Atmospheric Condensate Collector and Electrospray Source

An analyzer apparatus, comprising:

• an atmospheric condensate collector and electrospray source, comprising:
• a cooler having a cooler power supply switchably connected thereto;
• a needle in thermal communication with said cooler, said needle configured to generate condensate from ambient atmosphere when cooled by said cooler to a temperature below a dew point of said ambient atmosphere;
• a ground electrode electrically and mechanically separated from said needle;
• a high voltage power supply configured to provide a high voltage between said needle and said ground electrode, said high voltage power supply switchably connected between said needle and said ground electrode;
• and
• a controller electrically connected to said high voltage power supply, said controller configured to control the operation of said high voltage power supply;
• said atmospheric condensate collector and electrospray source apparatus configured to generate said condensate and to generate particulate spray from said condensate in response to command signals issued from said controller;
• and
• an analyzer configured to receive at least one particle of said particulate spray and to provide as a result a signal indicative of a chemical composition of said at least one particle of said particulate spray.

A method of generating particulate spray from an ambient atmosphere, comprising the steps of:

• providing an atmospheric condensate collector and electrospray source apparatus, comprising:
• a cooler having a cooler power supply switchably connected thereto;
• a needle in thermal communication with said cooler, said needle configured to generate condensate from ambient atmosphere when cooled by said cooler to a temperature below a dew point of said ambient atmosphere;
• a ground electrode electrically and mechanically separated from said needle;
• a high voltage power supply configured to provide a high voltage between said needle and said ground electrode, said high voltage power supply switchably connected between said needle and said ground electrode;
• and
• a controller electrically connected to said high voltage power supply, said controller configured to control the operation of said high voltage power supply;
• said atmospheric condensate collector and electrospray source apparatus configured to generate said condensate and to generate particulate spray from said condensate in response to command signals issued from said controller;
• operating said cooler to generate on said needle a condensate from ambient gas;
• and
• operating said high voltage power supply to generate a particulate spray of said condensate from said needle.