Performance of a TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

Calibration curves of the aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) under different sets of operating conditions (i.e., pressure drop across the nozzle, flow rate, and ambient pressure) were obtained. Materials used included oleic acid (OA), dioctyl phthalate (DOP), polystyrene latex (PSL), and fused aluminosilicate particles (FAP). The effect of particle density on the calibration was not found to be significant among test aerosols (in the density range from 0.89 to 2.3 g/cm³). Calibration curves obtained at reduced ambient pressure were different from the manufacturer's curve, indicating that recalibration of the APS is required if other than standard operating conditions are used. However, all the curves can be consolidated into a unique curve that relates the Stokes number at the nozzle exit to the normalized particle velocity (particle velocity divided by gas velocity). Methods for calculating gas velocity, particle velocity, and other pertinent parameters for the APS were developed and the results are presented. Consequently, these parameters together with the unique curve can be used to generate calibration curves for any set of operating conditions without performing the experimental calibration in the laboratory. The geometric standard deviations of monodisperse aerosols measured by the APS are generally in good agreement (< 2%) with those determined by other methods, thus demonstrating the good resolution of the instrument.     

A Universal Calibration Curve for the TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

Interest in mordenite as an inhalation hazard arose when it was discovered that the mineral exists in the subsurface of Yucca Mountain, NV, the site of a federally proposed nuclear waste repository. During preliminary geologic investigations at Yucca Mountain, workers performing air coring (dry-drilling) operations were potentially exposed to aerosols of mordenite. Mordenite is also increasingly used in industrial applications, such as cation exchange, molecular absorbency, and reversible dehydration. Concern that the fibrous nature of mordenite may present an inhalation hazard is supported by the ''Stanton Hypothesis," which states that the carcinogenicity of any fiber type depends upon dimension and durability rather than physicochemical properties. To date, little scientific literature is available on the inhalation health hazards of mordenite. This study initiates research in this area. Mordenite specimens collected from different geologic localities were analyzed macroscopically and microscopically. Mineral verification was performed using energy dispersive x-ray and x-ray diffraction analysis. Fibrous aerosols were generated to simulate aerosols created during air coring operations. Anderson cascade impactors were used to obtain aerosol mass median aerodynamic diameters. Electron microscopy of nucleopore filters allowed for individual aerosol fibers to be morphologically sized and applied to the Stanton Hypothesis for mesothelioma induction. Physical fiber dimensions were used to calculate aerodynamic diameters and to estimate pulmonary deposition. Results obtained from this study indicate that under similar conditions of aerosolization, using similar mordenite materials, inhalation of mordenite fibers could produce substantial deep-lung deposition.     

A Simple Iteration Procedure to Correct for the Density Effect in the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

A simple iteration procedure is developed to correct for the density effect in the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer. The correction is appreciable for large particles due to ultra-Stokesian drag. For submicron particles, the correction is less than 4% and is caused by the change of the slip correction factor across the accelerating nozzle. Both corrections were included in the procedure to calculate a new calibration curve at a desired particle density from a standard calibration curve. The iterations converge very fast; a microcomputer program has been developed which can calculate a 20-point calibration curve in less than 5 seconds. The results of the present procedure are in excellent agreement with the supercomputer calculations of Ananth and Wilson (1987).     

Effects of Gas Density and Viscosity on Response of Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

The performance of the aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) in an atmosphere that differs from standard calibration conditions was studied. The response of the APS for monodisperse polystyrene latex and dioctylphthalate particles ranging from 2.4 to 15.1 μm in diameter was measured in air, argon, and nitrous oxide atmospheres. The measurements indicated that particles in argon and in nitrous oxide accelerate faster than those in air. In order to postulate the mechanisms and interpret the observed results, the effects of both gas viscosity and gas density on instrument performance were considered. The particle density correction factor previously given by Wang and John (1987) (Aerosol Science and Technology. 6:191–198) was extended to include gas property effects. Good agreement was obtained between the new factor and the experimental data. Existing data obtained at a low pressure in air were also compared successfully with the developed model. Expected applications of the work are the use of the APS in an arbitrary gas or at an arbitrary temperature and pressure without a new calibration.     

Behavior of Compact Nonspherical Particles in the TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer Model APS33B: Ultra-Stokesian Drag Forces

The aerodynamic behavior of aggregates consisting of uniform polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres and unaggregated cuboidal Natrojarosite particles in a TSI aerodynamic particle sizer (Model APS33B) has been studied. In initial tests, monodisperse PSL micro-spheres ranging from 0.3 to 7 μm in geometric diameter were generated from aqueous suspensions using a Lovelace nebulizer. APS33B responses for these uniform-sized particles showed multiple peaks. The major (primary) peak, which resulted from the smallest particle, corresponded to the unaggregated single spheres (singlets); the second, third, and fourth peaks were identified as doublets, triangular triplets, and tetrahedral quadruplets, respectively. Both doublets and triplets moved with their long axes in perpendicular (maximum drag) orientation to the flow direction in the APS33B. In contrast, the tetrahedral particles were isometric and had the same dynamic shape factor (drag resistance) for all three primary orientations. The particle Reynolds numbers (Re _p) for these particles were calculated and ranged from 0.2 to 30 in the sensing volume of the APS33B detector (i.e., ultra-Stokesian conditions). Ultra-Stokesian drag forces for all three types of aggregates were, therefore, estimated and expressed as a function of an empirical factor (1 + aRe ^b _p) to the Stokesian drag force. The ultra-Stokesian drag of a Natrojarosite particle was measured in the range 20 Re _p < 50 and could be described with a similar expression. This approach facilitates the study of the dynamic behavior of nonspherical particles and yields new information about the characteristics of drag forces in the ultra-Stokesian regime     

Calibration and Use of the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS 3300)

The Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) has been in use at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for over two years, beginning with a prototype model and more recently with a commercial version (Model 3300). The APS has been tested and used in a variety of laboratory and field situations. It has been a very useful instrument for testing aerodynamic sizing devices and provided a much needed means of rapid aerodynamic sizing of particles. Limits to the accuracy of the APS in determining aerodynamic diameter of particles were investigated.

The calibration of the APS was originally carried out by using monodisperse di-octyl phthalate (DOP) oil aerosol in the 3–15 μm range. Using a laser imaging system, the flattening of droplets into oblate spheroids was observed for larger particles (20–100 μm). The APS was recalibrated with solid latex particles and the DOP particles were measured to determine the effect of the droplet flattening. A 15 μm droplet is measured as being 20% smaller by the APS. A semiempirical equation was developed to fit the droplet deformation data. Particle measurement in the APS takes place largely outside the Stokes regime. Therefore, it has been predicted by Wilson and Liu (1980) that the measured diameters will be dependent on density. Monodisperse particles of density 1.15 and 2.15 were generated. In the range of 8–14 μm there was a difference of up to 8% in the measured size for particles of the same aerodynamic diameter. Particle coincidence can modify the measured size distribution in a different way than for other optical particle counters. The APS has circuitry to reduce the effects of coincidence that can also modify the meausred distribution. Calculations were carried out to simulate the effect of coincidence. Several potential problems and improvements for the APS were found.     

A Method To Employ the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer Factory Calibration Under Different Operating Conditions

The dimensionless aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) response function (normalized particle velocity against particle Stokes number) first reported by Chen et al. (1985) is explored for much larger solid particles (diameters to 35 μm) over a similar range of instrument pressures (624–l740 mm Hg) and flow rates (4.2–6.0 L/min). An essentially unique response function is found for low and intermediate Stokes numbers under a variety of operating conditions, including the use of argon as the carrier gas. For large particles, however, non-Stokesian drag effects introduce systematic differences among calibration sets so that a unique response function no longer applies. The largest differences are observed between calibrations performed in air and argon, although even in this case the sizing error amounts to < 12% for a 20-μm polystyrene latex sphere. For intermediate Stokes numbers, a direct consequence of this work is that a reference calibration (channel number against Stokes number) can be used under different ambient conditions by setting the APS to operate at the same nozzle velocity as used in the reference calibration. With the single-velocity method, the factory-supplied calibration relating channel number to aerodynamic diameter can be used for air over a reasonable range of ambient temperatures and pressures. The same calibration can be used with an argon carrier gas provided that the aerodynamic diameters reported by the APS software are adjusted by the square root of the gas viscosity ratio. For the single-velocity mode of operation, a generalization of a correction proposed by Wang and John (1987, 1989) can be made and is shown to reduce by one half the sizing error introduced by non-Stokesian drag.     

An Evaluation of Mass-Weighted Size Distribution Measurements with the Model 3320 Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

The ability of the Model 3320 aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) to make accurate mass-weighted size distribution measurements was investigated. Significant errors were observed in APS size distribution measurements with measured mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMADs) as much as 17 times higher than from cascade impactor measurements. Analysis of APS correlated time-of-flight and light scattering data indicated that the MMAD distortions were due to a few anomalous large particle measurements (～0.1% of the total measurements) with surprisingly low scattered light. Computational fluid dynamics modeling indicated that these anomalous measurements were due to particles that deviated from the intended aerosol pathway and recirculated through the APS measurement volume at low velocities leading to erroneous large particle measurements. A technique for removing erroneous measurements based on correlated aerodynamic diameter and light scattering values is presented. When this technique was used, APS and cascade impactor size distribution measurements agreed well.     

Comparison of Particle Number Counts Measured with an Ink Jet Aerosol Generator and an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

Aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) users typically calibrate the particle sizing capabilities, but not the counting efficiency upon which aerosol concentration results are based. Herein, comparisons were made between the counts provided by an ink jet aerosol generator (IJAG) with those measured by an APS. Near-monodisperse (geometric standard deviation of about 1.06) liquid or solid aerosols in the size range of 0.95 to 13.3 μm aerodynamic diameter (AD) generated with an IJAG were released into the inner inlet-tube of the APS in a manner that rendered APS wall and aspiration losses negligible. For most experiments, the IJAG generated 75 particles/s, which rate was maintained by the IJAG system through control of electrical pulses applied to its ink jet cartridge. For particles in the size range of 2–13.3 μm AD, the ratio of relative detection efficiency (ratio of the number of particles counted by the APS to the number reported as generated by the IJAG) was 99.3 ± 1.4%; however, for test particles between 0.95 and 2 μm AD, the relative detection efficiency was somewhat lower, but the drop off was less than about 2%. This slight drop off is likely associated with the light scattering detection approach and corresponding counting algorithm of the APS. Tests were conducted where the IJAG produced 7.0 μm AD particles at rates of 1 to 500 s^-1 and the results showed essentially a 1:1 correspondence between IJAG and APS counts. The presence of smaller-sized background particles did not affect the measured APS counts of larger-sized challenge particles.

Copyright 2014 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Comparison and Combination of Aerosol Size Distributions Measured with a Low Pressure Impactor,Differential Mobility Particle Sizer,Electrical Aerosol Analyzer,and Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

Data from a different mobility particle sizer (DMPS) or an electrical aerosol analyzer (EAA) has been combined with data from an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) and converted to obtain aerosol mass distribution parameters on a near real-time basis. A low pressure impactor (LPI), a direct and independent measure of this mass distribution, provided information for comparison.

The number distribution of particles within the electrical measurement range was obtained with the DMPS and EAA. Data from the APS for particles greater than that size were used to complete the number distribution. Two methods of obtaining mass distribution parameters from this number data were attempted. The first was to convert the number data, channel by channel, to mass data and then fit a log-normal function to this new mass distribution. The second method was to fit a log-normal function to the combined number distribution and then use the Hatch-Choate equations to obtain mass parameters.

Both the DMPS / APS and the EAA / APS systems were shown to successfully measure aerosol mass distribution as a function of aerodynamic diameter. Careful operation of the measurement equipment and proper data manipulation are necessary to achieve reliable results. A channel-by-channel conversion from number to mass distribution provided the best comparison to the LPI measurement. The DMPS / APS combination furnishes higher-size resolution and accuracy than the EAA / APS system. A small gap was observed in the EAA / APS combined data; however, this did not seem to adversely affect the determination of mass distribution parameters.     

Evaluation of Aerodynamic Particle Sizer and Electrical Low-Pressure Impactor for Unimodal and Bimodal Mass-Weighted Size Distributions

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) and the Electrical Low-Pressure Impactor (ELPI) to study mass weighted particle size distributions. Unimodal and bimodal liquid test aerosols were produced to a small chamber. Simultaneous measurements were performed with an APS 3320, an APS 3321, an ELPI and a Dekati Low-Pressure Impactor (DLPI) analyzed gravimetrically. ELPI current and mass responses were simulated for lognormal size distributions using a parameterization of the impactor kernel functions. In experiments with a single coarse mode, the mass ratio to the DLPI was between 0.75 and 1.15 for both APS models up to 5 μ m and for the ELPI up to 3 μ m. For larger sizes the ELPI and APS 3320 overestimated and the APS 3321 underestimated the concentration. In experiments with a single fine mode, submicrometer ELPI and DLPI results were in good agreement. However, in contrast to the DLPI all three spectrometers showed a significant mass fraction above 1 μ m. In experiments with a bimodal size distribution, the mass ratios were altered compared to single coarse mode experiments. Simulations showed that uncertainties in ELPI measurements of larger particles occur when concentrations of small particles are high. Several mechanisms that may bias ELPI and APS measurements are described. With knowledge of these, ELPI and APS 3321 can, under many circumstances give accurate time-resolved mass size distributions for particles smaller than 3 and 5 μm, respectively.     

Inter-Comparison of a Fast Mobility Particle Sizer and a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer Incorporating an Ultrafine Water-Based Condensation Particle Counter

An Ultrafine Water-based Condensation Particle Counter (UWCPC), a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) incorporating an UWCPC, and a Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (FMPS) were deployed to determine the number and size distribution of ultrafine particles. Comparisons of particle number concentrations measured by the UWCPC, SMPS, and FMPS were conducted to evaluate the performance of the two particle sizers using ambient particles as well as lab generated artificial particles. The SMPS number concentration was substantially lower than the FMPS (FMPS/SMPS = 1.56) measurements mainly due to the diffusion losses of particles in the SMPS. The diffusion loss corrected SMPS (C-SMPS) number concentration was on average ～ 15% higher than the FMPS data (FMPS/C-SMPS = 0.87). Good correlation between the C-SMPS and FMPS was also observed for the total particle number concentrations in the size range 6 nm to 100 nm measured at a road-side urban site (r² = 0.91). However, the particle size distribution measured by the C-SMPS was quite different from the size distribution measured by the FMPS. An empirical correction factor for each size bin was obtained by comparing the FMPS data to size-segregated UWCPC number concentrations for atmospheric particles. The application of the correction factor to the FMPS data (C-FMPS) greatly improved the agreement of the C-SMPS and C-FMPS size distributions. The agreement of the total particle concentrations also improved to well within 10% (C-FMPS/C-SMPS = 0.95).     

The Scan Time Effect on the Particle Size Distribution Measurement in the Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer System

The scan time effect in the scanning mobility particle sizer was confirmed. The magnitude of this effect was shown in a typical situation. The cause of this scan time effect is the mixing process described by Russell et al. (1995). In that case, the result obtained at the longer scan time is the more accurate one.     

激光粒度仪测定钛白粉平均粒径的研究

用激光粒度仪研究了钛白粉平均粒径的测定方法，找出了影响分析测定的因素，并确立了稳定的测量体系。该方法简捷、快速、准确度高、重现性好，适用于钛白粉平均粒径的测定。     

Calibration of the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer 3310 (APS-3310) with Polystyrene Latex Monodisperse Spheres and Oleic Acid Monodisperse Particles

We have calibrated the new, extended-range aerodynamic particle sizer (model APS-3310, TSI, Inc.) with polystyrene latex monodisperse spheres and compared the response to that of oleic acid monodisperse particles from 2.5 to 38.7 μm in diameter. The results compare well with previous findings and cover a larger size range permitted by the new instrument.     

线程方法在激光测粒仪数据采集部分中的应用

本文在简要介绍基于USB接口激光粒度仪的工作原理的基础上着重讲述线程方法在此系统中的应用.     

Causes of Concentration Differences Between a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer and a Condensation Particle Counter

Accurate aerosol concentration measurement is important in many applications of aerosol science. Here we compare aerosol concentration measurements of classified NaCl aerosol in the size range of 20 to 80 nm (diameter) between a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and a condensation particle counter (CPC). The SMPS systematically measured higher concentrations than the CPC, with the difference increasing with decreasing particle size. Experiments suggest several causes for the discrepancy. First, the factory calibration of the SMPS impactor flow was incorrect for the study site at 780 mbar. Second, the neutralizer used in the SMPS was inefficient in bringing the classified aerosol to charge equilibrium, and third, there were significant losses of charged aerosol within the CPC. The comparisons were improved with proper impactor flow calibration and proper charge neutralization of the classified aerosol before measurement by the SMPS and CPC. The results of this study point to the importance of proper conditioning of aerosol below about 100 nm for measurement with the SMPS and condensation-based particle counters.     

Single Droplet Drying Technique to Study Drying Kinetics Measurement and Particle Functionality: A Review

Advances in the study of the rate processes in spray drying have helped improve product quality. Single droplet drying (SDD) is an established method for monitoring the drying kinetics and morphological changes of an isolated droplet under a controlled drying environment, mimicking the droplet convective drying process in spray drying. To enhance particle quality requires understanding of both the particle formation process and knowledge of how different particle properties are affected by the drying conditions used. The latest development in the SDD technique enables evaluation of these aspects by incorporating a dissolution test in the drying experiment. The experiment is realized by attaching a solvent droplet to a dried/semi-dried single particle in situ and then video-recording the resultant morphological changes. Some of the particle (e.g., crystallinity) properties obtained under different drying conditions can be modelled using the measured droplet drying kinetics. This paper reviews the applications of SDD experiments in measuring the drying kinetics and monitoring the droplet morphological changes during drying. Some examples of extending the glass filament SDD technique to examine particle functionalities are discussed. SDD experiments are shown to be a powerful tool for particle engineering due to its ability to study both the external convective transport process of a single droplet and to understand the different particle functionalities of the resultant single dried particle.