A method for obtaining aerosol particle size distributions

摘要

A method for obtaining aerosol particle size distributions with a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) comprising a differential mobility analyzer (DMA),comprises: collecting a first data set of particle concentrations vs. size for a size range from a minimal size Dmin to an intermediate size Dt by varying a voltage applied to a DMA column from Vmin to Vt1 at a first sheath flow rate Qsh1; changing the sheath flow rate to a second sheath flow rate Qsh2; collecting a second data set of particle concentrations vs. size for a size range from the intermediate size Dt to a maximum size Dmax by varying the voltage applied to the DMA column from Vt2 to Vmax at the second sheath flow rate Qsh2; convolving the first data set using an apparatus function of the DMA and the sheath flow rates Qsh1 and Qsh2; combining the convolved data set with the second data set to form a merged data set corresponding to the size distribution from Dmin to Dmax; and deconvolving the merged data set to provide a size distribution for the full size range Dmin to Dmax.