Development of an Automatic Beta Gauge Particulate Sampler with Filter Cassette Mechanism

Abstract

A beta gauge particulate sampler for measuring the aerosol mass concentration in the ambient air is described. The instrument is automatically calibrated with two self-calibration mass standards during each sampling period, while it samples particles continuously with minimum sampling dead-time loss. Key design features of the instrument based on the attenuation of beta radiation include lter cassette mechanism, auto-calibration system, low sampling dead-time, high sensitivity, and straightforward audit procedures. The instrument consists of three main components: PM 10 inlet, mechanical lter movement system, and control and data processing system. The mechanical lter movement system includes particle collection system with lter cassette magazine,¯-ray measuring module and particle sampling module, auto-calibration system, and ow control system. The control and data processing system performs lter cassette movement control, sampling pump control, and data analysis. The instrument has been tested in the eld to compare the measurement results with those by gravimetric mass measurement. The developed beta gauge instrument has been proved to be an ef cient measuring guage for the ambient particulate mass determination.

New York State Urban and Rural Measurements of Continuous PM2.5 Mass by FDMS, TEOM, and BAM

“…10,11 Since that time there have been a number of research and commercial instruments based on this method. A number of recent papers have described the hardware and operation of the beta gauge 13 and presented evaluations and data comparisons for various versions of this instrument. 12,20,22,23 A number of BAMs have been designated as automated equivalent methods for the measurement of PM 10 by EPA; 24 California has designated the BAM as an equivalent method for PM 2.5 20 .…”

Long-Term Measurement of PM2.5 Mass Concentration Using an Electrostatic Particle Concentrator-Based Quartz Crystal Microbalance Integrated With Carbon Dioxide Aerosol Jets for PM Sensing in Remote Areas

“…It uses a radiometric source to emit beta particles and then measures the degree of their attenuation through a collected mass, where the attenuation is proportional to the collected mass. This method is straightforward and relatively simple [8]. However, its major drawbacks are the use of radioactive sources and the necessity of long-time sampling to obtain sufficient responses [9].…”

“…PM mass concentration can also be measured with optical instruments, which usually rely on light scattering. These instruments offer high sensitivity [8], ease of use, and low power consumption [12], [13]. However, a primary disadvantage of such methods is that the amount of scattering light depends strongly on diverse particle characteristics such as size, shape, density, and refractive index [8], [9].…”