Abstract
A new detector of airborne particles is presented. Its design and capabilities are compared to those of a similar device, the acoustical particle detector. The new device, called a pressure differential particle detector (PDPD), detects particles by a momentary change in static pressure as opposed to acoustical detection. This pressure change accompanies a particle passage through the detector's orifice and occurs in the detector's exit chamber. Unlike the acoustical particle detector, replicate models of the PDPD are easily fabricated. The PDPD also posseses improved small particle detection efficiencies and improved particle sizing capabilities. In this regard, the PDPD possesses pulse amplitude size discriminating capabilities as well as the flow dependent size discriminating capabilities of the acoustical detector. A limitation shared by both particle detectors is their relative insensitivity to particle sizes in the respirable range.