Intercomparison Study of the Size-Dependent Counting Efficiency of 26 Condensation Particle Counters

Abstract

Particle detection efficiency curves for 26 condensation particle counters were determined during a calibration workshop in preparation for the Aerosol Characterization Experiment 1 (ACE1). Three different types of commercially available particle counters, the ultrafine condensation particle counter (TSI-3025) and the condensation particle counters (TSI-3010 and TSI-3760 or TS1-7610) were investigated at default temperature and flow settings as well as for other flow rates and temperature 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 calibrated. In this study, the large number of particle counters investigated provided the opportunity to obtain a more statistically significant picture of the performance of different particle counters for different operating conditions.