On Operation of the Ultra-Fine Water-Based CPC TSI 3786 and Comparison with Other TSI Models (TSI 3776, TSI 3772, TSI 3025, TSI 3010, TSI 3007)

TLDR: In this article, the performance characteristics of an ultrafine water condensation particle counter (UWCPC, TSI3786) were examined using different temperature differences between saturator and growth tube.

Abstract: In this study we examined performance characteristics of an ultrafine water condensation particle counter (UWCPC, TSI3786). The detection efficiency was investigated using different temperature differences between saturator and growth tube. The cut-sizes D90, D50, D10, and D0 were determined by fitting a two-free-parameter equation to the experimental data. The determined cut-sizes were comparable (± 8%) with other two widely used fitting equations. The cut-sizes were studied changing the growth tube temperature from 65 to 78°C and varying the saturator temperature from 8 to 20°C. For silver particles the smallest detected cut-size D50 was 2.9 nm, and the largest one –4.5 nm, and in default operation conditions it was 3.9 nm. Additionally, the effect of particle chemical composition on the detection efficiency was studied. The cut-sizes D50 were 2 2.9, 2.3, and 1.8 nm for silver, ammonium sulfate, and sodium chloride particles, respectively. A concentration calibration was performed with high particle num...