Comparing Differential Electric Mobility Classifiers on a Level Playing Field

ANDREW J. DOWNARD (1), James F. Dama (1), Harmony G. Gates (1), Richard C. Flagan (1)

(1) California Institute of Technology

     Abstract Number: 218
     Last modified: April 29, 2010

Abstract
A single master operating diagram is proposed for both differential mobility analyzers (DMAs) and opposed migration aerosol classifiers (OMACs) based on minimal models of a wide range of differential electrical mobility classifiers, and relates the resolution, efficiency, and dynamic range of most such devices. Analysis of this operating diagram and its consequences for the design of OMACs and DMAs suggests that OMACs have advantages over DMAs in design flexibility, miniaturization, dynamic range, and cost. Importantly, it is shown that OMACs can outperform DMAs for the currently difficult classification of particles with diameters less than 10nm.