Durable Aerosol Generators
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Designed for testing filter systems ranging from small glove boxes to large cleanroom plenums
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ATI Air Techniques
Air Techniques International (ATI) is a specialized designer and manufacturer of advanced testing equipment dedicated to protecting people, products, and critical infrastructure. Since 1961, the company has provided comprehensive solutions for testing the integrity of HEPA filters, various filter media, cartridges, respirators, and protective masks. ATI's product portfolio is engineered for diverse applications, including filter leak testing in highly sensitive environments such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, compounding pharmacies, and nuclear power plants, and automated filter testing utilized in filter media and replaceable particulate filter manufacturing facilities.
The core of ATI's technical offering revolves around aerosol and photometry-based instrumentation. Key products include sophisticated aerosol photometers for accurate in-situ filtration system assessment, and various aerosol generators—both Laskin-Nozzle and thermal types—designed to create a consistent polydispersed, submicron aerosol challenge for filter systems ranging from small enclosures, such as glove boxes, to large cleanroom air handling units. Complementary equipment, such as aerosol injection and conditioning tools and specialty probes, ensures precise particle delivery, homogeneous distribution, and accurate measurement compliance with international testing requirements.
Precision Measurement for Installed Filtration Systems
ATI offers highly rugged and portable aerosol photometers specifically engineered for in-situ filtration system testing. These instruments are essential for validating the operational integrity of installed filter banks in critical environments such as medical facilities, cleanrooms, and biosafety cabinets. The technology relies on photometry to measure aerosol concentration both upstream and downstream of the filter, allowing technicians to identify and quantify filter leaks. Specialized scanning probes are utilized in conjunction with the photometer, providing capabilities for secure data storage, reporting, and traceability for comprehensive audit trails of the filtration system's performance validation, making it an advanced, innovative, and user-friendly solution for field use.
Generating Controlled Polydispersed Submicron Aerosols
The foundation of effective filter testing is the ability to introduce a controlled challenge agent, a role fulfilled by ATI's aerosol generators. The company provides two primary technical types: Laskin-Nozzle generators and Thermal Aerosol Generators. Laskin-Nozzle units are reliable and portable, designed to create a polydispersed, submicron aerosol suitable for testing filter systems ranging up to large cleanroom plenums. The thermal type is engineered for operators needing a wider range of aerosol output concentrations, enabling effective leak tests on both smaller clean air cabinets through to extensive cleanroom air handling systems, offering a high-capacity output solution.
Aerosol Conditioning and Delivery Systems
To ensure accurate and compliant testing, particularly when using thermal or Laskin-Nozzle units, ATI provides specialized aerosol injection and conditioning equipment. The Positive Injection Pump establishes a safe and reliable system for directing the generated aerosol through a tube into the injection point, with integrated speed control that allows for precise regulation of the aerosol's delivery rate. Furthermore, Sparge Pipes (Kits) are utilized to significantly improve the mixing of the challenge aerosol upstream of the filter face in applications where the distance between the injection point and the filter is short, critical for testing devices like clean air cabinets and isolators.
Dilution for Particle Counter Compatibility
The use of highly sensitive particle counters requires careful management of the aerosol challenge concentration to prevent instrument saturation. The Aerosol Diluter is a dedicated technical component designed to address this by effectively diluting the aerosol to levels that are both measurable and within the operational range of the particle counter. This device is installed inline between the aerosol source and the counter. Crucially, its design minimizes two critical factors: the pressure drop across the unit and any unwanted aerosol loss, ensuring that the data used for final filtration efficiency calculation remains technically sound and accurate.
Automated Quality Control for Filter Media and Cartridges
For high-volume production and quality assurance in manufacturing, automated testing provides a critical method for the validation of filter media, cartridges, and masks. ATI’s specialized automated filter testers are high-throughput systems engineered for test and quality control of components utilized in both medical and industrial hygiene applications. This technical capability allows manufacturers to perform rapid, repeatable validation, ensuring that all products meet pre-defined performance specifications. The deployment of these automated solutions ensures comprehensive integrity checking and high confidence in the filtration efficiency of the finished manufactured goods.
Confirming Seal Integrity for Respiratory Protection
A vital technical application of ATI's product line is focused on ensuring the safety and reliability of protective masks and respirators. The dedicated leakage testing instruments are aerosol and photometry-based systems designed specifically to confirm three critical performance parameters: the mask's overall seal, its material integrity, and its proper individual fit on the wearer. By challenging the mask with a controlled aerosol and precisely measuring any resulting penetration, the instrument provides a definitive assessment of the protective barrier's functionality, which is a non-negotiable requirement for operators in environments involving hazardous airborne particulates.
Deployment in Regulated and High-Risk Sectors
ATI’s testing technology is routinely deployed across numerous highly regulated and safety-critical industries. The equipment is a mainstay for filter validation in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to maintain compliance with aseptic processing regulations, and in Nuclear Power Plants where the integrity of filtration systems is paramount for environmental and personnel safety. Furthermore, the portable and rugged nature of the instruments makes them suitable for field-based Asbestos Abatement and Mold Remediation projects, where they are used to ensure that containment and exhaust filters are functioning effectively and leak-free during crucial cleanup operations.
Facilitating Compliance with International Standards
To optimize the aerosol challenge and sampling process within permanent infrastructure, such as ducting or HVAC systems, ATI provides Fixed Installation Ports and Specialty Probes. These components are engineered for permanent integration and are designed to simplify both the injection of the challenge aerosol and the subsequent sampling of the upstream particle concentration. Crucially, the technical specifications of these installation accessories are designed to meet the rigorous requirements of international testing standards, including ISO 14644-3. Their utilization supports achieving repeatable and auditable testing results for both new system installations and the maintenance of existing air handling infrastructure.
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