GB2475876A - Traffic signal housing for air quality sensor - Google Patents
Traffic signal housing for air quality sensor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2475876A GB2475876A GB0921204A GB0921204A GB2475876A GB 2475876 A GB2475876 A GB 2475876A GB 0921204 A GB0921204 A GB 0921204A GB 0921204 A GB0921204 A GB 0921204A GB 2475876 A GB2475876 A GB 2475876A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- air quality
- housing
- air
- traffic signal
- mounting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011236 particulate material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000003344 environmental pollutant Substances 0.000 abstract description 7
- 231100000719 pollutant Toxicity 0.000 abstract description 7
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 3
- MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen oxide Inorganic materials O=[N] MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009429 electrical wiring Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007774 longterm Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011160 research Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 2
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000004566 IR spectroscopy Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- LFZDEAVRTJKYAF-UHFFFAOYSA-L barium(2+) 2-[(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)diazenyl]naphthalene-1-sulfonate Chemical compound [Ba+2].C1=CC=CC2=C(S([O-])(=O)=O)C(N=NC3=C4C=CC=CC4=CC=C3O)=CC=C21.C1=CC=CC2=C(S([O-])(=O)=O)C(N=NC3=C4C=CC=CC4=CC=C3O)=CC=C21 LFZDEAVRTJKYAF-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000004122 cyclic group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000246 remedial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007723 transport mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002918 waste heat Substances 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000003442 weekly effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/0004—Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air
- G01N33/0009—General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
- G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
- G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
- G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
- G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
- G01N1/2273—Atmospheric sampling
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/0004—Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air
- G01N33/0009—General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment
- G01N33/0027—General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment concerning the detector
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
Abstract
A road traffic signal is used to house an air quality sensor 17 and includes at least two vents 15, 16, such that a convective air flow 18 is permitted to draw air and any associated gases or pollutants through the road traffic control equipment housing. The housing exploits the innate convection caused by the presence of sources of thermal energy, lights 12, 13, 14, in the signal housing to help create an air flow. With particular reference to road traffic signal heads, the location and mounting of these provides a repeatable sampling environment due to the proscribed mounting arrangement. Use of other street furniture is also embodied.
Description
Means For Housing And Optimising The Benefit of Air Ouality Monitoring Systems
Background
Measurement of the presence of different gasses or pollutants in the atmosphere is of considerable interest to a diverse range of organisations for a wide range of reasons ranging from climate change through to geographically more localised effects that may relate to traffic congestion or health and quality of life. In the UK there are thresholds for the average concentration of the main classes of pollutants, exceeding of which requires a series of actions. In the UK localities where these thresholds are exceeded may be designated as Air Quality Management Areas, (AQMAs). In these areas there is then a need both for remedial action and continuous monitoring.
There are a number of different technologies that can be used for making measurements of specific pollutants including LIDAR, diffusion tubes, (a long term averaged chemical reaction), infrared spectroscopy, semiconductor devices and electrochemical cells. With the exception of LIDAR these methods only provide data from their immediate environment and are limited by the transport mechanisms that bring the pollutants to the point of measurement. Diffusion tubes also only provide a long term (weekly or monthly) average, and have to be removed from their sensing location to a laboratory environment for processing.
Electrochemical cells are now widely available with sufficient sensitivity to resolve the local levels of pollutants such as carbon monoxide and the nitrogen oxides colloquially referred to as NOx.
Detection systems based around electrochemical cells have been manufactured for use in the urban outdoor environment by a number of organisations, and have also been the subject of extensive research work, including, for example the MESSAGE project, a European funded research programme.
For any of these sensors to deliver useful data it is important that they draw the air to be measured from a representative measuring location.
This application proposes a means of representative sampling based on the existing street environment and demonstrates how this may offer additional benefits to the users of the air quality system.
The Invention This application identifies that there are benefits to be obtained from housing an air quality sensor within the enclosure of a traffic signal head or other item of traffic control or related equipment thereby conferring on the air quality sensor benefits both from the enclosure and from enhanced air flow through the enclosure without recourse to separate means for aspirating the sensor. The invention is described with reference to the accompanying diagrams in application to a traffic signal but the
I
principles extend to any other item of suitable mounted traffic control equipment that meets the same criteria.
Unless faulty, a traffic signal is always operational and if suitably ventilated by virtue of the waste heat that is emitted is able to support a convective flow of air. Normally traffic signal housings are required to offer a substantial degree of protection against water ingress and human access. Diagram 1 shows how this protection may be retained while permitting a free flow of air from the external environment to flow through the signal head housing and thereby to the air quality sensor.
A typical signal head used for the control of vehicular traffic comprises of three or more aspects, 12,13,14 being red 12, amber, 13 and green 14 supported by brackets 11 from a pole 10. Each aspect may comprise of s separate module or all three aspects may be housed in a single dedicated housing however the electrical wiring to supply the light source in each aspect is provided with a path that typically leads to the red aspect 12 and thence by suitable conduit 19 to a termination location mounted in the pole 10. The mounting height and location of traffic signals relative to the kerb line, carriageway and pavement is according to well defined national guidance thereby ensuring that the use of a traffic signal offers a repeatable measuring location. Traffic signals occur at a wide range of locations across an urban area so allow flexible sampling regimes The invention permits for a generic air quality sensor 17 to be located within the housing of the signal head. Said signal head being modified through the inclusion of vents at locations below and above the location of the air quality sensor said vents being provided with means 15, 16 for permitting the free movement of air and the associated pollutants and measurand gasses while being so designed as is familiar to one skilled in the art as to prevent the ingress of rain or other precipitation and to offer a degree of protection against the accidental ingress of foreign objects.
For the expeditious response of the resulting measuring system to changes in the composition of the air entering the measuring arrangement the sensing means 17 shall be located as close to the ingress vent as practicably possible to minimise the response time to such changes.
Heat generated from the continuous and cyclic operation of the traffic signal ensures that a convection current or convective transport process shown schematically 18 is present within the signal head housing.
Power to and signals from the air quality sensor may be routed with the electrical wiring for the signal to a suitable location for termination. Alternatively the signals from the air quality sensor may be communicated wirelessly to another location for subsequent use.
The inclusion of an air quality sensor within the vented and protected housing of another item of street furniture permits that the air quality sensor may require a simpler enclosure.
The inclusion of an air quality sensor within the vented and protected housing of another item of street furniture serves to substantially conceal the presence of the air quality sensor thereby reducing the risk of unwanted interference or malicious damage.
Alternative embodiments of the housing means my be envisaged wherein the convective ventilation is derived from thermal energy from variable message signs or other suitably powered and enclosed street furniture.
Claims (5)
- Claims 1. An arrangement for the mounting one or more air quality sensors characterised in that the air quality sensor is housed within the housing of a traffic signal provided with at least two vents for the purpose of encouraging a free flow of air to the sensor while conferring on the sensor the benefits of protection offered by the traffic signal housing.
- 2. An arrangement for the mounting one or more air quality sensors as described in claim 1 wherein the vents are provided with means for permitting the free access of air while being designed to minimise the ingress of precipitation solid or particulate materials or other foreign bodies.
- 3. An arrangement for the mounting of air quality sensors as described in claims 1 or 2 wherein the traffic signal housing contains a source of thermal energy that increases the convection of air through the vents.
- 4. An arrangement for the mounting of one or more air quality sensors as described in any of the preceding claims wherein the housing containing the air quality sensor is that of any other item of street furniture that can support a convective transport process.
- 5. An arrangement for the mounting of air quality sensors as described in the accompanying text or shown in the accompanying diagrams.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0921204A GB2475876A (en) | 2009-12-03 | 2009-12-03 | Traffic signal housing for air quality sensor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0921204A GB2475876A (en) | 2009-12-03 | 2009-12-03 | Traffic signal housing for air quality sensor |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0921204D0 GB0921204D0 (en) | 2010-01-20 |
| GB2475876A true GB2475876A (en) | 2011-06-08 |
Family
ID=41641883
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0921204A Withdrawn GB2475876A (en) | 2009-12-03 | 2009-12-03 | Traffic signal housing for air quality sensor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2475876A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2500238A (en) * | 2012-03-15 | 2013-09-18 | Crowcon Detection Instr Ltd | Convection cooled gas detector |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2787193A1 (en) * | 1998-12-11 | 2000-06-16 | Thomson Csf | Dense network of pollution sensors for use in urban environment where sensors are integrated into existing street furniture such as street lamps and linked to central controller and checking unit |
| US6104299A (en) * | 1997-01-09 | 2000-08-15 | Schlumberger Systemes | Device for monitoring pollution caused by motor vehicles in an urban area |
| US20050099319A1 (en) * | 2000-08-29 | 2005-05-12 | Hutchison Michael C. | Traffic signal light with integral sensors |
| US20060096394A1 (en) * | 2004-11-09 | 2006-05-11 | Nelson David D Jr | Extractive sampling system and method for measuring one or more molecular species |
| US20080136589A1 (en) * | 2006-12-12 | 2008-06-12 | Baird Scott F | Multi-function replica traffic light |
| WO2008079761A1 (en) * | 2006-12-20 | 2008-07-03 | M & K Hutchison Investments, Lp | Traffic signal with integrated sensors |
| WO2009098438A1 (en) * | 2008-02-06 | 2009-08-13 | Traffic Management Ltd Hatton | Traffic control system |
-
2009
- 2009-12-03 GB GB0921204A patent/GB2475876A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6104299A (en) * | 1997-01-09 | 2000-08-15 | Schlumberger Systemes | Device for monitoring pollution caused by motor vehicles in an urban area |
| FR2787193A1 (en) * | 1998-12-11 | 2000-06-16 | Thomson Csf | Dense network of pollution sensors for use in urban environment where sensors are integrated into existing street furniture such as street lamps and linked to central controller and checking unit |
| US20050099319A1 (en) * | 2000-08-29 | 2005-05-12 | Hutchison Michael C. | Traffic signal light with integral sensors |
| US20060096394A1 (en) * | 2004-11-09 | 2006-05-11 | Nelson David D Jr | Extractive sampling system and method for measuring one or more molecular species |
| US20080136589A1 (en) * | 2006-12-12 | 2008-06-12 | Baird Scott F | Multi-function replica traffic light |
| WO2008079761A1 (en) * | 2006-12-20 | 2008-07-03 | M & K Hutchison Investments, Lp | Traffic signal with integrated sensors |
| WO2009098438A1 (en) * | 2008-02-06 | 2009-08-13 | Traffic Management Ltd Hatton | Traffic control system |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2500238A (en) * | 2012-03-15 | 2013-09-18 | Crowcon Detection Instr Ltd | Convection cooled gas detector |
| GB2500238B (en) * | 2012-03-15 | 2014-04-30 | Crowcon Detection Instr Ltd | Passively cooled gas detector |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0921204D0 (en) | 2010-01-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |