Project Description
The customer for this project was the United States Department of Defense (DOD). PADT was contracted through SBIR funding to design, build, and test a novel aerosol collection system for use in military applications. The DOD needs new technologies that can quickly collect and analyze airborne biological and chemical particles.
These particles can pose significant health risk even in low quantities. The design challenge is to sample large volumes of air with suitable collection efficiency across various particle sizes. Automating the sampling routines and maintaining low power consumption are additional design challenges.
Project Approach
PADT applied in-house advanced computer simulation and rapid prototype testing to make numerous iterations and quickly converge on a design solution. Virtual and prototype iterations were focused on achieving an optimal geometry for high throughput and efficiency. Early testing in the program was used to guide the development pathway.
Flow and collection characteristics were evaluated in early stages using computation fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. Performance predictions were verified using rapid prototype testing in wind tunnel.
Results were confirmed using microscopy, real-time quantitative PCR DNA analysis, and extensive bench top simulations. The system was subsequently fully integrated by combining mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing engineering. Much of the testing effort was made possible by academic facilities in the Phoenix valley.
Project Results
The aerosol collection system we assembled at PADT and a fully functioning system was delivered to the DOD. The strategy of rapidly iterating and converging on a design solution using in-house simulation and rapid prototyping enable an accelerated development of the aerosol collector.
|
