Frans Korhonen

Characterization of a Herrmann-type high-resolution differential mobility analyzer

ABSTRACT Aerosol instrument characterization and verification for nanometer-sized particles requires well-established generation and classification instruments. A precise size selection of sub-3-nm charged aerosol particles requires a differential mobility analyzer (DMA), specially designed for the sub-3-nm size range. In this study, a Herrmann-type high-resolution DMA developed at Yale University was characterized in various operation conditions. A relation between sheath flow rate and tetraheptylammonium ion (C28H60N+, THA+, 1.47 nm, mobility equivalent diameter) was established. The maximum particle size that the DMA was able to classify was 2.9 nm with the highest sheath flow rate of 1427 liters per minute (Lpm), and 6.5 nm with the lowest stable sheath flow rate of 215 Lpm, restricted by the maximum and minimum flow rates provided by our blower. Resolution and transmission of DMA are reported for tetrapropylammonium (C12H28N+, TPA+, 1.16 nm), THA+, and THA2Br+ (1.78 nm) ions measured with two different central electrodes and five different sheath flow rates. The transmission varied between 0.01 and 0.22, and the resolution varied between 10.8 and 51.9, depending on the operation conditions. Copyright

On the time response determination of condensation particle counters

ABSTRACT Condensation particle counter (CPC) technology has continued to evolve, with the introduction of several new instruments over the last several years. An important aspect in the characterization of these instruments is the measurement of their time response. Yet there is no standardly accepted approach for this measurement. Here we evaluate different classically used methods for determining CPC time response, and present the potential pitfalls associated with these approaches. Further, we introduce a new simple definition for the term response time, ϵ, which is based on the first-order systems response, while providing a practical definition by corresponding to ∼95% change in concentration. We also present results for various commonly used CPCs, and for the Airmodus A11 nano Condensation Nucleus Counter (nCNC) system, the TSI 3777+3772 Nano Enhancer system, and Aerosol Dynamics Inc.s (ADI) new versatile water condensation particle counter. Copyright

Data inversion methods to determine sub-3 nm aerosol size distributions using the particle size magnifier

Measuring particle size distribution accurately down to approximately 1 nm is needed for studying atmospheric new particle formation. The scanning particle size magnifier (PSM) using diethylene glycol as a working fluid has been used for measuring sub-3 nm atmospheric aerosol. A proper inversion method is required to recover the particle size distribution from PSM raw data. Similarly to other aerosol spectrometers and classifiers, PSM inversion can be deduced from a problem described by the Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. We tested the performance of the stepwise method, the kernel function method (Lehtipalo et al., 2014), the H&A linear inversion method (Hagen and Alofs, 1983), and the expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm. The stepwise method and the kernel function method were used in previous studies on PSM. The H&A method and the expectation–maximization algorithm were used in data inversion for the electrical mobility spectrometers and the diffusion batteries, respectively (Maher and Laird, 1985). In addition, Monte Carlo simulation and laboratory experiments were used to test the accuracy and precision of the particle size distributions recovered using four inversion methods. When all of the detected particles are larger than 3 nm, the stepwise method may report false sub-3 nm particle concentrations because an infinite resolution is assumed while the kernel function method and the H&A method occasionally report false sub-3 nm particles because of the unstable least squares method. The accuracy and precision of the recovered particle size distribution using the EM algorithm are the best among the tested four inversion methods. Compared to the kernel function method, the H&A method reduces the uncertainty while keeping a similar computational expense. The measuring uncertainties in the present scanning mode may contribute to the uncertainties of the recovered particle size distributions. We suggest using the EM algorithm to retrieve the particle size distributions using the particle number concentrations recorded by the PSM. Considering the relatively high computation expenses of the EM algorithm, the H&A method is recommended for preliminary data analysis. We also gave practical suggestions on PSM operation based on the inversion analysis.

Characterization of a high-resolution supercritical differential mobility analyzer at reduced flow rates

Abstract Classifying sub-3 nm particles effectively with relatively high penetration efficiencies and sizing resolutions is important for atmospheric new particle formation studies. A high-resolution supercritical differential mobility analyzer (half-mini DMA) was recently improved to classify aerosols at a sheath flow rate less than 100 L/min. In this study, we characterized the transfer functions, the penetration efficiencies, and the sizing resolution of the new half-mini DMA at the aerosol flow rate of 2.5–10 L/min and the sheath flow rate of 25–250 L/min using tetra-alkyl ammonium ions and tungsten oxide particles. The transfer functions of the new half-mini DMA at an aerosol flow rate lower than 5 L/min and a sheath flow rate lower than 150 L/min agree well with predictions using a theoretical diffusing transfer function. The penetration efficiencies can be approximated using an empirical formula. When classifying 1.48 nm molecular ions at an aerosol-to-sheath flow ratio of 5/50 L/min, the penetration efficiency, the sizing resolution, and the multiplicative broadening factor of the new half-mini DMA are 0.18, 6.8, and 1.11, respectively. Compared to other sub-3 nm DMAs applied in atmospheric measurements (e.g. the mini-cyDMA, the TSI DMA 3086, the TSI nanoDMA 3085, and the Grimm S-DMA), the new half-mini DMA characterized in this study is able to classify particles at higher aerosol and sheath flow rates, leading to a higher sizing resolution at the same aerosol-to-sheath flow ratio. Accordingly, the new half-mini DMA can reduce the uncertainties in atmospheric new particle formation measurement if coupled with an aerosol detector that could work at the corresponding high aerosol flow rate.