Particle counters detect and count matter in samples, providing size information. They can be used for quality control, contamination detection, and public health. Techniques include light scattering or obscuring. They are useful in air quality monitoring, healthcare, and manufacturing. Some are portable or fixed, and documentation provides information on detection capabilities. Selecting the right equipment is important for accuracy and reliability.
A particle counter detects the presence of matter in a sample source, counts it, and can provide information about its size. Aerosol counters allow technicians to measure particles in air or other gas sources, while liquid counters evaluate liquid samples. Such devices can be useful for quality control, contamination detection, and public health. They are available through scientific supply companies and in some cases it may be possible to receive a grant to fund them, if they perform a public health function.
Several techniques can be used to check a sample of materials for particles. Two of the most common involve light scattering or obscuring, which are based on changes in the behavior of light as it passes through a sample with particulate materials. These particle-counting devices illuminate the sample, typically with a laser, and measure the refracted or obscured light. Other devices can optically scan the sample, which can also provide particle size information, based on how much area they occupy in an image.
One use for a particle counter is in air quality monitoring. High percentages of particulate matter in the air can be an indicator of pollution or contamination which could make breathing difficult. These devices can be used to assess particulate levels and issue warnings if necessary. In healthcare applications, they can be used to monitor for signs of contamination, control escaped particles and maintain strict standards in laboratories. They are also useful in manufacturing, where delicate processes can be disrupted with impurities in the air.
Some devices are portable; technicians can transport them into an environment and set them up as needed with the appropriate sampling probes. Others are fixed and can be wired into an environment. A remote particle counter can send signals to other devices and control panels. Such equipment is useful for monitoring large areas where technicians cannot personally check the particle counter. The device can send an alert if levels rise too high to notify technicians who need to respond to an emerging problem.
The documentation associated with a particle counter can provide information on the size range it is capable of detecting. Some devices may also have lower and upper flow limits, beyond which they cannot measure accurately. It is important to select the right equipment to ensure measurement accuracy and reliability. The equipment may return errors if it detects that conditions have exceeded its capability, but otherwise there will be no warning that the measurements are inaccurate.
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