Method for measuring particle size of aerosol and aerosol sampling system thereof

Abstract

The invention aims at providing a method for measuring the particle size of aerosol and an aerosol sampling system thereof, the aerosol sampling system comprises an aerosol generating device and an aerosol collecting device, the aerosol generating device generates gas containing aerosol to the aerosol collecting device, the aerosol collecting device comprises a collecting sample piece, and the collecting sample piece is connected with the aerosol generating device. The collection sample is composed of a filter membrane and a filter membrane liner which are overlapped with each other, the filter membrane faces the aerosol generating device, the filter membrane liner is composed of a first area and a second area, when the aerosol generating device generates gas to the filter membrane, the first area enables the gas to flow downwards, and the second area enables the gas to flow downwards; the filter membrane is used for collecting the aerosol, and the area, overlapped with the second area, on the filter membrane is used for measuring the aerosol particle size.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of aerosol particle size measurement, and particularly relates to a method for measuring the particle size of an aerosol and an aerosol sampling system thereof. Background Art

[0002] When using an aerosol generating device to generate an aerosol, different aerosol generating devices can generate aerosols with different particle sizes. Since most aerosol generating devices are obtained through outsourcing, currently, when staff use an aerosol generating device to generate an aerosol, they cannot accurately know whether the particle size of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating device meets the current particle size requirements, resulting in poor use effects. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring the particle size of an aerosol and an aerosol sampling system thereof. An aerosol collection device is used to collect the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating device. During the process of collecting the aerosol, through the overlapping filter membrane and filter membrane gasket, not only can a large amount of aerosol be collected on the filter membrane to provide more measurement samples, but also discrete aerosol can be collected on the filter membrane, which is convenient for a scanning electron microscope to measure the particle size of the aerosol, effectively improving the measurement accuracy.

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following solutions:

[0005] An aerosol sampling system for measuring the particle size of an aerosol, including an aerosol generating device and an aerosol collection device. The aerosol generating device generates a gas containing an aerosol towards the aerosol collection device. The aerosol collection device includes a collection sample piece, which is composed of an overlapping filter membrane and a filter membrane gasket. The filter membrane faces the aerosol generating device. The filter membrane gasket is composed of a first region and a second region. When the aerosol generating device generates gas towards the filter membrane, the first region allows the gas to flow downward, enabling the filter membrane to collect the aerosol and the region on the filter membrane that overlaps with the second region to be used for measuring the particle size of the aerosol.

[0006] Further, the first region is a breathable region, so that the gas containing the aerosol can pass through the first region; the second region is an airtight region, so that the gas containing the aerosol cannot pass through the second region.

[0007] Further, the cross-sectional shape of the first region is circular, and the cross-sectional shape of the second region is annular. On the same horizontal plane, the annular shape surrounds the circular shape and the inner side of the annular shape is connected to the outer side of the circular shape.

[0008] Further, the center point of the first region overlaps with the center point of the filter membrane on the same vertical line, and the aerosol generating device generates a gas containing aerosol towards the center point of the filter membrane.

[0009] Further, the area of the circle is smaller than the area of the ring.

[0010] Further, the filter membrane is an electrostatic-free filter membrane.

[0011] A method for measuring the particle size of aerosol, applying the aerosol sampling system for measuring the particle size of aerosol as described above, the method comprising the following steps:

[0012] S1. Start the current aerosol generating device, and the current aerosol generating device generates a gas containing the aerosol to be measured towards the aerosol collection device;

[0013] S2. Obtain a collection sample piece for collecting the aerosol to be measured, select the area to be measured on the filter membrane that overlaps with the second region, and measure the particle size of the aerosol to be measured on the area to be measured through a scanning electron microscope;

[0014] S3. Judge whether the particle size of the aerosol generated by the current aerosol generating device meets the current particle size requirement according to the measurement result.

[0015] Advantages of the present invention:

[0016] The present invention provides an aerosol sampling system for measuring the particle size of aerosol. In the aerosol sampling system, an overlapping filter membrane and a filter membrane gasket are used as the collection sample piece. The filter membrane gasket is arranged in zones, with a breathable area in the center and an airtight area around the center. Through the positional connection relationship between the breathable area and the airtight area, a large number of discrete aerosols are collected on the area of the filter membrane that overlaps with the airtight area, enabling the aerosol sampling system to generate a collection sample piece that is convenient for a scanning electron microscope to measure the particle size of the aerosol, and effectively improving the measurement accuracy.

[0017] Moreover, the present invention provides a method for measuring the particle size of aerosol. Through this method, the aerosol particle size of the purchased aerosol generating device can be detected in advance. The aerosol generated by it is collected using the above-mentioned collection sample piece, and then the particle size of a large number of discrete aerosols collected on the area of the filter membrane that overlaps with the airtight area is measured through a scanning electron microscope, so as to detect the aerosol generating device, and avoid poor use effects caused by the particle size of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating device not meeting the current particle size requirement during use. Description of the drawings

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram for measuring the particle size of aerosol through a scanning electron microscope in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the agglomeration phenomenon of aerosol particles on the filter membrane in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the process of successively realizing aerosol generation, aerosol collection, and aerosol particle size measurement based on the aerosol sampling system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the discrete phenomenon of aerosol particles on the second region in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the process of a method for measuring the particle size of aerosol in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals: 1 - aerosol generation device, 2 - air outlet, 3 - filter membrane, 4 - first region, 5 - second region, 6 - aerosol particles. Detailed implementation manners

[0024] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and in no way restricts the present invention and its application or use. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangements of components and steps, numerical expressions, and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0026] At the same time, it should be understood that, for the sake of convenience of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn according to the actual proportional relationship.

[0027] In addition, for the sake of clarity and conciseness, the descriptions of well-known structures, functions, and configurations may be omitted. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made to the examples described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0028] The techniques, methods, and devices known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant fields may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the techniques, methods, and devices should be regarded as part of the authorization specification.

[0029] In all the examples shown and discussed here, any specific values should be construed as merely exemplary and not as a limitation. Thus, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0030] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with embodiments:

[0031] Embodiment 1

[0032] Currently, for measuring the aerosol particle size, usually, a filter membrane is first used to collect aerosol particles, and then, the aerosol particle size collected on the filter membrane is measured. As Figure 1 shown, the aerosol particle size on the filter membrane can be measured by a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

[0033] However, due to the adsorption capacity of the filter membrane or the electrostatic medium, etc., aerosol particles are more likely to agglomerate on the filter membrane. As Figure 2 shown, it can be seen that after the aerosol particles agglomerate, several aerosol particles gather together, and the boundary of a single aerosol particle cannot be accurately obtained by a scanning electron microscope. Thus, the aerosol particle size cannot be accurately measured.

[0034] To solve the above problems, in this embodiment, an aerosol sampling system for measuring the aerosol particle size is provided. As Figure 3 shown, based on the aerosol sampling system, the three processes of aerosol generation, aerosol collection, and aerosol particle size measurement can be sequentially realized. The aerosol sampling system includes an aerosol generation device and an aerosol collection device. The aerosol generation device generates a gas containing aerosol towards the aerosol collection device. The aerosol collection device includes a collection sample piece, and the collection sample piece is composed of an overlapping filter membrane and a filter membrane gasket. The filter membrane faces the aerosol generation device, and the aerosol generation device makes the generated gas flow downward from above the filter membrane. The filter membrane is used to collect aerosol particles.

[0035] The filter membrane gasket is composed of a first region and a second region. The first region is a breathable region, so the gas containing aerosol can pass through the first region; the second region is an airtight region, so the gas containing aerosol cannot pass through the second region. When the aerosol generation device makes the generated gas flow downward from above the filter membrane, since the first region is a breathable region, the gas above the first region can pass through the filter membrane and then flow downward; and since the second region is an airtight region and the second region cannot pass gas, the gas above the second region cannot pass through the filter membrane and flow downward. Furthermore, a large amount of aerosol can be adsorbed on the filter membrane above the second region and overlapping with the second region.

[0036] Since an aerosol generating device is a device that can atomize an aerosol matrix to generate an aerosol, the aerosol generating device generates a gas containing an aerosol through atomization. Due to the gas jet pressure at the air outlet of the aerosol generating device itself and the influence of the external atmospheric pressure on the gas flow, the gas flowing out of the air outlet presents a phenomenon of central aggregation and peripheral dispersion.

[0037] Based on this phenomenon, in this embodiment, the filter membrane gasket is arranged in zones. A breathable area, i.e., the first area, is set in the center of the filter membrane gasket; an airtight area, i.e., the second area, is set around the center of the filter membrane gasket. The center point of the first area overlaps with the center point of the filter membrane on the same vertical line. Then, the aerosol generating device generates a gas containing an aerosol towards the center point of the filter membrane, that is, the center point of the air outlet of the aerosol generating device is also located on this vertical line.

[0038] Specifically, when the gas flowing out of the air outlet presents a phenomenon of central aggregation and peripheral dispersion, the gas flows downward, resulting in a phenomenon of aerosol particle aggregation in the first area and a phenomenon of aerosol particle dispersion in the second area. And since the second area is an airtight area, more and discrete aerosol particles can be collected through the second area, as Figure 4 shown; finally, an aerosol sampling system generates a collection sample sheet that is convenient for a scanning electron microscope to measure the aerosol particle size, effectively improving the measurement accuracy.

[0039] Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the first area is circular, and the cross-sectional shape of the second area is annular. On the same horizontal plane, the annular shape surrounds the circular shape and the inner side of the annular shape is connected to the outer side of the circular shape. The area of the circular shape is smaller than the area of the annular shape. The purpose is to align the first area with the phenomenon of aerosol particle aggregation to ensure that more and discrete aerosol particles are collected in the second area. Specifically, the diameter of the outer circle of the annular shape can be 110 mm, and the diameter of the inner circle can be 40 mm. At this time, the diameter size of the fiber is between 1 μm and 10 μm.

[0040] In one embodiment, the filter membrane uses a filter membrane without static electricity or a filter membrane with weak adsorption ability, which can avoid more agglomeration of aerosol particles at the filter membrane. Specifically, the filter membrane can be made of glass fiber, polypropylene, etc.

[0041] In summary, through the above aerosol sampling system, a collection sample sheet that is convenient for a scanning electron microscope to measure the aerosol particle size can be generated. A large number and discrete aerosol particle sizes are collected in the area of the filter membrane that overlaps with the airtight area in the collection sample sheet, which can effectively improve the measurement accuracy.

[0042] Embodiment 2

[0043] Based on Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, a method for measuring the aerosol particle size is provided. Through this method, the aerosol particle sizes generated by different aerosol generating devices can be measured. According to the measurement results, it can be accurately detected whether the current aerosol generating device meets the requirements, avoiding poor use effects caused by the aerosol particle size generated by the aerosol generating device not meeting the current particle size requirements during use.

[0044] Generally, a certain product is mainly developed for filtering particulate matter within a certain particle size range, or for filtering particles with a particle size in a certain actual scenario. To verify the filtering effect of the product on this type of particulate matter, it is necessary to generate aerosols within a specific particle size range for challenge. For example, when testing the filtering effect of a mask in the YY 0469-2011 standard, aerosols with a specific particle size are required for testing.

[0045] Therefore, the present invention provides a method for measuring the aerosol particle size. Through this method, the aerosol particle sizes generated by different aerosol generating devices can be measured. Specifically, as Figure 5 shown, the method includes the following steps:

[0046] S1. Start the current aerosol generating device, and the current aerosol generating device generates a gas containing the aerosol to be measured towards the aerosol collection device;

[0047] S2. Obtain a collection sample piece for collecting the aerosol to be measured, select the area to be measured that overlaps with the second area on the filter membrane, and measure the particle size of the aerosol to be measured on the area to be measured through a scanning electron microscope;

[0048] S3. Judge whether the particle size of the aerosol generated by the current aerosol generating device meets the current particle size requirements according to the measurement results.

[0049] In summary, through the above method, the aerosol particle size of the purchased aerosol generating device can be detected in advance. The aerosol generated by it is collected using the above collection sample piece, and then the particle sizes of a large number of discrete aerosols collected in the area overlapping with the airtight area on the filter membrane are measured through a scanning electron microscope, realizing the detection of the aerosol generating device, and avoiding poor use effects caused by the aerosol particle size generated by the aerosol generating device not meeting the current particle size requirements during use.

[0050] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not impose any form of limitation on the present invention. Based on the technical essence of the present invention, any simple modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made to the above embodiments within the spirit and principles of the present invention still fall within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aerosol sampling system for measuring aerosol particle size, characterized in that: The invention comprises an aerosol generating device and an aerosol collecting device, wherein the aerosol generating device generates gas containing aerosol to the aerosol collecting device, and the aerosol collecting device comprises a collecting sample sheet, wherein the collecting sample sheet is composed of a filter membrane and a filter membrane pad which overlap each other, the filter membrane faces the aerosol generating device, and the filter membrane pad is composed of a first area and a second area, and when the aerosol generating device generates gas to the filter membrane, the first area enables the gas to flow downward, so that the filter membrane is used to collect the aerosol, and the area on the filter membrane which overlaps with the second area is used to measure the aerosol particle size.

2. An aerosol sampling system for measuring aerosol particle size according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first region is a breathable region, and the gas containing aerosol can pass through the first region; the second region is a breathable region, and the gas containing aerosol cannot pass through the second region.

3. The aerosol sampling system for measuring aerosol particle size according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-sectional shape of the first area is a circle, and the cross-sectional shape of the second area is a ring. On the same horizontal plane, the ring surrounds the circle and the inner side of the ring is connected to the outer side of the circle.

4. The aerosol sampling system for measuring aerosol particle size according to claim 3, characterized in that: The center point of the first area overlaps with the center point of the filter membrane on the same vertical line, and the aerosol generating device generates gas containing aerosol toward the center point of the filter membrane.

5. The aerosol sampling system for measuring aerosol particle size according to claim 3, characterized in that: The area of ​​the circle is smaller than the area of ​​the ring.

6. The aerosol sampling system for measuring aerosol particle size according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filter membrane is a non-static filter membrane.

7. A method for measuring aerosol particle size, characterized in that: Using an aerosol sampling system for measuring aerosol particle size as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, the method comprises the following steps: S1. Start the current aerosol generating device, and the current aerosol generating device generates gas containing the aerosol to be measured to the aerosol collecting device; S2, obtaining a collection sample for collecting the aerosol to be measured, selecting an area to be measured on the filter membrane that overlaps with the second area, and measuring the particle size of the aerosol to be measured in the area to be measured by a scanning electron microscope; S3. Determine whether the particle size of the aerosol generated by the current aerosol generating device meets the current particle size requirement based on the measurement result.

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