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No. 4
Aerosol Generator Recalibration
The aerosol generators ATI manufactures
employ Laskin nozzles to produce aerosol. The Laskin nozzles
are fabricated in strict accordance with Figure 4 of Naval
Research Laboratory (NRL) Report
#5929. These nozzles are then fitted into a Model III-A
configuration generator. As indicated by the NRL Report, the
aerosol produced in this configuration is sub-micron in size
and highly reproducible.
The NRL Report also shows that if the nozzle
is configured with half of the normal four jets, the airflow
through it and the amount of aerosol produced is also reduced
by half.
Experience has shown that these nozzles will not
change significantly over their life time; however, they are
subject to clogging if the compressed air supply is not filtered.
If the jets of the nozzles become clogged the amount of aerosol
output will be reduced. If this issue if left unaddressed, the
nozzles will clog, ultimately causing the nozzle to produce
little or no aerosol.
Because of the mechanical nature of the nozzle aerosol production, ATI does not recommend returning them for service
on a regular basis. If the nozzles become clogged however,
the unit should be returned for service. This same philosophy
is also applicable to thermal aerosol generators, models TDA-5A, TDA-5B & ATI 5C, which use a thermal mass instead of Laskin Nozzles
to generate aerosol.
With ISO 9000 quality programs gaining widespread
use and acceptance, customers may requset a National Institute of Science
& Technology (NIST) traceable certification on a generator
pressure gauge. In addition, some certifiers have been asked for
NIST traceable certification of the aerosol size distribution produced.
ATI can provide gauge calibration, as well as aerosol size
distribution, certification for additional fees. Please contact
one of ATI's customer service
representatives for current pricing.
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