Programmable logic controller-based system and user interface for air sampling in controlled environments
AssigneeVeltek Associates, Inc.
InventorNathan G. Kocher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for sampling air at multiple locations in a controlled environment. The system and method includes automatic adjustment of mass flow rates and duration of vacuum connections (either via time elapsed or indirectly by volume) based on rates set by an operator. Additionally, the system and method enables users to monitor and control aspects of the system via network-connected devices. Additionally, the system enable a vacuum pump to be disconnected from power in response to a physical emergency button, a software-based emergency stop button available on network connected devices, and an automatic power disconnection in response to an abnormal mass flow reading that could potentially impact the vacuum pump.
Claims20
A system for sampling air at multiple locations in a controlled environment comprising:
- a plurality of air sampling devices, each configured to draw a volume of air from within a controlled environment;
- a plurality of vacuum connections, each of the plurality of vacuum connections configured to receive the volume of air from one of the plurality of air sampling devices;
- a vacuum pump, outside of the controlled environment, configured to draw each volume of air from each of the plurality of air sampling devices via the plurality of vacuum connections;
- a plurality of flow sensors, each of the plurality of flow sensors configured to sense a mass flow rate of the volume of air received by one of the vacuum connections;
- a graphical user interface that provides functionality for a user to specify one or more setpoints indicative of a desired mass flow rate at each of a plurality of the air sampling devices;
- a plurality of flow control valves, each of the plurality of flow control valves configured to initiate an air sampling cycle at one of the air sampling devices and control the mass flow rate of the volume of air received by the corresponding vacuum connection in response to the desired mass flow rate specified by the user via the graphical user interface.
A method for sampling air at multiple locations in a controlled environment, the method comprising:
- drawing volumes of air, by a vacuum pump outside a controlled environment, from a plurality of air sampling devices within the controlled environment, via a plurality of vacuum connections;
- receiving, by the plurality of vacuum connections, the volumes of air from each of the plurality of air sampling devices;
- sensing, by a plurality of flow sensors, the mass flow rates of the volumes of air received by each of the vacuum connections;
- providing a graphical user interface for display on a computing device;
- receiving, from a user via the graphical user interface, one or more setpoints indicative of a desired mass flow rate at each of a plurality of the air sampling devices;
- initiating an air sampling cycle at one of the air sampling devices;
- and
- controlling, by one of a plurality of flow control valves, the mass flow rate of the volume of air received by the corresponding vacuum connection in response to the desired mass flow rate specified by the user via the graphical user interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.