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Instrument for measuring airborne particulate matter

a technology of airborne particulate matter and instrument, which is applied in the direction of instruments, material analysis, transmissivity measurement, etc., can solve the problems of large bench-top units of aethalometers or bc instruments, extremely harmful to both human health and the environment, and the cost of acquisition of current bc instruments

Active Publication Date: 2019-12-19
CAUBEL JULIEN J +1
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  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
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AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a detector designed to measure the concentration of black carbon (BC) in air. It has a short unobstructed path for the flow of sampled air, which allows for greater airflow rates and requires less power. This results in an increase in effective sensitivity to BC concentrations. Additionally, the detector is symmetrically arranged, allowing for reversal of the sample air path to facilitate maintenance.

Problems solved by technology

BC is extremely harmful to both human health and the environment.
Current Aethalometers or BC instruments are usually large bench-top units and are quite expensive to acquire.
Furthermore, current BC instruments are not designed to be deployed outdoors and, thus, perform poorly in fluctuating ambient conditions.

Method used

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  • Instrument for measuring airborne particulate matter
  • Instrument for measuring airborne particulate matter
  • Instrument for measuring airborne particulate matter

Examples

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working example

[0057]Apparatus 10A was operated outdoors with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter on inlet 42 for a two week period (a “training” period). FIGS. 7-9 represent data obtained therefrom. FIG. 7 shows that the sample and reference output voltages 76 and 78, FIG. 2, are clearly dependent on ambient conditions, oscillating in sync with the diurnal trends in temperature and relative humidity. FIG. 9 shows such results. It is theorized that the output voltage oscillations shown in FIG. 7 are likely the result of temperature sensitivity of LEDs 64 and 66, FIG. 2. LEDs 64 and 66 are rated to dim 0.3% for every 1° C. temperature rise, which is approximately represented by the observation of FIG. 5. Thus, the temperature sensitivity of LEDs 64 and 66 play a major role in the accuracy of apparatus 10A. Photodiode sensitivity (the voltage output per watt of incident light intensity) decreases by 0.01% for every 1° C. temperature rise, and likely also contributes to the diurnal-noctur...

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Abstract

An apparatus for measuring the optical absorption of airborne matter or other light absorbing species in a sample airflow. The apparatus comprises a flow path through a fibrous filter to collect light absorbing species in the sampled air. The filtered airflow may subsequently pass through a second filter, used for reference measurements. At least one light source impinges in the filter generating one or two optical signals to determine the light absorption of particulate matter or other species in the sampled airflow. The apparatus includes at least one auxiliary sensor in the sample flow path to monitor an environmental factor, such as temperature. During a training period, a mathematical model of the apparatus' environmental sensitivity is derived. Using the mathematical model and measurements from the auxiliary sensor, optical signals are compensated in real time to increase the precision and accuracy of light absorption measurements recorded under fluctuating environmental conditions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present application relates to an instrument and method for determining the optical absorption of matter, including black carbon, in the atmosphere.[0002]Black carbon (BC), or soot, is a primary light-absorbing component of particulate matter generated by biomass and fossil fuel combustion. BC is extremely harmful to both human health and the environment. It has been estimated that airborne particulate matter, including BC, kills an estimated 4 million people per year worldwide. In addition, BC is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide. In order to assess BC's impact on climate and human populations, it is necessary to measure both the geographical and vertical distribution of BC in the atmosphere on a large scale.[0003]In the past, an instrument known as an Aethalometer has been employed to measure the concentration of optically absorbing (“black”) suspended particulates in a gas. Such airborne particulate matter (...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G01N21/61
CPCG01N21/61G01N15/0625G01N2015/0046
Inventor CAUBEL, JULIEN J.CADOS, TROY E.KIRCHSTETTER, THOMAS W.
Owner CAUBEL JULIEN J
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