Tsi, Inc.

Jeremy Jens Kolb

Jason Paul Johnson

Robert C Anderson

Aaron Serafin Avenido

Steven Keith Isvik

Robert Plautz

Stanley L Kaufman

Hee-Siew Han

Ricky L Holm

Various embodiments include systems and apparatuses for reducing contamination levels within optical chambers of particle-detection instruments. In one embodiment, an apparatus to reduce contamination within an optical chamber of a particle-detection instrument is described. The apparatus includes a plenum chamber to at least partially surround an aerosol-focusing nozzle of the particle-detection instrument and accept a filtered gas flow. A curtain-flow concentrating nozzle is coupled to the plenum chamber to produce a curtain flow into the optical chamber to substantially surround an aerosol flow. Other methods and systems are disclosed.

Curtain flow design for optical chambers

Various embodiments include methods and systems to dilute a sampled particle-laden aerosol stream in a recirculating type of aerosol diluter system. In one embodiment, a system to dilute a sampled aerosol stream includes an aerosol sample inlet. A primary diluter device includes a first inlet to receive the aerosol stream and a second inlet to receive a filtered portion of the aerosol stream and combining the filtered portion with an additional sampled aerosol stream. A flow diverter device splits at least the sampled aerosol stream into a first portion of the sampled aerosol stream and a remaining portion of the sampled aerosol stream. A filter receives the remaining portion of the sampled aerosol stream and provides a filtered aerosol stream to the second inlet of the primary diluter device. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.

Passive aerosol diluter mechanism

Various embodiments include methods and systems to dilute a sampled particle-laden aerosol stream. In one embodiment, a system to dilute a sampled aerosol stream includes an aerosol sample inlet. A filter is coupled in fluid communication with and in parallel with a flow-monitoring device to receive the sampled aerosol stream from the aerosol sample inlet. The flow-monitoring device is configured to allow for a passage of particles contained in the sampled aerosol stream. A pressure sensor and a temperature sensor monitor the filter and the flow-monitoring device. An output from the filter and the flow-monitoring device may be directed to particle measurement or particle sizing instrumentation. An actual dilution ratio of the output sent to the particle measurement or particle sizing instrumentation is determined based on a nominal flowrate of the flow-monitoring device and thermodynamic properties of a gas comprising the aerosol stream. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.

A respirator leak detection system and method for increasing the sensitivity and accuracy of leak detection through the fit seal of a respirator. A charged particle separator is used to separate charged particles that pass therethrough and to draw charged particles away from an aerosol flow into a clean gas flow. The separator may also be configured as an aerosol concentrator that takes in a major aerosol flow and outputs a minor flow of higher particle concentration. Neutral particles having no charge, which may have passed through the filtering medium respirator and which are not indicative of fit seal leaks are not entrained in the output flow for subsequent detection, thus increasing the accuracy of the filter leak detection system.

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Jeremy Jens Kolb