vWCPC

The “versatile WCPC” uses our latest, water-based condensation technology to provide particle detection near 1 nm.

What it does:

Measures particle number concentrations from near 1 nm to several micrometers.

How it Works:

The operating principle is like that of the Spot Sampler, but the temperature difference between the conditioner and and initiator is very large, between 80 and 95°C. This is made possible by the three-stage approach, which lowers the temperature and water vapor content of the output flow ahead of the optics. This approach also minimizes water consumption.

vWCPC how it works.png
 

Water vapor is trapped within growth tube; so that exiting flow is non-condensing.

No sheath flow; providing higher aerosol flow, and eliminating need to split and recombine flows.

Transport flow can be adjusted by user.

Features:

  • Near 1-nm detection:

    • May choose to exclude charger ions, with ~ 2 nm detection

    • May approach 1 nm detection, with response to some charger ions

  • Simple flow paths.

  • No sheath flow.

  • No water condensation in flow lines.

  • Optics are operated at close to room temperature.

  • Tolerates rapid pressure variations at the inlet

  • No homogeneous nucleation, even at low pressure

Calibration curves for salt and metal oxide aerosols

Calibration curves for salt and metal oxide aerosols

Ambient data collected with collocated vWCPCs:

ambient data 1.png
vWCPC_ambientScatter.png