Sampling at controlled relative humidity with a cascade impactor

Joseph G. Vasiliou; Diana Sorensen; Peter H. McMurry

doi:10.1016/S1352-2310(98)00323-9

Sampling at controlled relative humidity with a cascade impactor

Joseph G. Vasiliou, Diana Sorensen, Peter H. McMurry

Mechanical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

The design and function of a device that regulates the relative humidity of an ambient aerosol sample is described. We use this RH controller upstream of MOUDI impactors to permit sampling at relative humidities in the 70-80% range. Humidity control is achieved by allowing the aerosol to approach equilibrium with a saturated salt solution. Benefits to sampling with impactors in this relative humidity range include greatly reduced bounce of fine, hygroscopic particles, minimal flow-induced sizing errors, and minimization of uncertainties in measured size distributions due to diurnal variations in relative humidity during sampling. Data from field measurements in a humid environment (Look Rock, TN) and arid environments (Las Vegas, NV and Meadview, AZ) are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1049-1056
Number of pages	8
Journal	Atmospheric Environment
Volume	33
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(98)00323-9
State	Published - Mar 1999

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Electric Power Research Institute (Grant No. EPRI W09116-08/W04105-01). We wish to thank the management of Desert Research Institute for providing a secure location for the measurements made at their Southern Nevada Science Center in Las Vegas, NV and in particular Drs. Marc Pitchford and Hampden Kuhns for their assistance in setting up the equipment.

Copyright:
Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

Atmospheric aerosol
Cascade impactor
Hygroscopicity
Particle bounce
Size distribution
Sulfate
Water uptake

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title = "Sampling at controlled relative humidity with a cascade impactor",

abstract = "The design and function of a device that regulates the relative humidity of an ambient aerosol sample is described. We use this RH controller upstream of MOUDI impactors to permit sampling at relative humidities in the 70-80% range. Humidity control is achieved by allowing the aerosol to approach equilibrium with a saturated salt solution. Benefits to sampling with impactors in this relative humidity range include greatly reduced bounce of fine, hygroscopic particles, minimal flow-induced sizing errors, and minimization of uncertainties in measured size distributions due to diurnal variations in relative humidity during sampling. Data from field measurements in a humid environment (Look Rock, TN) and arid environments (Las Vegas, NV and Meadview, AZ) are discussed.",

keywords = "Atmospheric aerosol, Cascade impactor, Hygroscopicity, Particle bounce, Size distribution, Sulfate, Water uptake",

author = "Vasiliou, {Joseph G.} and Diana Sorensen and McMurry, {Peter H.}",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by the Electric Power Research Institute (Grant No. EPRI W09116-08/W04105-01). We wish to thank the management of Desert Research Institute for providing a secure location for the measurements made at their Southern Nevada Science Center in Las Vegas, NV and in particular Drs. Marc Pitchford and Hampden Kuhns for their assistance in setting up the equipment. Copyright: Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "1999",

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doi = "10.1016/S1352-2310(98)00323-9",

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AU - Vasiliou, Joseph G.

AU - Sorensen, Diana

AU - McMurry, Peter H.

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by the Electric Power Research Institute (Grant No. EPRI W09116-08/W04105-01). We wish to thank the management of Desert Research Institute for providing a secure location for the measurements made at their Southern Nevada Science Center in Las Vegas, NV and in particular Drs. Marc Pitchford and Hampden Kuhns for their assistance in setting up the equipment. Copyright: Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 1999/3

Y1 - 1999/3

N2 - The design and function of a device that regulates the relative humidity of an ambient aerosol sample is described. We use this RH controller upstream of MOUDI impactors to permit sampling at relative humidities in the 70-80% range. Humidity control is achieved by allowing the aerosol to approach equilibrium with a saturated salt solution. Benefits to sampling with impactors in this relative humidity range include greatly reduced bounce of fine, hygroscopic particles, minimal flow-induced sizing errors, and minimization of uncertainties in measured size distributions due to diurnal variations in relative humidity during sampling. Data from field measurements in a humid environment (Look Rock, TN) and arid environments (Las Vegas, NV and Meadview, AZ) are discussed.

AB - The design and function of a device that regulates the relative humidity of an ambient aerosol sample is described. We use this RH controller upstream of MOUDI impactors to permit sampling at relative humidities in the 70-80% range. Humidity control is achieved by allowing the aerosol to approach equilibrium with a saturated salt solution. Benefits to sampling with impactors in this relative humidity range include greatly reduced bounce of fine, hygroscopic particles, minimal flow-induced sizing errors, and minimization of uncertainties in measured size distributions due to diurnal variations in relative humidity during sampling. Data from field measurements in a humid environment (Look Rock, TN) and arid environments (Las Vegas, NV and Meadview, AZ) are discussed.

KW - Atmospheric aerosol

KW - Cascade impactor

KW - Hygroscopicity

KW - Particle bounce

KW - Size distribution

KW - Sulfate

KW - Water uptake

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JO - Atmospheric Environment

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Sampling at controlled relative humidity with a cascade impactor

Abstract

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