Abstract
The design and optimization of operation parameters of a Turbulent Mixing Condensation Nuclei Counter (TMCNC) are discussed as well as its performance using dibutylphthalate (DBP) as the working fluid. A detection limit of 3 nm has been achieved at a flow rate of 2.8 l min −1 (0.1 cfm). In addition, the effect of saturation temperature on particle growth in the TMCNC was investigated to identify the temperature range where particles could grow to a detectable size regardless of their initial sizes and materials. Size distributions of particles after condensation growth were measured as a function of saturation temperature for three types of nuclei: atmospheric aerosol particles, monodisperse NaCl particles, and liquid DBP particles generated by homogeneous nucleation. The size distribution after condensation growth can be described by a log-normal distribution with σ g=1.2–1.3. The modal diameter of the size distribution can be predicted by the classical equations for particle growth in supersaturated media. The final particle size distribution is a function of the initial particle diameter unless the saturator temperature is above 125°C.
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