Abstract: Devices, apparatus and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling and sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for contaminating aerosols indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the contaminating aerosols are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. In a first device, a central orifice for pulling a suction gas stream is surrounded by a peripheral array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a virtual sampling chamber. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles from solid surfaces at a distance.

Abstract: An apparatus or device for collecting aerosol particles from a gas stream, having a collector body enclosing a collector channel, a particle trap in the collector channel, and an injection duct for injecting a discrete microdroplet of an elution reagent. The particle trap may be a centrifugal impactor, a bluff body impactor, or an electrostatic impactor. Aerosol particles are deposited on the surface during collection and are subsequently eluted with a microdroplet or a series of microdroplets as a concentrated liquid sample so that the sample can be analyzed in situ or conveyed to a detector for analysis. The collector serves as an aerosol-to-liquid conversion module as part of an apparatus for detecting and analyzing aerosol particles, and may be used in an integrated environmental threat assessment system, for example for characterization of aerosolized chemical and biological weapons, or for industrial or environmental monitoring.

Abstract: An aerosol sampling intake configured to exclude particles generally greater than 20 microns AD and capture particles of less than about 10 microns AD with high efficiency, independent of weather conditions, through which air is sampled by suction. The intake combines an omnidirectional horizontal segment with diffuser and elbow, the elbow transitioning flow to a vertical segment, the vertical segment with overhanging lip, the centrifugal impactor for self-cleaning operation, thus relieving the dual problems of re-entrainment of particles bouncing from the impactor surface and fouling by particles sticking to the impactor surface. The device is adapted for use on moving vehicles, for sampling at increased windspeeds, or for sampling in rain.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for aerosols or vapor residues indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the residues are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. A central orifice for pulling a vacuum is surrounded by an array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a “virtual sampling chamber”. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles and vapors from solid surfaces at a distance. A curtain wall flow encloses the sampling area during pulse retrieval.

Abstract: The lifetime of aerosol monitoring, concentration and collection equipment is extended by acoustic cleaning of accreted particle deposits from internal surfaces where fouling occurs by application of acoustic energy to the particle accretion surface, optionally in combination with a liquid wash or sampling volume. In one application, acoustic cleaning or sampling of particle deposits for analysis is triggered by a signal indicating changes in gas flow associated with particle loading. In another application, electro-acoustic transducers may be used to prevent particle buildup without interruption of particle monitoring.

Abstract: Improved centrifugal particle traps for aerosol particle collection and sampling characterized by a curved, progressively tapered impactor channel operable over a incompressible or compressible flow regime, or a flow regime transitioning from incompressible to compressible over the length of the particle trap. Mixtures of particles in a flowing gas stream are impactingly captured and separated by size. The particle traps can be operated to collect submicron particles without blockage, have lower pressure drops to reduce overall power requirements, and surprisingly, viability of biological particles captured in the particle traps of the invention is increased. Also disclosed are systems and methods combining these improved particle traps with in-line particle concentrators and with aerosol sample or liquid sample processing and analysis systems.

Abstract: An aerosol sampling intake configured to exclude particles generally greater than 20 microns AD and capture particles of less than about 10 microns AD with high efficiency, independent of weather conditions, through which air is sampled by suction. The intake combines an omnidirectional horizontal segment with diffuser and elbow, the elbow transitioning flow to a vertical segment, the vertical segment with overhanging lip, the centrifugal impactor for self-cleaning operation, thus relieving the dual problems of re-entrainment of particles bouncing from the impactor surface and fouling by particles sticking to the impactor surface. The device is adapted for use on moving vehicles, for sampling at increased windspeeds, or for sampling in rain.

Abstract: Devices, apparatus and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling and sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for contaminating aerosols or vapors indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the contaminating aerosols or vapors are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. In a first device, a central orifice for pulling a suction gas stream is surrounded by a peripheral array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a virtual sampling chamber. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles and vapors from solid surfaces at a distance.

Abstract: Devices, apparatus and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling and sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for contaminating aerosols indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the contaminating aerosols are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. In a first device, a central orifice for pulling a suction gas stream is surrounded by a peripheral array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a virtual sampling chamber. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles from solid surfaces at a distance.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for aerosols or vapor residues indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the residues are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. A central orifice for pulling a vacuum is surrounded by an array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a “virtual sampling chamber”. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles and vapors from solid surfaces at a distance. A curtain wall flow encloses the sampling area during pulse retrieval.

Abstract: Skimmer devices for concentrating an aerosol from a flowing gas stream, said skimmers having an inlet with inlet aperture and inlet raceway, an outlet with virtual impactor void and collector channel, and a bulk flow divertor positioned axisymmetrically on the long axis of flow, further characterized in that the downstream surface of the bulk flow divertor is curved for contactingly diverting the streamlines of the bulk flow by greater than 90 degrees away from the long axis of flow without wall separation or instability. Also described are combinations of slot-type and annular-type skimmers with upstream focusing elements such as aerodynamic lenses, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A skimmer device for concentrating an aerosol from a flowing gas stream, having an inlet with inlet aperture and inlet raceway, an outlet with virtual impact void and collector channel, and bulk flow divertors symmetrically disposed on either side of the long axis of flow, further characterized in that the downstream walls of the bulk flow divertors are concavedly curved and reverse the direction of bulk flow. In section, the four channels or passages of the “skimmer” thus form a “crossed tee” with concavedly contoured lateral arms curving back around. The lateral flow channels are for diverting the bulk flow into exhaust chimney spaces, and the chimney spaces are positioned proximate to the inlet element and anterior to the collection channel. In operation, the bulk flow streamlines are thereby folded more than 90 degrees away from the long axis of flow on the laterally disposed concave walls of the bulk flow channels.

Abstract: An apparatus or device for collecting aerosol particles from a gas stream, having a collector body enclosing a collector channel, a particle trap in the collector channel, and an injection duct for injecting a discrete microdroplet of an elution reagent. The particle trap may be a centrifugal impactor, a bluff body impactor, or an electrostatic impactor. Aerosol particles are deposited on the surface during collection and are subsequently eluted with a microdroplet or a series of microdroplets as a concentrated liquid sample so that the sample can be analyzed in situ or conveyed to a detector for analysis. The collector serves as an aerosol-to-liquid conversion module as part of an apparatus for detecting and analyzing aerosol particles, and may be used in an integrated environmental threat assessment system, for example for characterization of aerosolized chemical and biological weapons, or for industrial or environmental monitoring.

Abstract: A skimmer device for concentrating an aerosol from a flowing gas stream, having an inlet with inlet aperture and inlet raceway, an outlet with virtual impact void and collector channel, and bulk flow divertors symmetrically disposed on either side of the long axis of flow, further characterized in that the downstream walls of the bulk flow divertors are concavedly curved and reverse the direction of bulk flow. In section, the four channels or passages of the “skimmer” thus form a “crossed tee” with concavedly contoured lateral arms curving back around. The lateral flow channels are for diverting the bulk flow into exhaust chimney spaces, and the chimney spaces are positioned proximate to the inlet element and anterior to the collection channel. In operation, the bulk flow streamlines are thereby folded more than 90 degrees away from the long axis of flow on the laterally disposed concave walls of the bulk flow channels.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of measuring the temperature of a hot crystalline material. It is especially well adapted for measuring the temperature of mineral products within or being discharged from rotary or other types of kilns. The mineral material entering the kiln is doped with a rare earth compound at a level of at least 0.001 molar percent, preferably about 0.01 molar percent. During the process of calcination in the kiln, the rare earth is incorporated into the crystal lattice of the host mineral to form a phosphor. This is excited by laser light of an appropriate wavelength. The flourescence emitted by the excited hot material is then measured and can be accurately related to the temperature. In one version of the invention the mineral material is used in a chemical process where it is recycled to the kiln for recovery. The lime cycle in a kraft pulping operation is such a process.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which is capable of producing an image of a smelt bed of inorganic chemicals collected at the bottom of a kraft pulp recovery boiler. The image produced is free of interferences of fume particles and gaseous radiation which have obscured prior attempts to view hot surfaces under such environmental conditions. The apparatus includes an industrial closed circuit video camera fitted with an infrared imaging detector or vidicon tube. An objective lens obtains the image. An optical filter interposed between the lens and the vidicon is a key element of the invention and is selected to reject radiation less than about a micrometer to avoid fume interference. The filter is further selected to reject all but limited ranges of radiation to avoid gaseous species overlying the smelt bed which are strongly emitting and absorbing. As an example, a spectral filter centered at 1.68 micrometers with a band width of 0.07 micrometer is suitable for imaging a kraft recovery smelt bed.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which is capable of producing an image of a smelt bed of inorganic chemicals collected at the bottom of a kraft pulp recovery boiler. The image produced is free of interferences of fume particles and gaseous radiation which have obscured prior attempts to view hot surfaces under such environmental conditions. The apparatus includes an industrial closed circuit video camera fitted with an infrared imaging detector or vidicon tube. An objective lens obtains the image. An optical filter interposed between the lens and the vidicon is a key element of the invention and is selected to reject radiation less than about a micrometer to avoid fume interference. The filter is further selected to reject all but limited ranges of radiation to avoid gaseous species overlying the smelt bed which are strongly emitting and absorbing. As an example, a spectral filter centered at 1.68 micrometers with a band width of 0.07 micrometer is suitable for imaging a kraft recovery smelt bed.