Particle detection system and method

A particle detector for detecting and identifying sub 20 nm particles in liquids, comprising,

• a. a nano particle extractor having a liquid sample inlet, and a nebulizer connected to the liquid sample inlet, the nebulizer having a gas supply, and an outlet, the nano particle extractor limiting the size of droplets output to a predetermined size;
• b. a nano particle collector connected to the extractor, the collector having an collector inlet connected to the outlet of the extractor, a vapor condensation growth tube connected to the collector inlet, and at least one particle capture plate constructed and arranged to receive material output from the growth tube;
• c. a tracer particle introducer connected to the liquid sample inlet of the extractor, the tracer particle introducer injecting tracer particles of a known size, composition, and concentration;
• d. wherein the tracer particles are provided in a colloidal suspension of silica, of approximately 10 nm in size;
• e. wherein the colloidal suspension of silica is injected at rate of 100 ul/ml, and the sample flow a rate of 100 ul/min;
• and
• f. whereby, in use, tracer particles are injected at a prescribed rate into a liquid sample at a known volumetric flow rate to identify particles in the liquid sample.

A particle detector for rapidly detecting and identifying sub 20 nm particles in liquids, specifically Ultra Pure Water, comprising,

• a. a nano particle extractor for limiting the size of droplets output to a predetermined size, the extractor having:
• i. a liquid sample inlet,
• ii. a nebulizer connected to the liquid sample inlet, the nebulizer having a gas supply, and an outlet,
• iii. an impactor constructed and arranged to receive material output from the nebulizer,
• iv. an evaporator communicatively connected to the nebulizer and impactor for providing an aerosol at the extractor outlet, and
• v, an aerosol outlet communicatively connected to the evaporator;
• b. a nano particle collector connected to the extractor, the collector having:
• i. a collector inlet connected to die aerosol outlet of the extractor,
• ii. a vapor condensation growth tube connected to the collector inlet, and
• iii. a repositionable particle capture plate constructed and arranged to receive material output from the growth tube at spatially varying positions, wherein the collector capture plate is adapted to be analyzed by optical analysis or chemical analysis to rapidly identify detected particles;
• and
• c. a tracer particle introducer connected to the liquid sample inlet of the extractor, the tracer particle introducer including a tracer particle supply connected to a pump which is connected to the extractor, and wherein, in use:
• i. tracer particles are injected at a prescribed rate into a liquid sample at a known volumetric flow rate to identify particles in the liquid sample;
• ii. the tracer particles are provided in a colloidal suspension of silica, of approximately 10 nm in size;
• iii. the colloidal suspension of silica is injected at an initial dilution ratio at an injection rate of 100 ul/ml and a liquid sample flow a rate of 100 ul/min;
• and
• iv, the dilution ratio is varied, and particle agglomeration is quantified by observing a ratio of single to double particles.