Low-Pressure Aerosol Test Chamber with Vacuum Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for testing aerosol treatment devices pose a risk of contamination to the external environment due to the dispersion of aerosols, especially when using similar but non-active aerosols, which can lead to inaccurate results for technologies employing physical or chemical systems.
Innovation Solution
A sealed chamber system connected to the aerosol treatment device, equipped with a vacuum capsule and aerosol-inactivating agent, which maintains a pressure lower than the external environment to contain aerosols and neutralize them safely, using differential pressure monitoring and a fan for circulation and sampling, with airtight capsules for storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If aerosol treatment devices are tested with similar but non-active aerosols, then the testing process is simplified and safer, but the test results become inaccurate for physical or chemical systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary chamber that acts as a mediator between the aerosol generation source and the environment. This sealed chamber contains the actual pathogenic aerosols during testing, allowing accurate evaluation of treatment effectiveness while preventing release into the external environment. The chamber serves as a controlled intermediate space where both accurate testing and safety are achieved simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If aerosols are released into the environment for testing, then the testing process is straightforward, but the external environment becomes contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system is segmented into distinct functional zones: an aerosol generation area, a treatment device testing area, and a containment chamber. This segmentation allows aerosols to be generated and tested in a controlled manner while the containment chamber acts as a barrier preventing environmental release. Each segment serves a specific function, making the overall system both simple to operate and safe for the environment.
3Ease of operation
If the chamber is opened to remove samples, then sample access is enabled, but aerosols may escape to the external environment
Solution Approach 1:
Before the chamber is opened for sample removal, the system performs preliminary inactivation of aerosols using UV radiation or chemical agents. This preliminary action ensures that any aerosols present in the chamber are neutralized before the chamber opening, preventing potential environmental release. The inactivation process is completed before sample extraction, allowing safe access while maintaining containment integrity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively tests aerosol treatment devices while minimizing external contamination, ensuring accurate results by containing and inactivating aerosols within the chamber, and detecting any leaks to prevent environmental exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum capsule (8) inside the chamber with an opening and closing valve (9)... to reduce the internal pressure below atmospheric pressure
Implementation Method 2
an internal and external differential pressure gauge (10)... Both pressures are monitored to detect leakage
Implementation Method 3
an aerosol-inactivating agent diffuser for aerosols dispersed inside the chamber (12)... This is done by diffusing a proven inactivating agent, usually a gaseous chemical
Implementation Method 4
an optional fan (11) that moves the air through the chamber through the treatment device (11)
Implementation Method 5
airtight capsules (7) to store the aerosol samples... The samples are placed in airtight capsules not to be affected by the aerosol-inactivating agent
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Low-pressure chamber for testing an aerosol treatment device. A chamber for testing the effectiveness of an aerosol treatment device, minimising the risk of contamination of the external environment by aerosols. The chamber is connected to the device under test as a sealed assembly, inside which aerosol samples are released and collected. It is equipped with a vacuum capsule to operate at a pressure lower than that of the external environment. Both pressures are monitored to detect leakage, in which case an aerosol-inactivating agent is dispersed inside the chamber. The same inactivating agent is used prior to the removal of the samples from the chamber, which are placed in airtight capsules not to be affected.