High-flow rate, low-noise, gas sampling apparatus and methods for collecting particulate in a gas

Abstract

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.