Mono-disperse particles generated by a condensation particle generator are widely used to meet the experimental and industrial needs. The characteristics of particles generated by homogeneous nucleation have been studied experimentally using a laminar flow condensation particle generator. Dry nitrogen gas saturated with oleic acid vapor was cooled well below the saturation temperature causing the highly supersaturated vapor to nucleate. The dependence of GSD(Geometric Standard Deviation), GMD(Geometric Mean Diameter), and the mass concentration of particles on the temperature at the evaporator, flow rate and the temperature condition at condenser was studied.
The experimental results show that the temperature at the evaporator is dependent on the residence time of condensate material in the evaporator and the mass concentration of particles is affected by the radial temperature profile at condenser. Nucleation at the center of the condenser causes the mass concentration of particles to increase. The experimental results also show that the suppression of additional nucleation by a constant temperature condition at the condenser increases the mean diameter of particle.
