Fluid Particle Sensor Triggering Composition Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing field portable microscopes used for monitoring air conditions struggle to reliably predict when a statistically relevant number of airborne particles have accumulated, leading to inaccurate or incomplete characterization of air composition due to time-based activation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a fluid sensor to monitor signal pulses from particles flowing through it, generating a control signal when particle criteria are met, which powers a fluid composition sensor to capture data and generate particle profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If time-based activation is used to monitor air composition, then the device operates at regular intervals, but it cannot reliably predict when a statistically relevant number of particles have accumulated
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a fluid sensor to continuously monitor signal pulses from particles and provides feedback on particle accumulation in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows the system to determine when a statistically relevant number of particles have accumulated, replacing the unreliable time-based activation with a reliable particle-count-based triggering mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical time-based activation system with an optical sensing system that detects particle presence through light scattering or absorption. The fluid sensor uses optical principles to generate signal pulses when particles pass through the monitoring zone, enabling reliable detection without mechanical timing mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If the fluid composition sensor operates continuously to capture particle data, then accurate air composition characterization is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid composition sensor operates periodically rather than continuously, being activated only when the fluid sensor detects that a statistically relevant number of particles have accumulated. This periodic operation based on particle accumulation thresholds maintains measurement accuracy while significantly reducing energy consumption during periods of low particle activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the particle detection signals from the fluid sensor to automatically trigger the fluid composition sensor when needed. The fluid sensor essentially services the activation of the more energy-intensive composition sensor, eliminating the need for continuous operation or external timing control.
3Speed
If the fluid sensor monitors signal pulses continuously to detect particle criteria, then near-real-time monitoring is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into two functional parts: a simple fluid sensor that continuously monitors particle presence and generates signal pulses, and a fluid composition sensor that performs detailed analysis only when triggered. This segmentation allows near-real-time detection while keeping the overall system complexity manageable by dividing functions between simple continuous monitoring and complex periodic analysis.
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
This approach allows for continuous, near-real-time monitoring of fluid particle composition with reduced energy consumption and improved reliability, ensuring accurate characterization of air composition without the limitations of time-based activation.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring, via a fluid sensor, signal pulses received by the fluid sensor based upon the presence of one or more particles carried by fluid flowing through the fluid sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A flow device, method, and system are provided for determining the fluid particle composition. An example flow device includes a fluid sensor configured to monitor at least one particle characteristic of fluid flowing through the fluid sensor. The example flow device also includes at least one processor configured to, upon determining the at least one particle characteristic satisfies a particle criteria, generate a control signal for an external device. The example flow device also includes a fluid composition sensor configured to be powered based on the control signal and further configured to capture data relating to the fluid particle composition. The example flow device is also configured to generate one or more particle profiles of at least one component of the fluid based on the data captured by the fluid composition sensor.