HUMIDITY AND SULFUR CONCENTRATION IN TEST CHAMBER

• US 20170067867A1
• Filed: 09/08/2015
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Singh, Prabjit
• Granted Patent: US 9,927,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/002 Test chambers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0016 by regulating a physical variable, e.g. pressure or temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0073 Control unit therefor

Abstract

A structure is provided. The structure may include an environmental test chamber including a sample chamber, a first air path beginning in the sample chamber and extending through a humidity control chamber, the first air path circulates air between the test chamber and the humidity control chamber, and a second air path beginning in the sample chamber and extending through a pollutant control chamber, the second air path circulates air between the test chamber and the pollutant control chamber.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

controlling a relative humidity in a sample chamber by circulating air sequentially from the sample chamber through a humidity control chamber and back to the sample chamber;

controlling a pollutant concentration in the sample chamber by circulating air sequentially from the sample chamber to a pollutant control chamber and back to the sample chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the relative humidity in the sample chamber comprises:

controlling a temperature of the air circulating through the humidity control chamber by circulating the air through a first temperature control chamber immediately prior to the air entering the humidity control chamber; and

selecting a saturated salt solution contained within the humidity control chamber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the relative humidity in the sample chamber comprises:

circulating the air through a labyrinth containing a saturated salt solution.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the pollutant concentration in the sample chamber comprises:

adjusting a temperature of a pollutant contained within the pollutant control chamber by using a cooling tube in direct contact with the pollutant.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the pollutant is sulfur.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises controlling a pollutant concentration of one or more pollutants.

7. An environmental test chamber comprising:

a sample chamber;

a first temperature control chamber coupled to the sample chamber;

a humidity control chamber coupled to the first temperature control chamber;

a second temperature control chamber coupled to the humidity control chamber;

a first blower circulating air sequentially from the test chamber, through the first temperature control chamber, through the humidity control chamber, through the second temperature control chamber and back to the test chamber;

a fourth temperature control chamber coupled to the sample chamber;

a pollutant control chamber coupled to the fourth temperature control chamber;

a third temperature control chamber coupled to the pollutant chamber; and

a second blower circulating air sequentially from the test chamber, through the fourth temperature control chamber, through the pollutant control chamber, through the third temperature control chamber and back to the test chamber.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein the humidity control chamber comprises:

a saturated salt solution in a labyrinth, wherein the circulated air contacts the saturated salt solution.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein a temperature and a composition of the saturated salt solution dictates a relative humidity of the sample chamber.

10. The structure of claim 7, wherein the pollutant control chamber comprises:

a bed of sulfur; and

a cooling tube in direct contact with, and used to control a temperature of, the sulfur.

11. The structure of claim 10, wherein a temperature of the cooling tube dictates a concentration of sulfur in the air.

12. The structure of claim 7, wherein the sample chamber comprises two or more pollutants.

13. An environmental test chamber comprising:

a sample chamber;

a first air path beginning in the sample chamber and extending through a humidity control chamber, the first air path circulates air between the test chamber and the humidity control chamber; and

a second air path beginning in the sample chamber and extending through a pollutant control chamber, the second air path circulates air between the test chamber and the pollutant control chamber.

14. The structure of claim 13, wherein the humidity control chamber comprises:

a saturated salt solution in a labyrinth, wherein the circulated air contacts the saturated salt solution.

15. The structure of claim 14, wherein a temperature and a composition of the saturated salt solution dictates a relative humidity of the sample chamber.

16. The structure of claim 13, wherein the pollutant control chamber comprises:

a bed of sulfur; and

a cooling tube in direct contact with, and used to control a temperature of, the sulfur.

17. The structure of claim 16, wherein a temperature of the cooling tube dictates a concentration of sulfur in the air.

18. The structure of claim 13, wherein the sample chamber comprises two or more pollutants.

19. The structure of claim 13, wherein the first air path is separate and distinct from the second air path.

20. The structure of claim 13, wherein the first air path may at least partially coincide with the second air path.