The LASAG (Los Alamos Solid Aerosol Generator)

Abstract
In the course of developing an aerosol wind tunnel facility, Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed a proprietary solid particle aerosol generator wind tunnel facility that should offer advantages of over existing solid aerosol particle generators. After testing and evaluating a commercial product, and checking the availability of other aerosol generators, a concept idea involving spherical glass bead aerosols was developed by LANL investigator, Dr. Murray E. Moore. An integral part feature of this approach includes a reliable aerosol generator for solid aerosol particles (specifically spherical glass bead aerosols). Several prototypes were tested until a satisfactory working design was finalized.

Application(s)
Although developed as an aerosol generator for analytical purposes, this device could be used for entraining a variety of solid particulates into an air stream, for a range of applications. These could include pharmaceuticals for therapeutic treatment, pollens or beneficial microbes for agricultural applications, metallic powders for rapid prototyping or even solid dyes or paints for commercial and recreational purposes.

Advantages

Low cost: The LASAG has inherent cost advantages: off the shelf parts keeps the cost low and competitive.
Scalability: Increasing the size of the generator would allow for a system to produce more aerosolized particulate.
No clog design: The LASAG design should be free of clogging from solid materials. One commercially available generator, in particular, was rejected from consideration due to mechanical clogging by large size glass bead aerosols (over about 70 microns diameter).
Atmospheric pressure operation: Except for the external source of filtered air, the LASAG is a non-pressurized system, operating at a nominal gauge air pressure. Bulk feed solid particulates are added at ambient conditions, enhancing the ability to control the feed material.

IP Status: Available both Exclusively and Non Exclusively

Reference Number: 623

S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 104,872

Patents & Applications:
Application(s) Pending

Posted: 05-02-2006

Contact
John Mott
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 665-0883
jmott@lanl.gov

Licensing, TT

CONTACTS

The LASAG (Los Alamos Solid Aerosol Generator)