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Title: Operation of the Airmodus A11 nano Condensation Nucleus Counter at various inlet pressures and various operation temperatures, and design of a new inlet system

Journal Article · · Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (Online)
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Helsinki, Helsinki (Finland)
  2. Univ. of Helsinki, Helsinki (Finland); Univ. Paris-Diderot, Paris (France)
  3. Univ. of Helsinki, Helsinki (Finland); Paul Scherrer Inst. (PSI), Villigen (Switzerland)
  4. Airmodus Ltd., Helsinki (Finland)
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Measuring sub-3 nm particles outside of controlled laboratory conditions is a challenging task, as many of the instruments are operated at their limits and are subject to changing ambient conditions. In this study, we advance the current understanding of the operation of the Airmodus A11 nano Condensation Nucleus Counter (nCNC), which consists of an A10 Particle Size Magnifier (PSM) and an A20 Condensation Particle Counter (CPC). The effect of the inlet line pressure on the measured particle concentration was measured, and two separate regions inside the A10, where supersaturation of working fluid can take place, were identified. The possibility of varying the lower cut-off diameter of the nCNC was investigated; by scanning the growth tube temperature, the range of the lower cut-off was extended from 1–2.5 to 1–6 nm. Here we present a new inlet system, which allows automated measurement of the background concentration of homogeneously nucleated droplets, minimizes the diffusion losses in the sampling line and is equipped with an electrostatic filter to remove ions smaller than approximately 4.5 nm. Lastly, our view of the guidelines for the optimal use of the Airmodus nCNC is provided.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Helsinki, Helsinki (Finland). Dept. of Physics
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1375412
Journal Information:
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (Online), Vol. 9, Issue 7; ISSN 1867-8548
Publisher:
European Geosciences UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 29 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (9)

Overview of HOMEChem: House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry journal January 2019
Theoretical and experimental analysis of the core sampling method: Reducing diffusional losses in aerosol sampling line journal May 2019
Measurements of sub-3 nm particles using a particle size magnifier in different environments: from clean mountain top to polluted megacities journal January 2017
Estimating the influence of transport on aerosol size distributions during new particle formation events journal January 2018
Vertical profiles of sub-3 nm particles over the boreal forest journal January 2019
Variation of size-segregated particle number concentrations in wintertime Beijing journal January 2020
Theoretical and experimental analysis of the core sampling method: Reducing diffusional losses in aerosol sampling line text January 2019
The role of ions in new particle formation in the CLOUD chamber journal January 2017
Assessment of particle size magnifier inversion methods to obtain the particle size distribution from atmospheric measurements journal September 2020

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