Test apparatus and method for testing dust suppression systems

1. Test apparatus ( 1 ) for testing a dust suppression system, said test apparatus ( 1 ) comprising a housing ( 100 ) with

two chambers ( 101 , 102 ) being separated from each other by a window ( 103 ) which comprises at least one transfer vent ( 104 ), wherein

particle counting means ( 110 , 120 ) are detachably mounted to at least one of said two chambers ( 101 , 102 ),

and wherein

a first chamber ( 101 ) of said two chambers ( 101 , 102 ) comprises a door ( 121 ) and is equipped with supply means for supplying the first chamber ( 101 ) with particulate free air, and wherein the first chamber ( 101 ) is configured to receive a dust-comprising test object, wherein the dust-comprising test object is provided with the dust suppression system to be tested, and wherein

a second chamber ( 102 ) of said two chambers ( 101 , 102 ) is equipped with exit means for releasing air from the second chamber ( 102 );

wherein the at least one transfer vent ( 104 ) is a rotating air vent ( 104 ).

2. Test apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

at least one of the two chambers ( 101 , 102 ) comprises air filter means.

3. Test apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

at least one of the two chambers ( 101 , 102 ) comprises a temperature measuring device.

4. Test apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

inside the first chamber ( 101 ) a holding device for holding a test object comprising dust is arranged.

5. Test apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein said holding device is a table ( 5 ), selected from a movable table or a vibrating table, and wherein said dust comprising test object is a plate or a dish ( 2 ).

6. Test apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein said holding device comprises at least one of a table ( 5 ), a tube, or a spray box or a combination of two components selected from the table ( 5 ), the tube or the spray box.

7. Test apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 4 ,

characterized in that

the holding device comprises a rectangular spray box comprising at least one spray jet and the holding device further comprises a vibrating table coupled to a vibration sensor.

8. Test apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , characterized in that

the holding device is a rectangular spray box comprising at least one spray jet, or the holding device ( 5 ) is a vibrating table coupled to a vibration sensor.

9. Test apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the particle counting means ( 110 , 120 ) is an optical particle counter.

10. Test apparatus according to claim 9 ,

wherein the optical particle counter is a laser particle counter ( 110 , 120 ).

11. Test apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the housing ( 100 ) is, at least partially, made of a transparent material selected from glass or a glassy polymer.

12. Test apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

the supply means for supplying the first chamber ( 101 ) with particulate free air comprise

an air control valve ( 10 ) coupled to

a mass flow meter ( 13 ) which is fitted into a wall of the housing ( 100 ) constituting the first chamber ( 101 ), and

a hose ( 12 ) being coupled to the mass flow meter ( 13 ).

13. Test apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first chamber ( 101 ) comprises a first filter unit ( 21 ) fit into a wall of the housing ( 100 ) constituting the first chamber ( 101 ) and wherein the second chamber ( 102 ) comprises a second filter unit ( 22 ) fit into a wall of the second chamber ( 102 ), wherein the second filter unit ( 22 ) is said exit means.

14. Test apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first chamber comprises a first temperature probe and the second chamber comprises a second temperature probe.

15. Method for testing dust suppression systems using a test apparatus ( 1 ) comprising a housing ( 100 ) with

two chambers ( 101 , 102 ) being separated from each other by a window ( 103 ) which comprises at least one transfer vent ( 104 ), wherein

particle counting means ( 110 , 120 ) are detachably mounted to at least one of said two chambers ( 101 . 102 ),

and wherein

a first chamber ( 101 ) of the two chambers ( 101 , 102 ) comprises a door ( 121 ) and is equipped with supply means for supplying the first chamber ( 101 ) with particulate free air, and wherein the first chamber ( 101 ) is configured to receive a dust-comprising test object, wherein the dust-comprising test object is provided with the dust suppression system to be tested, and wherein

a second chamber ( 102 ) of said two chambers ( 101 , 102 ) is equipped with exit means for releasing air from the second chamber ( 102 );

the method comprising the steps of

a) providing the housing ( 100 ) with the first chamber ( 101 ) and the second chamber ( 102 ) and

b) placing the dust comprising test object provided with the dust suppression system and a weighed amount of dust particulates inside the first chamber ( 101 ),

c) providing a particulate free air flow (A 1 ) into the first chamber ( 101 ), thereby disturbing releasable dust particulates ( 4 ) from the dust comprising test object, and providing an airflow (A 3 ) comprised of the particulate free air flow (A 1 ) and air borne dust particulates ( 4 ),

d) allowing the airflow (A 3 ) to pass the transfer vent ( 104 ) in a controlled way and to enter the second chamber ( 102 ),

e) activating the particle counter ( 120 ) at the second chamber ( 102 ) and quantifying dust particulates ( 4 ) in the airflow (A 3 ), and

f) based on a number of quantified particulates ( 4 ) in relation to the weighed amount of dust particulates ( 4 ), determining an efficiency of dust retention of the dust comprising test object.

16. Method according to claim 15 , comprising,

before performing step b),

the step b′) of performing calibration of the first chamber ( 101 ) by using a first particle counter ( 110 ) at the first chamber ( 101 ) with no test object comprising dust inside, and counting particles; thus providing a particle background of the first chamber ( 101 ).

17. Method according to claim 16 ,

wherein

during performance of any of the steps b′), b) to e) punctually or continuously measuring a temperature of at least one of the two chambers ( 101 , 102 ).

18. Method according to claim 15 ,

wherein

airborne dust particulates ( 4 ) in the airflow (A 3 ) or dust particulates ( 4 ) in the first chamber ( 102 ) with no test object comprising dust inside are quantified versus time.

19. Method according to claim 18 , wherein the airborne dust particulates ( 4 ) in the airflow (A 3 ) or the dust particulates ( 4 ) in the first chamber ( 102 ) are quantified over at least two particulate sizes.