Performances of Respirator Canisters for NaCl Aerosol under Steady and Pulsating-flow Conditions

Abstract

An experiment was made to test the performances of the respirator canisters under both steady and simulated respiratory flow conditions, using a mechanical breathing simulator and a sodium chloride aerosol as the test aerosol. Tested were eighteen commercially available canisters, imported and domestic ones.
Efficiencies and inhalation resistances of the canisters are summarized as a function of inspiratory flow rates for both test flow conditions. Increases in penetration and resistance under the pulsating flow are observed as being compared with those under the steady flow at same minute volume. Based on the data, a simplified method is proposed for roughly estimating performance under respiratory pulsating flow through a steady flow measurement.
Comparison is also made between the present results and nominal efficiency of each canister.