A method for controlling a gas flow of a pump for high flow rates at a low average flow rate by changing the gas pressure inside a cavity in said pump. The method includes decreasing the gas pressure in said cavity during a first predetermined time period, increasing the gas pressure in said cavity during a second predetermined time period, and stopping the active change of gas pressure during at least a third predetermined time period. Additionally, a pump assembly for high flow rates operated at a low average flow rate is disclosed that includes a number of pumps, a pump motor with a number of stator windings adapted to drive said pumps, and a control unit adapted to control said pump motor. In one embodiment the number of pumps is equal to said number of stator windings. The motor can momentarily increase its force on the pumps.

Embodiments of the invention can sample particulates, aerosols, vapors, and/or biological components of ambient air utilizing spherical air-sampling filters. Components of the embodiments may include a storage magazine for holding a plurality of spherical air-sampling filters, an air-sampling manifold configured to deliver an air-sampling filter from the storage magazine to a sampling location, and an air compressor to perform an air sampling operation and to transport a used air-sampling filter away from the sampling location. Operation of some embodiments may begin by rotating a slotted drum within the air-sampling manifold to deliver an air-sampling filter from the storage magazine to the sampling position. Operation may continue by using the air compressor to draw air from an ambient environment through the air-sampling filter. After sampling is complete, the air compressor may be utilized to pneumatically transport the used air-sampling filter away from the sampling position to a filter retrieval location via a transport tube. These operations can be pre-programmed locally or triggered by remote communication. Operation may continue uninterrupted due to a plurality of unused air-sampling filters retained in the storage manifold. Because operations can be triggered remotely and air samples are autonomously transported off site, embodiments of this invention eliminate unnecessary risks to human health created by other air-sampling devices, which require an operator to be present at a potentially hazardous sampling site to activate the device or retrieve air samples. Embodiments of the invention can be installed pre-emptively to eliminate risks to human health created when an operator must deliver a portable air-sampling device to a potentially contaminated sampling site. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention allow rapid retrieval of air samples following sample collection, which can expedite analysis and identification of aerosols and consequently help minimize human exposure to potentially dangerous and life-threatening chemical and biological contaminants.

A diffusive sampling device is used for quantitative measurement of chemicals in indoor and outdoor air. The sampling device includes a vial containing a sorbent on the inside bottom of the vial. The sampling device can be thermally vacuum cleaned before transport to the sampling location, and the sorbent can be chosen to allow the collection of either volatile or semi-volatile compounds (VOCs or SVOCs). After a diffusive sampling period (1 hour to 1 month), the vial is closed, and the collected sample is transferred to a laboratory for analysis. Using a thermal vacuum extraction focusing technique, the collected sample is rapidly delivered to a GCMS-compatible preconcentration device including a second sorbent for either split or splitless injection into a capillary based GCMS. No solvents are used during sampler preparation or analysis, and detection limits needed for monitoring of ambient or indoor air can be achieved for thousands of chemicals.

A method and system for detecting the presence of chemical and/or biological agents are disclosed. An additive, which may comprise a reactant and/or a catalyst selected for its capacity to react with, or to force a reaction involving a target chemical and/or biological agent, may be introduced into a sample of an ambient environment to be monitored. The additive may then react with the target agent, or, as a catalyst, may drive a reaction with the target agent, resulting in a reaction product that may be detected by one or more sensors or sensor arrays. The method and system may incorporate a plurality of sensor types in order to enhance the specificity of the method and system.

A system for monitoring aircraft air including a collector for collecting particulate samples positioned within at least one of an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path, at least one of an outflow valve positioned in the outlet flow path downstream from the collector, and a retrieval device for retrieving the collector from the outflow valve.

Embodiments of the invention collect solid, vapor, and/or biological components of the air in air-sampling cartridges that are then transported to an off-site location by pneumatic pressure. Operation proceeds by first collecting a sample of air in an air-sampling cartridge in a sampling position, then advancing a cartridge assembly to move the now-used sampling cartridge into a transport position while simultaneously moving an unused sampling cartridge into the sampling position, and finally using pneumatic pressure to push the used sampling cartridge in the transport position to an off-site location via a transport tube. The sampling operation can begin again while the transport operation is in still in progress. These operations can be pre-programmed locally or triggered by remote communication. Continued operation is possible due to a plurality of unused air-sampling cartridges retained in the cartridge assembly. Since operations can be triggered remotely and air samples are autonomously transported off site, embodiments of this invention eliminate unnecessary risks to human health created by other air-sampling devices, which require an operator to be present at a potentially hazardous sampling site to activate the device or retrieve air samples. Additionally, embodiments of the invention can be installed preemptively to eliminate risks to human health created when an operator must deliver a portable air-sampling device to a potentially contaminated sampling site. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention allow rapid retrieval of air samples following sample collection, which can expedite analysis and identification of aerosols and consequently help minimize human exposure to potentially dangerous and life-threatening chemical and biological contaminants.

A driving system for an actuating and sensing module includes an actuating and sensing device and a power supply device. The actuating and sensing device includes a sensor, an actuating device, a microprocessor, and a power controller. The power supply device transfers an energy to the power controller, thereby enabling the sensor and the actuating device.

A device for detecting a concentration of tiny particulates in an air sample is provided. The device comprises: a container that contains the air sample and has an opening; a sealing mechanism that opens or seals the opening; a sensor provided in the container and operative to sense a total concentration of particulates in the air sample within the container; and a controller connected to the sensor and operative to control the sealing mechanism. The controller is configured to: control the sealing mechanism to open the opening and the sensor to sense a first total concentration of particulates; control the sealing mechanism to seal the opening, so as to seal the container for a predetermined time period, and then control the sensor to sense a second total concentration of particulates; calculate a ratio of a concentration of tiny particulates to a total concentration of particulates based on a predetermined relationship between the ratio of the concentration of tiny particulates to the total concentration of particulates and a ratio of the second total concentration of particulates to the first total concentration of particulates; and calculate the concentration of tiny particulates in the air sample based on the first total concentration of particulates and the ratio of the concentration of tiny particulates to the total concentration of particulates.

Described is an apparatus (1) for measuring odours comprising: a measuring chamber (2); an intake duct (4) having two ends, an inlet end (4a) in communication with the outside environment and an outlet end (4b) in connection with the measuring chamber; at least one sensor (3), positioned inside the measuring chamber (2) and designed for measuring the olfactory properties of a gas; a control unit (6) designed for processing signals coming from the at least one sensor (3) and providing a parameter representing the odours measured in the gas to be analysed; a suction device (5), positioned inside the intake duct (4) and designed to circulate the gas inside the apparatus (1); a cleaning device designed for restoring the characteristics of the at least one sensor (3) following a measurement, wherein the cleaning device is designed for generating ozone inside the apparatus (1).

A plug-in air quality detector, a control method, and a control circuit are provided in the field of air quality detection. The plug-in air quality detector comprises a casing, a sensor component, a control circuit and a connector component. The connector component includes a power supply terminal and a data terminal, and is configured to connect the plug-in air quality detector with a user device. As such, the detector may prompt a user of the air quality around the user without being configured with a dedicated power supply and a dedicated display screen, thereby achieving the effects of reducing the size and the weight of the air quality detector and improving the ease of use.