AAAR 32nd Annual Conference
September 30 - October 4, 2013
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Advances in Water Condensation Particle Collectors and Concentrators
GREGORY LEWIS, Steven Spielman, Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez, Susanne Hering, Aerosol Dynamics Inc.
Abstract Number: 505 Working Group: Instrumentation and Methods
Abstract We describe advances in our three-stage laminar flow water condensation system for particle collection. The three-stage system has a lower output temperature and dew point, which provide sub-saturated flow at room temperature. Particles as small as 8 nm can be activated and grown without exceeding 25 degrees C in the majority of the flow. This makes the approach amenable to the sampling of volatile and biological materials. We have coupled the growth tube with an aerodynamic focusing nozzle, increasing the flow rate to 5 lpm without increasing the liquid sample volume. The new continuous wick design conserves water, lengthens the life of the wick, and eliminates a water reservoir. This design avoids potential flooding problems if the inlet is inadvertently blocked and allows the collector to be operated in any orientation.