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Air Filtration FacilitySouthwest Research Institute maintains a modern air filter research and testing facility for air filter and air cleaner systems research, development, testing and evaluation. Filtration and fine particle work have been ongoing at SwRI for more than 45 years. Work ranges from basic research in particle mechanics and aerosol science to qualification testing to industry, commercial, and military specifications. Testing capability ranges from bench top stands of a few cfm to primary flow stands of up to 3500 cfm. In addition, the laboratory is environmentally controlled with respect to humidity and temperature, and is modularly designed to accommodate a variety of test setups and equipment configurations. Testing and experimentation are accomplished using a variety of test dusts and challenge contaminants, depending on client requirements and objectives, and efficiency measurements are based on gravimetric analysis, aerodynamic impactor data, and upstream and downstream optical particle counting.
Air filtration work is supported by other on-site facilities with capabilities in dry and wet chemistry, optical and scanning electron microscopy, combined vibration testing and temperature cycling, flammability and smoke measurement, mechanical integrity and material properties determination, and environmental conditioning. Laboratory capabilities are often combined to meet certain test objectives. For example, filtration efficiency and dust loading were measured during combined thermal cycling and vibration testing, in some cases, while in others, combined thermal cycling and vibration testing was accomplished followed by dust swirl testing for final evaluation of component structural and sealing integrity.
Martin B. Treuhaft, Manager Filtration and Fine
Particle Technology |
