Apparatus and method for measuring odours

An apparatus for measuring odours comprising:

• a measuring chamber;
• an intake ducting having an inlet end, in communication with the outside environment, and an outlet end, in connection with the measuring chamber;
• a plurality of sensors, positioned inside the measuring chamber and configured for measuring olfactory properties of a gas;
• a control unit designed for processing signals coming from the sensors and providing a parameter representing a concentration of the odours measured in the gas,
• a suction device configured to circulate the gas in the measuring chamber, the suction device generating an intake flow of ambient air flowing through the intake ducting from the inlet end to the outlet end;
• a cleaning device, configured for cleaning the intake duct and the measuring chamber of olfactory residue, in order to restore the characteristics of the sensors following a measurement, and configured for generating a flow of ozone inside the intake duct and the measuring chamber,
• wherein the cleaning device comprises an ozone generator positioned within the apparatus, the ozone generator including a body, a cathode and an anode, the cathode and the anode being housed in the body, wherein the body has an inlet hole and an outlet hole, which are both in fluid communication with the intake ducting, so that the suction device circulates the flow of ozone produced by the ozone generator, wherein the intake ducting includes a first branch, extending from the inlet end of the intake ducting to the inlet hole of the body, and a second branch, extending from the outlet hole of the body to the outlet end of the intake ducting, so that the ozone generator receives ambient air from the outside environment through the inlet hole of the body,
• wherein the control unit is configured for controlling both the suction device and the ozone generator, as a function of the concentration of the odours measured in the gas, so that a flow including the intake flow of ambient air sucked from the outside environment through the inlet hole and the flow of ozone generated by the ozone generator is provided to flush the sensors until resetting thereof,
• wherein the ozone generator is arranged in the intake ducting between the inlet end open to the outside environment and the measuring chamber, the suction device being arranged downstream of the measuring chamber,
• wherein the control unit is programmed for activating the ozone generator and the suction device, upon flushing the sensors, and for deactivating the ozone generator and the suction device, upon sensing the resetting of the sensors.