Methods and apparatus for detecting particles entrained in fluids
AssigneeThe University of British Columbia
InventorsWinnie Chu-Hui Chu, Allison Schaap, Boris Stoeber
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for size-specific detection of particles entrained in fluids are provided. A particle size selector separates particles entrained in a sample fluid stream using a curved channel. Shroud fluid streams are interposed between the sample fluid stream and walls of the channel. Centrifugal forces arising from fluid flow through the curved channel separate differently-sized particles into different transverse sections of the channel. A detector downstream from the particle size selector specifically detects particles in one or more transverse sections of the channel.
Claims59
Size-specific aerosol detection apparatus comprising:
- an aerosol size selector comprising:
- a channel having a curved section,
- a sample air or gas introduction port upstream of the curved section, and
- at least one shroud air or gas port upstream of the curved section, the sample air or gas introduction port and the at least one shroud air or gas port configured to interpose first and second shroud air or gas streams respectively between a sample air or gas stream introduced via the sample air or gas introduction port and outside and inside walls of the curved section such that the sample air or gas stream is focused into a ribbon flowing between the shroud air or gas streams and flow of the sample air or gas stream and the shroud air or gas streams through the curved section exposes particles in the sample air or gas stream to centrifugal forces that act perpendicular to the flow of the sample air or gas stream and the shroud air or gas streams to spread aerosols of different sizes to different positions across the channel, and
- a position-sensitive detector configured to detect aerosols in the channel downstream from a start of the curved section, the detector operable to detect aerosols passing at one or more specific positions across the channel corresponding to one or more corresponding particle sizes of interest.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.