Compressed Gas Microbial Test Unit Decompression Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is currently no standard method to evaluate the microbial content of compressed gas used in the food industry, posing a challenge for regulatory compliance and ensuring food safety.
Innovation Solution
A microbial test unit is designed to detect microbes in compressed gas, featuring a decompression region and a sampling region with a growth medium substrate, where compressed gas is decompressed and then directed onto the substrate for microbial collection, allowing for direct testing of compressed gas and improving microbial recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If compressed gas is directly introduced into a sampling unit, then microbial collection efficiency is improved, but the unit requires decompression capability which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the decompression chamber and sampling chamber into a single integrated unit with a unified housing. The decompression region and sampling region are spatially separated within the same housing structure, eliminating the need for separate decompression and sampling devices. This merging approach maintains microbial detection accuracy while reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal cavity is segmented into distinct functional regions: a decompression region for pressure reduction and a sampling region for microbial collection, separated by a plate. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining a compact overall structure, balancing detection accuracy with device simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If a decompression chamber is used before sampling, then microbial recovery is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The decompression chamber and sampling chamber are merged into a single housing structure with shared walls and a common exterior envelope. The decompression region and sampling region occupy different spatial zones within the same physical housing, reducing the total volume required compared to separate devices while maintaining effective microbial recovery through the decompression plate mechanism.
3Loss of time
If compressed gas flows directly over the growth substrate, then sampling time is reduced, but microbial collection efficiency decreases due to high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into two sequential stages: first, the decompression region where high-pressure gas is reduced to atmospheric pressure by the plate; second, the sampling region where decompressed gas flows over the growth substrate. This segmentation ensures both rapid sampling and efficient microbial collection by optimizing conditions for each stage separately.
Solution Approach 2:
Decompression of the compressed gas is performed as a preliminary action before the gas reaches the growth substrate. The plate in the decompression region reduces gas pressure in advance, ensuring that when the gas flows over the substrate in the sampling region, microbes are effectively deposited without the harmful effects of high pressure, maintaining both speed and efficiency.
4Ease of operation
If the unit is designed for portability without power source, then ease of operation in field is improved, but the ability to control gas flow is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The unit is designed to operate autonomously using the kinetic energy and pressure of the incoming compressed gas itself to drive the decompression and sampling processes. The system requires no external power source or active control mechanisms, making it highly portable and easy to operate in field conditions. The gas flow control is achieved passively through the decompression plate geometry and housing design, maintaining adaptability without requiring electrical systems.
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
The microbial test unit effectively collects and detects microbes in compressed gas, providing a portable, power-free solution for field testing and improving microbial recovery compared to existing commercial air sampling units, with demonstrated superior performance in experimental comparisons.
Implementation Method 1
the plate is configured to direct the compressed gas incident on the plate radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 2
compressed gas entering the decompressing region is incident on the plate for effectuating decompression of the gas
Implementation Method 3
A gap is formed between the first stepped portion and the plate, the gap formed between the first stepped portion and the plate forming a passageway between the decompression region and the sampling region through which the decompressed gas passes
Implementation Method 4
the growth medium substrate is positioned such that the decompressed gas passing into the sampling region is incident on the growth medium substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a microbial test unit for detecting microbes in a compressed gas. The microbial test unit includes a decompression region and a sampling region in fluid communication with the decompression region and separated from the decompression region by a plate. The decompression region and the sampling region define a flow path. An inlet communicates with the decompression region such that compressed gas entering the decompressing region is incident on the plate for effectuating decompression of the gas prior to the gas passing into the sampling region. The microbial test unit may be used in conjunction with a growth medium substrate to form a microbial test system. The microbial test unit provides the ability to test compressed gas directly input to the unit due to positive pressure from the compressed gas pushing the microbes onto the microbial growth substrate.