Development of a Portable Wear Metal Analyzer for Field Use.
Abstract
The portable wear metal analyzer (PWMA) was developed to perform engine oil analysis when aircraft are deployed away from their home bases. The analyzer can detect nine wear metals in the parts per million concentration ranges. The analyzer uses the graphite furnace atomic absorption technology with a specially developed multi-element analysis scheme. The overall system is packaged into two militarized suitcases, including a nine-channel spectrometer, an air or water-cooled graphite furnace, a miniaturized graphite furnace power supply, a unique sample introduction device, a pneumatic supply system, and microprocessor controlled electronics. The analyzer is simple to set up and use. The operator only needs to introduce an undiluted oil sample, push a start button and wait for the results to be printed out. A brassboard system was first developed followed by six prototypes. Analytical performance as well as environmental compatibility were thoroughly evaluated on the first prototype. Consequently, design improvements were made and incorporated into five subsequent prototypes. Test results of the prototypes indicated that the instrument can meet the oil analysis need in both laboratory and rugged environments. Field tests are under way and the results will further verify the validity of the instrument. Keywords: Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, Wear metal, Spectrometric oil analysis, Graphite furnace power supply, Hollow cathode lamp, and Polychromator.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA166013
Entities
People
- William Niu