Tracer detection system and method for characterizing effectiveness of air removal in an aerosol zone

A method comprising:

• during execution of a first tracer test in an aerosol zone within a first test period:
• during a first dispense period, releasing a first tracer load into ambient air in an aerosol zone via a dispenser transiently arranged in a target location in the aerosol zone, the first tracer load comprising a first concentration of aerosol tracer particles and a second concentration of tracer gas;
• recording a first timeseries of aerosol data via a first sensor transiently arranged in a first unit location in the aerosol zone, the first timeseries of aerosol data representing presence of aerosol particles in air at the first sensor during the test period;
• and
• recording a second timeseries of gas data via a second sensor transiently arranged in a second unit location in the aerosol zone, the second timeseries of gas data representing presence of tracer gas in air at the second sensor during the test period;
• based on the first timeseries of aerosol data and the first concentration, deriving an aerosol tracer concentration curve representing timeseries concentrations of aerosol tracer particles in the aerosol zone during the test period;
• based on characteristics of the aerosol concentration curve, interpreting a first airflow value representative of airborne particle removal from the aerosol zone;
• based on the second timeseries of gas data and the second concentration, deriving a gas tracer concentration curve representing timeseries concentrations of tracer gas in the aerosol zone during the test period;
• and
• based on characteristics of the gas concentration curve, interpreting a second airflow value representative of gas removal from the aerosol zone.

A system comprising:

• a dispenser transiently installed in a dispenser location in an aerosol zone and comprising:
• a reservoir containing:
• nonvolatile tracers in solution;
• and
• volatile tracers in solution;
• an actuator configured to release a tracer test load from the reservoir and into the aerosol zone, the tracer test load comprising a first concentration of aerosol tracers and a second concentration of a tracer gas;
• and
• a first power module configured to supply power to the actuator;
• and
• a first sensor unit arranged in a first unit location in the aerosol zone and comprising:
• a first set of sensors comprising:
• a particle sensor configured to signal presence of aerosol particles in air at the first unit location;
• and
• a gas sensor configured to signal presence of the tracer gas in air at the first unit location;
• a sensor communication module;
• a controller configured to:
• read a first timeseries of signals from the particle sensor responsive to a command received by the sensor communication module;
• read a second timeseries of signals from the gas sensor responsive to the command;
• interpret timeseries amounts of aerosol particles in air flowing through the first unit location based on the first timeseries of signals;
• and
• interpret timeseries amounts of the tracer gas in air flowing through the first unit location based on the second timeseries of signals;
• and
• a second power module configured to supply power to the controller and the first set of sensors.