Particle concentrator

Details Particle concentrator Particle concentrator

2003-02-28

2004-12-07

Chiesa, Richard L. (Department: 1724)

Gas separation: processes

Difference in molecular velocity, density, or momentum of...

Passing gases through nozzle

C055S462000, C095S070000, C095S078000, C095S267000, C096S055000, C096S060000, C096S096000, C209S127100, C209S131000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06827761

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates sampling of pollutants such as for sampling gasoline and diesel emissions of engines or of ambient air. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus to concentrate fine particles in a fluid flow, for collection, detection and/or measurement thereof, and in particular though not exclusively to the concentration of and collection of fine particulate material for chemical characterization of vehicle emissions or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For quality data to be obtained from chemical analysis of samples a significant amount of material is needed, ideally 50-100 mg. Using current sampling practices, a single atmospheric aerosol sample yields a sample size of about 300 &mgr;g, typical diesel emission samples are about 2 mg and typical light duty gasoline emissions samples are about 20 &mgr;g.
There are several approaches that can be taken for increasing the amount of material collected for analysis.
High volume sampling using large filters (8″×10″) may lead to high blanks or background concentrations due to the large amount of filter media. Using smaller filters at the same high flow rate requires a greater pressure drop across the filter and a corresponding loss of volatile material from the sample.
Multiple filters can be used to collect samples at a lower flow rate but this offers the same risk of high blanks or background concentrations as high volume sampling. Multiple samples can be collected simultaneously, requiring multiple sets of sampling apparatus. If multiple samples are collected sequentially, then the sampled gas must be of a consistent composition, necessitating multiple repeats of a vehicle test or an atmosphere that is not changing.
Particle concentrators such as virtual impact-type concentrators have been used in the past for inhalation exposure studies.
1. Sioutas et al. in Environmental Health Perspectives, 103, 2, 172-177, 1995
2. Sioutas et al. in Inhalation Toxicology, 7, 633-644, 1995
3. Sioutas et al. in J. Aerosol Sci., 28, 6, 1057-1071, 1977
These devices can achieve a 10-50 fold increase in particle concentration without changing the composition of the matrix gas. There are two particle size cut-offs on these concentrators. The upper size limit is imposed by a pre-selection stage that allows only particles of a given size or smaller to pass into the concentrator. The lower size limit is imposed by the design constraints of the concentrator itself: the aerodynamics and geometry of the virtual impactors used in the particle concentrator impose the lower size limit. Typically, the upper size cut is 10 &mgr;m to 2.5 &mgr;m and the lower size cut is 0.1 to 0.15 &mgr;m diameter. Some work has been done in collecting samples for chemical analysis using these concentrators.
The particle concentrators used for inhalation studies are designed specifically for that purpose and are based on the observation that 90% or more of the mass of inhalable ambient aerosol is accounted for by particles in the range of 0.1 to 2.5 &mgr;m diameter. The situation is different for mobile source emissions samples where most of the mass is accounted for by particles in the range of 0.05 to 0.2 &mgr;m diameter and most particles are less than 0.1 &mgr;m in diameter.
Several approaches have been used successfully for collecting samples of smaller particles with impactors. The MOUDI™ and ELPI™ devices are cascade impactors which rely on a very large pressure drop across the device to obtain mass distribution information on particles between 0.03 to 10 &mgr;m diameter. These devices operate at relatively low sampling rates so collection of sufficient material for chemical analysis requires either multiple samples or long duration sampling. The large pressure drop also results in loss of volatile material from the sample.
The ELPI instrument charges particles and passes the sample stream containing the charged particles through a cascade impactor. As the particles impact on the stage of the impactor corresponding to their size, the electric current produced is measured, giving real time particle size distribution data on the sample stream. The lowest stage of the ELPI system detects particles down to 0.03 &mgr;m diameter and smaller. However, this arrangement does not rely on electrostatics for separation.
Considerable prior art exists in which electrostatic separation is used for various purposes. A typical example is Altman et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,494, to a separator for use in cleansing factory discharges. The apparatus comprises a cyclonic type separator with an electrostatic charge imparted to the particles to enhance the cyclonic effect.
Additional prior art exists in which a “vertical virtual impactor”type of separation occurs. A typical example is Gondar U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,691, to a particulate collection system to purify air in the vicinity of a power tool. Air is drawn into a tube thereby forming a localized vacuum-induced aerodynamic fluid flow in the vicinity of the work piece. Particles are then precipitated by electrostatic forces.
Electrostatic separation arrangements are also known. A commercial particle sizing instrument using this approach is sold by TSI Incorporated—SMPS™.
The SMPS instrument pass particles with a Boltzan neutral charge distribution through a varying electric field. Only particles with a specific charge to mass ratio successfully traverse the electric field to be collected at the detector. This instrument also gives particle size distribution information, but not in real time as it takes approximately one minute to complete a size-range scan. The smallest size of particles that this instrument can measure is 0.007 &mgr;m diameter, approaching the division between molecule and particle.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an improved particle concentrator suitable for sampling of vehicle emissions and ambient air (or atmospheric aerosols). It is a further object to permit efficient sampling via a high concentration effect, while also permitting retention of even small particles.
The present invention provides for the combination of two known arrangements to provide an improved and more effective concentration and collection of fine particulate material. The invention relates to the combination of charging of particles and focussing by use of electric fields in combination with aerodynamics to achieve particle concentration in the gas flow which has not been done previously. The key difference is that the concentrated particles remain suspended in a gas flow and are not electrostatically collected or removed from the gas flow.
The various features of the present invention are:
the use of an aerodynamic particle concentrator to achieve concentration of particles in a gas stream;
the charging of the particles before they enter the particle concentrator; and
the use of electric fields to draw the smallest particles (0.30 &mgr;m and smaller, and more preferably, 0.15 &mgr;m and smaller), which would otherwise escape concentration by the aerodynamic concentrator, into the concentrated flow.
A further feature is the potential decrease in particle loss to the walls due to collisions as the particles can be focussed away from the surfaces of the concentrator.
Various advantages occur from the invention, as follows:
The concentrator offers reductions in sampling time needed for collection of sufficient material for chemical analysis, thus reducing the cost of sample collection (reducing replicate sample collection or repeating of test sequences).
The concentrator offers the possibility of increased temporal or diurnal resolution of the analysis of samples collected of atmospheric aerosols. Currently, sufficient material is collected in 24 hours for some analyses. By increasing the amount of material collected on a single filter by a factor of 25 to 35, the temporal resolution could be improved at least hourly, allowing diurnal changes in the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols to be studied.
Since the operation of the particle

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