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A low velocity wind tunnel to evaluate inhalability and sampler performance for large dust particles.

Hinds WC; Kuo L

Appl Occup Environ Hyg 1995 Jun; 10(6):549-556

https://doi.org/10.1080/1047322X.1995.10389073

00227369

A wind tunnel constructed for use in studies examining inhalable particulate mass was described. The tunnel was designed to simulate typical indoor workplace air velocities, to provide uniform and stable concentrations of test aerosols up to 150 micrometers (microm), to accommodate a full torso mannequin, and be low in cost. The tunnel developed was an 11,000 cubic foot/minute open cycle, closed jet wind tunnel with a cross section of 1.6 by 1.6 meters that was capable of producing wind velocities between less than 0.1 to 2 meters/second. Dust generation was achieved by three gear feed, aspirating dust feeders which delivered narrow distribution aluminum-oxide (1344281) dust to a reciprocating dust distribution manifold. Turbulence in the test section was controlled at intensities between 3% and 14% by a wooden lattice. Testing of the tunnel was performed using a full torso mannequin that simulated human breathing and was modified to collect dust entering the nose and mouth. Air velocity in the tunnel was found to be uniform within 10% and dust concentration was uniform to within 15%. Environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and noise were discussed. The tunnel met the European Economic Community guidelines for testing indoor inhalable particulate mass samplers and had good performance for particles with aerodynamic diameters ranging between 10 and 145microm.

Respiratory-system-disorders; Training; Equipment-design; Industrial-engineering; Measurement-equipment; Airborne-particles; Indoor-air-pollution; Simulation-methods; Indoor-environmental-quality

William C. Hinds, Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1772

AOEHE9

1344-28-1

19950601

Journal Article

295903

Grant

1995

Grant-Number-R01-OH-003196; Grant-Number-T42-OH-007214

6

1047-322X

Grants Other

Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

CA

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California