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PCASP Calibrations and Performance Checks
UND Performance Check Documentation:
Concentration Calibrate (Aerosol Flow Rate)
1) Turn on the PCASP pump by connecting the black control box to the instrument and flip the switch to the On position. Use a flow standard, such as the Gilibrator. Use the smallest Gilian container and connect tube to the bottom hole (see picture below).
2) Measure the concentration at the exit of the flow system (see picture below)
3) Use the black button by the tube to take 6 samples with the Gilibrator and the average flow rate should be around 60 ccm.
Sizing Calibration
Note that the calibration is for one refractive index and size. Typically, there will be particles from other sizes due to not having pure (ultra clean works best) water or reusing the nebulizers. The best method to clean the nebulizers is to rise them with pure (distilled) water many, many times. Helps to store the nebulizers in distilled water and seal the nebulizers.
- Make sure all equipment in the system (pump, laser, m300 computer, etc.) is turned on (see picture below)
- Note the size of the beads used for the calibration
- Clean solution container with distilled water to avoid contamination
- Record data using the M300 or M200 Data Acquisiion System
- Check that the counts are zero when beginning (performance check)
- This ensures the filter is working properly with no major leaks in the system
- Upload the data and process using the ADPAA software.
- Analyze the result using the ADPAA software.