A study of stability and vibration for particle sampling probes

• We investigate the stability of local thermophoretic sampling probes during sampling.
• We measure velocities of various thermophoretic sampling probes.
• Disturbance intensity is defined to quantify the vibration of the probe.
• We observe deflection of probes in terms of the insertion way and their configuration.
• Long exposure and low velocity were recommended to obtain stable movement.

We attempt to systematically investigate the stability of local thermophoretic sampling probes during sampling procedure. Thermophoretic sampling is an important technique that utilizes the phenomena of particle transport induced by a temperature gradient surrounding the particle. Thermophoretic sampling has been extensively employed to collect particles existing in a high temperature environment such as a furnace, flame and exhaust system. However, it is difficult to find the research of velocity for the sampling probes. In this study, the velocities of various thermophoretic sampling probes were measured and disturbance intensity was defined to quantify the vibration of the probe during its operation. To the best of our knowledge, it is for the first time disturbance intensity has been introduced in order to quantify the vibration of the probe in action.