Aeroacoustic Duster

Precision particle removal from a surface with no physical contact using a bounded vortex and peripheral jets providing streamlines

Background:

Mitigation of dust or particle build up on surfaces is a problem in many industries, especially where the surface being cleaned cannot be damaged, such as optical materials or delicate electronic instruments. In addition, the need for dust mitigation on future moon or Mars exploration missions will be critical where small, charged dust particles cannot only cover and foul equipment, but dust containing particles can be breeding grounds for bacteria, putting our astronauts at risk.

Technology Overview:

The aeroacoustic duster removes particles from a surface using a bounded vortex generated over the surface with suction in the vortex center and peripheral jets providing streamlines creating the top and bottom boundaries. With this system, the duster provides a high particle removal rate with no physical contact with the surface being cleaned.

Further Details:

• “Particle removal from a surface by a bounded vortex flow”, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 32 (2011) 901-914.

Benefits:

• Intense and strong particle removal
• No surface contact required
• Focused cleaning area with no particle spread
• Heat and drying capable
• Minimizes bacterial breeding areas

Applications:

• Optical lens production
• Advanced instrumentation production
• Lunar and planetary mission support
• Air particle remediation

Opportunity:

• Looking for research and development partners and licensing opportunities.

Patents:

• US Patent Nos. 8,695,156B2 and 9,480,375

Seeking:

• Licensing
• Development partner