Ion Source Using Reduced Pressure Chamber for Aerosol Ionization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ion sources for generating elemental ions from aerosol particles are either inefficient and unreliable or require complex and expensive equipment, making them unsuitable for precise and flexible analysis, especially in on-line and real-time monitoring applications or field deployments.
Innovation Solution
An ion source with a reduced pressure chamber maintaining a pressure range of 0.01 mbar to 100 mbar, coupled with a flow restricting device and a laser to induce a plasma for atomizing and ionizing aerosol particles, allowing for reliable and precise generation of elemental ions and ionized metal oxides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high vacuum or ultra-high vacuum equipment is used for atomization and ionization of aerosol particles, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from high vacuum (10^-7 mbar) or ultra-high vacuum to a reduced pressure range of 0.01-100 mbar. This parameter change allows plasma to be sustained and aerosol particles to be effectively atomized and ionized without requiring complex high vacuum equipment, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reduced pressure chamber as an intermediary environment between atmospheric pressure and high vacuum. This intermediate pressure zone enables plasma generation and aerosol processing without needing the full complexity of high vacuum systems, while still achieving sufficient measurement precision
2Device complexity
If atmospheric pressure ionization is used, then device complexity is reduced, but atomization and ionization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pressure parameter to a specific reduced range (0.01-100 mbar) that balances equipment simplicity with atomization and ionization efficiency. At this reduced pressure, plasma can be sustained effectively for particle processing while avoiding the need for complex atmospheric pressure ionization systems
3Measurement precision
If high vacuum systems are used for aerosol particle analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but gas consumption and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the pressure parameter from high vacuum to a moderate reduced pressure range (0.01-100 mbar), which significantly decreases the amount of vacuum pumping gas required while maintaining sufficient measurement precision for elemental composition 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 solution enables reproducible and efficient atomization and ionization of aerosol particles, providing high precision and reliability in elemental composition analysis without the need for high vacuum equipment, reducing equipment complexity and gas consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a laser for inducing in a plasma region in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber a plasma in the dispersion for atomising and ionising the aerosol particles to elemental ions and possible ionised metal oxides
Implementation Method 2
inducing in a plasma region in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber a plasma in the dispersion
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an ion source (50) for generating elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides from aerosol particles, comprising: a reduced pressure chamber (61) having an inside; an inlet (56) and a flow restricting device (60) for inserting the aerosol particles in a dispersion comprising the aerosol particles dispersed in a gas, in particular in air, into the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61), the inlet (60) fluidly coupling an outside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) via the flow restricting device (60) with the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (60); a laser (62) for inducing in a plasma region (63) in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) a plasma in the dispersion for atomizing and ionizing the aerosol particles to elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides; wherein the reduced pressure chamber (61) is adapted for achieving and maintaining in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) a pressure in a range from 0.01 mbar to 100 mbar. The invention further relates to a method for generating elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides from aerosol particles, comprising the steps of inserting aerosol particles in a dispersion comprising the aerosol particles dispersed in a gas, in particular in air, through an inlet (56) via a flow restricting device (60) into an inside of a reduced pressure chamber (61), while maintaining in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) a pressure in a range from 0.01 mbar to 100 mbar, preferably from 0.1 mbar to 100 mbar or from 1 mbar to 100 mbar, particular preferably from 0.1 mbar to 50 mbar or from 1 mbar to 50 mbar, most preferably from 0.1 mbar to 40 mbar or from 1 mbar to 40 mbar; and inducing with a laser (62) in a plasma region (63) in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) a plasma in the dispersion for atomizing and ionizing the aerosol particles to elemental ions and/or ionized metal oxides, wherein the laser (62) is adapted for inducing in the plasma region (63) in the inside of the reduced pressure chamber (61) the plasma in the gas of the dispersion for atomizing and ionizing the aerosol particles to elemental ions.