AEROSOL CONCENTRATION BY SPACE CHARGE ATOMIZING ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR

FAA AVIATION SECURITY HAS EXPRESSED A NEED FOR TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE INCREASED SENSITIVITY/RESPONSE TO AIRBORNE FORMS OF EXPLOSIVES. THE TECHNOLOGIES ASSOCIATED WITH SPACE CHARGE ATOMIZING ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATION (SCAEP) HAVE CAPABILITIES IN CONCENTRATING THE CONTAMINANTS IN LARGE VOLUMES OF AIR INTO SMALL VOLUMES OF LIQUID WITH INCREASED DETECTION CAPABILITY. AN R & D PROGRAM TO DEFINE CAPTURE EFFICIENCIES FOR PARTICLES/GASES AS WELL AS INSTRUMENT DWELL/RESPONSE TIMES WOULD BE INITIATED. A FIELD READY PROTOTYPE INSTRUMENT WOULD BE DELIVERED TO THE FAA FOR EVALUATION. THE SAMPLING TECHNIQUES HAVE DISPLAYED CAPTURE EFFICIENCIES OF 40-90% OVER A WIDE RANGE OF PARTICLE SIZES. THE APPLICATION WOULD HELP SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FAA. THE AIR SAMPLING REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENTS MAY BE ASSISTED. THE TECHNIQUES INVOLVED OFFER INCREASED RESPONSE TO CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL AGENTS FOR DEFENSE NEEDS.