Particle surface treatment for promoting condensation

An apparatus for modifying an aerosol to enhance droplet formation and growth, including:

• a path forming structure defining a path for accommodating an aerosol carrying suspended elements capable of serving as sites for droplet formation and growth via condensation of a selected working fluid, for movement of the aerosol along the path as an aerosol stream;
• and
• a component source adapted to provide an aerosol modifying component having an affinity for a vapor of the selected working fluid that exceeds an affinity of at least a portion of the suspended elements for said working fluid vapor, and further having a tendency to adhere to exposed surfaces of the suspended elements;
• wherein the component source further is adapted to introduce the aerosol modifying component into the aerosol stream at a selected location along the aerosol stream for a merger therewith, and wherein the aerosol modifying component tends to adhere to the exposed surfaces of the suspended elements, thereby increasing a capacity in the suspended elements of said portion to form and grow droplets of the selected working fluid.

A process for detecting elements suspended in aerosols, including:

• causing an aerosol, including suspended elements, to flow along a predetermined path;
• at a first location along the path, treating exposed surfaces of the suspended elements to increase a capacity, in at least a portion of the suspended elements, for heterogeneous nucleation of droplets of a selected working fluid;
• at a second location along the path, exposing the aerosol to a vapor of the selected working fluid to promote droplet formation and growth via condensation of the selected working fluid onto the suspended elements;
• and
• at a third location along the path, optically detecting the droplets to generate a count indicating a number of the suspended elements.

An apparatus for detecting elements suspended in aerosols, including:

• a path forming structure defining a path for accommodating an aerosol carrying suspended elements for movement along the path;
• a first stage along the path adapted to treat exposed surfaces of the suspended elements to increase a capacity in at least a portion of the suspended elements to heterogeneously nucleate droplets of a selected working fluid;
• a second stage along the path adapted to expose the aerosol to a vapor of the selected working fluid to promote droplet formation and growth via condensation of the selected working fluid onto the suspended elements;
• and
• a third stage along the path adapted to optically detect the droplets and thereby generate a count indicating a number of the suspended elements.