PINC

Based on the concept of the laboratory instrument ZINC and the experiences we gained with it we developed the field instrument PINC with a small and lightweight cooling system and a shorter chamber so that it is easily transportable. One goal of the development of this instrument was the possibility to fly on research aircraft with limited space and power supply. Unlike ZINC, PINC has a couple of portable refrigerant compressors (Danfoss BD series) to directly cool the walls of the chamber without the use of an intermediate cooling liquid. In this configuration, the instrument is able to measure ambient ice nuclei concentrations at conditions as cold as -40°C and relative humidites exceeding water saturation within the chamber.

The instrument has already successfully passed several test-flights on a german Learjet. In addition, PINC has measured ambient ice nuclei concentration on the High Alpine Research Station Jungfraujoch during several campaigns and participated in some laboratory campaigns.