Characterization and Response Model of the PPS-M Aerosol Sensor

The Pegasor PPS-M sensor is an electrical aerosol sensor based on diffusion charging and current measurement without particle collection. In this study, the role and effect of each component in the instrument is discussed shortly and the results from a thorough calibration measurements are presented. A comprehensive response model for the operation of the PPS-M sensor was developed based on the calibration results and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling results. The obtained response model, covering the effects of the particle charger, the mobility analyzer, and both diffusion and inertial losses, was tested in the laboratory measurements with polydisperse test aerosols, where a good correlation between the model and the measured results was found.