A. Sreenath et al., An experimental approach to correcting counting errors in the aerodynamic particle sizer (APS model 3310), PART PART S, 16(6), 1999, pp. 257-265
This paper describes the different ways of analyzing the output of a real-t
ime device for measuring and counting airborne particles, the aerodynamic p
article sizer (APS). This instrument is very widely used in aerosol researc
h throughout the world. It is a time-of-flight instrument in which a partic
le's measured transit time in the changing flow in a jet passing between tw
o laser beams is converted to its aerodynamic diameter. As the particle pas
ses between the two laser beams, two signal processors, the small particle
processor (SPP) and the large particle processor (LPP), independently provi
de measures of the particle's transit time from the light pulses that are p
roduced. This information is related to the aerodynamic particle diameter o
f the particle (d(ae)) by means of calibration against 'unit' density (1000
kg/m(3)) spheres. If more than one particle is involved in the analysis of
particle transit time, then it gives rise to coincidence effects, resultin
g in 'phantom' particle generation. The SPP is known to generate phantom co
unts, while the LPP is known to reduce phantom counts. A new method is desc
ribed in this paper that gives guidance on how to deal with such coincidenc
e problems. The principle is that it relies on additional information to ob
tain 'correction factors'. In this case, well-established theory for the as
piration efficiencies of thin-walled aerosol sampling probes has been used
along with corresponding experimental data obtained in a wind tunnel using
the APS. Results using this method are compared with various other methods
that have been tried in the past. The paper provides insights on to how the
user can operate the APS to avoid counting errors like those described, an
d the advantages and limitations of different correction methods are discus
sed.