Method and apparatus for maintaining airflow in a powered air purifying respirator

A method of maintaining airflow in a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) comprising:

• providing a PAPR comprising a motor, and a controller;
• receiving an ambient pressure, an inlet pressure of a blower unit of the PAPR, and an outlet pressure of the blower unit;
• calculating a motor speed necessary to generate a compliant air flow rate based on the ambient pressure, the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure;
• and implementing the motor speed, using the controller.

A system for maintaining airflow in a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) comprising:

• a central server;
• a PAPR comprising:
• a sensor signal retriever;
• a filter unit;
• a motor;
• and
• a controller that provides a motor speed algorithm to control a motor speed of the motor upon receiving, from the sensor signal retriever, a pressure drop associated with the filter unit and an ambient pressure and calculates a motor speed sufficient to maintain a compliant airflow through the PAPR and updates the motor speed to the calculated motor speed.