Condensation particle counter and system including same
View Patent ↗A condensation particle counter includes: a saturator formed therein with a first flow path for supplying vapor to air introduced from an outside; a condenser formed therein with a second flow path in which the air and the vapor introduced from the first flow path are condensed; and a detector for detecting droplets condensed in the condenser, wherein the second flow path is provided with a guiding portion for guiding condensate flowing downward along an inner surface of the second flow path to flow into the saturator.
1 . A condensation particle counter comprising:
a saturator formed therein with a first flow path for supplying vapor to air introduced from outside;
a condenser formed therein with a second flow path in which the air and the vapor introduced from the first flow path are condensed; and
a detector for detecting droplets condensed in the condenser,
wherein the second flow path is provided with a guiding portion for guiding condensate flowing downward along an inner surface of the second flow path to flow into the saturator,
wherein the inner surface of the second flow path includes:
a first inner surface having a cylindrical shape; and
a second inner surface positioned between the first inner surface and the first flow path and provided as a curved surface different from the first inner surface, and
wherein the guiding portion includes a boundary line between the first inner surface and the second inner surface.
2 . The condensation particle counter of claim 1 , wherein the boundary line includes a curve inclined downward from one side of the second inner surface to an opposite side of the second inner surface.
3 . The condensation particle counter of claim 1 , wherein a central axis of the first inner surface and a central axis of the second inner surface are spaced apart and offset from each other at a predetermined distance.
4 . The condensation particle counter of claim 1 , wherein the second inner surface is asymmetric with respect to a central axis of the second inner surface.
5 . The condensation particle counter of claim 1 , wherein the second inner surface has a distance from a central axis of the second inner surface so as to be gradually increased toward a bottom of the second flow path.
6 . The condensation particle counter of claim 1 , wherein the saturator has a step provided below the second inner surface.
7 . The condensation particle counter of claim 1 , wherein the guiding portion includes an inner groove formed in a lower region of the second flow path in a longitudinal direction of the second flow path, in which the inner groove extends to a lower end of the second flow path.
8 . The condensation particle counter of claim 1 , wherein the guiding portion includes a step of the saturator inserted into a lower end of the second flow path.
9 . The condensation particle counter of claim 1 , wherein the guiding portion includes a fiber for connecting an inner side of the first flow path to an inner side of the second flow path.
10 . The condensation particle counter of claim 1 , wherein the saturator includes:
a saturation container formed therein with a space for storing a working fluid;
an absorber positioned inside the saturation container and formed of a first porous material by which the first flow path is formed; and
a heater provided outside the saturation container to heat the saturation container,
wherein the first flow path includes:
an outer flow path formed on an outer surface of the absorber along a circumference of the absorber;
an inner flow path formed in a central region of the absorber in a longitudinal direction of the absorber; and
a first connection flow path for connecting the outer flow path to the inner flow path.
11 . The condensation particle counter of claim 10 , wherein
the outer flow path is formed in a ring shape and provided with a plurality of outer flow paths spaced apart at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the absorber, and
the first flow path further includes a second connection flow path for connecting the plurality of outer flow paths to each other.
12 . The condensation particle counter of claim 11 , wherein the absorber has a lower region submerged in the working fluid, and the lower region of the absorber is formed therein with an exhaust hole for connecting the inner flow path to an external space of the absorber.
13 . The condensation particle counter of claim 10 , further comprising:
a storage tank provided therein with the working fluid and having an inlet and an outlet formed at points higher than the working fluid;
a first connection pipe for providing a third flow path through which the working fluid moves between the storage tank and the saturation container;
a vertical level control block positioned in the storage tank and formed of a second porous material capable of absorbing the working fluid; and
an air supply pipe for supplying air discharged from the detector to the inlet.
14 . The condensation particle counter of claim 13 , wherein the vertical level control block is formed therein with an internal flow path communicating with the inlet and the outlet.
15 . The condensation particle counter of claim 14 , wherein the vertical level control block is formed therein with a vent for connecting a lower space of the vertical level control block to the internal flow path.
16 . A condensation particle counting system comprising:
a first condensation particle counter;
a second condensation particle counter; and
a control unit configured to individually control the first condensation particle counter to a first temperature and the second condensation particle counter to a second temperature that is different from the first temperature,
wherein the first condensation particle counter and the second condensation particle counter each includes:
a saturator for heating an inside thereof to a saturator heating temperature to generate vapor and supply the vapor to air introduced from outside the respective condensation particle counter; and
a condenser for cooling an inside thereof to a condenser colling temperature to condense the air and the vapor introduced from the saturator,
wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are both different from the saturator heating temperature and the condenser cooling temperature.
17 . The condensation particle counting system of claim 16 , further comprising:
an air supply pipe having a plurality of branch lines branched at a branch point, in which each of the plurality of branch lines is individually connected to the saturator to supply external air,
wherein each of the plurality of branch lines is provided with an identical length from the branch point to the saturator.
18 . The condensation particle counting system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a chamber with insulating materials provided therein,
wherein the first condensation particle counter and the second condensation particle counter are provided between the insulating materials, and
wherein the first condensation particle counter and the second condensation particle counter are each positioned at an identical distance from a central axis of the chamber.