Mixing Chamber Apparatus for High-Volume Vapor Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vapor screening systems for detecting contraband materials face challenges due to low vapor pressure of contraband materials, adsorption onto container surfaces, and the lack of commercial off-the-shelf vapor generators capable of high flow rates, making it difficult to achieve effective vapor concentration for identification.
Innovation Solution
A mixing chamber apparatus with an inlet manifold, outlet manifold, and a tubing manifold that introduces clean air to mix with vapor output from a vapor generator, enhancing vapor concentration and flow rate through turbulent airflow created by strategically placed holes and optional baffles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high-volume sampling is used to detect contraband materials, then the sampling volume increases, but the vapor concentration decreases due to low vapor pressure and adsorption onto surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary vapor generation and concentration in a controlled chamber before the actual sampling process. The vapor generator heats contraband materials to produce vapor, and the mixing chamber pre-mixes this vapor with clean air to create a concentrated sample stream that is then delivered to the detection system, ensuring sufficient vapor concentration is achieved before analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
Clean air is introduced as an intermediary substance to carry the vapor from the generation chamber through the mixing chamber to the sampling outlet. This clean air stream picks up the vapor, transports it without loss, and delivers it to the detection system, preventing adsorption onto chamber surfaces while maintaining vapor concentration.
2Measurement precision
If vapor concentration is increased for detection, then detection sensitivity improves, but the flow rate decreases, limiting throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters of the vapor stream by controlling temperature, pressure, and composition in the mixing chamber. By adjusting the ratio of clean air to vapor, the system can optimize both concentration and flow rate simultaneously, achieving high detection sensitivity while maintaining high throughput capable of processing multiple containers per hour.
3Quantity of substance
If clean air is introduced to mix with vapor, then vapor concentration and flow rate increase, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing chamber is designed to perform multiple functions: it mixes vapor with clean air, controls flow rates, regulates concentration, and directs the sample stream to the detection system. This multi-functional design consolidates what could be multiple separate components into a single integrated chamber, reducing overall system complexity while achieving the desired vapor concentration and flow rate enhancement.
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 mixing chamber apparatus effectively increases vapor concentration and flow rate, facilitating the detection of contraband materials by introducing clean air to mix with vapor, overcoming the limitations of low vapor pressure and adsorption issues, and providing a suitable solution for high-volume sampling systems.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing vapor concentration and flow rate through turbulent airflow created by strategically placed holes
Implementation Method 2
A mixing chamber apparatus with an inlet manifold, outlet manifold, and a tubing manifold that introduces clean air to mix with vapor output from a vapor generator
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a mixing chamber apparatus suitable for high-volume sampling (HVS) application. The mixing chamber apparatus includes, among other elements, inlet and outlet manifolds, a mixing chamber, and a tubing manifold for the introduction of clean, turbulent air into the mixing chamber. The inlet manifold defines a plurality of vapor ports that can be in fluid communication with one or more vapor sources to be sampled and mixed within the mixing chamber. Also described herein is a baffled mixing system that can be used alone or in combination with the disclosed mixing chamber apparatus.