Patent ID: 11946837
Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 11:
12. A method to identify a location associated with detected particles of a contaminant, the method comprising:
providing at least one flow control device associated with a plurality of inlets of a pipe network, the at least one flow control device including a base, an actuator connected to the base, and a sealing element formed from a solid state flexible polymer deformable in response to application of a voltage, the sealing element being configured to expand in response to the application of the voltage such that an outer periphery of the sealing element directly contacts an inlet of the plurality of inlets to seal the inlet;
detecting particles of the contaminant within a fluid flow provided to the pipe network from the plurality of inlets formed in the pipe network;
deforming at least one flow control device, where the deforming at least one flow control device selectively seals at least a portion of the plurality of inlets; and
evaluating the fluid flow provided to the pipe network from at least one open inlet to determine if particles of the contaminant are present at the at least one open inlet.