Aerosol concentration sensor calibration device
AssigneeKidde Technologies, Inc.
InventorsEli Baldwin, James Varnell, Saul Salas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aerosol concentration sensor calibration device includes a mixing column, a sensor, and a collection vessel. The mixing column extends in a vertical orientation between an inlet at a bottom of the mixing column and an outlet at a top of the mixing column, the mixing column configured to receive a mixture of a powder and a compressed gas at the inlet. The sensor is disposed in the mixing column and configured to measure the concentration of the powder in the mixing column. The collection vessel has an inlet fluidly coupled to the outlet of the mixing column. The collection vessel is configured to collect the powder received from the mixing column.
Claims19
An aerosol concentration sensor calibration device comprising:
- a mixing column extending in a vertical orientation with respect to gravity from an inlet at a bottom of the mixing column and an outlet at a top of the mixing column, the mixing column configured to receive a mixture of a powder and a flow of compressed gas at the inlet, wherein the powder is aerosolized in the flow of compressed gas;
- a sensor disposed in the mixing column adjacent to the outlet of the mixing column and configured to measure an aerosolized concentration of the powder within the flow of the compressed gas, in the mixing column;
- and
- a collection vessel having an inlet fluidly coupled to the outlet of the mixing column, the collection vessel configured to collect the powder exiting the mixing column at the outlet;
- wherein the sensor is further configured to be adjusted as needed to compensate for any difference between the aerosolized concentration of the powder measured by the sensor and an average aerosolized concentration of the powder calculated based on a weight of powder collected in the collection vessel after delivery of the powder and the flow of compressed gas to the mixing column is terminated.
A method of calibrating an aerosol concentration sensor device, the method comprising:
- delivering a mixture of a powder and a compressed gas to a mixing column, the mixing column extending in a vertical orientation with respect to gravity between an inlet at a bottom of the mixing column and an outlet at a top of the mixing column, such that the powder and the compressed gas flow upward through the mixing column;
- aerosolizing the powder within the compressed gas flow in the mixing column;
- measuring, via a sensor disposed proximate an outlet of the mixing column, an aerosolized concentration of the powder in the mixing column;
- collecting the powder in a collection vessel fluidly coupled to the outlet of the mixing column;
- terminating delivery of the mixture of the powder and the compressed gas to the mixing column;
- calculating an average aerosolized concentration of the powder in the mixing column based on a measured weight of the collected powder;
- comparing the average aerosolized concentration of the powder in the mixing column based on the measured weight of the collected powder to the aerosolized concentration of the powder measured by the sensor;
- and
- adjusting the concentration sensor as needed to compensate for any difference between the average aerosolized concentration of the powder in the mixing column based on the measured weight of the collected powder and the aerosolized concentration of the powder measured by the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.