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Abstract
A compact aerosol particle mass analyzer (APM) of which the size of the classifier was significantly reduced than that of the first commercial model (Kanomax Model 3600) was developed. Firstly, requirements for desired performance in classifying particle mass were set forth. Secondly, a theoretical framework for the design parameters of an APM that satisfies the requirements was formulated. Thirdly, the design parameters were determined that satisfies the requirements while reducing the instrument size. The requirements include the condition that the classification range covers from 0.001 to 1000 fg (approximately 12 to 1200 nm in size for spherical particles having the density of 1 g/cm3), and the condition that both the classification resolution and particle penetration in this mass range are higher than certain specified values. A prototype having the design parameters determined according to this theoretical framework was constructed, and its performance was evaluated experimentally. The external dimensions of the electrodes of the compact APM are approximately 140 mm in length and 60 mm in diameter. It was confirmed that the performance of the compact APM operated at the aerosol flow rate of 0.3 L/min was comparable to that of the Model 3600 APM operated at 1 L/min. Because of the reduced size and of the resultant improved portability, it is expected that the compact APM is readily applicable to field measurements.
Copyright 2013 American Association for Aerosol Research
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Professor Yoshio Otani of Kanazawa University for his helpful support.
[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Aerosol Science and Technology to view the free supplementary files.]
Notes
There is some arbitrariness in categorizing Q in either group, but it is convenient to regard Q as a design parameter for the purpose of determining the design of an APM. Note that Q can be used to control R and T at each APM operation, but the same role can be played also by ω.
In practice, the ratio of CN to the particle concentration at the APM inlet is often recorded in order to compensate the variation of the concentration at the inlet during the scan over V. We also call a set of “normalized” C ″ N–V pairs an APM spectrum.
However, the aerosol temperature at the APM outlet was observed to increase by about 10 degrees at 14,000 rpm operation. Due attention should be paid to the temperature rise when semivolatile particles are to be measured.
