INLET EFFICIENCY STUDY FOR THE TSI AERODYNAMIC PARTICLE SIZER

The paper reports on the particle sampling efficiency of the inlet system for the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (TSI, Inc., St. Paul MN). Large particles are depleted from the sampled aerosol by two mechanisms: super-isokinetic sampling at the entrance of the inlet, and inertial impaction on the inner nozzle. A fluorometric technique was used to separately characterize these mechanisms. Numerical studies were also performed. The experimental results show that the inlet's overall efficiency drops from around 90% for 3 mu m particles to less than 45% for particles larger than 10 mu m. Several high efficiency inlets were developed and tested. These inlets provide higher sampling efficiencies, but reduce the instrument's sizing resolution. Measurements of 7.3 mu m oleic acid particles with a high efficiency inlet showed a 5% spread in measured diameter at 50% count, while less than a 1% spread was observed using the standard inlet. It was also found that the super-isokinetic condition reduces particle losses on the inner nozzle. The standard inlet is recommended for verifying test aerosol monodispersity. An alternative to the standard inlet is suggested for measurement of size distributions.