A Computerized Dynamic Olfactometer For Reliable Odour Measurement

摘要

The use of dynamic olfactometry is widely regarded as a favoured technique for quantifying odour. The reliability of odour measurement is a fundamental issue in odour assessment. In recent years, emphasis has been directed towards standardizing equipment and techniques of odour sampling and measurement so that results can be compared between laboratories and between different olfactometers with some degree of reliability. A computerised dynamic olfactometer, named the Odormat was developed at the Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Singapore. The Odormat is designed to enable odour concentrations of air samples to be measured in a high quality controlled procedure such that results are reliable and accurate. All air flows and control valves are electronically operated with high precision. The incremental changes in air flows and analysis of the responses from the odour panel are automated by a computer software. The Odormat is built to ease the process of odour evaluation with a fully integrated automation to minimise human errors. The Odormat exhibits exceptional dilution accuracy with over 90% and it is capable of operating over a wide range of dilution from 4 to 200000. The repeatability and accuracy of odour measurement for the Odormat satisfied the stringent requirements in the CEN (Committee European de Normalisation) Standard.