METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REAL-TIME DETECTION OF AIRBORNE CONDUCTIVE CONTAMINANTS

摘要

There is provided a detector for detecting conductive contaminants entrained in anairflow. The detector comprises first and second electrically conductive meshes mounted in aspaced apart relationship to provide an operational gap. Each of the meshes is sized toprovide a relatively large surface for substantially intersecting the airflow and is sufficientlyporous so as not to substantially attenuate the airflow. The meshes form part of anenergizable electric circuit wherein the operational gap constitutes a discontinuity of thecircuit. The detector includes a capacitor connected in parallel to the portion of the circuitcontaining the operational gap. There is a release of a charge stored in the capacitor throughthe circuit discontinuity when one of the conductive contaminants simultaneously contacts thefirst and second meshes. The detector further provides for indication of the discharge of thecapacitor and thereby the presence of one of the airborne conductive contaminants entrainedin the airflow.