Vortex Dust Removing Attachment

In Phase I we are planning to demonstrate the ability of the proposed attachment radically improve the performance of a vacuum cleaner used on a spacecraft/space station in collecting dust and particulate matter from various surfaces and objects. The original technology was developed by the project PI for transportation security applications to collect explosives trace, including tiny ng-mass particles of explosives from the surface of checked-in baggage and carry-on items. The proposed Dust Removing Attachment generates a pulsed air flow, dislodging particles from a 2-6rdquo; (5-15cm) distance from the cleaned surface while generating a strong vortex airflow, which delivers the detached particles to the entrance port of the Vacuum Dust Collection (VDC) system. To utilize this technology for space programs applications, the original TSA application-oriented design needs to be scaled down and optimized. After fabrication and assembly, the process parameters must be adjusted, and the breadboard performance should be verified with representative dust/particles and surfaces.nbsp;