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Ion mobility spectrometer Kerber-T

Kerber-T is a portable gas analyzer, ion-drift detector (IDD), ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) designed to detect vapors of explosives, chemical warfare agents, narcotic substances and other dangerous substances in trace quantities.

Principle of operation

The Kerber-T detector was designes by specialists from Yuzhpolimetall-Holding and the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute. Development was completed at the end of 2010.

Kerber-T operates on the basis of ion mobility spectrometry [en]. During operation, the device continuously sucks in air, which is sent to the ionization chamber. For ionization, a corona discharge generator is used, which ionizes the molecules contained in the air. Target substances entering the device are ionized by chemical ionization at atmospheric pressure, and non-ionized molecules are blown into the surrounding air. The ionized molecules are held in the ionization chamber by an ion gate. After opening the ion gate, the ions enter the drift chamber with an electric field gradient. Depending on the mass and size, ions (ionized molecules) move at different speeds through the drift chamber: heavy ones move slower, and light ones move faster. By measuring the velocities of ionized molecules, you can determine their composition. The measurement takes place at the ion current collector, which generates a signal that enters the amplification and processing system. Kerber-T generates 10 spectra per second, which makes it possible to perform statistical processing and discard noise caused by random changes in the composition of the air flow and electromagnetic interference[2].

Functioning

The key distinguishing feature of the Kerber-T ion drift sensor when it entered mass production was that it was the only gas analyzer that could simultaneously detect positively and negatively charged ions[3]. The device can detect all types of explosives, including homemade ones, based on organic peroxides and inorganic nitrates. The design of the sampling unit allows air analysis and analysis of microparticles on the surface of the sampling cloth. The swab is a sheet of food-grade aluminum foil[4]. The capacity of the air intake pump is 5-10 cm3 / s[5]. An important feature is the use of a non-radioactive ionization source in the device[6]. The device's built-in software analyzes the data received by the drift camera sensors and compares it with the data stored in the device's memory. If the compound is detected and its number exceeds the set threshold, then Kerber-T sends the appropriate signals[5]. The results can be displayed graphically on the built-in screen, on an external screen, or recorded on a memory card. The time of any analysis option does not exceed 5 seconds[4]. The device is operated by one person. The weight of 3.5 kg provides high mobility, and operation from a replaceable battery provides high autonomy. The device can operate from a 220 V network. For the sensor to work correctly, the ambient temperature must be between 0° and 50°C, and the humidity must be between 20 and 80 %[7]. According to the official periodical of the engineering troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation "Engineering magazine" for April 2019, the Kerber-T IDD "is the lightest and most compact bipolar ion mobility spectrometer in the world" [4].

Application

The Kerber-T device is designed to detect and identify trace quantities of non-volatile and volatile substances (toxic, chemically hazardous, explosive and narcotic) in the air and on surfaces, including hands[8]. During 2010-2011, the Kerber-T gas analyzer was tested in leading specialized laboratories in Russia:

• the Center for special equipment of the FSB of Russia conducted tests on explosives, narcotic substances and resistance to false positives;
• The Department of explosion and fire technical expertise of the ECC of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the city of Moscow conducted tests on explosives and resistance to false positives;
• The Department of special and forensic support of the Federal Drug Control Service of Russia conducted tests on narcotic substances;
• Institute of problems of ecology and evolution them. Severtsova RAS and Federal state unitary enterprise "NPP "Delta" conducted tests on toxic substances and a number of classes of organic compounds;
• CJSC "Spetspribor" (Tula) conducted tests on toxic substances.

In August 2011, serial production of the Kerber-T IDD began.

In 2012 the Center for special equipment of the Federal security service of Russia together with the Moscow metro conducted a pilot operation at the station Okhotny Ryad. During the test operation, there was not a single false positive response of the detector.

Extensive production of the Kerber-T began in 2011[9]. The device is used in Russia at transport infrastructure facilities: airports, railway stations, metro, etc. [10]. It is actively used in the customs control[9]. The device is actively sold outside the Russian Federation. For example, in 2017, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan conducted combat training sessions for personnel of the main departments and independent departments of the Ministry, as well as senior employees belonging to the group of the Minister of Internal Affairs, during which employees of the special unit for detecting, neutralizing and destroying explosive devices and explosive objects demonstrated how to use the Kerber-T ion drift detector[11]. The Kerber-T gas analyzer was successfully used by units of the RCBD troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the military operation in Syria[4]. In addition to law enforcement agencies, the Kerber-T is used by institutions with a large number of visitors such as theaters, shopping and entertainment centers, museums, etc. For example, in 2019, from 2 to 16 September The State Tretyakov Gallery organized a test operation, after which it was decided to use the device to ensure security at the entrances to the gallery[12][13]. As of March 2019, more than 3,000 copies of the IMS Kerber-T were produced and sold[14]. Various devices that detect dangerous substances were designed on the basis of the Kerber-T: a stationary gas analyzer "Segment", a compact analyzer of substances on the surface of the arm"Shelf-TI-R" [10]. Associate Professor of Institute of Forensic Expertise (Eurasian National University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan) N. B. Mergembaeva PhD in 2020 noted that "Kerber-T" refers to "the most reliable search tools for the detection of direct signs of explosive devices, along with manufactured in the USA detectors Q-Scan QR-160 QR-500"[15]. The same evaluation of the ion-drift detector "Kerber-T" was given in 2016 by E. D. Isaeva , the candidate of legal sciences, senior lecturer of general legal disciplines of the All-Russian Advanced Training Institute of the Russian Federation Ministry of the Interior.[16]

References

• Максим, Юдин (2018-10). "Детекторы взрывчатых и наркотических веществ" (PDF). Моё метро. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-23. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); no-break space character in |title= at position 23 (help)

• Technology Update: More than meets the eye. Russia Today. Retrieved 2020-07-26. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |date2= ignored (help)