Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV4)

The ATS Pressure Aging Vessel 4 (PAV4) introduces new technology and exclusive features while maintaining all of the characteristics that made the original ATS PAV reliable and efficient. Designed specifically to prepare specimens for tests developed by the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP), the PAV4 simulates in-service oxidative aging that occurs in asphalt binders during service and meets ASTM D6521, AASHTO R-28, and EN 14769 test standards as part of the PG grading according to Superpave. As the first PAV system to feature digital touchscreen technology and programmable test parameters, the PAV4 is unlike anything else currently on the market today.

Each PAV4 consists of a vertical pressure vessel enclosed in a stainless steel cabinet with encased band heaters, a precision sample holder for the simultaneous testing of ten specimens, a set of ten TFOT specimen trays, pressure and temperature measurement devices, and a specimen loading and unloading tool. Test interruption or data loss due to power failure is prevented through an optional battery backup system, and the PAV4’s network-ready modem allows users to monitor and regulate their equipment remotely using a computer, tablet, or smart phone.

A seven inch, user friendly touchscreen provides easy access to the PAV4’s programmable features. Temperature, pressure, and time data are collected throughout the aging process, and the PAV4 allows users to view data in real time from the touchscreen display in the form of raw data or graphs. Temperatures can be programmed and maintained from 50⁰C – 150⁰C, and test times may be programmed between one and ninety-nine hours. Users may also program a custom soak time from 0 to 4,320 minutes. Each PAV4 comes standard with eight different language options. At any time a language can be selected from English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Chinese, or Arabic from the controller itself or a connected remote device. The ability to customize each testing experience is completely unique to the PAV4 and allows greater freedom for a diverse range of research and development projects.

During operation, users are guided through each step by the prompts displayed on the PAV4 touchscreen. Once the PAV4 is set up and the bottled air is connected, the user begins the preheating process by entering their unique temperature specifications and pressing the “heat mode” button on the display. When the PAV4 has reached the desired temperature, the user loads the specimens, secures the lid, and utilizes the digital touchscreen to begin the aging process. The PAV4 will then recover to set point and start to soak, allowing the temperature to stabilize. When the user defined soak time has passed, the PAV4 will automatically pressurize and the samples will start the aging process. The PAV4 will depressurize once the aging process has completed, ending the testing sequence.

Upon completion of the aging process, a .csv file containing the test data is created and easily downloaded to a flash drive via the USB port on the front of the PAV4. Once downloaded, data can be charted and viewed in Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet programs.