Airflow pattern analysis system and method based on a neutrally buoyant tracer device

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of airflow flow pattern testing, in particular to an airflow flow pattern analysis system and method based on a neutral buoyancy tracing device, which uses an air-filling needle to adjust the density of a tracing ball so that the tracing ball reaches a neutral buoyancy state in a target test environment; a plurality of release modes are configured according to test requirements, and release parameters are set; a tracing ball release assembly is started, and the tracing ball is sent into the airflow to be tested according to the configured release mode; a video acquisition and analysis system is used to synchronously and continuously record the movement track of the tracing ball under the action of the airflow; and a video tracking unit is used to process and analyze the recorded image sequence, so that a clear and continuous airflow track atlas is synthesized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of airflow pattern testing technology, and more specifically to an airflow pattern analysis system and method based on a neutral buoyancy tracer. Background Technology

[0002] Airflow pattern testing is a key technology for evaluating the airflow trajectory and distribution in confined spaces (especially clean areas). As a crucial step in GMP on-site inspections of sterile pharmaceuticals, it is essential for ensuring that the cleanroom air environment and airflow organization meet regulatory requirements, thereby guaranteeing product quality and safety. However, due to its technical complexity and diverse implementation methods, this test often becomes a major source of defects in practice. It is worth noting that the application of airflow pattern analysis technology extends beyond clean environments, also finding applications in aerospace, built environment, and outdoor atmospheric research.

[0003] Currently, this field mainly employs two traditional methods: the tracer line method and the smoke (fog) method. The tracer line method typically uses nylon monofilaments, cotton threads, or lightweight polymer fibers as the tracer medium. These are fixed to the end of a test rod or a fine mesh in the airflow channel, and the direction of airflow is inferred by visually or photographically recording the fiber's movement. This method has significant limitations: the fibers are susceptible to interference from gravity, static electricity, and mechanical vibration, and are prone to adhering to walls in high-wind-speed or laminar flow areas, leading to misjudgments or false negatives. Furthermore, it requires numerous fixing devices and is difficult to achieve full spatial coverage, making it complex to operate and limiting its visualization range; it is only suitable for local qualitative observations. The smoke (fog) method uses media such as pure water, dry ice, or ethylene glycol to generate visible smoke, and the direction and characteristics of airflow are determined by observing the movement and morphological changes of tracer particles. Although this method provides a more intuitive display, the tracer particles are prone to gravitational settling and natural diffusion during movement, resulting in blurred trajectories and distorted morphology. Especially in clean environment applications, humidity and residual droplets may disrupt the temperature and humidity balance, and oily droplets may even clog or contaminate the HEPA filter, triggering an online particle counter alarm.

[0004] Neutral buoyancy of tracer particles is a key physical basis for realizing airflow pattern detection. Ideally, the tracer medium should have a density essentially the same as the surrounding air, so that its motion is entirely dominated by airflow rather than gravity or buoyancy. In traditional methods, droplets, due to the density difference with air, are continuously affected by vertical non-airflow forces during their movement, easily introducing motion deviations and causing their trajectories to deviate from the true flow field, especially in laminar and low-velocity flow fields where the errors are more significant. Therefore, achieving and maintaining neutral buoyancy of tracer particles has become a core challenge for improving the accuracy and reliability of airflow testing.

[0005] Furthermore, both the tracer line method and the smoke method are discontinuous testing methods, unable to fully capture and reproduce the entire path of airflow. These two methods also suffer from inherent limitations in spatial resolution: lacking three-dimensional depth information, they struggle to accurately reconstruct the true structure and dynamic characteristics of airflow in three-dimensional space. Regarding environmental adaptability, tracer lines are easily affected by ambient airflow in outdoor applications, making it difficult to maintain a stable posture; the droplets generated by the smoke method are easily dispersed in open spaces and are significantly affected by natural lighting and complex backgrounds, severely limiting the applicability of existing methods in outdoor and complex industrial environments.

[0006] Existing technologies also suffer from shortcomings in operational standardization and data integration. Both methods rely on manual operation and subjective visual interpretation, making it difficult to achieve continuous and stable testing processes under dynamically changing environmental conditions, resulting in poor reproducibility of results between different test batches and operators. More importantly, the unstructured data generated by these methods is difficult to effectively interface with currently widely used computational fluid dynamics simulation platforms or digital management systems, limiting their application value in the context of intelligent operation and maintenance and big data analysis.

[0007] In summary, the industry urgently needs a new airflow tracing and testing solution that can achieve non-destructive, real-time, and quantitative detection in real-world working environments, possess three-dimensional spatial resolution capabilities, and ensure the neutral buoyancy of the tracer medium, in order to systematically address the fundamental bottlenecks of traditional methods in terms of accuracy, applicability, and integration. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned defects in the existing technology, the present invention aims to overcome the problems of low visualization and significant gravity interference in the tracer line method, and at the same time solve the defects of the smoke method such as easy dispersion and sedimentation of tracer particles and fuzzy trajectory. In particular, the present invention is committed to providing a reusable neutral buoyancy tracer and its detection system, which adapts to the detection needs of different temperature, pressure and gas composition environments through the tracer unit with adjustable density, and finally realizes continuous, stable, high-precision and low-interference airflow trajectory capture and recording, and fully presents the entire path motion state of the airflow.

[0009] This invention proposes a tracer device for airflow pattern analysis, comprising: an adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere, an integrated regulating valve, and an inflation needle;

[0010] The adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere is made of a flexible, sealed material, and its density can be changed by adjusting the internal gas composition and inflation volume to match the gas density of the target test environment.

[0011] The integrated control valve is sealed and fixed to an adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere. The integrated control valve includes a movable sealing plate, which is closed under normal conditions to seal the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere. When an inflation needle is inserted, the movable sealing plate can elastically deform to form a gas passage.

[0012] An inflation needle has a needle tip with an air outlet on its side wall. The inflation needle is used to insert into an integrated regulating valve to fill or extract gas into the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere through a gas channel, thereby adjusting the density of the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere.

[0013] Furthermore, the needle tip of the inflation needle is either a blunt needle tip or a frustum-shaped flat-head needle; the blunt needle tip is conical with a smooth tip, while the frustum-shaped flat-head needle has a flat circular cross-section at the tip.

[0014] Furthermore, the integrated control valve has a multi-layer composite structure, including at least an outer layer and an inner layer; the outer layer is sealed to an adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer ball, and the surface of the outer layer is marked with a pinhole puncture area; the inner layer is a movable sealing plate.

[0015] Furthermore, the outer shell material of the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere contains fluorescent materials, strong infrared reflective materials, or graphene composite materials.

[0016] This invention proposes a multi-mode release device for a tracer, comprising:

[0017] The ball storage compartment is used to store multiple tracer spheres and is equipped with a flow guiding structure to facilitate the orderly output of the tracer spheres;

[0018] A conveying system, connected to the outlet of the ball storage tank, is used to transport the tracer sphere from the ball storage tank to a predetermined release position in a controlled manner;

[0019] The tracer ball release assembly is located at the end of the delivery system and includes a controllable opening and closing clamping mechanism for clamping the delivered tracer ball before receiving a command and opening to release the tracer ball when a release command is received.

[0020] The control system is communicatively connected to the ball storage bin, the conveying system, and the tracer ball release assembly. It is used to control the start and stop of the conveying system and the conveying rate, as well as the clamping and releasing actions of the tracer ball release assembly.

[0021] Furthermore, the control system is configured to execute multiple release modes, which include at least: single-point one-time release mode, single-point continuous release mode, planar few-point continuous release mode, and planar multi-point release mode.

[0022] Furthermore, the clamping mechanism of the tracer ball release assembly includes a pair of clamping arms that are controlled to open and close by a micro electromagnetic drive device, and the clamping surfaces of the clamping arms are provided with V-shaped grooves that match the curvature of the tracer ball.

[0023] Furthermore, the conveying system includes a conveying pipe with multiple microporous vents on its wall to allow some airflow to escape slowly, thereby maintaining the minimum airflow pressure required to move the sphere within the pipe.

[0024] Furthermore, the ball storage bin is connected to the conveying system in either a top-mounted or bottom-mounted configuration; in the top-mounted configuration, the ball storage bin is located above the release port and connected to the release port via an L-shaped pipe; in the bottom-mounted configuration, the ball storage bin is located below the conveying system and the balls are conveyed upwards to the release point via an inverted L-shaped pipe.

[0025] Furthermore, the tracer ball release assembly includes an array of release frames with multiple release ports on the release frame. Each release port is equipped with an independently controllable blocking mechanism to enable the synchronous or sequential release of multiple tracer balls.

[0026] Furthermore, the control system is configured to execute a multi-point release mode, which can coordinate and control multiple release devices distributed on the same detection plane to achieve simultaneous or sequential continuous release at each point.

[0027] This invention proposes an airflow pattern analysis system based on a neutral buoyancy tracer, comprising:

[0028] This includes the aforementioned tracer device, the aforementioned multi-mode release device, and the video acquisition and analysis system;

[0029] The video acquisition and analysis system synchronously records and analyzes the trajectory of the tracer sphere, enabling visualization and quantitative analysis of airflow patterns. The video acquisition and analysis system includes:

[0030] The video recording unit has at least two high-definition cameras located in different spatial positions to synchronously capture the motion video of the released tracer sphere;

[0031] The video tracking unit is configured to perform image processing on the acquired video sequence to extract the motion trajectory data of the tracer sphere;

[0032] The visualization analysis unit is configured to perform three-dimensional trajectory reconstruction and airflow parameter analysis based on motion trajectory data.

[0033] This invention proposes an airflow visualization method based on an airflow pattern analysis system, comprising:

[0034] S1: Use an inflation needle to adjust the density of the tracer sphere so that it reaches a neutral buoyancy state in the target test environment;

[0035] S2: Configure and execute multiple release modes according to test requirements, and set release parameters;

[0036] S3: Activate the tracer sphere release assembly to send the tracer sphere into the airflow to be measured according to the configured release mode;

[0037] S4: Using a video acquisition and analysis system, the trajectory of the tracer sphere under the action of airflow is recorded synchronously and continuously;

[0038] S5: The video tracking unit processes and analyzes the recorded image sequence to synthesize a clear and continuous airflow trajectory map.

[0039] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0040] By using a neutral buoyancy sphere as the tracer medium and achieving a precise neutral buoyancy state with the help of a precision regulating valve, the problems of particle dispersion, sedimentation and gravity deviation of traditional aerosol / smoke methods are eliminated, and the airflow trajectory can be accurately reproduced.

[0041] The density parameter of the tracer sphere can be flexibly adjusted by regulating the valve, enabling it to quickly adapt to test environments under different temperature, humidity, pressure and gas composition conditions, demonstrating its versatility and adaptability in different detection scenarios and needs.

[0042] The tracer sphere adopts a solid unit design, which can be recycled and reused repeatedly, greatly reducing testing costs and avoiding the risk of chemical reagent residues, making it environmentally friendly.

[0043] The unique control valve design ensures excellent sealing performance and durability under repeated puncture adjustments, extending the lifespan of the tracer ball.

[0044] The tracer sphere employs a multi-color coding design and incorporates functional materials such as fluorescent and strong infrared reflective materials, enabling it to be observed under various conditions including natural light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light. It exhibits high contrast with traditional backgrounds, making it easy to identify and process images, and is particularly suitable for airflow observation in complex environments.

[0045] The tracer sphere can be introduced into the flow field / space under test through different release modes to meet the needs of different test scenarios.

[0046] The system realizes the entire process design from sphere release and image acquisition to data analysis. Through three-dimensional calibration and image processing technology, it can accurately reconstruct the motion trajectory of airflow in three-dimensional space, providing complete and reliable quantitative data support for airflow pattern analysis.

[0047] All equipment components are designed to be easy to clean, disinfectable, and dust-free, with smooth surfaces and no dead corners, ensuring that the testing process will not pollute the production environment.

[0048] The integrated system design simplifies the operation process, reduces human intervention, significantly improves testing efficiency, and ensures the consistency and repeatability of test results. Attached Figure Description

[0049] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0050] Figure 1 The diagram shows a tracer sphere, where (a) is a front and side view of a neutral buoyancy tracer sphere; (b) shows neutral buoyancy tracer spheres of different sizes; and (c) shows neutral buoyancy tracer spheres of different colors.

[0051] Figure 2 This is a top view of a gas regulating valve.

[0052] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a gas regulating valve.

[0053] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a blunt needle.

[0054] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a frustum-shaped flat-headed pin.

[0055] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a top-mounted ball release device.

[0056] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a bottom-mounted ball release device.

[0057] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the delivery pipe and the release port.

[0058] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the sphere release device.

[0059] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of the delivery pipe.

[0060] Figure 11 A top view of the sphere's release head section.

[0061] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the airflow visualization method for an integrated testing system.

[0062] Reference numerals: 1. Tracer sphere; 10. Sphere outer shell; 11. Regulating valve; 111. Regulating valve outer layer; 1111. Regulating valve and sphere connection area; 1112. Needle puncture area; 112. Regulating valve inner layer; 1121. Movable sealing plate; 1122. Movable sealing plate and regulating valve connection area; 13. Inflation needle; 130. Air outlet; 131. Blunt needle tip; 132. Frustum-shaped flat-head needle; 2. Sphere storage chamber; 21. Filling port; 3. Delivery pipe; 31. Quick connection port; 32. Fan; 33. Baffle; 34. Vent; 4. Movable bracket; 41. Rigid connection bracket; 42. Pulley block with brake; 5. Tracer sphere release assembly; 51. Openable and closable clamping arm; 52. Electromagnetic drive device; 53. Spring. Detailed Implementation

[0063] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0064] Example 1

[0065] This invention provides a neutral buoyancy tracer sphere for airflow pattern analysis.

[0066] The core of this tracer device is the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere 1. This tracer unit is specially designed to solve the technical problems of existing tracer particles being prone to settling, diffusion, and non-reusability.

[0067] Specifically, the tracer includes:

[0068] Adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere shell 10:

[0069] like Figure 1 As shown, the tracer unit is spherical or nearly spherical, and its outer shell 10 is made of flexible, sealed materials such as rubber, plastic, or composite polymers. Its core feature is that its overall density can be precisely adjusted via the regulating valve 11 (described later). This allows for on-demand adjustment based on the air density of the target testing environment (including density changes under different temperatures, pressures, and gas compositions), thereby achieving precise neutral or near-neutral buoyancy in various practical application environments. This characteristic minimizes the interference of gravity on the tracer trajectory, ensuring that the tracer unit accurately follows airflow and effectively adapts to testing needs in various complex environments, from cleanrooms to outdoor environments and from atmospheric pressure to low pressure.

[0070] The outer shell 10 can be displayed in one or more different colors as needed, which facilitates visual recognition and tracking in complex backgrounds.

[0071] The outer shell 10 can be functionally enhanced with fluorescent materials, strong infrared reflective materials (such as titanium dioxide-TiO2), or graphene composite materials (such as graphene / metal composite films), enabling it to be adapted to different wavelength light sources (such as ultraviolet lamps, infrared camera systems, laser light sources, etc.) for excitation and observation, thereby expanding its application scenarios and detection sensitivity.

[0072] The tracer sphere 1 is a solid unit that can be reused multiple times, which is significantly more economical and environmentally friendly than disposable aerosols or smoke agents.

[0073] Integrated control valve 11:

[0074] The regulating valve 11 is tightly integrated with the ball housing 10 and is a key component for achieving precise adjustment of the ball density.

[0075] The control valve is made of single or multiple layers of flexible composite materials (such as rubber or silicon-based composite materials).

[0076] The regulating valve is preferably a multi-layer composite structure, comprising at least an outer layer 111 and an inner layer 112. For example... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the outer layer 111 provides structural support and is sealed to the ball 1111. Its surface is clearly marked with pinhole puncture areas 1112 to guide operation and limit the puncture range, protecting the structural integrity of other parts of the valve body. The inner layer 112 includes a movable sealing piece 1121, the edge of which has a connection area 1122 with the valve body. Under normal conditions, the movable sealing piece 1121 remains closed to achieve a seal for the tracer ball 1.

[0077] When the inflation needle 12 (described later) pierces the puncture area 1112 of the regulating valve, it acts on the movable sealing plate 1121, causing it to elastically deform and lift towards the inside of the sphere, thereby forming a channel between the needle 12 and the sealing plate 1121 that allows gas to pass through. Through this channel, specific gases (such as hydrogen, helium, or other light gases) can be injected into or extracted from the sphere to adjust its internal pressure and composition, thus precisely controlling the overall density of the sphere. When the inflation needle 12 is withdrawn, the movable sealing plate 1121 automatically rebounds to a closed state under its own elastic restoring force and the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the sphere, restoring the seal. This ensures that the regulating valve has excellent sealing performance and durability, can withstand repeated puncture operations, and thus achieves multiple precise adjustments to the amount of gas inside the sphere, allowing it to quickly adapt to different density gas environments.

[0078] The regulating valve 11 is typically circular, with a thickness of approximately 1 mm to 5 mm and a diameter of approximately 5 mm to 30 mm. Its mounting position and connection to the ball have extremely high sealing performance and a smooth transition as much as possible to minimize disturbance to the airflow profile.

[0079] Includes an inflation needle:

[0080] To work with the integrated regulating valve and achieve non-destructive and efficient multiple inflation and deflation operations, a matching inflation needle 13 was specially designed.

[0081] The needles of the inflation needles are specially designed and mainly come in two types: blunt needle 131 and frustum-shaped flat needle 132.

[0082] Blunt needle 131: such as Figure 4 As shown, the needle has a blunt conical structure with a smooth, rounded tip and no sharp angle. The air outlet 130 is located on the side wall of the needle.

[0083] Frustum-shaped flat-headed needle 132: as shown Figure 5 As shown, the needle is truncated cone-shaped with a flat circular cross-section at the top, and the air outlet is located on the side wall of the needle.

[0084] The smooth or flat-head design gently pushes open the movable seal inside the control valve during insertion and withdrawal, rather than cutting or permanently damaging the seal, thus greatly extending the service life of the control valve and ensuring its reliability for repeated sealing.

[0085] Both types of air-filled needles have their air outlets 130 located on the side wall of the needle tip, rather than at the tip. This ensures that when the needle tip is inserted into the regulating valve, the direction of the air outlet 130 is consistent with the direction in which the sealing plate 1121 is lifted, making the inflation and deflation process smoother. At the same time, this effectively prevents the air outlet from being temporarily blocked or stuck by the flexible material of the sealing plate, improving the reliability and efficiency of the operation.

[0086] By connecting an external gas source (such as a helium cylinder) to the inflation needle 13, gas can be injected into or extracted from the sphere, thereby precisely adjusting the final density of the sphere and achieving its neutral buoyancy state.

[0087] Example 2

[0088] The present invention provides a release device for multi-mode release of the aforementioned tracer sphere.

[0089] This component is used to introduce the tracer sphere 1 into the flow field / space under test in a controlled manner, and it supports multiple release modes to meet the needs of different test scenarios.

[0090] The release device includes a ball storage chamber 2, a conveying pipeline 3, a tracer ball release assembly 4, and a control system.

[0091] The release device adopts a modular integrated design, such as Figure 6and Figure 7 As shown, the sphere storage chamber 2, the conveying system 3, and the tracer sphere release assembly 4 are organically integrated together. The components are seamlessly connected via precision interfaces, ensuring the system's high sealing performance and operational reliability. Furthermore, the appropriate sphere storage chamber 2, conveying pipeline 3, and tracer sphere release assembly 4 can be selected and assembled according to different specifications of tracer spheres to adapt to the detection environment requirements of different airflow patterns.

[0092] The release device prioritizes cleanliness. The outer casing of the delivery pipe 3 and release port 4 is made of stainless steel / alloy steel, with all outer surfaces being smooth and rounded, eliminating any cleaning dead corners. The entire assembly adopts a quick-release design, with each module connection using quick-connect ports 31 for easy disassembly and sterilization, ensuring no interference with the cleanroom environment.

[0093] Ball storage compartment 2:

[0094] The sphere storage compartment 2 consists of a sphere storage container, a sphere guide plate, and a capacity monitoring area.

[0095] The sphere storage compartment 2 offers two optional design options to suit different needs. The first is a top-mounted arrangement, such as... Figure 6 As shown, this design places the ball storage container above the release port, forming an L-shaped layout with the delivery pipe and release port. This structural design ensures that the ball storage chamber does not interfere with the airflow, effectively avoiding changes to the original airflow field due to equipment installation. The ball storage chamber uses a sealed cover with a counterweight structure, utilizing slight gravity to allow the balls to enter the delivery pipe smoothly and orderly. This solution is particularly suitable for testing scenarios with a small number of balls; when the number of balls in the chamber can meet the needs of a single test, it can ensure a stable and reliable ball supply. The second type is a bottom-arranged design, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the ball storage container is located at the bottom of the conveying system. An upward airflow generated by the conveying pipe and a micro-fan transports the balls upwards to the release point, forming an inverted L-shaped layout with the conveying pipe and release port. This design is suitable for testing needs requiring a large number of balls. When the ball storage capacity in the container is insufficient for long-term testing, balls can be easily added through the filling port 21, ensuring the continuity of the testing process.

[0096] The ball storage chamber 2 is a frustum-shaped or polygonal transparent chamber made of highly transparent materials such as methyl methacrylate and polycarbonate. The ball storage container is equipped with a filling port 21 with a sealed cap. The inner wall surface is smooth to reduce friction between the tracer ball and the chamber wall. Its outlet adopts a tapering funnel design to facilitate the orderly accumulation of the balls towards the outlet.

[0097] The ball storage chamber 2 is equipped with a spiral guide plate to the conveying pipe 3 below, which can gently guide the tracer ball in a directional manner, avoid the ball being squeezed and damaged, and make the ball move towards the conveying system along the direction of the guide plate.

[0098] The capacity monitoring area has a quantity scale suitable for spheres of different sizes, which facilitates real-time monitoring of the sphere inventory in the chamber and replenishment when the sphere inventory is lower than the set threshold.

[0099] Conveying system:

[0100] The conveying system includes conveying pipeline 3 and conveying control system.

[0101] The conveying pipe 3 adopts a modular design, providing various length specifications (0.5-5m) of interconnectable pipe sections, which can be flexibly combined and adjusted according to the height requirements of the air outlet at the actual testing site. The inner wall of the pipe is made of anti-static material, and the pipe diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the sphere, ensuring smooth passage of the sphere while avoiding excessive bounce. The pipe connection uses a quick connector 31 design, ensuring sealing while facilitating disassembly and replacement.

[0102] The inner surface of the conveying channel 3 is polished to reduce friction, and its radius of curvature matches the diameter of the tracer sphere 1 to ensure the stability and directional consistency of the sphere as it moves within the channel.

[0103] In particular, such as Figure 8 As shown, the conveying pipe 3 and the release component 4 are connected in an L-shape, with a rounded transition design at the corner to ensure that the tracer sphere can pass smoothly without blockage or jamming, and also to ensure the continuity and stability of the sphere's delivery.

[0104] The conveying control system can use a micro air pump to generate airflow, a robotic arm to grip, or a conveyor belt to transport the ball from the storage bin to the release point via the conveying channel.

[0105] Preferably, the conveying system uses a miniature air pump to generate airflow and is equipped with a miniature fan 32 with adjustable airflow. The fan 32 generates a low-speed airflow (0.1-0.5 m / s), and the airflow speed is controlled by a precision regulating valve to ensure that the tracer sphere 1 remains stable during conveying, gently delivering the sphere into the release point channel and avoiding disturbance to the original flow field. Simultaneously, if... Figure 9 As shown, an adjustable outlet baffle 33 is provided at the outlet of the fan 32. The baffle 33 is linked to the start / stop signal of the fan 32, opening synchronously when the fan starts and automatically closing when it stops, ensuring the accuracy of airflow control.

[0106] In particular, such as Figure 10 As shown, multiple vents 34 are evenly distributed along the delivery pipeline. These vents 34 employ a microporous structure design, allowing some airflow to escape slowly. This ensures that the pipeline maintains the minimum airflow pressure required to move the sphere, while avoiding additional pushing force on the tracer sphere at the release port. This design guarantees that the tracer sphere is not affected by additional external forces when entering the test flow field, and can accurately reflect the airflow motion state.

[0107] The conveying system is equipped with a movable support 4, including a rigid connecting support 41 securely connected to the conveying pipeline and a pulley block 42 with a braking device, enabling free movement and precise positioning of the equipment at the testing site. The rigid connecting support is made of stainless steel or alloy, and the omnidirectional pulleys are equipped with rubber tires to ensure load-bearing capacity and stability during movement. The pulleys have built-in rotary braking devices that can be locked via a foot pedal to ensure absolute stability of the equipment during operation. Optionally, the pulley block 42 adopts a three-point support structure, with two omnidirectional wheels at the front and one fixed wheel at the rear, ensuring both mobility and good directional control.

[0108] The release device can be easily operated via a push handle while in motion, and its optimized center of gravity design ensures stable movement. Once the equipment reaches the designated test position, all pulleys can be locked via a foot pedal, and secondary reinforcement is provided by auxiliary support legs, ensuring the equipment remains completely stable during testing. Furthermore, the system can be equipped with a motion sensor that automatically disables the release function when movement is detected, ensuring safe and stable operation. This design enhances the equipment's adaptability to different test locations, allowing testers to easily move the conveyor system to various test points, quickly setting up the equipment and significantly improving testing efficiency. Simultaneously, the shock-absorbing design ensures that the internal precision components are not affected by vibration during movement, maintaining the system's measurement accuracy and reliability.

[0109] Tracer ball release component 5:

[0110] The release device includes one or more tracer ball release assemblies 5, with a precision controllable clamping device at the end opening. Each clamping device comprises a pair of openable and closable clamping arms 51 with a specially designed geometry, such as... Figure 11 As shown, the clamping surface of the clamping arm 51 adopts a V-shaped groove structure that matches the curvature of tracer spheres of different sizes, ensuring uniform surface contact with the sphere surface during clamping.

[0111] The clamping arm 51 is precisely controlled by a miniature electromagnetic drive device 52 to open and close. When the conveying system delivers the tracer sphere to the release position, the clamping arm performs a closing action under the command of the control system, firmly and gently holding the tracer sphere with appropriate clamping force to prevent it from accidentally falling off or shifting, while avoiding damage to the surface of the sphere or the generation of static electricity.

[0112] When a release command is received, the electromagnetic drive device 52 will smoothly open the clamping arm 51, ensuring that the tracer sphere enters the flow field to be measured naturally by its own gravity or the action of the ambient airflow without any additional external interference.

[0113] In addition, the clamping assembly adopts a modular design, and the corresponding clamping arm 51 assembly can be replaced according to the tracer sphere of different diameters, which improves the adaptability of the release system.

[0114] Control system:

[0115] The control system of the release device, as the core command unit of the entire device, forms a closed-loop control circuit with the aforementioned ball storage tank 2, conveying pipeline 3, and release assembly 4, realizing precise and coordinated management of multi-mode release. The control system operates through a computer platform to achieve synchronous control of each actuator.

[0116] The tracer ball release device has multiple operating modes and various component combinations, and is operated by testers through the control system.

[0117] Single-point, one-time release mode:

[0118] The release device supports a single-point, one-time release mode, which is suitable for testing needs requiring rapid acquisition of a single path trajectory. In specific implementation, the following two operating methods can be selected according to the testing scenario: First, the operator can manually release a single tracer sphere by hand, offering flexibility and rapid response; second, an automated release method is adopted, where the control system sends control signals to the fan 32 of the conveying system and the micro-electromagnetic controller 52 of the release component clamping arm 51, achieving a precise one-time release of one or more spheres at a specific moment.

[0119] Specifically, this release mode preferentially adopts a top-mounted structure, where the ball storage chamber 2 is located above the delivery port, and the delivery pipe 3 and the release port 5 are connected by an L-shaped layout with a rounded transition at the corner. This not only ensures the accuracy and reliability of single-point, one-time release, but also minimizes interference with the airflow below the test area through the L-shaped layout.

[0120] Single-point continuous release mode:

[0121] The release device supports a single-point continuous release mode, suitable for observing the stable state of airflow at a specific location. The control system commands the release component to send release commands at fixed or adjustable time intervals (0.5-20 seconds), continuously releasing the sphere from the same location to form a stable tracer trajectory.

[0122] Specifically, this release mode preferentially adopts a bottom-mounted arrangement, where the ball storage chamber 2 is located at the bottom of the conveying system, and the balls are conveyed upwards to the release point 5 via the conveying pipe 3, forming an inverted L-shaped layout with the conveying pipe 3 and the release port 5. This not only ensures continuous ball supply during long-term testing, but also minimizes the interference of the equipment on the airflow in the test area through the inverted L-shaped layout, providing a reliable guarantee for obtaining accurate and stable airflow tracer data.

[0123] Planar few-point continuous release mode:

[0124] The release device supports a continuous release mode with few points on a plane, which is suitable for systematic observation of airflow organization at small plane air outlets. In this mode, the control system can coordinate and control multiple sets of single-point continuous release devices. These devices are distributed on the same detection plane according to preset spatial coordinates, and the simultaneous or sequential continuous release of each point is achieved through unified control.

[0125] In particular, each release device has an independent ball delivery and release mechanism, and the tracer balls 1 released by each unit are distinguished by different color codes, which facilitates subsequent image recognition and trajectory analysis.

[0126] Planar multi-point release mode:

[0127] The release device supports a multi-point planar release mode, suitable for large-scale airflow field analysis. The release device features a unique design distinct from the aforementioned release ports, including a frame structure for accommodating the tracer sphere. This frame has multiple release ports arranged in an array, each with an independently controllable blocking rod. The blocking rod is slidably mounted at the release port and can move relative to the release port during testing to open or close it. When the release port is open, the tracer sphere can be released from within the frame with the airflow into the external test space for airflow tracing.

[0128] The aforementioned release device enables surface release by arranging multiple release ports according to a specific geometric pattern (including but not limited to rectangular arrays, ring arrays, etc.) to form a release plane. Each release port corresponds to an independent receiving chamber, ensuring that each tracer sphere 1 remains isolated before release to avoid mutual interference. The blocking mechanism can employ either a unified drive or an independent drive: when using a unified drive, all tracer spheres 1 can be released synchronously to form a uniform tracer sphere; when using an independent drive, step-by-step release according to a specific sequence can be achieved, thereby enabling sequential sampling of different regions of the airflow field.

[0129] This surface-release design is particularly suitable for large-scale airflow field analysis. By releasing multiple tracer spheres simultaneously, the complete distribution of the airflow field can be acquired at the same time, greatly improving testing efficiency. Furthermore, by controlling the opening sequence of the release ports in different areas, spatiotemporal information is provided for airflow pattern analysis, offering comprehensive data support for this analysis.

[0130] Example 3

[0131] This invention provides an airflow pattern analysis system based on a neutral buoyancy tracer.

[0132] This system integrates the tracer device of Embodiment 1, the multi-mode release device of Embodiment 2, and the video acquisition and analysis system into one, realizing the recording and analysis of three-dimensional airflow patterns.

[0133] The system includes the following core components:

[0134] The tracer device includes an adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere 1, the density of which can be precisely adjusted to adapt to different test environments.

[0135] Multi-mode release device, supporting multiple release modes of the tracer sphere;

[0136] And a video acquisition and analysis system specifically designed for airflow pattern analysis.

[0137] Video Acquisition and Analysis System:

[0138] The video acquisition and analysis system is a three-dimensional motion trajectory recording system used for airflow pattern analysis. The system includes a video recording unit, a video tracking unit, and a visualization analysis unit.

[0139] The video recording unit uses at least two high-definition cameras located at different angles to form a synchronous acquisition system, which is used to record the motion trajectory of a single tracer sphere or multiple tracer spheres of different colors.

[0140] The video recording system also supports multi-mode acquisition based on the fluorescence characteristics or strong infrared reflection characteristics of the tracer sphere. Through the complementarity of visible light and fluorescence imaging or infrared imaging, it significantly improves the accuracy of target recognition and three-dimensional positioning precision in complex environments.

[0141] All recording equipment is fixed with precision brackets, and its position and angle are adjustable to ensure complete coverage of the entire test area.

[0142] The video acquisition and analysis system has a spatial calibration scheme to adapt to spaces of different sizes. By placing a calibration plate of known size in the test area or selecting features or objects of known size that are clearly visible in the test site (such as the side length of the inner wall of a clean room), the calibration object is calibrated at the selected acquisition angle to establish the conversion relationship between pixel coordinates and physical space coordinates.

[0143] The video recording unit is equipped with a video tracking unit for processing and analyzing the captured image sequences. The video tracking unit uses professional image processing software to analyze the time-series video images frame by frame, automatically extracting the two-dimensional pixel coordinates of the tracer sphere. It can perform both continuous tracking throughout the entire time period and tracking within a specific time period, ensuring complete motion trajectory data can be obtained under different testing requirements.

[0144] The visualization analysis unit uses stereo vision algorithms to convert two-dimensional coordinate data acquired by dual cameras into three-dimensional spatial coordinates, enabling three-dimensional reconstruction of the motion trajectory. The system provides an interactive visualization interface, supporting operations such as arbitrary angle rotation, zooming, dynamic playback, and multi-track comparison of the three-dimensional trajectory. It can also calculate and output key parameters such as motion velocity and acceleration, providing complete quantitative data for airflow pattern analysis.

[0145] Example 4

[0146] This invention provides an airflow visualization method based on the airflow pattern analysis system of Embodiment 3, such as... Figure 12 As shown, the method includes the following steps: S1: Adjust the density of the tracer sphere using an inflation needle to achieve a neutral buoyancy state in the target test environment; S2: Select a one-time, single-point continuous, or multi-point continuous release mode according to the test requirements, and set the corresponding parameters; S3: Activate the release component to send the tracer sphere into the airflow to be tested according to the selected mode; S4: Use video acquisition and analysis to synchronously and continuously record the motion trajectory of the sphere under the action of the airflow; S5: Process and analyze the recorded image sequence through the video tracking unit to synthesize a clear and continuous airflow trajectory map.

[0147] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions will not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-mode release device for a tracer, characterized in that, include: The sphere storage compartment is used to store multiple adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer spheres and is equipped with a flow guiding structure to facilitate the orderly output of the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer spheres; The adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere is made of a flexible, sealed material, and its density can be changed by adjusting the internal gas composition and inflation volume to match the gas density of the target test environment. A conveying system, connected to the outlet of the storage tank, is used to convey an adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere from the storage tank to a predetermined release position in a controlled manner. The conveying system includes a conveying pipe with multiple microporous vents on its wall to allow some airflow to escape slowly and maintain the minimum airflow pressure required to move the sphere within the pipe. The tracer ball release assembly, located at the end of the delivery system, includes a controllable opening and closing clamping mechanism for clamping the delivered adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer ball before receiving a command, and opening to release the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer ball upon receiving a release command. The control system is communicatively connected to the ball storage bin, the conveying system, and the tracer ball release assembly. It is used to control the start and stop of the conveying system and the conveying rate, as well as the clamping and releasing actions of the tracer ball release assembly.

2. The multi-mode release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control system is configured to execute multiple release modes, which include at least: single-point one-time release mode, single-point continuous release mode, planar few-point continuous release mode, and planar multi-point release mode.

3. The multi-mode release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tracer ball release assembly includes a clamping mechanism and a release frame; The clamping mechanism includes a pair of clamping arms that are controlled to open and close by a micro electromagnetic drive device. The clamping surfaces of the clamping arms are provided with V-shaped grooves that match the curvature of the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere. The release frame is arranged in an array, with multiple release ports on the release frame. Each release port is equipped with an independently controllable blocking mechanism to realize the synchronous or sequential release of multiple adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer spheres. The control system is configured to execute a multi-point release mode on a plane, coordinating and controlling multiple release devices distributed on the same detection plane to realize the simultaneous or sequential continuous release of each point.

4. The multi-mode release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ball storage bin is connected to the conveying system in either a top-mounted or bottom-mounted configuration. In the top-mounted configuration, the ball storage bin is located above the release port and connected to the release port via an L-shaped pipe. In the bottom-mounted configuration, the ball storage bin is located below the conveying system and the balls are transported upwards to the release point via an inverted L-shaped pipe.

5. The multi-mode release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tracer device includes: Adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere, integrated regulating valve and inflation needle; The integrated control valve is sealed and fixed to an adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere. The integrated control valve includes a movable sealing plate. The movable sealing plate is closed in the normal state to seal the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere. When an inflation needle is inserted, the movable sealing plate can elastically deform to form a gas passage. An inflation needle has a needle tip with an air outlet on the side wall of the needle tip. The inflation needle is used to insert into an integrated regulating valve to fill or extract gas into the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere through a gas channel, thereby adjusting the density of the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere.

6. The multi-mode release device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The integrated control valve has a multi-layer composite structure, including at least an outer layer and an inner layer; the outer layer is sealed to an adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer ball, and the surface of the outer layer is marked with a pinhole puncture area; the inner layer is a movable sealing plate.

7. The multi-mode release device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The needle tip of the inflation needle is a blunt needle tip or a frustum-shaped flat needle; the blunt needle tip is conical with a smooth top, and the top of the frustum-shaped flat needle has a flat circular cross section; the outer shell material of the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere contains fluorescent materials, strong infrared reflective materials, or graphene composite materials.

8. An airflow pattern analysis system based on a neutral buoyancy tracer, characterized in that, include: The multi-mode release device and video acquisition and analysis system as described in any one of claims 1-7; The video acquisition and analysis system synchronously records and analyzes the motion trajectory of an adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere, enabling visualization and quantitative analysis of airflow patterns. The video acquisition and analysis system includes: The video recording unit has at least two high-definition cameras located in different spatial positions for synchronously capturing motion videos of the released adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere. The video tracking unit is configured to perform image processing on the acquired video sequence to extract the motion trajectory data of the tracer sphere; The visualization analysis unit is configured to perform three-dimensional trajectory reconstruction and airflow parameter analysis based on motion trajectory data.

9. A method for visualizing airflow based on the airflow pattern analysis system of claim 8, characterized in that, include: S1: Use an inflation needle to adjust the density of the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere to achieve a neutral buoyancy state in the target test environment; S2: Configure and execute multiple release modes according to test requirements, and set release parameters; S3: Activate the tracer ball release assembly to send the adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer ball into the airflow to be measured according to the configured release mode; S4: Using a video acquisition and analysis system, synchronously and continuously record the motion trajectory of an adjustable neutral buoyancy tracer sphere under the action of airflow; S5: The video tracking unit processes and analyzes the recorded image sequence to synthesize an airflow trajectory map.

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