초록 ▼

A particle monitor (1) including a module (3) for measuring a particle content of a sample, the module including an analysis chamber (4) for receipt of the sample and a heating unit (24) for maintaining an operating temperature of the chamber (4) and for heating the air used for purging the sample f

A particle monitor (1) including a module (3) for measuring a particle content of a sample, the module including an analysis chamber (4) for receipt of the sample and a heating unit (24) for maintaining an operating temperature of the chamber (4) and for heating the air used for purging the sample from the chamber (4). The invention also relates to a particle monitor (1) with a vibrator assembly (6) and to a particle monitor (1) with a valve assembly (8) for effecting a fast purge mode, for clearing a sample tube (5), and a slow purge mode.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A particle monitor for analyzing particles, comprising: an analysis chamber configured to receive a sample of particles for analysis therein;an analyzer configured to analyze the sample of particles in the analysis chamber;a purging system configured to introduce a pressurized purging gas into th

1. A particle monitor for analyzing particles, comprising: an analysis chamber configured to receive a sample of particles for analysis therein;an analyzer configured to analyze the sample of particles in the analysis chamber;a purging system configured to introduce a pressurized purging gas into the analysis chamber to purge the sample from the analysis chamber; anda heating unit configured to maintain an operating temperature of the analysis chamber and pre-heat the purging gas used for purging the sample from the analysis chamber;wherein the heating unit pre-heats the purging gas and the analysis chamber by heat transfer through a common heating block; andwherein the heating block includes a tortuous flow path through which the purging gas passes to enhance heat transfer from the heating block to the purging gas. 2. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating block weighs in the order of 5 kilograms and is heated to an operating temperature in the order of 130° C. 3. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating unit provides a surface area for pre-heating the purging gas in the order of 0.2 m2. 4. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the particles are fly ash particles and the analyzer measures a content of unburned carbon in the fly ash particles. 5. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the particles are fly ash particles and the analyzer measures a content of unburned carbon in the fly ash particles. 6. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the particles are fly ash particles and the analyzer measures a content of unburned carbon in the fly ash particles. 7. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the purging gas is compressed air. 8. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating unit pre-heats the purging gas by heat transfer from a heating block. 9. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the particles are fly ash particles and the analyzer measures a content of unburned carbon in the fly ash particles. 10. A particle monitor for analyzing particles, comprising: an analysis chamber configured to receive a sample of particles for analysis therein;an analyzer configured to analyze the sample of particles in the analysis chamber;a purging system configured to introduce a pressurized purging gas into the analysis chamber to purge the sample from the analysis chamber; anda heating unit configured to maintain an operating temperature of the analysis chamber and to pre-heat the purging gas used for purging the sample from the analysis chamber;wherein the heating unit pre-heats the purging gas and the analysis chamber by heat transfer through a common heating block;wherein the heating block includes a tortuous flow path through which the purging gas passes to enhance heat transfer from the heating block to the purging gas, andfurther comprising a valve assembly configured to switch from a fast purge mode for clearing the analysis chamber to a slow mode for maintaining the analysis chamber in a cleared condition. 11. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a pinch valve for provides a seat for the sample of particles to accumulate within the analysis chamber. 12. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pinch valve is synchronized with the valve assembly, in order to open during the fast purge mode. 13. A particle monitor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pinch valve comprises a silicon rubber tubing and a pneumatic cylinder configured to close the pinch valve with a spring bias. 14. A particle monitor for analyzing particles, comprising: an analysis chamber configured to receive a sample of particles for analysis therein;an analyzer configured to analyze the sample of particles in the analysis chamber;a purging system configured to introduce a pressurized purging gas into the analysis chamber to purge the sample from the analysis chamber; anda heating unit configured to maintain an operating temperature of the analysis chamber and to pre-heat the purging gas used for purging the sample from the analysis chamber;wherein the heating unit pre-heat the purging gas and the analysis chamber by heat transfer through a common heating block;wherein the heating block includes a tortuous flow path through which the purging gas passes to enhance heat transfer from the heating block to the purging gas, andfurther comprising a vibrator assembly coupled to the analysis chamber to compact the sample of particles within the analysis chamber. 15. A particle monitoring method, comprising: receiving a sample of particles into an analysis chamber for analysis therein;analyzing the sample of particles in the analysis chamber;purging the sample from the analysis chamber using a pressurized gas;maintaining an operating temperature of the analysis chamber; andpre-heating the gas used for purging the sample from the analysis chamber;wherein said pre-heating includes passing the purging gas through a tortuous flow path in a heating block to enhance heat transfer from the heating block to the purging gas. 16. A particle monitoring method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the particles are fly ash particles and the analyzing measures a content of unburned carbon in the fly ash particles. 17. A particle monitoring method, comprising: receiving a sample of particles into an analysis chamber for analysis therein;analyzing the sample of particles in the analysis chamber;purging the sample from the analysis chamber using a pressurized gas;maintaining an operating temperature of the analysis chamber; andre-heating the gas used for purging the sample from the analysis chamber;wherein said purging includes switching from a fast purge mode for clearing the analysis chamber to a slow purge mode for maintaining the analysis chamber in a cleared condition. 18. A particle monitoring method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the particles are fly ash particles and the analyzing measures a content of unburned carbon in the fly ash particles. 19. A particle monitoring method as claimed in claim 17, wherein compressed air in used in the purging. 20. A particle monitoring method, comprising: receiving a sample of particles into an analysis chamber for analysis therein;analyzing the sample of particles in the analysis chamber;purging the sample from the analysis chamber using a pressurized gas;maintaining an operating temperature of the analysis chamber;pre-heating the gas used for purging the sample from the analysis chamber; andvibrating the analysis chamber to compact the sample of particles therein.