Ambient air quality monitoring housing

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a protective housing for an ambient air quality monitoring unit. The protective housing is intended to anchor and protect the monitoring unit to a vehicle in motion allowing to take a measurement of the quality of the ambient air.

Background of the invention

Commercial sensors for the measurement of air quality parameters are known in the state of the art. Said sensors are usually installed in static units covered by a roof and are placed in several locations in the cities to measure the quality of ambient air.

Commercial sensing units comprise a sensing region located in at least one of the faces of the sensing unit which comprises at least a gas sensor and may also comprise particle sensors and temperature and humidity sensors. Some of the known gas sensors comprise a gas permeable membrane that is located over the face of the sensing unit and may additionally comprises a measurement electrode parallel the membrane that performs the measurement when being excited by the gas trespassing the membrane.

It is also known the need to quickly detect changes in gas concentration so as to the local or central administration may take appropriate measurements to maintain an appropriate quality of the ambient air. According to that and in order to increase the detection traceability and speed it would be advisable to have mobile measurement units.

However, directly locating known air quality monitoring units on the outside of vehicles is not recommended as these units are not prepared for this. This could lead to problems in the representation of the measurements of the volume of air to be characterized as the vehicle advances, in addition to other drawbacks such as possible entry of rainwater, pressure changes in the membranes of the sensors or possible effect of solar radiation and of the temperature of the sensors among other aspects that may alter the measurements. Summary of the invention

The monitoring housing object of the invention comprises an external wall configured for enclosing a sensing unit having a sensing region. The claimed housing comprises: an airflow inlet configured for receiving incoming ambient air,

- a U-shaped path comprising: o a straight first part of the U-shaped path, the straight first part being in fluid communication with the airflow inlet and configured for:

^■ receiving the incoming ambient air, and

^■ providing an airflow direction, o a bended second part defining the bended part of the U-shaped path, being in fluid communication with the straight first part and configured for turning the airflow direction, and o a straight third part of the U-shaped path, the straight third part being in fluid communication with the bended second part wherein the relative position of the straight third part is configured with respect to the sensing unit such that the airflow flowing through the straight third part is configured to be directed parallel to the sensing region of the sensing unit so that the sensing region is able to detect and measure particles and gases entrained in the ambient air.

For this application, straight means without curved or bend, therefore the U-shaped path is formed by two straight parts and one bended part or curved part in-between, notwithstanding this, the straight parts of the U shape may have a slight curvature or undulation. The U-shaped path substantially may comprise a U-shaped form or a U-shaped form with a certain tolerance, i.e., the straight parts may have an inclination with respect to the reference position between 1 ^Q and 45 ^Q , preferably between 10 ^Q and 45 ⁵ as an inclination less than 10 ^Q would generate a direct shock of the air with the wall causing the impaction of particles.

For this application turning the airflow direction means changing the airflow direction in a circular direction wholly or partly around an axis or point. Therefore, the incoming airflow is, firstly, given a specific direction following the path of the straight first part and, secondly, said given airflow direction is turned at the bended second part.

The claimed configuration of the housing allows a laminar flow from the inlet to the exit assuring that the measurement is representative of the exterior ambient air and ensuring that the sensing region of the sensing unit measures fresh air instead of a mixed of air with previous trapped air that has been confined in the airflow path due to the turbulences of a turbulent airflow that would lead to a measurement not being representative of the current ambient air.

The bended part of the U-shaped path reduces the speed of the inlet air that enters the housing at a high speed. This reduction allows not only keeping a laminar airflow but also reducing the pressure of the air in the measurement or sensing region, as any change in the sensor membrane may distort the measurement.

The configuration of the housing also allows to achieve an indirect flow over the measurement region as the end part of the airflow is parallel to the sensing region. Said parallel flow avoids overpressures in the sensing membranes that can detract the taken values. A flow directed perpendicular to the membranes of the sensing region would create turbulence in the membranes and therefore distorted measurements. Besides, a direct inlet of the airflow to the membranes would lead to an uncontrolled flow that would directly impact on the sensors and subsequently generate turbulence in the measurement region, again leading to a non-representative measurement.

Therefore, conducting the air flow from the inlet to the sensing region through the U shape, firstly, eliminates the direct impact of the inlet air in the sensing region and secondly, it reduces the air pressure from the inlet and conducts the flow parallel to the sensing regions, i.e. , parallel to the face of the sensing unit comprising said sensing region. This solves the drawback that at high vehicle speeds a direct impact of airflow in the membranes of the sensing region may lead to an alteration in the position of the measurement electrodes and therefore in the measurement itself. Another advantage of the U-shaped configuration is that as the sensing region is not expose directly to the inlet it avoids water impinging over the sensors of the sensing unit, also reducing the possibility of the membranes to get wet.

Additionally, another advantage of the claimed housing is that it does not consume energy as it does not actively capture the air flow, for instance, by an active inlet comprising a fan for capturing the surrounding air.

The aforementioned housing may be used both for fixed sites and for mobile applications together with a GPS module for example.

The airflow inlet is preferably located transversally to the longitudinal direction of the straight first part of the U-shaped path.

In an embodiment housing comprises a U-shaped wall delimiting at least partially the U- shaped path, the U-shaped wall comprising: a straight first portion of the U-shaped wall, a second bended portion defining the bended portion of the U-shaped wall, and a straight third portion of the U-shaped wall.

Specifically, the first part of the U-shaped path may comprise a passage demarcated by the external wall of the housing and the straight first portion of the U-shaped wall.

The straight first portion of the U-shaped wall being inclined with respect to the external wall of the housing. The straight third part of the U-shaped path comprising a passage configured to be demarcated by the straight third portion of the U-shaped wall and a casing of the sensing unit.

The housing may comprise a deflector located in fluidic communication with the straight first part of the U-shaped path such that the deflector is configured to split the airflow from the straight first part into: - a first flow that is directed towards the second and third parts of the U-shaped path, and

- a second flow that is directed parallel to the external wall of the housing.

The deflector may comprise a face delimiting the second part of U-shaped path having a bended shape for directing the airflow to the second and the third parts of the U-shaped path.

The deflector may comprise a second face configured for being located in communication with the second airflow and configured to be arranged parallel to the external wall of the housing. The housing may additionally comprise an outlet for the exit of the flow.

In an embodiment the external wall comprises a front part configured for being located towards the incoming ambient air, said front part comprising a rounded shape for aerodynamic purpose.

In another embodiment, the external wall comprises a rear part configured for being located rearwards to the incoming ambient air, said rear part comprising a spoiler shape for aerodynamic purpose. Additionally, the external wall may comprise a magnet or an opening configured for the insertion of a metallic cable.

Finally, the external wall may comprise a cover located in a face of the external wall, being the face configured to be parallel to the airflow direction. Description of the drawings

To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. The drawings comprise the following figures. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the ambient air quality monitoring housing object of the invention.

FIG. 2A shows a lateral view of the embodiment of figure 1 also showing the sensing unit located in the housing. FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of the sensing region of the sensing unit of figure 2A.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the ambient air quality monitoring housing showing ambient air flow lines through the housing.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of figure 1 located on the roof of a vehicle. FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the embodiment of figure 1 together with a cover.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1 from the rear part.

Detailed description of the invention

The figures disclose different views of an embodiment of the housing 1 object of the invention. The housing 1 comprises an external wall 12 configured for enclosing the sensing unit 2, said sensing unit 2 comprising a sensing region 3. The housing 1 comprises an airflow inlet 4 receiving incoming ambient air and a substantially U-shaped path 5 for the airflow.

The substantially U-shaped path 5 comprises: o a straight first part 6 of the U-shaped path 5, the straight first part 6 being in fluid communication with the airflow inlet 4 and configured for: receiving the incoming ambient air, and providing an airflow direction, o a bended second part 7 defining the bended part of the U-shaped path 5, being in fluid communication with the straight first part 6 and configured for turning the airflow direction, and o a straight third part 8 of the U-shaped path 5, the straight third part 8 being in fluid communication with the bended second part 7 wherein the relative position of the straight third part 8 is configured with respect to the sensing unit 2 such that the airflow flowing through the straight third part 8 is configured to be directed parallel to the sensing region 3 of the sensing unit 2 so that the sensing region 3 is able to detect and measure particles and gases entrained in the ambient air.

More specifically, in the embodiment shown in the figures, in order to configure the above- mentioned U-shaped path, the housing comprises a U-shaped wall 14 delimiting at least partially the U-shaped path 5. The U-shaped wall 14 comprises a straight first portion 14.1 defining a first portion of the straight parts of a“U-shape”, a second bended portion 14.2 defining the bended portion of a“U-shape” and a straight third portion 14.3 defining a straight second portion of the straight portions of the“U shape”.

More specifically, the straight first part 6 of the U-shaped path 5 comprises a passage demarcated by the external wall 12 of the housing 1 and the straight first portion 14.1 of the U-shaped wall 14.

Additionally, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the airflow inlet 4 is located transversally to the longitudinal direction of the first part 6 of the U-shaped path 5. This configuration has the advantage that it minimises the entrance of water in the path and also helps to reduce the speed of the incoming air into the U-shaped path 5 that reduces the possibility to have a turbulent air flow. Moreover, the first portion 14.1 of the U-shaped wall 14 is inclined with respect to the external wall 12 of the housing 1 . More specifically, in the shown embodiment, the passage demarcated by the first portion 14.1 and the U-shaped wall 14 widens towards the second part 7 of the U-shaped path 5, this configuration provides an angle of inclination to avoid a frontal collision of air flow that can generate an impaction of the particles from the ambient air. Additionally, the U-shaped wall 14 comprises a ramp 19 directed towards the inlet 4 that serves as a protection against water, allowing it to evacuate passively by gravity in periods of rain. The figures disclose a curved ramp 19 that helps to direct the inlet flow to the first part 6 of the U-shaped path 5 without impacting the U-shaped wall 14.

As can be seen in figure 2, the third part 8 of the U-shaped path 5 comprises a passage that is configured to be demarcated by the third portion 14.3 of the U-shaped wall 14 and a casing of the sensing unit 2 when it is located in its position within the housing 1 .

In the shown embodiment, the sensing region 3 is located in one of the faces 2.1 of the sensing unit 2 and comprises several gas sensors 3.1 , a particulate sensor 3.2 and an air temperature sensor 3.3. Gas sensors 3.1 comprise a membrane 3.1 .1 located over the face 2.1 of the sensing unit 2 and a set of electrodes located parallel to the membrane 3.1 .1 . Therefore, the airflow flowing through the third part 8 is directed parallel to the sensing region 3 and hence parallel to the membranes 3.1 .1 . Said configuration of the third part 8 of the U-shaped path 5 with respect to the sensing region 3 avoids, for instance, the membrane 3.1 .1 being curved by the force exerted by a high flow directly impinging into the membrane 3.1 .1 that may curve it 3.1 .1 , the membrane 3.1 .1 in turn pressing the electrodes and hence altering the measurement.

The embodiment shown in the figures additionally comprises a deflector 9 located in fluidic communication with the first part 6 of the U-shaped path 5. The deflector 9 splits the airflow coming from the first part 6 into a first flow 10 that is directed towards the second 7 and third 8 parts of the U-shaped path 5 as previously stated, and an additional second flow 1 1 that is directed parallel to the external wall 12 of the housing 1 as can be seen in the flow lines of figure 3.

Said additional second flow 1 1 improves the internal cooling of the housing 1 such that the sensing unit 2 can work within its temperature ranges. The diverted second flow 1 1 cools the sensing unit 2 by dragging the warm air located in the housing that has been previously exposed to heat within the housing.

Another advantage of the diverted second flow 1 1 is that a substantially constant first flow 10 is achieved by splitting the entrance flow. Specifically, the smallest flow goes towards the sensing region 3 and the main flow is diverted by the deflector 9. Due to said constant flow to the measuring region, the representativeness of the measurement is achieved. The deflector 9 comprises a face 9.1 delimiting the second part 7 of U-shaped path 5 having a bended shape for directing the airflow to the second 7 and the third 8 parts of the U- shaped path 5.

The deflector 9 also comprises a second face 15 configured for being located in communication with the second airflow 1 1 and configured to be arranged parallel to the external wall 12 of the housing 1 .

Finally, the deflector 9 of the embodiment also comprises a third face configured for being located parallel to the longitudinal direction of the passage space for supporting part of the casing of the sensing unit 2. The monitoring housing 1 of the embodiment also comprises an outlet 13 for the exit of the airflow, in this particular case, for the exit of both first and second flows 10, 1 1.

As previously stated, the monitoring housing object of the invention is intended for its location on the roof of a vehicle, for this purpose the front part 16 of the external wall 12 located towards the incident ambient air comprises a rounded shape for aerodynamic purpose and additionally, the rear part 17 of the external wall 12 located rearwards the incident ambient air comprises an spoiler shape also for aerodynamic purpose.

In order to be securely joined to the vehicle, the external wall 12 of the housing 1 must be strong enough to stand the incoming air and to allow its attachment to the vehicle without affecting the data capture. Specifically, the external wall 12 may comprise a magnet for its joining to a vehicle and/or may comprise an opening 18 configured for the insertion of a metallic cable.

In order to easily introduce and extract the sensing unit 2 and to ease maintenance and cleaning tasks, the external wall 12 comprises a cover 20 located in a face of the external wall 12 configured to be parallel to the airflow direction such that the external wall 12 is opened laterally. Finally, the lower 21 internal face of the external wall 12 comprises an inclined surface for evacuating condensed air. In fact, locating the sensing region 3 of the sensing unit 2 parallel to the lower wall of the housing 1 wouldn’t be recommended as problems with the condensed water may arises. Water collected by the referred inclined surface is evacuated by gravity towards rear orifices 22 for its exit to the outside of the housing, preventing an internal flooding of the condensed water.

The rear outlet 13 is protected by a cover 23 whose function is to prevent the ingress of water through the openings at the rear towards the inside of the housing. Finally, the embodiment shown in figure 6 discloses a curvature 24 made in the third part 14.3 of the U-shaped wall 14 for better accommodating the particulate matter sensor of the sensing unit 2.