Rupprecht & Patashnick Company, Inc.

Other

Rupprecht & Patashnik Company, Inc.

Harvey Patashnick

Georg Rupprecht

Lauren R Basch

John Hiss, Iii

William E Rogers

A high-flow rate, low-noise, gas sampling apparatus for collecting particulate such as biological, chemical, and radioactive material from a gas on a collector such as an impaction collector includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a fan disposed within the housing for drawing the gas into the inlet, past the collector for sampling, and exhausting the gas through the outlet. The fan is operable to produce a flow of gas through the housing of greater than about 50 liters per minute with a noise level emitted from the apparatus being less than about 60 decibels. The apparatus may be configured as a compact, unobtrusive, portable, lightweight apparatus for use in various indoor or outdoor locations. The apparatus may also include a sensor for the detection of radioactive material collected on the collector, a processor for monitoring the sampling, and the apparatus may be linked to a communications network such as the Internet. Methods for collecting particulate from a gas are also enclosed.

High-flow rate, low-noise, gas sampling apparatus and methods for collecting and detecting particulate in a gas

The mass of particulate matter in a particle laden gas stream is measured using a single mass detector. The particle laden gas stream and a substantially identical but particle-free gas stream alternately engage the mass detector during successive measurement time periods. A difference between a reading provided by the mass detector for a current measurement time period and a reading provided by the mass detector for a consecutive measurement time period is determined. This difference intrinsically corrects for volatilization losses occurring during the current measurement time period. A measure of the mass or concentration of particulate matter in the particulate laden gas is determined from this difference.

Particulate mass measuring method with intrinsic correction for volatilization losses

The mass of particulate matter in a particle laden gas stream is measured using a single mass detector. The particle laden gas stream and a substantially identical but particle-free gas stream alternately engage the mass detector during successive measurement time periods. A difference between a reading provided by the mass detector for a current measurement time period and a reading provided by the mass detector for a consecutive measurement time period is determined. This difference intrinsically corrects for volatilization losses occurring during the current measurement time period. A measure of the mass or concentration of particulate matter in the particulate laden gas stream is determined from this difference.

Single detector differential particulate mass monitor with intrinsic correction for volatilization losses

A conditioner, system and methods for conditioning a sample gas stream for particulate matter measurement purposes employs a sample gas stream conduit having an: inlet and an outlet and a sample gas stream conditioner in communication with the sample gas stream conduit. The sample gas stream conditioner includes a moisture control system, wherein the moisture control system regulates a humidity level of the sample gas stream flowing through the sample gas stream conduit to maintain a selectable humidity level at the particulate matter collector. A particulate matter measurement instrument is in communication with the sample gas stream outlet and measures the particulate matter in the sample gas stream. Alternative methods for regulating the humidity level at a particulate matter collector in the measurement instrument are also disclosed.

Gas stream conditioning apparatus, system and method for use in measuring particulate matter

The mass of particulate matter in a particle laden gas stream is measured using a first mass detector and a second mass detector. Switching means causes the particle laden gas stream and a substantially identical but particle-free gas stream to alternately engage the first mass detector and the second mass detector respectively during successive measurement time periods. A difference between a reading provided by the first mass detector and a reading provided by the second mass detector for each of the successive measurement time periods is determined. This difference intrinsically corrects for volatilization losses occurring during the measurement time periods. A measure of the mass or concentration of particulate matter in the particulate laden gas stream is determined from this difference.

Differential particulate mass monitor with intrinsic correction for volatilization losses

A conditioner, system and methods for conditioning a sample gas stream for particulate matter measurement purposes employs a sample gas stream conduit having an inlet and an outlet and a sample gas stream conditioner in communication with the sample gas stream conduit. The sample gas stream conditioner includes a moisture control system, wherein the moisture control system regulates a humidity level of the sample gas stream flowing through the sample gas stream conduit to maintain a selectable humidity level at the particulate matter collector. A particulate matter measurement instrument is in communication with the sample gas stream outlet and measures the particulate matter in the sample gas stream. Alternative methods for regulating the humidity level at a particulate matter collector in the measurement instrument are also disclosed.

Gas stream conditioning apparatus, system and method for use in

An air sampler having an automatic sample collector changer includes a supply magazine for holding a supply of fresh sample collectors and a receiving magazine for receiving and storing used collectors located aside a sampling station. A transfer mechanism transfers a fresh collector from the supply magazine to the sampling station and a used collector from the sampling station to an entrance of the receiving magazine. An automatic closer or plunger closes the entrance of the receiving magazine following transfer thereto of a used collector. The supply magazine can include an actuator for displacing a stack of sample collectors contained in said magazine. This stack may include interspersed air impervious covers. The transfer mechanism can transfer both a sample collector and a cover to the receiving magazine. Interspersing of covers with used sample collectors in the receiving magazine reduces volitization losses. For the same purpose, the temperature of the receiving magazine can be controlled. Preferably, all actuators of the sample collector changer are powered by a common vacuum pump which also serves to draw air into the sampling station for air sampling.

Sequential air sampler with automatic sample collector changer

The mass of particulate of an effluent gas flowing in a stack is directly measured with a mass measurement assembly supported within the stack. The mass measurement assembly preferably includes an inertial mass measurement transducer which provides near real-time mass readings. The mass measurement assembly also includes a particulate collector which can be equilibrated in situ. A pressure transducer measures a pressure differential across the equilibrated collector prior to sampling, to determine a pressure coefficient of frequency in a calibration operation. The pressure transducer also measures a pressure differential across the collector during sampling which measurement is used along with the pressure coefficient of frequency to derive an adjusted mass reading, corrected to compensate for pressure changes.

In-stack direct particulate mass measurement apparatus and method with

The mass of particulate of an effluent gas flowing in a stack is directly measured with a mass measurement assembly supported within the stack. The mass measurement assembly preferably includes an inertial mass measurement transducer which provides near real-time mass readings. The mass measurement assembly also includes a particulate collector which can be equilibrated in situ. A conditioned gas line supplies clean, dry, heated conditioned gas to the collector for equilibration. The flow rate of the conditioned gas prevents effluent gas from reaching the collector during equilibration. The collector can be equilibrated in the stack before and after sampling and between intermittent sampling periods.

In-stack direct particulate mass measurement apparatus and method

An airborne particulate sampling monitor for collecting particulate in either a solid, liquid or gaseous state. The monitor includes at least two intakes, each of which accepts airborne particulate. Paired with and coupled to each intake is an appropriate particulate filter for sampling accepted airborne particulates. A vacuum pump establishes air flow into one of the intakes and a sampling process controller, coupled between each intake and filter pairing and to the vacuum pump, controls the vacuum pump's establishing of air flow into a selected particulate intake. Preferably, the vacuum pump and sampling process controller reside within a hub unit to which multiple satellite units can be coupled such that each satellite unit employs the vacuum pump and sampling process controller of the hub unit. Due to central processing, conditional sampling at one or more of the units is possible. Further details and manual particulate sampling methods are presented.

Airborne particulate

Carbon particulate concentration of diesel exhaust or other sampled gas is measured by collecting the particulate on a high efficiency filter or other collector while measuring the amount of sampled gas passing through the filter. Particulate collection occurs along an open ended collection flow path. The collected particulate is then heated in an oxygen rich environment to oxidize carbon within the particulate to carbon dioxide. The amount of resulting carbon dioxide is measured along a closed measurement flow path to derive a corresponding measurement of the amount of collected particulate. Particulate concentration is calculated by comparing the amount of carbon particulate with the measured amount of sampled gas. A computer controls automatic switching of operation along the collection and measurement flow paths for respective particulate collection and measurement cycles.

Dual flow path carbon particulate monitor

Carbon particulate concentration of diesel exhaust or other sampled gas is measured by collecting the particulate on a high efficiency filter while measuring the amount of sampled gas passing through the filter. The filtered particulate is then heated in an oxygen rich environment to oxidize carbon within the particulate to carbon dioxide. The amount of resulting carbon dioxide is measured with a closed measurement loop to derive a corresponding measurement of the amount of filtered particulate. Particulate concentration is calculated by comparing the amount of carbon particulate with the measured amount of sampled gas passed through the filter. Filtered particulate can be heated incrementally to obtain a measurement of volatile carbon components within the particulate prior to the oxidation of the non-volatile carbon component. The filter employed to collect the carbon particulate is of a high temperature resistant type making it reusable and can be either integral with or inserted into the oxidation chamber of the instrument. Oxidation of the particulate inherently concurrently cleans the filter for reuse. An upstream preseparator can extend the life of the high efficiency filter. Particulate can also be collected for analysis by using an accelerating impaction nozzle in conjunction with a heatable impaction plate.

Carbon particulate monitor with preseparator

Carbon particulate monitor

A suspension system for an inertial balance constrains the weighing platform when oscillated to undergo uniform linear motion, thereby ensuring high measurement accuracy. The suspension system includes a supporting framework and a first plurality of elongate elastic support members for suspending the weighing platform from the supporting framework. The elongate support members are disposed in a common plane when the weighing platform is at rest and their inner ends intersect at a first common point to which the weighing platform is firmly linked. A second plurality of such elongate support members is similarly disposed in a second common plane parallel to but spaced from the first common plane. A stiff connecting rod joins the intersection points of the two pluralities and also serves to support the weighing platform and, in conjunction with a feedback system, serves to induce and maintain the weighing platform in oscillation at a resonant frequency dependent upon mass loading. The elongate support members preferably operate in a bending mode, are hollow, and are constructed of a material having a temperature independent Young's modulus over the operating temperature range of the inertial balance. The elongate support members may also be tapered and/or have an elongated, e.g. elliptical or rectangular cross-sectional configuration. Provision is also made to allow fluid flow from the weighing platform to an outlet on the supporting framework, and to effectively fix the center of mass of the moving portion of the balance to thereby minimize damping losses to the outside.

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Voorheesville, NY, United States of America

Harvey Patashnick