General Description
The RAID-M is a complete state-of-the-art instrument for the homeland security and military response team professional to detect and identify dangerous chemical vapors. The RAID-M is an easy to use, rugged, versatile, and certified instrument. It detects and identifies a wide range of chemical vapors including CWA, TIC, riot control, and industrial gases. The RAID-M can be operated while in full personal protective gear, in hazardous areas, and in all kinds of environmental conditions. The RAID-M alerts the operator to the presence of dangerous chemical warfare agents and certain toxic industrial chemicals by means of an audible alarm, visual alarm, and LED display readings. Agents that are verifiably detectable are GA, GB, GD, GF, VX, HD, HN, L, AC, CG, CL2, TDI, SO2, CY, CN, CS, etc. This list is not exhaustive. Chemicals can be added and deleted from selected libraries easily by trained personnel. Applications include emergency response, chemical survey, decontamination validity, glovebox screening of dangerous chemical vapors, site monitoring, critical event monitoring, leak testing, and laboratory analysis.
Technical Description
The RAID-M handheld chemical agent detector is an ion mobility spectrometer that samples the ambient air for chemical agent and toxic industrial chemical vapors. The RAID-M has a membrane inlet, an exempt nickel 63 radioactive source for ionization, ammonia dopant for interference rejection, and automatic back flush for saturation protection. The RAID-M uses spectral matching software to classify and identify CWA's, TICs and other gases.
Evaluation Criteria
THROUGHPUT:
- Detection is instantaneous
- Continuous operation with no defined runs
- System is continuous and provides real time analysis with no defined tests/samples
- The system or device is currently fully automated
- Device or system is intended for multiple detection assays
- Less than 5 minutes is required for set-up
- Automatic detection
LOGISTICS:
- Very brief (minutes-hours) training and minimal technical skills
- Approximately the size of a toaster
- Between 1 and 5 kg
- Wireless and wired connections are available
- System or device uses batteries
- 4-8 hours battery life
OPERATIONS:
- Can be used from < -21°C to > 42°C (All temperatures)
- Device or system has peak performance at normal relative humidity conditions
- Greater than 3 years shelf life
- Greater than 10 years expected life
- Results can be viewed in real-time
- The system or device is currently fully autonomous
- The system software is open but modification requires licensing
- The system hardware is closed and not available for modification
DETECTION:
- This system does not test liquids
- Excellent specificity. System has occasional false alarms under certain conditions (<2%)
- 1x10-6 - 3x10-5 mg/m3
- 1 ppb – 1 ppm
- System currently can identify aerosolized chemical agent