VOC and Formaldehyde emission test chambers
General System description in the standard configurations
Materials
Test chambers walls: stainless steel, AISI 304, mirror finishing or supermirror finishing
Test chambers ports: stainless steel, AISI 304, mirror finishing, glass inspection windows
Seals on the test chambers ports: Sponge Viton, property design; other seals: Viton, PTFE
Temperature conditions inside each test chamber
Each test chamber will include a temperature meter that will be used by the PLC/PC to display, control and record on a continuous basis the temperature inside test chamber.
No cooling device is foreseen.
BASE Line: 23°C±0.5°C (for all the standards except for ASTM D6007 which requires a temperature of 25°C ±1°C)
provided the room where the system is installed is conditioned to a temperature of 23°C±0.5°C (or to 25°C±1°C for the ASTM D6007) without stratifications. No heating device.
ADVANCED Line: 23°C±0.5°C to 50°C±0,5°C
provided the room where the system is installed is kept inside the limits 21°C < T < 23°C (that is the better range for optimization of RH control)
Each test chamber is thermally isolated and includes heating elements (number and dimensions suitable to reach a maximum temperature of 50°C ±0.3°C).
Heating is automatically controlled by the system, separately and independently in each test chamber.
PREMIUM Line: 23°C±0.5°C to 50°C±0,5°C
provided the room where the system is installed is kept inside the limits 21°C < T < 23°C (that is the better range for optimization of RH control)
Each test chamber is thermally isolated and includes heating elements (number and dimensions suitable to reach a maximum temperature of 50°C ±0.3°C)
Heating is automatically controlled by the system, separately and independently in each test chamber.
Each test chamber also includes ceramic IR heaters that allow to increase temperature to approx.200°C. This Line is provided with
Thermal desorption capability for a very effective cleaning of the test chamber, of all the included equipment and of the Sponge Viton seals after each emission test.
Thermal desorption cycle is automatically managed by the system.
Relative Humidity conditions inside each test chamber
50% RH ±5% RH @ 23°C or 45%RH ±3%RH (UNI 717-1) in the test chambers.
Relative Humidity inside the test chambers may also be controlled to a value that can be set inside the limits "RH in the inlet air" up to 80% RH @23°C with an accuracy better than 3%RH @23°C
BASE Line and ADVANCED Line can be optionally supplied with separate and independent control of Relative Humidity in 2 groups of test chambers.
PREMIUM Line includes as standard the separate and independent control of Relative Humidity in 2 groups of test chambers.
Air velocity
Air velocity control to a Set Point that can be set in the range 0,1 ÷ 0,3 m/s achieved through customized fans with brushless motors driven by a dedicated algorithm in the PLC/PC.
Test chambers required for formaldehyde emission test according to EN 717-1 will be provided with q.ty 2 air velocity meters.
Air velocity will be measured through an air velocity meter installed inside each test chamber. (Air velocity is to be measured and controlled 1 cm above the specimen according to ISO 16000-9 and EN 16516, 2 cm above the specimen, in 2 points, according to EN 717-1).
Inlet air (carrier gas) flowrate
Controlled by massic type flowcontroller, self adjusting, driven by the PLC (flow control not affected by possible pressure variations).
Inlet air diffusion system
One or more drilled cylindric diffuser(s) inside each test chamber, designed to give proper carrier gas distribution in the chamber.
Sample withdrawal connections
Each chamber port will include q.ty 4 compression fittings for stainless steel tubings, 5 mm internal diameter, 6 mm external diameter.
in 1m3 and 6m3 test chamber a wide selection of i nterchangeable panels with different sampling connections and other accessories.
Air tigthness
Each emission test chamber are airtight and operated at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure in order to avoid uncontrolled air exchange with ambient air
Vent
A vent connection on each test chamber.
Mounting
The chambers are installed, together with all other components of the system, on a self standing chassis, varnished metal, including wheels with brakes for easy movement inside the laboratory.
Port & Locking System
The test chamber ports will be wide open, with glass inspection windows. Port seals sponge Viton.
Each chamber port will also include a small shelf (e.g. to support sampling pump).
Each port will have a locking system and a safety interlock system controlled by the PC/PLC (very important feature specially for the heated systems)
Main functionalities of the control system
. control of the test chamber ports opening (safety interlock)
. selection of the reference technical standard and test fully automated according to this selection
. calling of the operator (mail) for air sampling when required by the reference standard
. preconditioning
. decay study
. purge
. cleaning
. thermal desorption (PREMIUM Line)
. manual settings always allowed
. test report in .csv format (mail or USB stick)
. alerts and alarms sent via mail
. self checking functionalities with mail alert to the operator
. remote control available
Available options on the standard systems
. air pre-treatment panel (to lower the VOC concentration in the inlet air)
. interchangeable panel on 1 m3 and 6 m3 test chambers, providing various sampling connectios and accessories
. various power supply options
. specimen support for vertical installation of specimen, horizontal positioning of specime, "carpet" specimen support according to GS 97014-3