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3786
The Model 3786 Ultrafine Water-based Condensation Particle Counter (UWCPC) is designed primarily for researchers who are interested in airborne particles smaller than 20 nanometers. It detects particles down to 2.5 nm, and it has a high sample flow rate (0.3 L/min) for very good counting statistics.
Patented technology* enables this particle counter to use water as a condensing fluid to enlarge submicrometer particles so they can be detected easily. The Model 3786 also offers fast response, a sheath-air flow design that minimizes diffusion losses and produces a sharp lower cutpoint, and single particle counting with continuous, live-time coincidence correction. Particle concentration, total counts, or plots of concentration versus time can be displayed on the front panel. The Model 3786 is compatible with SMPS systems and TSI's Aerosol Instrument Manager® software.
Features and Benefits
- Fast response
- Wide, dynamic, particle-concentration range
- Uses water as condensing fluid
- Compatible with SMPS systems
- Detects particles down to 2.5 nm
Applications
- Particle formation and growth studies
- Health effects studies
- Environmental monitoring
- Nanotechnology research
- Atmospheric and climate research
- Mobile aerosol studies
Included Items
- Aerosol Instrument Manager® software
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TSI Particle Size Selector Model 376060 provides different size cuts for our CPCs. |
BROCHURESCATALOGSSPEC SHEETSSERVICE INFORMATION
APPLICATION NOTESBIBLIOGRAPHYSTANDARD REPLACEMENT PARTSFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSshow/hide all answers
- Can I communicate with the CPC remotely?
Yes. Instrument control and data can be accessed directly using standard digital USB and serial (RS-232) interfaces. An optional built-in PC/104-style embedded computer running the Linux operating system allows users to create programs to log and timestamp data. The data can then be made available through separate external serial and Ethernet connections via utilities such as Telnet, FTP, and HTTP (Web server).
- How does the water CPC performance compare to CPCs that use butanol?
Laboratory and field tests show excellent agreement and correlation between the water CPC (Model 3785) and butanol CPCs (Models 3010, 3025A, and 3022A) for particles larger than about 20 to 30 nm. Preliminary test results can be viewed in a poster presentation by S. Hering, M. Stolzenburg, F. Quant, and D. Oberreit (2003 AAAR Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA) at www.quanttechnologies.com. Additional test data will be submitted for publication soon.
- How frequently should I have the CPC serviced?
TSI recommends the CPC be returned for annual maintenance service. Your company's Quality Management System may specify a more or less frequent service interval based on history, use, and criticality of the measurement.
The Standard Annual Service includes:
1. "AS FOUND" operational and calibration check
2. Replacement of tubing, O-rings, and water wick
3. Cleaning optics, flow path, and all wetted parts
4. Firmware/software update
5. Operational check
6. Flow calibration
7. Calibration of photometric mode using sodium chloride aerosol
- How is the CPC calibrated?
The sample flow is calibrated using a TSI Model 4143 Mass Flowmeter. The photometric mode is calibrated using sodium chloride aerosol in a calibrated dilution system.
- How pure does the water need to be?
We recommend using water that is distilled or purer.
- How rapidly is the water consumed?
Water is consumed at the rate of 250 ml/day. A full fill bottle will last approximately two days. When operated in the recycling mode, the rate is reduced to 50 ml/day and a full fill bottle will last approximately ten days.
- How sensitive is the instrument to flooding?
While fairly insensitive to flooding, several precautionary measures will help avoid this condition. Do not tip the instrument more than 10 degrees in any direction. Avoid large pressure fluctuations or restrictions in flow at the sample inlet (>25 cm water at 1.0 liter/minute). When accessing the reservoir for cleaning or drying, always lay the instrument on its side with the Fill and Drain connectors on the bottom.
- Is the CPC compatible with my component SMPS or DMPS sizing system?
- Why water?
Using water as the condensing fluid is very attractive for many reasons. In addition to being readily available at low cost, it is odorless, nontoxic, nonflammable, and noncontaminating.
- Will I get biological growth in the water?
We have not experienced significant biological growth in the instrument, but the wick does provide a warm, moist environment for biological growth to occur. To minimize biological growth, you should establish a maintenance routine that includes draining the reservoir at regular intervals, rinsing the fill bottle prior to adding water, periodically cleaning the reservoir, and replacing the wick at least every six months or when it shows signs of discoloration or contamination. The wick is easily removed for inspection and replacement. We recommend that the instrument be dried and the wick be removed and dried when the instrument will be out of service for more than a few weeks.
- Will the CPC work at temperatures below freezing?
An aerosol sample that is below freezing must be warmed to at least 10°C prior to entering the instrument. This is easily accomplished by drawing the aerosol through sample tubing that is in a warmer environment. The instrument must be operated in an environment between 10 and 40°C.
- Will the water CPC detect particles of different material composition with the same efficiency?
No. The water CPC is particularly well-suited for detecting nonhydrophobic aerosols with high efficiency and a sharp cut off at about 5 nm. This includes minerals, salts, acids, and most organic aerosols. The detection efficiency of strongly hydrophobic aerosols, such as a pure DOS oil, decreases gradually below about 30 nm. Adding a trace impurity to the oil particles, however, improves the detection efficiency to nearly the same level as the more water-loving aerosols. Although the material composition dependence can be demonstrated in the laboratory with pure hydrophobic aerosols, we have not seen a difference in our performance tests with indoor and outdoor ambient aerosols.
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