Patent ID: 8194234
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: B01D,G01N,G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting a characteristic of particles in a sample, the method comprising: passing a first stream of a carrier gas over a working fluid wherein the carrier gas absorbs at least some of the working fluid to provide a vapor containing working fluid; mixing the vapor containing working fluid with a second stream of carrier gas to produce a mixture of working fluid and carrier gas at a first temperature; introducing the sample gas to the mixture, the sample gas containing particles and having a second temperature lower than the first temperature, to produce a particle-containing gas having a third temperature lower than the first temperature; condensing at least some of the working fluid in the particle-containing gas on to at least some of the particles to produce enlarged particles; and detecting the characteristic of at least some of the enlarged particles.