TSI Expands SMPS Portfolio with Nickel-63 Aerosol Charge Conditioner

TSI Incorporated, a global leader in precision measurement instruments for aerosol and air quality research, today announced it is now offering the Aerosol Charge Conditioner (ACC, Model Number ACC-EL2-63) as a next-generation charge conditioning option for TSI's Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) systems.

The ACC, developed and manufactured by the Canadian aerosol technology innovator Atmose Ltd., represents a significant advance in aerosol charge conditioning (historically called neutralization). Its patent-pending design with a Nickel-63 (Ni-63) beta particle source delivers predictable particle charging with significantly reduced regulatory restrictions compared to traditional high-radioactivity neutralizers. The activity level of the ACC is less than 100 MBq (Megabecquerel), which allows it to be used without special licenses in many parts of the world. In fact, this product is exempt from radioactive source licensing requirements under Schedule I of the General Safety Requirements (GSR) Part 3, as published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which currently includes 181 countries as IAEA member states¹.

This capability opens new possibilities for air quality monitoring in remote or roadside stations, mobile laboratories, and field campaigns in the numerous countries that follow the IAEA guidelines, where conventional charge conditioners face licensing and deployment limitations.

"Atmose's innovation directly addresses a longstanding operational challenge in aerosol science," said Ketan Mehta, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at TSI Incorporated. "The design significantly reduces regulatory barriers in many locales while delivering performance that equals or exceeds conventional neutralizers. This is particularly valuable for customers operating across multiple jurisdictions or deploying systems in field environments."

Key advantages of the ACC include:

• Activity level less than 100 MBq and external radiation less than typical natural background radiation. This translates to significantly reduced regulatory burden for deployment: in many regions, end users are not subject to any special licensing requirements, which allows for use in roadside monitoring, mobile labs, and unrestricted field locations
• Solid-state Nickel-63 source - provided with a radiation leak test certificate
• Optimized response dynamics: Carefully engineered geometry gives fluid dynamics that maintain consistent residence time across all particle sizes
• Validated performance: Laboratory testing demonstrated size distribution measurements of spherical particles agreed within 3% on median size and 5% on number concentration using reference instruments with the ACC-EL2-63 relative to the traditional TSI Model 3077A Krypton-85 charge conditioner at similar conditions
• Long-term reliability: Ni-63 ion source with a 101-year half-life reduces source replacement frequency
• Form compatibility: Designed to integrate seamlessly with TSI SMPS systems as a direct replacement for the Model 3077 and 3077A
• No changes to Aerosol Instrument Manager software required

"This partnership expands access to Atmose's proprietary technology while leveraging TSI's established market presence and customer relationships," said Tyler Johnson, CTO at Atmose Ltd. "Together, we're bringing a transformative solution to researchers, regulators, and operators who need both scientific rigor and operational flexibility."

The ACC is particularly well-suited for:

• Regulatory air quality monitoring networks requiring rapid deployment across multiple sites
• Mobile and roadside aerosol characterization studies
• Particle size distribution measurement during pollution events
• Long-duration monitoring campaigns where source durability is critical
• Research applications requiring reproducible charge conditioning
• Aerosol generation for research applications
• Filter tester challenge aerosol charge conditioning

The Atmose Aerosol Charge Conditioner is available now through TSI's sales channels. For technical specifications, performance data, and regional compliance information, visit tsi.com/Aerosol-Charge-Conditioner-ACC-EL2-63 or contact TSI.

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About Atmose Ltd.

Atmose Ltd. is a Canadian aerosol technology company specializing in innovative ionization and charge conditioning solutions for aerosol measurement systems. Founded on principles of scientific rigor and operational practicality, Atmose develops products that enable researchers and regulators to deploy advanced aerosol monitoring anywhere. Learn more at www.atmose.ca.