Claims
- 1. A method for enlarging particulate, comprising:
introducing a particle laden flow at a first temperature; and passing the flow through a condenser having a second temperature greater than the flow wherein a vapor pressure of a condensing vapor at walls of the condenser is near saturation.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the condensing vapor is water.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the condensing vapor is methanol.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of passing the flow includes passing the flow through the condenser wherein interior walls of the condenser are wet.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing includes introducing the particle-laden gas flow surrounded by a particle-free sheath flow.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of introducing includes conditioning a temperature and vapor pressure of the particle-free sheath flow.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing includes conditioning a temperature and vapor pressure of the particle-laden flow.
- 8. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of introducing includes conditioning a vapor pressure of the particle-free sheath flow.
- 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing includes conditioning a vapor pressure of the particle-laden flow.
- 10. The method of claim 5 wherein the particle-free sheath flow is air.
- 11. The method of claim 5 wherein the particle-free sheath flow is nitrogen.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the particle laden flow includes air.
- 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the particle laden flow includes nitrogen.
- 14. The method of claim 1 wherein a mass diffusivity of the condensable vapor is higher than a thermal diffusivity of the particle-free sheath flow.
- 15. The method of claim 1 wherein a mass diffusivity of the condensable vapor is higher than a thermal diffusivity of the particle-laden flow.
- 16. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of introducing comprises actively cooling the particle-free sheath flow such that the first temperature is at least 15° C. lower than the second temperature.
- 17. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of introducing comprises actively cooling the particle-free sheath flow such that the first temperature is at least 25° C. lower than the second temperature.
- 18. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of introducing comprises actively cooling the particle-free sheath flow such that the first temperature is at least 45° C. lower than the second temperature.
- 19. The method of claim 1 further including the step of detecting droplets formed in the condenser by an optical detector.
- 20. The method of claim 1 further including the step of detecting droplets formed in the condenser by a droplet collection device.
- 21. The method of claim 1 further including the step of analyzing the chemical composition of the particles.
- 22. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing comprises actively cooling the flow such that the first temperature is at least 15° C. lower than the second temperature.
- 23. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing comprises actively cooling the flow such that the first temperature is at least 25° C. lower than the second temperature.
- 24. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing comprises actively cooling the flow such that the first temperature is at least 45° C. lower than the second temperature.
- 25. A method, comprising:
forming a particulate sample at a first temperature; and passing the particulate sample through a chamber including interior walls provided at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and wherein a condensing fluid is near its saturation vapor pressure at the walls.
- 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the second temperature is 15° C. or greater than the temperature of the entering gas flow.
- 27. The method of claim 25 wherein the second temperature is 25° C. or greater than the temperature of the entering gas flow.
- 28. The method of claim 25 wherein the second temperature is 45° C. or greater than the temperature of the entering gas flow.
- 29. The method of claim 25 wherein the condensing fluid is water.
- 30. The method of claim 25 wherein the condensing fluid is methanol.
- 31. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of forming is performed in a pre-conditioner.
- 32. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of passing includes introducing the particle-laden gas flow surrounded by a particle-free sheath flow.
- 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the particle-free sheath flow is air.
- 34. The method of claim 32 wherein the particle-free sheath flow is nitrogen.
- 35. The method of claim 25 further including the step of detecting droplets formed in the condenser.
- 36. A particle condensation apparatus, comprising:
an inlet receiving an aerosol flow; a preconditioner having a first temperature and being coupled to the inlet, the preconditioner having an outlet; and a condenser coupled to the outlet and receiving the aerosol flow from the saturator, the condenser having interior walls provided at a second temperature higher than the first temperature and including a condensing vapor having a vapor pressure at the interior walls which is near saturation.
- 37. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 32 wherein the condenser is tubular in shape.
- 38. The method of claim 34 wherein the condensing vapor is water.
- 39. The method of claim 34 wherein the condensing vapor is methanol.
- 40. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 36 further including a particle-free sheath flow inlet to the apparatus.
- 41. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 40 wherein the first temperature and a vapor pressure of the particle-free sheath flow are controlled by the preconditioner.
- 42. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 36 wherein the first temperature and a vapor pressure of the particle-laden flow are controlled by the preconditioner.
- 43. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 40 wherein a vapor pressure of the particle-free sheath flow are controlled by the preconditioner.
- 44. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 36 wherein a vapor pressure of the particle-laden flow are controlled by the preconditioner.
- 45. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 40 wherein the particle-free sheath flow is air.
- 46. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 40 wherein the particle-free sheath flow is nitrogen.
- 47. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 36 further including an optical device for detecting particulate exiting the condenser.
- 48. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 36 further including a droplet collection device.
- 49. A particle condensation apparatus, comprising:
an air inlet receiving a particle laden airflow having a first temperature; and a condenser having interior walls provided at a second temperature higher than the first temperature and having a wet surface.
- 50. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 49 wherein the second temperature is 15° C. or greater than the first temperature.
- 51. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 49 wherein the second temperature is 25° C. or greater than the first temperature.
- 52. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 49 wherein the second temperature is 45° C. or greater than the first temperature.
- 53. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 49 further including a particle-free sheath flow inlet to the apparatus.
- 54. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 53 wherein the particle free sheath flow is at least 15° C. lower than the second temperature.
- 55. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 53 wherein the particle free sheath flow is at least 25° C. lower than the second temperature.
- 56. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 53 wherein the particle free sheath flow is at least 35° C. lower than the second temperature.
- 57. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 36 further including an optical device for detecting particulate exiting the condenser.
- 58. The particle condensation apparatus of claim 36 further including a droplet collection device.
PRIORITY DATA
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/353,875, filed Jan. 30, 2002, entitled “Continuous, Laminar Flow, Water-Based Particle Condensation Device.”
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60353875 |
Jan 2002 |
US |