High-flow rate, low-noise, gas sampling apparatus and methods for collecting particulate in a gas
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.
1 - 41 . (canceled)
42 . A method for collecting particulate from a gas and detecting presence of radioactive material, the method comprising:
drawing the gas into a housing;
collecting, in the housing, particulate on an impaction collector for sampling;
detecting for the presence of radioactive material on the collector;
discharging the gas from the housing; and
analyzing the particulate collected on the collector for biological material.
43 . The method of claim 42 wherein the collecting particulate comprises collecting biological particulate.
44 . The method of claim 42 wherein the drawing the gas comprises drawing the gas with a fan.
45 . The method of claim 42 further comprising monitoring the sampling.
46 . The method of claim 45 further comprising communicating the sampling over a communications network.
47 . A method for collecting particulate from a gas and analyzing for presence of biological material, the method comprising:
drawing the gas into a housing;
collecting, in the housing, particulate on a collector for sampling;
discharging the gas from the housing;
analyzing for the presence of biological material on the collector; and
wherein a flow rate of the gas through the housing and past the collector for sampling is greater than about 50 liters per minute with a noise level emitted from the housing being less than about 60 decibels.
48 . The method of claim 47 wherein the collector comprises an impaction collector.
49 . The method of claim 47 wherein the flow of gas through the housing is greater than about 100 liters per minute.
50 . The method of claim 47 wherein the flow of gas through the housing is greater than about 200 liters per minute.
51 . The method of claim 47 wherein the noise level emitted from the housing is less than about 55 decibels.
52 . The method of claim 47 wherein the drawing the gas comprises drawing the gas with a fan.
53 . A method for collecting particulate from a gas and analyzing for presence of biological material, the method comprising:
drawing the gas into a housing;
collecting, in the housing, particulate on a collector for sampling;
discharging the gas from the housing; and
wherein a flow rate of the gas through the housing and past the collector for sampling is greater than about 50 liters per minute with a noise level emitted from the housing being less than about 60 decibels.
54 . The method of claim 53 wherein the collector comprises an impaction collector.
55 . The method of claim 53 wherein the flow of gas through the housing is greater than about 100 liters per minute.
56 . The method of claim 53 wherein the flow of gas through the housing is greater than about 200 liters per minute.
57 . The method of claim 53 wherein the noise level emitted from the housing is less than about 55 decibels.
58 . The method of claim 53 wherein the drawing the gas comprises drawing the gas with a fan.