Airmodus A11 User manual

nano Condensation Nucleus Counter system
MODEL A11 nCNC
USER MANUAL
Version 1.94
© 2017 Airmodus Ltd

AIRMODUS A11 nCNC USER MANUAL Page 2
Ref. A13TD0015
Version 1.94 Document date: 18.08.2017
© 2017 Airmodus Ltd
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1!Warning.................................................................................... 4!
2!Limitation of Warranty and Liability .............................................. 5!
3!Safety ...................................................................................... 7!
4!nano Condensation Nucleus Counter – Introduction ........................ 8!
4.1!Introduction......................................................................... 8!
4.2!Operation Principle of the PSM ............................................... 9!
4.3!Operation Principle of the CPC...............................................10!
5!Instrument descriptions .............................................................12!
5.1!PSM front Panel...................................................................12!
5.2!PSM back panel...................................................................13!
5.3!CPC Front Panel ..................................................................14!
5.4!CPC Back panel ...................................................................15!
5.5!A1X Software......................................................................16!
6!Getting Started.........................................................................18!
6.1!Unpacking ..........................................................................18!
6.2!Setting up the instrument.....................................................19!
6.2.1!Installation of DEG drip bottle for Airmodus PSM ................20!
6.3!Installing A1X Software ........................................................21!
6.4!Before starting the software for the first time ..........................23!
6.5!Starting the measurements...................................................25!
7!Operation and Maintenance ........................................................30!
7.1!Working with the nCNC ........................................................30!
7.2!CPC Operation and maintenance............................................31!
7.2.1!CPC Display and settings.................................................31!
7.2.2!Filling, draining and drying butanol of the CPC ...................33!
7.3!Filling, priming, draining and drying DEG of the PSM ................35!
7.3.1!Filling ...........................................................................35!
7.3.2!Priming.........................................................................35!
7.3.3!Draining and drying........................................................36!
7.4!Selecting operation mode .....................................................38!

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7.4.1!Fixed cut-off..................................................................39!
7.4.2!Stepping mode ..............................................................40!
7.4.3!Scanning ......................................................................42!
7.5!Operation environment and safety .........................................44!
7.6!Communication ...................................................................45!
7.7!Data management and saving data........................................46!
7.7.1!Raw data file .................................................................48!
7.7.2!Inverted scanning data ...................................................51!
7.8!Verifying flows ....................................................................52!
7.9!Moving and shipping the nCNC ..............................................53!
7.10!Efficiency & Response time ................................................53!
7.11!Replacement Parts ............................................................54!
7.12!Flooding of the Instrument.................................................54!
7.13!Calibration .......................................................................54!
7.14!How to get help / Technical contacts ...................................55!
8!Troubleshooting........................................................................56!
APPENDIX 1 – A11 nCNC Specifications .............................................58!
APPENDIX 2 – PSM Firmware commands ...........................................60!
Read / system Commands ............................................................60!
Commands handled in all states..................................................60!
Commands handled only in standby mode....................................60!
Commands handled only in run mode ..........................................61!
Status Commands .......................................................................61!
Set Commands............................................................................64!
APPENDIX 3 – Airmodus bCPC Serial Commands, v1.6.0......................67!
APPENDIX 4 – References................................................................72!

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Version 1.94 Document date: 18.08.2017
© 2017 Airmodus Ltd
1 Warning
THE PRODUCTS OF AIRMODUS LTD. ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE USED
NOR DESIGNED WITH COMPONENTS AND TESTING SUITABLE FOR USE IN
THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HUMANS OR AS CRITICAL
COMPONENTS IN ANY LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHOSE FAILURE TO
PERFORM CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO CAUSE INJURY TO A
HUMAN.
RELIABILITY OF OPERATION OF ANY SOFTWARE CAN BE IMPAIRED BY
ADVERSE FACTORS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FLUCTUATIONS IN
ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY, COMPUTER HARDWARE MALFUNCTIONS,
COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE FITNESS, FITNESS OF
COMPILERS OR DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE USED TO DEVELOP AN
APPLICATION, INSTALLATION ERRORS, SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE
COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS, MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF
ELECTRONIC MONITORING OR CONTROL DEVICES, TRANSIENT FAILURES
OF ELECTONIC SYSTEMS (HARDWARE AND/OR SOFTWARE),
UNANTICIPATED USES OR MISSUSES, OR ERRORS ON THE PART OF THE
USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER. (ADVERSE FACTORS SUCH AS THESE
ARE HEREAFTER COLLECTIVELY TERMED SYSTEM FAILURES) ANY
APPLICATION WHERE A SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD CREATE A RISK OF
HARM TO PROPERTY OR PERSONS (INCLUDING THE RISK OF BODILY
INJURY AND DEATH) SHOULD NOT BE RELIANT SOLELY UPON
ELECTRONIC MONITORING DUE TO THE RISK OF SYSTEM FAILURE. TO
AVOID DAMAGE, INJURY OR DEATH, THE USER OR APPLICATION
DESIGNER MUST TAKE REASONABLY PRUDENT STEPS TO PROTECT
AGAINST SYSTEM FAILURES, INCUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BACK-UP
OR SHUT DOWN MECHANISMS.

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Version 1.94 Document date: 18.08.2017
© 2017 Airmodus Ltd
2 Limitation of Warranty and Liability
Seller warrants that the goods delivered, under normal use and service as
described in the User Manual, shall be free of defects in workmanship and
material for a period of 12 months, or the length of time specified in the
User Manual, from the date of shipment to the customer. This limited
warranty is subject to the following exclusions:
• With respect to any repair services rendered, Seller warrants that
the parts repaired or replaced will be free of defects in
workmanship and material, under normal use, for a period of 90
days from the date of shipment to the customer;
• Seller does not provide any warranty on finished goods
manufactured by others or on any fuses, filters, batteries or other
consumable materials. Only the original manufacturer's warranty
applies;
• Unless specifically authorized in writing by Seller, Seller makes no
warranty with respect to, and shall have no liability in connection
with, any goods, which are incorporated into other products or
equipment or which are modified by any person other than the
Seller. This applies also e.g. to particle counters connected to
Airmodus particle size magnifiers: Airmodus has no liability in
connection with the integrated system unless the whole system is
delivered by Airmodus;
• All goods returned under warranty shall be at the customer’s risk of
loss and the customer shall cover the costs of transportation
(freight, insurance, etc.). The goods will be returned, if at all, at
Seller's risk of loss.
The foregoing is IN LIEU OF all other warranties and is subject to the
conditions and LIMITATIONS stated herein. NO OTHER EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR
MERCHANTABILITY IS MADE.
THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE USER OR PURCHASER, AND THE LIMIT
OF THE LIABILITY OF SELLER FOR ANY AND ALL LOSSES, INJURIES, OR
DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PRODUCT (INCLUDING CLAIMS

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BASED ON CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OTHER TORT,
OR OTHERWISE) SHALL BE RETURN OF THE PRODUCT TO THE FACTORY
OR DESIGNATED LOCATION AND THE REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE,
OR, AT THE OPTION OF SELLER, THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE
PRODUCT.
IN NO EVENT SHALL SELLER BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. SELLER SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR INSTALLATION, DISMANTLING, REASSEMBLY OR REINSTALLATION
COSTS OR CHARGES. NO ACTION REGARDLESS OF FORM CAN BE
BROUGHT AGAINST SELLER, MORE THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE
OF ACTION HAS OCCURRED.
Buyer and all users are deemed to have accepted this LIMITATION OF
WARRANTY AND LIABILITY, which contains the complete and exclusive
limited warranty of Seller. This LIMITATION OF WARRANTY AND LIABILITY
may not be amended, modified or its terms waived, except by writing
signed by an authorized representative of Seller.

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Version 1.94 Document date: 18.08.2017
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3 Safety
Warning: This measurement system uses diethylene glycol and n-
butanol as working fluids. Diethylene glycol is toxic and hazardous in case
of skin contact (irritant, permeator), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion
and of inhalation. See the material safety data sheet of diethylene glycol.
Butanol is a flammable solvent and can be toxic when inhaled (see
material safety data sheet of n-butanol). Proper air extraction should be
used to avoid exposure to Butanol vapour or a suitable filter should be
used. The room where the instrument is used should be properly
ventilated.
Warning: Do not open the covers of the instrument, when it is
connected to a power supply. Risk of electric shock or exposure to high
temperature parts/liquid can occur if the covers are opened during
operation of the instrument.
Warning: Take care and use safety goggles when connecting the
instrument to compressed air line.
Warning: The CPC is a class I laser product. Exposure to the
laser can cause blindness. In normal operation, the user is not exposed to
the laser radiation. Do not remove the cover of the instrument when
power is supplied and do not modify or remove any parts of the
instrument.

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Version 1.94 Document date: 18.08.2017
© 2017 Airmodus Ltd
4 nano Condensation Nucleus Counter –
Introduction
4.1 Introduction
The nano Condensation Nucleus Counter system consists of a Particle Size
Magnifier (PSM) and a Condensation Particle Counter (CPC). The PSM is
an aerosol pre-conditioner that grows aerosol particles as small as 1 nm
up to about 90 nm in mobility equivalent diameter, after which they are
further grown to optical sizes and counted in the CPC. By using the PSM
together with the CPC even single large molecules or molecular clusters
can be detected.
Figure 4-1 The idea of dual-stage condensation in the nano
Condensation Nucleus Counter system. Stage 1, particle growth
with diethylene glycol condensation is done in the PSM, whereas
stage 2 and detection is done by an external counter CPC.
The use of the Particle Size Magnifier is based on using a proper
condensing fluid for activating also the smallest particles. With diethylene
glycol as the condensing fluid, the PSM can be used at high
supersaturations without substantial homogenous nucleation of the

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working fluid. Since diethylene glycol can grow the particles only to about
90 nm in diameter, a CPC using butanol as condensing fluid is needed as a
second stage for further growing the particles to optical sizes, and for
detection.
The technique can be used for both charged and neutral particles without
the need for pre-charging the aerosol. Theoretically charged particles may
activate easier than neutral ones. Also the chemical composition of the
particles can somewhat affect the activation probability.
The nCNC has three measurement modes: 1) In the fixed flow mode it
gives the total concentration at one user-selectable saturator flow rate
corresponding to a certain cut-off size, 2) in stepping mode the user can
select up to 4 different saturator flow rates for the instrument and thus
periodically monitor the total concentration at different cut-off sizes, 3) in
scanning mode the saturator flow rate is changed continuously, giving an
activation spectrum of the measured particles, which can be used e.g. to
obtain size or composition information of the ~1-4 nm particles.
NOTE: the diffusional losses of particles smaller than 4 nm can be
substantial. Therefore, use as short inlet tube as possible before the PSM,
or use make-up flow.
4.2 Operation Principle of the PSM
The PSM consists of a saturator, mixing region and growth tube (Figure
Figure 4-2). Clean air is led through the saturator where it is heated and
exposed to diethylene glycol, which vaporizes to the flow. The aerosol flow
sampled trough the inlet is turbulently mixed with the saturator flow in
the cooled mixing region. As the flow cools down, the diethylene glycol
reaches supersaturation, and starts condensing on the particles. After the
mixing region, the sample is led to a cooled growth tube, where the
particles continue growing, when diethylene glycol is condensing on them.

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After the PSM a part of the flow is led to the CPC, and part of the flow is
discarded as excess flow.
Please note: The flows of the PSM are controlled as mass flow and
converted to volumetric flow (@20oC and 101.3kPa).
The cut-off diameter of the nCNC can be easily adjusted programmatically
by changing the saturator flow rate in the PSM. This changes the mixing
ratio of the inlet and saturator flow, which determines the supersaturation
inside the mixing region and growth tube. The supersaturation, in turn,
determines how small particles can be activated.
For details of how to define the cut-off diameter see Chapter Calibration
on page 54.
Figure 4-2 Schematics of the PSM, showing the saturator, the
mixing region, the growth tube and the CPC.
4.3 Operation Principle of the CPC
The A20 Condensation Particle Counter is intended for measuring the
number concentration of airborne solid or liquid particles (aerosol
particles) in the size range of 7 nm – 2.5 μm (see figure 4-3). It can be