High volume PM.sub.10 sampling inlet
AssigneeRegents of the University of Minnesota
InventorsVirgil A. Marple, Benjamin Y. H. Liu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sampling inlet for sampling aerosols in atmospheric air comprises an inlet housing that has an air flow and an inertial particle classification device in a series flow path from an inlet opening in the sampler to a filter which collects the material. The sampler is a classification device of the virtual impactor type, utilizing nozzles that receive the flow carrying the aerosols, and a receiver tube that is aligned with the nozzle and spaced therefrom, with a major portion of flow being diverted from the space between the nozzle and the receiver tube. The heavier particles are carried by inertia into the receiver tube and then are carried off by minor flow of fluid that passes through the receiver tubes.
Claims20
An inlet for a high volume sampler for exterior use comprising a filter member through which a standard high volume flow of at least substantially 40 cubic feet per minute passes, including an inlet housing defining a flow path to said filter;
- said inlet housing having a generally horizontally facing annular air flow inlet opening defined therein adjacent upper portions thereof;
- and
- inertial particle classification means in a series of flow path between the air flow inlet opening and the filter for classifying particles in the high volume flow by size, said inertial particle classification means comprising a virtual impactor with a cutoff for retention of particle below a selected size in the flow path through the filter.
A high volume particle sampler apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- means on the frame providing a first air flow at a desired high flow volume of at least substantially 40 cubic feet per minute;
- a filter mounted on said frame so that substantially all of said high volume flow other than a diverted portion, passes through said filter;
- and
- an inlet housing leading to said filter including an inlet opening at an end of the housing spaced from said filter, and inertial particle classification means positioned between said inlet opening and said filter, said inertial particle classification means including means for diverting the diverted portion in the range of five percent (5%) of the total flow in a path causing inertial separation of large particles from the flow prior to the time the flow passes through the filter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.