.

2. The fluid flow device of claim 1, wherein the flow sensor includes a fluid composition sensor configured to capture first particle data associated with the first plurality of particles using particle imaging operations.

3. The fluid flow device according to claim 2, wherein the particle imaging operation includes lensless holography.

4. The fluid flow device of claim 1, wherein the flow sensor includes a flow sensor configured to capture first particle data associated with the first plurality of particles using optical scattering operations.

5. The fluid flow device of claim 1, further comprising a first fluid flow path configured to receive the first fluid sample and a second fluid flow path configured to receive the second fluid sample.

6. The fluid flow device of claim 1, wherein the heating element is configured to heat at least a portion of the second plurality of particles within a fluid flow conduit fluidly connected to at least one of the inlets of the one or more fluid flow devices, such that at least a portion of the fluid flow conduit defines a heated flow path.

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