Particle Detection Efficiency of Three Particle Counters: Aerodynamic Particle Sizer 3321, Lighthouse Solair 3350, and Met One GT-526S

Abstract

Many airborne particle detectors are available for laboratory use as reference detectors. These particle detectors are designed differently based on the application and have various and, in some cases, adjustable airflow rates. This study focused on experimentally determining the detection efficiency of three particle detectors: the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) 3321 (TSI, Inc.; Shoreview, MN), the SOLAIR 3350 (Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions, Inc.; Medford, OR), and the GT-526S (Met One Instruments, Inc.; Grants Pass, OR). The APS, SOLAIR, and Met One instruments were tested at 1, 100, and 1 L/min airflow rates, respectively. The Met One instrument has an adjustable airflow rate with a maximum of 2.83 L/min. An inkjet aerosol generator (IJAG) was used to generate particles in four sizes (1.91, 2.65, 4.22, and 7.68 micro m) at eight particle-generation rates (1-500 particles/s). Six replicate tests were conducted at each test condition. The APS, SOLAIR, and Met One detectors had average detection efficiencies of 97.75, 377.96, and 93.19%, respectively. The efficiency of the SOLAIR detector was closer to 100% for higher IJAG particle-generation rates. The results indicated that the Met One detector could be an alternative to the APS for determining low-concentration aerosols when a larger air sample volume is required.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2023
Accession Number
AD1191468

Entities

People

  • Jana Kesavan
  • Jerold Bottiger
  • Katherine Stevenson
  • Meera Kesavan

Organizations

  • University of Maryland

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Aerosol Generators
  • Aerosols
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Counters
  • Demographic Cohorts
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Flow Rate
  • Generators
  • Instruction Manuals
  • Instructions
  • Laser Beams
  • Light Scattering
  • Lighthouses
  • Particle Counters
  • Particle Size
  • Particles
  • Scattering
  • Standards
  • Test Methods

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Marine Propulsion Engineering and Naval Architecture