Cyclone Sampling Device for High-Boiling Point Substance Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sampling devices are inefficient in collecting high-boiling point substances attached to surfaces, limiting their ability to detect trace residues of explosives and drugs effectively.

Innovation Solution

A cyclindrically shaped sampling device with a cyclone chamber and gas injection orifices generates a cyclone effect to dislodge and collect samples, combined with a thermal desorption room using a semi-permeable membrane and carrier gas for efficient desorption and enrichment, allowing for wider selectivity across boiling point ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional sampling devices are used, then simple structure is maintained, but collection efficiency of high-boiling point substances is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollection efficiencyVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sampling device is divided into multiple functional modules: a cyclone separation module for particle collection, a thermal desorption module for vaporization, and a sampling probe for substance collection. Each module performs a specific function, allowing the system to efficiently handle high-boiling point substances while maintaining manageable structural complexity through functional segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs pneumatic principles through the cyclone separation mechanism, which uses rotating gas flow to separate particles from the air stream. The pneumatic system enables efficient collection of high-boiling point substance particles without requiring complex mechanical moving parts, thus improving collection efficiency while controlling device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Speed

If sampling is performed without cyclone effect, then device structure is simpler, but sample collection speed is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesample collection speedVSAvoidcyclone chamber structure
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cyclone chamber utilizes pneumatic principles to generate rotating gas flow that accelerates particle separation and transport. This pneumatic mechanism achieves high sample collection speed by leveraging gas dynamics rather than mechanical propulsion, thereby increasing speed while avoiding complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The cyclone chamber design optimizes gas flow parameters such as velocity, pressure, and rotation speed to maximize particle collection efficiency. By adjusting these physical parameters rather than increasing structural complexity, the device achieves faster sample collection speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If thermal desorption is not used, then energy consumption is lower, but detection precision of trace substances is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal desorption module utilizes phase transition by heating the collected sample to vaporize high-boiling point substances, converting them from solid/liquid phase to gas phase for detection. This phase change enables trace substance detection with high precision while using controlled heating energy rather than continuous high energy input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The system temporarily increases temperature to achieve desorption of trace substances, then returns to baseline temperature. This controlled parameter change (temperature) enables high detection precision for trace substances while minimizing overall energy consumption through brief, targeted heating rather than continuous energy input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 device achieves efficient collection and analysis of high-boiling point substances, enhancing the detection of explosives and drugs by dispersing samples into single molecules and preventing impurities, thus improving detection precision and range.

Implementation Method 1

a cyclone chamber being formed between the cylindrically outer housing and the inner housing to generate a cyclone by injecting an gas flow into the cyclone chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclone: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of gas injection orifices formed in the first inner housing end opening of the inner housing and configured to inject a gas towards a substantial center of a circular region defined by an end face of the first outer housing end opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas flow injection: Jet

Implementation Method 3

a sampling opening located at a center of the inner housing and configured to guide a gas sample, that is suctioned to the gathering and sampling device through a center of the cyclone, into the gas guiding chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3343197B1Gathering and sampling device and inspection apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 NUCTECH CO LTD
  • EP3343197B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The present invention discloses a gathering and sampling device and an inspection apparatus. A gathering and sampling device includes: a cylindrically outer housing and an inner housing disposed within the cylindrically outer housing, a cyclone chamber is formed between the cylindrically outer housing and the inner housing to generate a cyclone by injecting an gas flow into the cyclone chamber. The gathering and sampling device further comprises an outer chamber body, and a plurality of gas injection orifices formed in the first inner housing end opening of the inner housing and configured to inject a gas towards a substantial center of a circular region defined by an end face of the first outer housing end opening of the cylindrically outer housing.