Common to all Concept standard smoke generators is our incorporation of precision, machined, specially treated steel heat exchanger blocks, in which the smoke chemical is vaporised.
Fog machine particle size and pyrotechnic chemicals
The concept smoke generator incorporates specially treated heat exchangers in which pyrotechnic chemicals are vaporised to produce a dense fog effect. It will easily out-perform conventional fog machine systems and smoke generators.Conventional smoke generators normally use either cast or platen type aluminium heat exchangers, which, whilst very cost effective to make, generally produce a smoke particle with a mass median diameter (mmd) of 1 - 5 microns.
This compares with a typical particle size of just 0.2- 0.3 micron mmd for the vast majority of our smoke systems, be they water or oil based.
The general benefits of producing such a consistent and clearly defined particle distribution are:
- the smaller the particle size of the smoke, (or more accurately fog) the smaller the amount of chemical is required within the atmosphere to achieve any given visibility. This can have a significant effect on running costs for heavy users of artificial smoke (fire brigades etc.)
- the less the amount of chemical in the atmosphere, the safer the smoke if measured in terms of relative Occupational Exposure Levels.
- the smaller the particle size of the smoke, the lower its settling velocity (the rate at which a particle will fall, due to gravity). A smoke particle of unit density, 0.2 micron in diameter, will fall at 8mm /hr, compared to a 2 micron particle, which falls at 468mm/hr. In essence this means that the smaller the particle of smoke you produce, the less chance there is that deposition of smoke particles will occur.
Concept's expertise in our field means that we actually produce systems specifically designed to fulfil the requirements of BS 5295, for the testing of HEPA filters in the nuclear, chemical and pharmaceutical industries Concept also have personnel registered with the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) for site work at nuclear establishments.