Wall losses, cascade impactors

Figure 5 is a photograph of the parts of Harp s (23) cascade impactor. A special feature of this instrument is that wall loss of droplets in the sampling port and on the jets for the second and third stages is greatly reduced by passing air through the walls of these three parts which are made of porous metal. 

The principal problems in determining size distribution parameters with cascade impactors are wall losses, inefficient collection due to particle bounce, deposition of gas-phase species on impaction substrates, and deposition of fine particles from boundary layers. 

To minimize the particle bounce off effect, collection surfaces should also be selected carefully. Common types of impaction surfaces include membrane, fiberglass, silver membrane, Teflon and Nuclepore filter, and brass and stainless steel shim stock. Table 2.2 shows an example of the effect of selection of collection surface on the wall losses (Newton et al., 1990). In Table 2.2, the test aerosols are droplets of 1% CsCl plus 1% uranine. Three types of cascade impactors were used, including Mercer, Sierra Radial Slit Jet (SRSJ), and Lovelace Multi-Jet (LMJ). The occurrence of particle bouncing may be indicated by the presence of excess mass on the back-up filter. 

Cascade impactor Collection surface Total wall losses... 

---