Design and performance characteristics of three continuous-flow condensation particle counters: a summary

• Published in: Atmospheric research 2002-06, Vol.62 (3), p.267-294
• Main Author: Sem, Gilmore J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosol number concentration; Condensation nucleus counter; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Geophysics. Techniques, methods, instrumentation and models; Intercomparison study; Meteorology; Optical particle counter; Particle detection efficiency; Particles and aerosols
• ISSN: 0169-8095; 1873-2895
• DOI: 10.1016/S0169-8095(02)00014-5

Selection of the optimum condensation particle (nucleus) counter (CPC) for any application requires knowledge of the performance characteristics of available, usually commercial, instruments. Performance characteristics are a result of the design of a CPC. This paper describes the designs of three commercial CPCs that use continuous-flow, evaporation/condensation configurations. The paper reviews available data describing the performance of TSI 3010, 3022A, and 3025A CPCs. Data reported by a variety of investigators include detection efficiency as a function of monodispersed NaCl and Ag particles with diameters of 3–100 nm, effect on lower detection efficiency of ambient temperature from 0 to 40 °C, response time for step increase and step decrease of aerosol concentration, effect on detection efficiency of relative humidities of 0–50%, and effect on indicated concentration when feeding high-concentration aerosol to the CPCs. The reference standard is usually a Scheibel–Porstendörfer (1983) aerosol generator with an aerosol electrometer measuring the concentration of singly charged monodispersed aerosol exiting from a differential mobility analyzer. One set of such data has been obtained for Mo(CO) 6 aerosol. Limited data compare the CPCs' detection efficiency with an alternating gradient cloud chamber (NaCl aerosol) and an automatic diffusion battery (WO x aerosol).