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SASS 4000 Plus
High-Volume Concentration +
Wet Sample Collection System
INTRODUCTION
The SASS 4000 Plus combines a highly efficient, high-volume aerosol concentration device (SASS 4000) with a portable multi-stage wetted-wall cyclone air sampler (SASS 2300) that extracts particulates and water-soluble chemical vapors from the concentrated air and transfers them to a liquid phase for later detection and analysis.
- Download SASS 4000 Plus Data Sheet (PDF, 305 KB)
Principles of Operation
The concentrator processes large volumes of ambient air, continuously transferring particulates from this primary air stream to a much smaller secondary airflow. As a result, the secondary flow can reach aerosol concentrations that are 4X to 15X higher than present in the incoming air. The concentrator therefore amplifies the ambient aerosol concentration, while retaining most of the particles that were present in the incoming airflow in the secondary flow.
The concentrator device developed by Research International (Figure 1) has several favorable attributes:
- There are no moving parts, other than the primary fan.
- Maintenance is minimal.
- The operating temperature range is very wide.
- The structure is comparatively clog resistant.
- Sampled air volume is maximized, improving collection statistics.
Particles are routed into the secondary flow by forcing primary circuit air to circulate through specially shaped channels where centrifugal force and particle momentum are used to isolate and concentrate the particles. The interior structure has been designed so that the smallest flow cross-section is a channel 0.6 mm wide x 6.35 cm long, providing good resistance to clogging by larger particles. A coarse screened cover with 5.4 mm square openings further restricts the entrance of large debris.
This secondary air flow is then routed, via a hose connection, into the SASS 2300 Wetted-Wall Air Sampler where these materials are extracted from sampled air and trapped in a small volume of liquid that can be removed at any time for analysis. Distilled water is typically the liquid of choice—no additives or surfactants are required for high efficiency. Trace aerosol concentrations can be amplified by extending the sampling time. A patented (US Patent No. 6,532,835) fluid monitoring system will maintain a fixed liquid volume in the device that is independent of collection time, air temperature or relative humidity.
Figure 3: Airflow patterns for the SASS 4000 Concentrator showing typical connection to SASS 2300 air sampler.
The air sampler is microcontroller-based and can function as a stand-alone unit or connected to other sampling, detection or communication systems via RS-232 or wireless link. Reprogramming of sampler operation may be performed at any time over the RS-232 link without having to disassemble the unit.
Electric power consumption is minimized by operating the unit’s blower at peak electric-to-pneumatic efficiency conditions and by using natural airflow through the cyclone structure to drive water re-circulation.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Primary airflow: | 3,600+ liters/min is sampled uniformly from around the pre-concentrator’s circumference. Higher flows are available on special order. |
| Secondary airflow: | 30–325 LPM at +0.4 cm of water static head. |
| Secondary airflow connection: | Hose barb fitting on base surface for nominal 3.8 cm ID hose. |
| Concentration enhancement: | 4–15 times, typical, depending on primary/secondary airflow ratio. |
| Overall size: | 38 cm high x 25.4 cm diameter max. |
| Weight: | 6.32 kg (13.9 lbs.) |
| Operating temperature range: | -40°C to 60°C |
| Power consumption: | 90 watts for ECM drive motor, depending on air flow rate. Specify 12, 24 or 48 VDC operation. 100 to 230 VAC lump-in cord AD/DC converter supplied. Please also specify AC voltage range required. |
| Sound level: | 72 db-A @ 1 meter radius on inlet equatorial plane. |
| Mounting: | Quick-detach tripod legs; 0.53m to 1.46m adjustable height. |
| Accessories: | Hard shell carrying case. Electret sample filter assembly (for stand-alone operation). |
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Operating principle | Multi-stage wetted-wall cyclone with enhanced particulate collection. |
| Air collection rate | 325 LPM using 30,000 hour life brushless fan. |
| Particulates collection range | 1-10 µm. Contact Research International regarding vapor collection applications. |
| Concentration ratio | 65,000/minute nominal. |
| Liquid inventory | 4 -6 cc range set at factory but adjustable by user. Proprietary control loop maintains a constant liquid volume in the sampler, independent of collection time, temperature or humidity; useful for concentrating trace airborne analytes. |
| Make-up water | 1.3 liter on-board reservoir; supplemental off-board reservoirs may be used in fixed installations: 0.8 cc/min typical evaporation rate at 20C/50% RH. |
| Physical size | 18.4 cm x 21.3 cm x 34.3 cm (7.2" W x 8.4" D x 13.5" H). |
| Weight | 3.7 kg without battery, 4.7 kg with battery (8.2/10.4 lbs). Add 1 kg (2.2 lbs) for 1 liter of water. |
| Air inlet connection | Industry-standard threaded adapter. It is recommended that third-party accessories have an airflow channel 2.54 cm diameter or larger. |
| Humidity Operating Range | Non-condensing conditions. |
| Temperature Operating Range | Above freezing conditions to 66 ° C |
| Power source | 12 VDC BA-5590/U primary battery; or BA-5390/U extended life primary battery; or UBI 2590 rechargeable battery; or 82-265 Volt (47-63 Hz) AC lump-in-cord power supply. |
| Power consumption | 1.3 amps @ 12 V, 16 W. |
| Sample extraction | On-board 12 cc/min peristaltic pump, manual or remotely controlled. Vial filling module included. Air sampling may continue during extraction. |
| System controls | Microprocessor controlled. RS-232 or optional wireless link for remote operation or reprogramming. Additional TTL and motor drivers available. |
| Sound level | 60 dB (A) |
| Package | Lightweight two-piece molded plastic shell with swivel-style carrying handle. |
| Decontamination | Auto-flush protocol using onboard water, or manual flush with detergent and/or disinfectant. Disposable high-performance pull-through fan module. |
| Accessories | Carrying case; inlet hose; inlet screen; sample bottles; rechargeable battery and charger. |
| Approvals | U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security certified under U.S. Safety Act of 2002 |
Application Areas:
- Environmental
- Air quality
- Agriculture
- Public Health
- Medial facilities
- Homeland security
- Military
- Power plants
SASS 4000 Features:
- No moving parts, other than the primary fan.
- Maintenance is minimal.
- The operating temperature range is very wide.
- The structure is comparatively clog resistant.
- Sampled air volume is maximized, improving collection statistics.
- It is an ultra-high capacity stand-alone dry sampler when used with RI’s proprietary electret filters.
SASS 2300 Features:
- Onboard sample vial filling station
- Water reservoir sufficient for 24 hours of operation
- Impact- and water-resistant case
- Peristaltic pump-based fluidics
- Firmware upgradeable/customizable via the RS-232 port
- Convenient threaded inlet and outlet ports
- 30,000 hour blower
More information:
- Download SASS 4000 Plus Data Sheet
(PDF, 305 KB)
- Candidate Disinfectants for Research International Products (PDF, 978 KB)
- SASS Air Sampler Comparison Chart (PDF)
- Biolink™ RF serial data link provides plug-and-play wireless communication betweenthe Analyte 2000 and a PC or laptop. Download Data Sheet. (PDF, 253 KB).
