Topics in Aerosol Physics (ATSC5880) Homework

Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS)

Unless otherwise specified assume p = 1 g cm-3, T=293 K, P=780 hPa.
Characteristics of the APS:
Sheath air flow=4 liters/min, Aerosol flow = 5 liters/min
The gas velocity is fixed in particle acceleration region at 150 m/s.
Distance between particle injection and contact with first laser beam = 100 m.
Distance between the split laser beams= 100 m.
Measureable time range across the beams 0.8 to 4.096 s.
1) Calculate the following properties of the APS
a. The diameter of the nozzle at the exit of the acceleration region.
b. The minimum and maximum particle velocity that the instrument will
sense.
c. The Reynolds number range for particles between 0.1 and 50 m for these
velocities.
2) Based on our analysis in class derive an expression for the particle velocity in the
APS as a function of particle size (d) and time (t) from the exit point of the
aerosol inlet to the exit of the acceleration region.
3) Graph appropriate drag coefficients for this analysis versus Reynolds number for
Re = 0.1 1000.
4) Using the results from 2) and 3) calculate and graph particle velocity versus time
and particle travel distance versus time for particles with diameters = [0.1, 0.2,
0.5, 1, 10, 20, 50] m and time 0 to 0.3 ms.
5) Based on this analysis estimate the particle size range for the APS.