Object of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a chamber (or enclosure) used as a protective device
for performing tests with chemicals and particles up to a nanometric size.
Background of the invention
[0002] In the field of nanomaterials, tests are performed with particle samples requiring
a working environment which protects the user from inhaling said nanoparticles. Working
with nanoparticles requires specific conditions in the working environment which prevent
the agglomeration of said nanoparticles with the resulting modification or loss of
properties.
[0003] The turbulent flow solutions usually applied to chemical hazards and/or high-speed
laminarised flows usually applied to biological containment increase the risk of dispersion
and are therefore inefficient with respect to protecting the user working with nanoparticles.
The devices for chemical applications and those corresponding to biological applications
limit the actuation thereof to the work area, leaving the area immediately outside
the work area, wherein the respiratory area will be located for the user exposed to
the influence of the changing outer environment which can influence the behaviour
of the device with respect to the protection offered.
[0004] Therefore, a solution is sought which solves the following limitations to working
with nanoparticles in light of the devices existing in the market:
- The work area must have negative pressure such that it ensures the protection of the
user.
- The work area requires a low-speed air flow which limits the risk of particle dispersion
and agglomeration.
- The environment in the work area must be treated.
- The area outside the work opening must be treated in order to ensure the robustness
of the containment of the device and therefore the efficiency thereof.
Description of the invention
[0005] The present invention relates to a ventilated protective chamber for performing tests
with chemicals with particles up to a nanometric size. The protective chamber is not
limited to the use of nanoparticles, but rather it further ensures protection when
using fine chemicals and the combination of both.
[0006] The ventilated protective chamber offers high energy efficiency for the confinement
of a work area and solves the limitations of the state of the art by means of a series
of technical features described in this document.
[0007] The protective chamber comprises a work area in a depression which offers protection
for the user and the laboratory environment by limiting the spread of gaseous or particulate
contaminants outside of the work area. The work area is limited by side walls, a roof,
a rear wall and a front wall comprising an adjustable opening.
[0008] Thus, the work area is accessed through said height-adjustable opening for protection
(not tilting), located between the user and the work area. The adjustable work opening
enables contaminants to be captured at the emission point. The adjustable opening
offers a maximum work opening (for example, 500 mm) and may be limited by a locking
device which will need to be unlocked in order to enable a larger opening. The adjustable
opening ensures the protection of the user from the closed position to the maximum
opening thereof.
[0009] The protective chamber according to the present invention bases the efficiency of
the protection and safety of the user on the creation of a controlled laminar flow
which extends from the work area, wherein the handling with nanoparticles will be
performed until the area outside of the protective chamber wherein the user is located.
[0010] The laminar flow or flow laminarisation inside the chamber enables the necessary
environmental conditions to be adjusted for the handling of samples with particles
up to a nanometric size. Low-speed flow laminarisation in the front outer area of
the protective chamber offers greater robustness of the chamber and therefore greater
protection for the user.
[0011] The low-speed vertical laminar flow used in the protective chamber is able to minimise
the effects of a possible turbulent flow in the work area. The creation of this low-speed
vertical laminar flow prevents a turbulent flow in the work area which would cause
the dispersion of the (nano)-particles, with the risk of projecting them outwards
and these being able to be inhaled by the user, as well as the protection of the nanoparticle
sample, keeping the conditions suitable in order to prevent the agglomeration thereof.
[0012] In order to obtain the laminar flow, the chamber carries out a descending discharge
of filtered and/or treated air in order to achieve the necessary temperature and/or
moisture conditions which will allow the desired laminar flow to be created in the
work area, in order to obtain a laminar curtain of inner and outer air created with
said flow and which comprises the same quality conditions as the ones corresponding
to the work area inside the protective chamber (or different quality conditions depending
on the intended use of the protective chamber).
[0013] Thus, the laminar flow is achieved through said downward discharge and suction at
the height of the working plane of the protective chamber which is achieved by means
of suction areas. These suction areas will be distributed depending on the dimensions
of the work area and will also be able to be located in the very work area and/or
in the sides of said work area as seen in Figures 2 and 3. A balanced suction with
an air discharge inside and outside the chamber which creates the suitable negative
pressure in the work enclosure.
[0014] The chamber is made of construction materials according to the chemical, mechanical
or thermal resistance required in the tests to be performed and it additionally comprises
a pressure relief device which offers effective discharge means for the shock wave
in case of an explosion.
[0015] The chamber additionally comprises an adaptation system integrated in the discharge
chamber. The adaptation system includes the conditions required for handling the samples
such as environments free from electrostatic charges, moisture and temperature.
[0016] The chamber additionally comprises a regulation and monitoring system which ensures
the suitable balance of flows and shows the operating status of the chamber.
[0017] The chamber additionally comprises a system for detecting the concentration of particles
in the emission.
[0018] The chamber additionally comprises a visual and acoustic alarm system which warns
the user of incorrect operation.
[0019] The chamber additionally comprises a lighting system.
[0020] The chamber additionally comprises an extraction chamber with air purification.
Description of the drawings
[0021] To complement the description provided herein and for the purpose of helping to better
understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment
thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of figures constituting an integral
part of the same, wherein the following is depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting
character:
Figure 1 shows a side view of the protective chamber according to the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the protective chamber according
to the present invention.
Figure 3 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the protective chamber according
to the present invention.
[0022] Figure 4 shows the suction chamber of the protective chamber.
Preferred embodiment of the invention
[0023] The figures described below enable working safely with nanoparticles in a chamber
(or enclosure) with a height-adjustable opening while ensuring the suitable conditions
for performing tests with nanoparticles and chemicals.
[0024] Thus, Figure 1 shows a side view of the complete chamber assembly (100) according
to the present invention wherein the following parts are distinguished: An adjustable
opening (1), a work area (2), a removable worktop (3), a discharge chamber (4), an
extraction chamber (5), a user protection area (6a) delimited by a user protection
barrier (6) comprising a front opening (8) for accessing the adjustable opening (1).
[0025] The discharge chamber (4) creates a discharge area of a flow towards the work area
(2) and a second discharge area of a flow towards the user protection area (6a).
[0026] FIG.2 shows the directionality of the low-speed flow which extends from the work
area (2), wherein the handling with nanoparticles will be performed, to the user protection
barrier (6) in the user protection area (6a) and the pressure gradient in the assembly
of the chamber (100).
[0027] The air enters the chamber (100) through the ceiling (7) and the front opening (8)
comprised in the protective barrier (6). The adjustable opening (1) can be adjusted
according to the needs of the user from the position "Pos.9" to the position "Pos.10".
In a preferred embodiment, the maximum opening of the front opening (8) is 500 mm
and is equivalent to the maximum work opening of the adjustable opening (1). The suction
of the flow is performed through the area (11) and the area (12), subsequently passing
through the extraction chamber (5) wherein two configurations will be provided depending
on the type of contaminant being worked with:
In the first configuration, the extraction chamber (5) comprises a duct (13) for expelling
the flow outside the chamber (100) as shown in Figure 2. The chamber (100) has different
flow discharge areas which enable a gradient of discharge speeds to be created between
the inner flows (15), (16) in the work area (2) and the outer flow (18) in the user
protection area (6a), the relationship of which with the flow suction areas (11) and
(12) and the ducts (13) and (14) enable the protection efficiency of the chamber (100)
to be ensured.
[0028] Thus, the chamber (100) generates three areas defined by three speed gradients: v(15),
v(16) and v(18). The speed gradient v(15) of the flow (15) enables the sample to be
protected in the work area with a low speed. The speed gradient v(16) of the flow
(16) enables a containment barrier to be created in order to prevent particle dispersion.
The speed gradient v(18) of the flow (18) enables a user protection area to be created
which protects the respiratory area and promotes particle deposition if they are dispersed.
[0029] The chamber (100) additionally comprises an adaptation system (22) integrated in
the discharge chamber (4). The adaptation system (22) includes the conditions required
for handling the samples such as environments free from electrostatic charges, humidity
and temperature.
[0030] The chamber (100) additionally comprises a regulation and monitoring system (23)
which ensures the suitable balance of flows and shows the operating status of the
chamber. The chamber (100) additionally comprises a system for detecting the concentration
of particles in the emission (24).
[0031] In a second configuration shown with the chamber (200) of Figure 3, the extraction
chamber (5) comprises a duct (14) with a return flow. Thus, Figure 3 shows an alternative
operation for the chamber (100) wherein the air is recirculated. The chamber (200)
also has different flow discharge areas which enable a gradient of discharge speeds
to be created between the inner flows (15), (16) and the outer flow (18) in the user
protection area (6a), the relationship of which with the flow suction areas (11) and
(12) and the ducts (13) and (14) enable the protection efficiency of the chamber (200)
to be ensured.
[0032] The air enters the chamber (200) through the front opening (8) which comprises the
same dimensions as the adjustable opening (1) and which provides access to the user
protection barrier (6). The adjustable opening (1) can be adjusted according to the
needs of the user from the position "Pos.9" to the position "Pos.10" with a maximum
opening of 500 mm. The suction of the flow is performed through the area (11) and
the area (12), subsequently passing through the extraction chamber (5).
[0033] Figure 2 and Figure 3 show the speed gradient in the extraction chamber (5), for
chambers (100) and (200), respectively, wherein:
and 
[0034] With
Q(11) and
Q(12) being the volumetric flow rates in the flow suction areas (11) and (12),
Q(15),Q(16) and
Q(18) being the volumetric flow rates in the inner flow (15), (16) and the outer flow
(18) areas, respectively. Wherein
v(15),
v(16) and
v(18) are the speed gradients of the flows (15), (16) and (18), respectively.
[0035] Figure 4 describes the extraction chamber (5). The extraction chamber (5) is made
up of flow suction areas (11), (12) comprising grates, collectors (17) and (19), a
housing (20) and filters (21).
[0036] The air extracted through the flow suction areas (11) and (12) is filtered with safe
change filters such as "Bag-in/Bag-out" filters and chemical filters, when appropriate.
The extraction chamber (5) allows for a configuration with 100% air extraction or
with air being filtered and returned to the room.
1. A chamber (100, 200) for performing tests with chemicals and particles up to a nanometric
size, the chamber comprising:
a flow discharge chamber (4);
a flow extraction chamber (5) comprising two flow suction areas (11) and (12);
a work area (2) comprising a first flow discharge area which creates inner flows (15),
(16);
a user protection area (6a) comprising a user protection barrier (6) and a second
flow discharge area which creates an outer flow (18),
wherein the first and second flow discharge areas create a gradient of discharge speeds
which enables a containment barrier to be created in order to prevent particle dispersion,
and wherein said gradients meet:

wherein v(15), v(16) and v(18) are the speed gradients of the inner flows (15), (16) and outer flow (18), respectively;
and
wherein the sum of the volumetric flow rates in the flow suction areas (11) and (12)
is greater than the sum of the volumetric flow rates in the inner flow areas (15),
(16) and in the outer flow area (18), such that:

2. The chamber (100, 200) according to claim 1, comprising an adjustable opening (1)
between the work area (2) and the user protection area (6a) and wherein said adjustable
opening (1) provides access to the work area (2).
3. The chamber (100, 200) according to claim 2, wherein the user protection barrier comprises
a front opening (8) with the same dimensions as the adjustable opening (1).
4. The chamber (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, which additionally
comprises an adaptation system (22) integrated in the discharge chamber (4).
5. The chamber (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, which additionally
comprises a regulation and monitoring system (23).
6. The chamber (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, which additionally
comprises a system for detecting the concentration of particles in the emission (24).
7. The chamber (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, which additionally
comprises a removable worktop (3).
8. The chamber (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the extraction chamber
(5) comprises a duct (13) for expelling the flow outside the chamber (100).
9. The chamber (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the extraction chamber
(5) comprises a duct (14) with a return flow.
10. The chamber (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the flow suction
areas (11), (12) comprise grates, and
wherein the extraction chamber (5) further comprises collectors (17) and (19), a housing
(20) and filters (21).
11. The chamber (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, which additionally
comprises a lighting system.