TSI 8587A Laser Photometer

Description of TSI 8587A

The Laser Photometer 8587A features a reliable laser diode that produces constant laser power, so aerosol concentration measurements remain stable over a long period of time. A sheath-air design keeps the optics clean for low background levels and also minimizes maintenance requirements. The 8587A utilizes an internal switching valve to measure both the upstream and downstream aerosol concentration. A special high-speed “purge” mode shortens the purge time when switching between upstream and downstream measurements.

A simple command set can be incorporated into your LabVIEW® program to give you complete flexibility in test protocol and database management. All of these features combine to make the 8587A ideally suited for custom filter testing applications.

Features and Benefits

• Same photometer engine as used by NIOSH
• Filter-efficiency measurements to 99.999%
• Penetration versus particle size to 0.001%
• Fit factors to 100,000
• Indicates low airflow conditions
• Signal correlates with aerosol mass concentration
• Stable 30 mW laser light source
• Internal valve switches between upstream and downstream samples
• Automatic gain selection
• Analog and digital output
• Manual or remote control via RS-232 or USB
• Critical orifice controls sample airflow
• Plug-and-play compatibility with the original 8587 command language

Applications

• Respirator certification testing (fit testing)
• Efficiency testing of HEPA filter assemblies
• Respirator design and development
• Filter design and development
• Aerosol laboratory research

Respirator Certification Testing

The Laser Photometer 8587A uses the same reliable, robust, time-proven photometer engine as the original model 8587 used by the US Army for gas mask development and by NIOSH for CBRN respirator certification testing. In fact, the 8587A is plug-and-play compatible with the original 8587. This means your laboratory can develop and test new respirator designs using the same measurement used for NIOSH certification testing.

Operation

The model 8587A has a simple front panel keypad for manually switching between upstream sampling, purging and downstream sampling. It also has a digital photometer voltage display on the front panel, with the real-time analog voltage available via a back panel connector.

Most users will want to take advantage of the remote control features that allow precise test protocol control via an RS-232 or USB 1.1 interface. You can write your own software to control all aspects of testing, including sampling mode (i.e., upstream/purge/downstream), read voltage, reset voltage, query valve status, and to control all three valves individually. Example program code is included to help programmers get started using the simple ASCII command set.

Low Maintenance

The optics are protected by filtered sheath air. Aerosols never come in contact with the lenses.

Filter Testing

The model 8587A is perfect for testing the efficiency of particulate filters. In fact, the 8587A photometer engine is the same one used in the TSI® Automated Filter Tester 8130 currently employed by NIOSH for 42 CFR part 84 particulate filter certification. Integrated valves make switching between upstream, purge and downstream measurements simple using front panel or remote control.

Laboratory Applications

The 8587A is useful for a variety of aerosol research applications. It is a basic photometer with switching valves added to accommodate easy aerosol concentration ratio measurements or mass correlations with a wide variety of aerosols.

Technical specifications of TSI 8587A