Valveless Handheld Aerosol Sampling Head with Dynamic Dilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held sampling heads for aerosols face challenges in achieving high dilution factors without clogging and require complex valve systems, limiting their usability and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held sampling head with a dilution unit featuring movable disk-shaped elements that allow for relative movement between sample and dilution air channels, eliminating the need for valves and enabling high dilution factors through sample volume introduction into dilution air, along with a space-saving design and heating to prevent condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If valve systems are used to control sample and dilution air flow, then dilution factors can be adjusted, but valve clogging occurs rapidly limiting reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the valve component from the system entirely. Instead of using valves to control flow between sample and dilution air, the patent employs a valveless dilution unit where a sample volume is introduced into a larger dilution air volume through a receiving space, achieving dilution without any moving parts that could clog or fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving space acts as an intermediary chamber that receives a defined sample volume and then allows dilution air to mix with it. This intermediary space enables the dilution process without requiring direct valve control between the sample and dilution air streams, thereby eliminating clogging issues while maintaining reliable operation.
2Quantity of substance
If high dilution factors are achieved through large dilution air streams, then dilution effectiveness increases, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs dynamic control of the receiving space position, which can be moved between a sample position (connected to sample inlet) and a dilution position (connected to dilution air inlet). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same compact chamber to serve multiple functions, achieving high dilution factors without requiring proportionally large device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving space is nested within the dilution unit structure, allowing it to be efficiently utilized. The receiving space can be repeatedly filled with sample volume and then diluted with dilution air in a compact, integrated arrangement, maximizing the dilution effect within a small overall device volume.
3Adaptability or versatility
If movable elements are introduced to enable dilution, then dilution function is achieved, but mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving space is designed to be movable between sample and dilution positions, providing dynamic adaptability. This single movable element enables the system to switch between sampling and dilution modes, achieving versatility without introducing complex mechanical systems with multiple moving parts.
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 solution allows for high dilution factors without valve clogging, provides a versatile and easy-to-handle sampling head suitable for various applications, and ensures accurate aerosol characterization by preventing condensation and maintaining gas-tight contact.
Implementation Method 1
the first element and the second element are in flat contact with one another via their respective contact faces
Implementation Method 2
provision can be made that a heating device is integrated for heating the dilution unit
Data Source
AI summary
In a sampling head (1) of an analysis arrangement (31), provision is made that a sample stream delivered via a sampling line (2) and a dilution air stream delivered through a dilution air inlet (4) are mixed together in a dilution unit (3) in such a way that a volumetric quantity entrained in at least one receiving space moved along by a movable element (8) between the sampling stream and the dilution air stream are exchanged with each other, wherein the analysis arrangement (31) has a gas analyzer (35) for the analysis of the slightly diluted sample stream and a particle determination unit (32) for the analysis of the enriched dilution air stream.