Aerosol Sampling System for Collection of Capstone Depleted Uranium Particles in a High-Energy Environment
The Capstone Depleted Uranium Aerosol Study was undertaken to obtain aerosol samples resulting from a kinetic-energy cartridge with a large-caliber depleted uranium (DU) penetrator striking an Abrams or Bradley test vehicle. The sampling strategy was designed to (1) optimize the performance of the samplers and maintain their integrity in the extreme environment created during perforation of an armored vehicle by a DU penetrator, (2) collect aerosols as a function of time post-impact, and (3) obtain size-classified samples for analysis of chemical composition, particle morphology, and solubility in lung fluid. This paper describes the experimental setup and sampling methodologies used to achieve these objectives. Custom-designed arrays of sampling heads were secured to the inside of the target in locations approximating the breathing zones of the vehicle commander, loader, gunner, and driver. Each array was designed to support nine filter cassettes and nine cascade impactors mounted with quick-disconnect fittings. Shielding and sampler placement strategies were used to minimize sampler loss caused by the penetrator impact and the resulting fragments of eroded penetrator and perforated armor. A cyclone train was used to collect larger quantities of DU aerosol for chemical composition and solubility. A moving filter sample was used to obtain semicontinuous samples for depleted uranium concentration determination. Control for the air samplers was provided by five remotely located valve control and pressure monitoring units located inside and around the test vehicle. These units were connected to a computer interface chassis and controlled using a customized LabVIEW engineering computer control program. The aerosol sampling arrays and control systems for the Capstone study provided the needed aerosol samples for physicochemical analysis, and the resultant data were used for risk assessment of exposure to DU aerosol.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 951826
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-49721; HLTPAO; 400403209; TRN: US0902323
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics, 96(3):221-237, Vol. 96, Issue 3; ISSN 0017-9078
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AEROSOLS
AIR SAMPLERS
CASCADE IMPACTORS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COMPUTERS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DEPLETED URANIUM
KINETIC ENERGY
LUNGS
MONITORING
MORPHOLOGY
PENETRATORS
RESPIRATION
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAMPLERS
SAMPLING
SHIELDING
SOLUBILITY
VALVES
depleted uranium aerosols
aerosol sampling