A Versatile Flat-Deposit Impactor-Type Aerosol Collector Part 1: Design and Qualitative Study

Cascade impactors provide an efficient method for sampling aerosols according to their size, grossly between 0.1 mu m and a few tens of microns in diameter. We have designed such an apparatus, with rotatable substrate plates and radially aligned rectangular orifices. The nominal cutpoint diameters are, respec tively, for stages 1-7 of the collector: 10, 5, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.1 mu m aed for an airflow of 10/L min. The sampler has an auxiliary set of orifice plates for operation at 20/L min giving the same cutpoint characteristics. Annular deposits are obtained following complete rotation of the collecting substrates. The airflow is controlled with a critical orifice at the last stage. A calculation program was written for a rectangular orifice impactor in order to determine the cutpoints in different conditions. The constant exit pressure mode of operation appears to be the best way to minimize fluctuations of the effective cutpoints against the varying conditions of ambient temperature and pressure. The SPAL sampler has proven satisfactory with respect to manipulations required, maintenance, and results delivered.