FLEC cell

When placed on the specimen, the FLEC-cell (Field and Laboratory Emission Cell) forms a micro emission chamber. The design of the FLEC-cell ensures a constant flow and velocity of the airstream over the complete surface of the tested material.

The FLEC cell is more or less and disc made from acid proof stainless steel with a handpolished inner surface which is formed like the mouth of a trumpet. The inner diameter is 150 mm so that the surface for the test material is 177 cm² and the volume is 3,5x10^-5 m³. On planar surfaces the silicone O-ring makes a perfect seal between the FLEC-cell and the sample. For porous surfaces there is a range of sub units that may be used with the FLEC-cell.

FLEC technology is widely used in

• research - to develop products with less harmful emissions
• industry - for quality control
• laboratories - to find sources of pollutants in indoor air

FLEC testing will also offer informaton on how emissions of a product will change over the time and up to which degree they have a negative effect on indoor air. It may also be used for monitoring different batches of a product or manfucturer.

Another application for the FLEC-cell is testing in existing buildings where damaged or badly maintained materials can be the reason for critical indoor air (sick-building-syndrome).

Last but not least the FLEC-cell offers a low-cost and easy-to-use alternative to conventional emission testchambers.

The FLEC-cell must be supplied with pure humid air, the flow must be well controlled (e.g. with the FLEC AirControl). One or two good airpumps (e.g. the Gilian GIIAir Plus sampling pump) are needed for the sampling.

The development of the FLEC-cell has been done in cooperation with leading international research institutes such as the Danish National Research Center for the Working Environment, the Danish Building Research Institute, the SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden and the Wilhelm-Klauditz-Instituts in Braunschweig.

FLEC products are in compliance with international standards such as ISO16000-10, ASTM D7143-05.

The Flec Cell (Field and Laboratory Emission Cell) is made of certified solid acid-resisting stainless steel. All surfaces, getting in touch with the sample emitted, are polished. This provides, together with the very small surface area of the test-chamber, a dramatic minimizing of the sink-effect compared to the sinkeffect of conventional chambers. The outlet split provides up to 90% of the supplied air to be collected on one or two sample tubes, and secure a very small, but constant overpressure in the chamber.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions

    Cylindric OD 200 mm
    Height without Fittings 20 mm
    Height including Fittings 85 mm
    Surface cylindric ID 177 cm²
    Volume of the testchamber 35 cm³
    Air Exchange Rate 180 – 900/ hour
    Airvelocity over the surface 0,35 - 1,75 cm / sec
    Surface of the testchamger 180 cm²
    Flow Air in 100 - 500 ml/min
    Flow Air outlet to sample tube 80 - 400 ml/min
    Flow to Air outlet  20 - 100 ml/min
    Material in touch with sample: polished, acid-resistant stainless steel
    Connector to air inlet: two 1/4 PFA hoses, Swagelok Fittings with Teflon Ferrules
    Connection of sample tubes: two 1/4" sample tubes
    Weight:  4 kg

Other requirements:

    Air supply: the FLEC-cell must be supplied with pure humid air, e.g. the FLEC AirControl FL-1000

    Pump: a pump is needed for the sample tubes, e.g. the Gilian GIIAir Plus Air sampling pump