Ailun AL-8000 Intelligent Combined Flow and Pressure Calibrator
| Brand | Ailun General / Qingdao Ailun |
|---|---|
| Origin | Shandong, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Model | AL-8000 |
| Price Range | USD 140 – 2,100 |
Overview
The Ailun AL-8000 Intelligent Combined Flow and Pressure Calibrator is a field-deployable, metrology-grade instrument engineered for primary calibration of gas flow meters and pressure sensors used in environmental monitoring applications—including particulate (PM2.5/PM10), stack emission, ambient air, and occupational hygiene sampling systems. It implements traceable measurement principles aligned with ISO 4064 (water and gas meters), ISO 9300 (critical flow venturi nozzles), and ASTM D6196 (VOC sampling calibration). The device integrates multiple independent flow measurement methods—critical orifice (orifice plate), volumetric displacement (calibrated syringe/burette), and soap-film timing—each referenced to standardized thermodynamic conditions (273.15 K / 101.325 kPa, 293.15 K / 101.325 kPa, and 298.15 K / 101.325 kPa) to support regulatory reporting under EPA Method 5, EN 13284-1, and HJ 836–2017. Its embedded microprocessor architecture enables real-time compensation for ambient temperature, barometric pressure, and gas composition (via user-selectable molecular weight), ensuring NIST-traceable accuracy across variable field conditions.
Key Features
- Triple-mode flow calibration: Orifice-based high-flow (0.7–1.4 m³/min), volumetric mid-flow (70–140 L/min), and precision low-flow (50–6000 mL/min via soap-film) with simultaneous display of actual, standard (273.15 K/101.325 kPa), and reference (298.15 K/101.325 kPa) volumetric flow rates.
- Integrated pressure metrology: Dual-range pressure sensing—micro-pressure (±3 kPa, 1 Pa resolution) and gauge pressure (±30 kPa, 0.01 kPa resolution)—with full-scale accuracy of ±1% FS, compliant with ISO 5167-2 for differential pressure instrumentation.
- Self-diagnostic startup sequence verifying functionality of all embedded sensors: ambient temperature (–50 to +99.9 °C, ±0.5 °C), barometric pressure (60–115 kPa, ±300 Pa), micro-pressure, and gauge pressure transducers.
- Embedded 12 V / 2.6 Ah lithium battery supporting ≥12 hours of continuous operation; power consumption ≤3.2 W; operational weight: 12 kg; dimensions: 300 × 270 × 420 mm (L×W×H).
- Industrial-grade 7-inch color TFT touchscreen with intuitive icon-driven UI; on-screen help system eliminates need for printed manuals; supports multilingual interface configuration (English default).
- Wi-Fi server mode enabling real-time telemetry transmission (temperature, pressure, flow, cumulative volume) to external clients—compatible with LabVIEW, Python-based QA/QC scripts, and custom calibration management platforms.
- USB host port for external thermal printer or USB flash drive data export (CSV format); infrared optical sensor minimizes ambient light interference during soap-film timing.
- Factory-reset capability and automatic parameter saving; configurable flow unit conversion (e.g., L/min ↔ m³/h) and gas-specific compressibility correction (user-defined Z-factor or ideal gas assumption).
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The AL-8000 calibrates a broad spectrum of gas sampling instruments including but not limited to: diaphragm pumps (e.g., Gilian, SKC, Apex), critical-orifice samplers (e.g., TSI SidePak, Thermo Scientific Partisol), rotameters, bubble meters, and low-flow passive samplers. It meets functional requirements for GLP-compliant calibration workflows per ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Clause 6.5 (Equipment), supports audit-ready data logging with timestamped metadata, and accommodates electronic record retention compatible with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when integrated with validated third-party software. Calibration certificates issued using the AL-8000 may be traceable to national standards (e.g., NIM China, NIST USA) through documented chain-of-custody procedures.
Software & Data Management
All measurements are timestamped and stored internally with full environmental context (T, Pamb, RH if equipped). Data export occurs via USB mass storage or Wi-Fi TCP/IP socket in comma-separated values (CSV) format, containing columns for: datetime, actual flow (L/min), std. flow (273.15 K), std. flow (293.15 K), ref. flow (298.15 K), cumulative volume (L), differential pressure (Pa), gauge pressure (kPa), ambient temperature (°C), and barometric pressure (kPa). No proprietary software is required; exported files are directly importable into Excel, MATLAB, or LIMS platforms. Firmware updates are delivered via USB and include cryptographic signature verification to ensure integrity.
Applications
- Field verification and adjustment of EPA-compliant PM10/PM2.5 samplers (e.g., TEOM, Beta Attenuation Monitors)
- Calibration of SVOCs (semi-volatile organic compounds) sampling trains operating at 150–800 L/min
- Verification of respirable dust cyclones and personal sampling pumps in occupational health settings
- Validation of stack gas analyzers requiring certified flow accuracy per EN 15267
- Educational laboratories conducting fluid mechanics experiments on compressible flow behavior
- QA/QC audits for environmental testing laboratories accredited to CNAS or UKAS
FAQ
Does the AL-8000 support automated calibration reports compliant with ISO/IEC 17025?
Yes—when paired with validated third-party reporting software, it provides all raw and compensated data fields required for accredited calibration certificates.
Can the instrument compensate for non-ideal gas behavior during flow calculation?
Yes—users may input gas-specific compressibility factor (Z) or select from built-in tables for common gases (N₂, O₂, CO₂, air) to correct for real-gas deviation.
Is the soap-film module traceable to national standards?
The soap-film timing function uses a factory-calibrated high-speed optical interrupter (±0.02 s uncertainty) and references NIST SRM 2810 for volumetric calibration of the film chamber.
What is the recommended recalibration interval?
Ailun recommends annual recalibration against certified reference standards; internal diagnostics verify sensor drift before each use.
Does the device meet electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements for field deployment?
It complies with IEC 61326-1:2020 for industrial environments, including electrostatic discharge (ESD) immunity up to ±8 kV (contact) and radiated RF immunity (10 V/m, 80 MHz–2.7 GHz).
