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RELATED EVENTSRELATED NEWSTSI Instruments in Laser Printer Emissions Research TSI Particle Instruments Offers QualityGuard™ Service Agreements
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CONDENSATION PARTICLE COUNTER
TSI has been manufacturing Condensation Particle Counters (CPCs) for 30 years. Collectively, our family of CPCs detects particles in the range from 2.5 to >3000 nm. CPCs use a condensation technique to enlarge submicrometer particles to a size that can be easily detected. Three of our CPCs use water as the condensing fluid; the remaining CPCs use alcohol. See individual descriptions by viewing the models listed to the left.
Features
- Detects particles in the range from 2.5 to >3000 nm
- Fast response to rapid changes in aerosol concentration
- Auto recovery from power failure
- Butanol-friendly features, including anti-spill design, water-removal system, butanol odor absorber, and improved resistance to optics flooding
Applications
- Basic aerosol research
- Indoor air-quality measurements
- Filter and air-cleaner testing
- Particle shedding and component testing
- Atmospheric and climate studies
- Particle formation and growth studies
- Particle counter calibration
- Combustion and engine-exhaust studies
- Inhalation and exposure studies
- Health effects studies
- Environmental monitoring
- Nanotechnology research
- Mobile aerosol studies
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The Model 3007 CPC is one of our smallest Condensation Particle Counters. At only 3.8 pounds, it provides versatility not common with larger particle counters. |
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The Model 3772 CPC detects airborne particles down to 10 nm at an aerosol flow rate of 1.0 L/min, over a concentration range from 0 to 104 particles/cm3. |
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The Model 3775 CPC is a general-purpose counter that detects airborne particles down to 4 nm. It provides highly accurate measurements over a wide concentration range from 0 to 107 particles/cm3. |
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The Model 3776 Ultrafine Condensation Particle Counter (UCPC) is designed primarily for researchers interested in airborne particles smaller than 20 nm. |
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The Model 3781 Water-based Condensation Particle Counter (WCPC) can detect airborne particles down to 6 nm in diameter. |
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The Model 3785 Water-based Condensation Particle Counter* uses water to enlarge particles for easy detection. The Model 3785 detects particles from 5 to > 3000 nm. |
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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. |
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The Model 3790 EECPC is the latest addition to TSI’s CPC family, and it fully meets all proposed PMP requirements for Euro 5 regulations.
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The Model 3031200 Environmental Sampling System provides representative sampling and proper conditioning of ambient submicrometer aerosol for accurate size distribution and particle number concentration. |
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TSI Flow Splitter directs an aerosol sample to as many as four destinations at once. |
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TSI Particle Size Selector Model 376060 provides different size cuts for our CPCs. |
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TSI offers two, top-quality pumps for use with our Particle Instruments. |
BROCHURESCATALOGSPOSTERSSPEC SHEETSSERVICE INFORMATION
APPLICATION NOTESBIBLIOGRAPHYSERVICE PROCEDURESSTANDARD REPLACEMENT PARTSTECHNICAL NOTESFREQUENTLY 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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