Abstract: An impactor, system and method for performing real-time measurements of particles in aerosol gases. The impactor comprises a plurality of cascading stages having impaction plates, mass-measurement mechanisms retained on the impaction plates, and a nozzle plate. A signal line associated with each of the plurality of cascading stages is configured to relay signals from the mass-measurement mechanism of the associated stage to a computer-based system configured to receive the transmitted signals from the signal lines, and to correlate changes in the resonant frequencies to particle concentrations in real time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating aerosol particles that are substantially uniform in size said apparatus includes a droplet generator comprised of a metal capillary for a liquid to flow through to form a liquid stream flowing into a gas stream. The metal capillary is vibrated by a piezoelectric ceramic at a substantially constant frequency to cause the liquid stream to breakup into droplets that are substantially uniform in size in the gas stream, the gas stream being maintained at a velocity in the range between approximately 10% to 100% of the speed of sound.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed to apply ESI-based mass spectroscopy to submicrometer and nanometer scale aerosol particles. Unipolar ionization is utilized to charge the particles in order to collect them electrostatically on the tip of a tungsten rod. Subsequently, the species composing the collected particles are dissolved by making a liquid flow over the tungsten rod. This liquid with dissolved aerosol contents is formed into highly charged droplets, which release unfragmented ions for mass spectroscopy, such as time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. The device is configured to operate in a switching mode, wherein aerosol deposition occurs while solvent delivery is turned off and vice versa.

Abstract: A device having a cavity configured to receive or to hold an e-cigarette, which includes a push-hold button to actuate vapor generation and/or formation. The device further comprises an automatic plunger capable of pressing the push-hold button based upon a command. The plunger may receive the command from a controller or alternatively from the airflow caused by the puff. A mechanism configured for positioning the automatic plunger proximate to the push-hold button is also incorporated into the device.

Abstract: An air conditioning system that includes an evaporator stage, first and second sorption stages that transition between active states and regeneration states, a compressor stage that receives a portion of a refrigerant vapor from the first or second sorption stage in the active state, a condenser stage that receives the refrigerant vapors from the compressor and from the first or second sorption stage in the regeneration state in a manner that bypasses the compressor stage, and where condenser stage also condenses the received refrigerant vapors and directs the refrigerant condensate to the evaporator stage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating aerosol particles that are substantially uniform in size said apparatus includes a droplet generator comprised of a metal capillary for a liquid to flow through to form a liquid stream flowing into a gas stream. The metal capillary is vibrated by a piezoelectric ceramic at a substantially constant frequency to cause the liquid stream to breakup into droplets that are substantially uniform in size in the gas stream, the gas stream being maintained at a velocity in the range between approximately 10% to 100% of the speed of sound.

Abstract: Systems and methods for neutralizing a solution comprising a compound of interest, comprising: aerosolizing a solution, wherein the solution is a low pH solution and comprises the compound of interest; contacting the aerosolized solution with ammonia vapor, wherein the ammonia vapor neutralizes at least a portion of said aerosolized solution; and removing at least some water from the neutralized aerosolized solution, wherein the neutralized aerosolized solution is at least partially dehydrated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for neutralizing a solution comprising a compound of interest, comprising: aerosolizing a solution, wherein the solution is a low pH solution and comprises the compound of interest; contacting the aerosolized solution with ammonia vapor, wherein the ammonia vapor neutralizes at least a portion of said aerosolized solution; and removing at least some water from the neutralized aerosolized solution, wherein the neutralized aerosolized solution is at least partially dehydrated.

Abstract: A device for generating sprays of charged droplets, and resulting nanoparticles, the device comprising a first needle connected to an electrical potential line to generate a first spray of charged particles from the first needle, and a second needle spaced apart from and facing the first needle, and connected to an electrical line configured to ground the second needle or to apply a voltage to the second needle that is the same polarity as the voltage applied to the first needle. The device also comprising an electric field modifier connected to the first needle, and configured to modify an electrical field to generate a second spray of charged particles from the second needle.

Abstract: A device for generating sprays of charged droplets, and resulting nanoparticles, the device comprising a first needle connected to an electrical potential line to generate a first spray of charged particles from the first needle, and a second needle spaced apart from and facing the first needle, and connected to an electrical line configured to ground the second needle or to apply a voltage to the second needle that is the same polarity as the voltage applied to the first needle. The device also comprising an electric field modifier connected to the first needle, and configured to modify an electrical field to generate a second spray of charged particles from the second needle.

Abstract: A device and method for delivering a multi-phase mixture of a composition dispersed in a gas, the device comprising an outer needle having an inlet opening configured to receive a supply of the composition, and an inner needle disposed within the outer needle, the inner needle comprising an inlet opening configured to receive a pressurized supply of the gas, where a tip of the inner needle is offset inward from a tip of the outer needle along a longitudinal axis by an offset distance.

Abstract: Size distribution of elongated objects is measured by forward scattering radiation from the objects at a range of scatter angles. The scattered radiation is refracted to locations on a scatter detector based on the scatter angles and independent of the location of the objects along the radiation axis. The intensity of radiation is sensed at each position on the scatter detector, and signals representative of the intensities at the positions are processed and compared to masks to identify a size distribution. The scatter detector may include individual radiation detectors arranged to receive refracted radiation representing respective ranges of scatter angles to thereby compensate for lower radiation intensities scattered from smaller objects.

Abstract: A device and process for interferometric sizing of stochastic (irregular and/or inhomogeneous) particles is disclosed. The device generates a pair of laser beams that interfere with one another to form a measuring volume including interference fringes. Particles crossing the fringes scatter light collected by two or more optical receivers. Outputs of the optical receivers are provided to signal processing and phase processing circuits, to generate indications of particle velocities based on signal frequencies, and indications of particle sizes based on phase shift values. Particles are characterized as to size by generating probability density functions of phase, based on multiple particle traverses through the measuring region, thus to more accurately measure groups of particles, despite the lack of reliability inherent in measuring a single particle. The device is operable in a calibration mode, using particles of known sizes or size distributions.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-contact measurement of particles, fibers and other light scattering elements includes two laser beams that intersect one another to form a measuring region within a composite flow. Particles in the flow scatter the laser energy as they traverse the measuring region. Scattered energy is received by a pair of optical detectors that generate respective electrical signals based on received energy. The detectors have selectively contoured non-rectangular apertures to controllably vary transmittance and as a result generate phase differences according to a corresponding non-linear function that relates the phase differences to particle diameters. One particularly effective aperture shape includes opposite sides contoured according to a lognormal function, to resemble an onion or tear drop. Triangular and trapezoidal apertures also can be used to achieve non-linear functions.

Abstract: An interferometric system for measuring cross-sectional dimensions of glass fibers and other elongate objects includes: a transmitting optics module for generating two laser beams, and causing the laser beams to intersect and interfere with one another over a measuring volume; several photodetectors to collect the light scattered by the glass fiber positioned in the interference region; and signal processing circuitry to deduce the fiber diameter using phase shifts between the signal pairs and fiber velocity using the frequency of the signals. The system further offers: elimination of the 360.degree.

Abstract: A system for measuring cross sectional diameters of optical fibers and other elongate cylindrical objects includes a transmitting optics module for generating two collimated laser beams, and causing the beams to intersect and interfere with one another over a measurement region. The optical fiber under inspection is caused to intersect the measurement region with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the laser beams. Several photodetectors collect light scattered by the optical fiber, and generate signals indicating fiber diameter based on phase differences in the scattered light received by the detectors. The system can determine fiber refractive index by using three detectors to obtain two phase shifts. Differences in Doppler frequencies also are sensed by the detectors, for determining transverse velocity components.

Abstract: A system for measuring cross sectional diameters of optical fibers and other elongate cylindrical objects includes a transmitting optics module for generating two collimated laser beams, and causing the beams to intersect and interfere with one another over a measurement region. The optical fiber under inspection is caused to intersect the measurement region with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the laser beams. Several photodetectors collect light scattered by the optical fiber, and generate signals indicating fiber diameter based on phase differences in the scattered light received by the detectors. Differences in Doppler frequencies also are sensed by the detectors, for determining transverse velocity components.