Sampling efficiency of the TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer

The Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) has been tested and used in a variety of laboratory and field situations for indoor air quality research of both industrial and livestock buildings. The APS is capable of providing rapid, real-time measurement of particle size distribution. However, no literature was found in which the sampling efficiency of the APS was addressed. This paper presents a method to evaluate the sampling efficiency of the APS, considering both the aspiration efficiency and the penetration efficiency. Six tests were conducted and measurements were taken by a cascade impact sampler and the APS simultaneously. The results obtained by the APS were compared with the results of the cascade impact sampler.