Aerosol Collection Technology

PADT proposes to develop two particle collection and concentration devices, one designed for 600 LPM, and another for the 100 LPM or less class. Both configurations will be optimized for 2-10 micron particle collection efficiency, power consumption, size,cost, and weight. The design arrangement to be developed is comprised of a custom inlet, a novel collection chamber, and a continuous gas-to-liquid concentration mechanism. An autonomous, `point-into-the-wind', iso-kinetic inlet will be used to maximizethe inlet collection efficiency for difficult sampling conditions, such as shipboard sampling. The aerosol collection and concentration mechanism being studied exhibits the combined behavior of an impactor, cyclone, and centrifuge. This unique system hasbeen demonstrated during Phase I analytical studies. The gas-to-liquid concentrator will consist of a re-circulating liquid injection and recovery system. A preconditioning impactor and screen stage is used to remove large particles. Phase I activitieswill culminate in the construction of a slightly simplified, but full-scale (600 LPM), prototype for `proof-of-concept' testing purposes. Construction of the first prototype is ongoing at this time. Primary focus has been, and will continue to be, placedon developing the high flow rate collector. Late-stage efforts will modify this design for low flow rate applications.The proposed designs could have immediate application in Army, and other Joint Services activities, if all project targets are achieved.Other government agencies, such as the Office of Homeland Defense, US Postal Service, and Environmental Protection Agency may also have need for similar devices. Additionally, civilian applications exist in areas such as pollution monitoring,environmental monitoring, hazard detection, and, particularly, in medical and virology settings. Interest has been expressed concerning coupling a smaller version of this device with a biosensor application for airborne particulate toxicity detection.