Integrating a CPC into a “low cost” air quality monitoring device : challenges & opportunities

Booker, Douglas (2018) Integrating a CPC into a “low cost” air quality monitoring device : challenges & opportunities. In: Cambridge Particle Meeting 2018, 2018-06-15 - 2018-06-15, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge.

Abstract

National Air Quality Testing Services (NAQTS) has developed an integrated air quality monitor (NAQTS V1000) incorporating the latest developments in low-cost sensor technologies, alongside a regulatory grade Condensation Particle Counter (CPC), thermal desorption tubes (TD), and other environmental measurements. Users can interact with the device using a HTML GUI and a database management system that can be directly uploaded to the cloud. The NAQTS V1000 unit is a portable air quality monitoring station designed to be easy-to-use for high-volume, low-cost measurements, facilitating a holistic understanding of indoor and outdoor air pollution. The NAQTS V1000 measures Particle Number (CPC - d50 15nm), CO2 (NDIR), CO, NO2, and VOCs (electrochemical and metal oxide) and is also fitted with Temperature, Pressure and Relative Humidity measurements. External GPS and Noise measurements are available through USB ports on the back of the equipment. NAQTS’ regulatory compliant CPC allows users to measure ultrafine particles, whilst keeping fluid consumption low due to an integrated solvent recovery system. The novel integration of TD tubes for GC-MS into a real-time air pollution monitoring device allows low-cost sensors to be used as triggers for VOC speciation, adding another layer to potential analyses. This presentation will introduce the community to this new technology, and discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating a CPC into a “low-cost” air quality measurement device, and making high quality air quality monitoring affordable to everyone. The presentation will also briefly cover some of the main research projects that are using the equipment. Including: •Indoor Air Quality & Energy Efficiency- Developing models for assisting building design and modification whilst ensuring energy efficiency and good indoor air quality. Investigating the relationship between real-time temporal TVOC concentrations and speciation of VOCs by TD GC-MS. •Vehicle Interior Air Quality – simultaneous measurements of inside-outside four vehicles to understand Ingress Ratio (how much ambient pollution is getting into the vehicle cabin) and Stuffiness (how well the vehicle is ventilating CO2). •Environmental Justice - Are certain groups more likely to be exposed to poor IAQ? Previous research has suggested that “air pollution follows the poor”, however, this was based on outdoor air pollution, despite the fact that we spend 90% of our time indoors. •Citizen Science - Capturing real-time pollution levels during school drop off/pick up times. Measurements taken by students.