INTERCOMPARISON STUDY OF THE SIZE-DEPENDENT COUNTING EFFICIENCY OF 26CONDENSATION PARTICLE COUNTERS

Particle detection efficiency curves for 26 condensation particle coun ters were determined during a calibration workshop in preparation for the Aerosol Characterization Experiment 1 (ACE1). Three different type s of commercially available particle counters, the ultrafine condensat ion particle counter (TSI-3025) and the condensation particle counters (TSI-3010 and TSI-3760 or TSI-7610) were investigated at default temp erature and flow settings as well as for other flow rates and temperat ure differences between the saturator and the condenser. Furthermore, the pulse-height-analysis ultrafine condensation particle counter and a TSI-3010 modified to achieve a higher temperature difference were ca librated. In this study, the large number of particle counters investi gated provided the opportunity to obtain a more statistically signific ant picture of the performance of different particle counters for diff erent operating conditions. (C) 1997 American Association for Aerosol Research.