Innovate UK Real Time Detection of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)

创新英国实时检测可吸入结晶二氧化硅 (RCS)

基本信息

批准号：
NE/N004744/1
负责人：
Paul Kaye
金额：
$ 9.24万
依托单位：
University of Hertfordshire
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2015
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2015 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FN004744%2F1
关键词：
Innovate UK Real Time Detection

项目摘要

The concept behind this project is based on the use of spatial light scattering (SLS) analysis and related optical technologies to enable differentiation of Respirable Crystalline Silica from other ambient dust particles. It will consist of a miniature optical particle sampling chamber that will enable RCS particles to be individually identified, counted and sized separately from the background dust. When coupled with suitable data processing electronics and software to include particle loss mechanisms, density and other factors, the completed detector unit will provide a real-time output of RCS mass concentration in the environment. Being crystalline in nature, fracking sand splinters into particles that have facetted surfaces, i.e. flat mirror-like fractures, and it is this particular characteristic of RCS dust that forms the basis of the project. When passed through an illuminating light beam (such as that from a laser), faceted particles result in scattering patterns which are highly asymmetric about the beam axis, unlike virtually all other particle morphologies. This means that the Centroid of Intensity (COI), or the 'centre of gravity' of the light pattern of an RCS particle lies a significant distance from the axis, in contrast to those of other particles which are close to it. So, by setting a discrimination radius around the axis only facetted particles will be registered. RCS particles may represent a small percentage of the total particle population so a viable sensor would need a high throughput (typically ~ 10,000/second) so calculating the COI using conventional image processing techniques is impractical. Position Sensitive Devices (PSD), offer an ideal solution being low cost and producing accurate X-Y analogue outputs defining the COI of the light falling on the chip. Thus, a simple empirically-determined 'threshold' distance of the COI from the pattern centre allows differentiation of facetted particles patterns. An additional 'orthogonal' optical measurement, such as birefringence or fluorescence, will also be incorporated to provide a high discrimination level and minimize false-positive RCS detection. The project will involve close collaboration between Trolex and the Particle Instruments Research Group at the University of Hertfordshire. The University will be responsible for the sensor technology development, the design of the detection chamber and optics, and laboratory evaluation using prepared dusts. Trolex will be responsible for producing a fieldable technology demonstrator instrument that will enable the detector output to be presented as a real-time RCS density in a real-world environment.

该项目背后的概念是基于空间光散射（SLS）分析和相关光学技术的使用，以使可吸入的晶体二氧化硅与其他环境灰尘颗粒的分化。它将由一个微型光学粒子采样室组成，该室将使RCS颗粒与背景灰尘分开分别识别，计数和尺寸。当结合适当的数据处理电子和软件以包括粒子损失机制，密度和其他因素时，完整的检测器单元将提供环境中RCS质量浓度的实时输出。在本质上是结晶的，将沙子碎片压碎成具有面部表面的颗粒，即平面镜状的裂缝，而RCS粉尘的这种特殊特征则构成了项目的基础。当通过照明的光束（例如从激光器中）时，刻面颗粒会导致散射模式，这些散射模式对梁轴高度不对称，这几乎与几乎所有其他粒子形态不同。这意味着与其他接近其接近的粒子相比，RCS粒子光图的强度（COI）或RCS粒子光图的“重心”与轴的距离很大。因此，通过在轴周围设置歧视半径，只有刻面粒子将被注册。 RCS颗粒可能代表总粒子总体的一小部分，因此一个可行的传感器需要高吞吐量（通常约为10,000/秒），因此使用常规图像处理技术计算COI是不切实际的。位置敏感设备（PSD），提供理想的解决方案，即低成本，并产生准确的X-y模拟输出，以定义碎屑上落在芯片上的光的COI。因此，COI与模式中心的简单经验确定的“阈值”距离可以区分刻面颗粒模式。还将合并另一种“正交”光学测量，例如双折或荧光，以提供高歧视水平并最大程度地减少假阳性RCS检测。该项目将涉及赫特福德郡大学的Trolex与粒子工具研究小组之间的密切合作。该大学将负责传感器技术开发，检测室和光学的设计以及使用准备好的灰尘的实验室评估。 Trolex将负责生产现场技术演示器仪器，该仪器将使检测器输出能够作为实时RCS在现实世界环境中作为实时RCS密度呈现。