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US 2018/0100818 A1Published application
Ice nucleating particle spectrometer
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsMalcolm Stokes, Charlotte M. Beall
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing an exemplary immersion mode ice spectrometer. In order to increase sample throughput and improve accuracy of Ice Nucleating Particle (INP) freezing temperature measurement, the exemplary immersion mode ice spectrometer both increases sample cooling rates and monitors changes in optical properties of water droplets during freezing.
Claims25
A spectrometer, comprising:
- a housing located on top of a chiller unit, the chiller unit comprising:
- a cavity configured to be filled with a coolant, and
- a coil positioned to be submerged in presence of the coolant;
- a hose to supply cold gas from the coil to a well area in the housing, the hose having a first end and the second end, wherein the first end is coupled to one end of the coil and the second end is coupled to a side of the housing;
- one or more metal blocks located inside the cavity of the chiller unit and positioned to be partially immersed in the coolant, wherein each metal block has a top surface with a plurality of indentations;
- a thermistor located in one of the one or more metal blocks to measure temperature of a region surrounding the one or more metal blocks;
- one or more sample trays located on top of the one or more metal blocks, wherein each sample tray comprises a plurality of wells that extend downwards from a bottom of each sample tray and that fit within the plurality of indentations of the one or more metal blocks;
- a lid to cover the plurality of wells to insulate air above the plurality of wells from room temperature air;
- a camera located on a top surface of the housing to capture images of samples located in the plurality of wells;
- a plurality of light sources located on the housing to provide a stable lighting environment in the housing;
- and
- a computing device comprising a processor and a memory including instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions upon execution by the processor configure the computing device to:
- program the chiller unit to reach a certain end temperature to freeze samples located in the plurality of wells;
- and
- record, using the camera, an intensity of light reflected from the samples located in the plurality of wells at least during the temperature of the chiller unit is adjusted.
12 more elements
A method for operating a spectrometer, comprising:
- cooling nitrogen gas in a chiller unit, wherein the chiller unit including a coolant and a coil submerged in the coolant, and the coil is coupled to and receives dry nitrogen from an external supply;
- supplying the cooled nitrogen gas to a well region that includes one or more sample trays located on top of one or more blocks, wherein each sample tray comprises a plurality of wells;
- recording, using a camera, a first mean intensity of light reflected from one or more samples in one or more wells at a first time value;
- recording, using the camera, a second mean intensity of light reflected from the one or more samples in the one or more wells at a second time value, wherein the second time value logically comes after the first time value;
- and
- recording a time, a freezing temperature measured using a thermistor, and a location of the one or more wells by determining for each sample that an absolute value of a difference between the first mean intensity and the second mean intensity is greater than a predetermined threshold.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.