Patent ID: 8726720
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: B01D,B07B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving a fluid sample inputted to a conduit through an input port, the fluid sample including different sizes of particulate matter, the conduit extending vertically from the input port to an output port, the output port disposed at a vertically higher level of the conduit than the input port; controlling a vertical flow of the fluid sample through the conduit from the input port to the output port to age the particulate matter resident in the conduit, a portion of the particulate matter resident in the conduit reducing in aerodynamic equivalent diameter size due to the aging; outputting the portion of the particulate matter in the fluid sample from the output port of the conduit; and monitoring a presence of particulate matter outputted from the output port of the conduit, the method further comprising: utilizing gravitational forces to separate, in the conduit, heavier particles in the fluid sample from lighter particles in the fluid sample; wherein the portion is a first portion, the method further comprising: controlling environmental parameters of the fluid sample in the conduit to simulate aging of the particulate matter in which a second portion of particles in the particulate matter received from the input port physically become heavier particles based on the controlled environmental parameters, the heavier particles settling in a basin of the conduit below the input port due to the gravitational forces as opposed to being otherwise outputted from the output port with lighter particles that are not heavy enough to settle in the basin due to the gravitational forces.