AIR QUALITY SURVEILLANCE BRANCH STANDARD OPERATING ... SOP 412 (TAP… · air quality surveillance...

AIR QUALITY SURVEILLANCE BRANCH

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

FOR

TELEDYNE ADVANCED POLLUTION INSTRUMENTS (TAPI) MODEL 651 ULTRAFINE PARTICLE MONITOR

AQSB SOP 412

First Edition

MONITORING AND LABORATORY DIVISION

July 2017

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TELEDYNE ADVANCED POLLUTION INSTRUMENTS MODEL 651 Ultrafine Particle Monitor

Page(s) Date LIST OF DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS 1 1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION 2-6 07/17 1.1 Introduction 2 1.2 Principle of Operation 2 1.3 Interferences 5 1.4 Personnel Qualifications 5 1.5 Equipment & Supplies 5 1.6 Safety Precautions 6 2.0 INSTALLATION PROCEDURE 6-13 07/17 2.1 General Information 6 2.2 Physical Inspection 7 2.3 Instrument Siting 8 2.4 Instrument Set-Up & Operational Verification 8 2.5 CARBLogger Configuration & Connection 10 3.0 FLOW CALIBRATION/VERIFICATION 13-16 07/17 3.1 Calibration Introduction 13 3.2 Calibration/Verification Overview 13 3.3 Calibration /Verification Apparatus 14 3.4 AS-IS Calibration/Verification 14 3.5 Completion of Calibration/Verification Steps 16 4.0 OPERATION & ROUTINE SERVICE CHECKS 16-20 07/17 4.1 General Information 16 4.2 Daily Checks 18 4.3 Weekly Checks 18 4.4 Monthly Checks 18 4.5 Semi-Annual Checks 19 4.6 As-Required Checks 19

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

TELEDYNE ADVANCED POLLUTION INSTRUMENTS

MODEL 651 Ultrafine Particle Monitor 5.0 TROUBLESHOOTING & REPAIR 20-21 07/17 5.1 General Information 20 6.0 DATA MANAGEMENT & RECORD RETENTION 22 07/17 6.1 General Information 22 6.2 Method of Data Acquisition 22 6.3 Data Management & Record Retention 22 7.0 QUALITY CONTROL & QUALITY ASSURANCE 22-23 07/17 7.1 General Information 22 7.2 Quality Control 23 7.3 Quality Assurance 23 REFERENCES 24 07/17 APPENDICES 25-26 07/17 APPENDIX A Sample Maintenance QC Check Sheet 26 TABLES & FIGURES 07/17 Figure 1 Model 651 System Schematic 4 Figure 2 Rear image of Model 651 showing connections 8 Figure 3 Model 651 Ready Mode Display 10 Figure 4 CARBLogger Sample Screenshot 12 Figure 5 Additional Status Screen 15 Table 1 Flow Rate Matrix 15 Table 2 Operation/Maintenance Schedule 17 Table 3 Status Indicators with Descriptions 18 Table 4 Home Screen Status Messages 21 Table 5 Flow Audit Pass/Fail Criteria 23

AQSB SOP 412 TAPI 651 Ultrafine Particle Monitor

First Edition, July 2017 Page 1 of 26

Definitions & Acronyms: AQDA Air Quality Data Action AQSB Air Quality Surveillance Branch ARB California Air Resources Board Bubble Meter A basic absolute method of measuring the volume flow rate of

gases measuring the time required for a bubble to pass through a known volume at two points.

CAN Corrective Action Notification CARBLogger ARBs in-house proprietary data acquisition system. CPC Condensation Particle Counter Critical Orifice Engineered flow restriction to control air flow rate DAS Data Acquisition System Distilled Water Water purified by distillation process. DMS ARBs in-house proprietary Data Management System HPLC High Performance (Pressure) Liquid Chromatography LPM Liters per Minute Micrometer (m) Unit of measure equal to 1/1000 of a millimeter Particle Counter A sampler that counts ultrafine particles. Pulse Height A function of particle size and concentration of particles

travelling through the measurement chamber. PQAO Primary Quality Assurance Organization QA Quality Assurance QC Quality Control QMB Quality Management Branch SCC Sharp cut cyclone SLPM Standard Liters per Minute, gas flow at standard temperature

and pressure. SOP Standard Operating Procedure TAPI Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation Transfer Standard Traceable standard certified against a primary standard used for QC checks of instrumentation and samplers Ultrafine Particle Nanoscale-sized particulate matter WCPC Water-Based Condensation Particle Counter Wick Consumable porous medium critical to growth tube/saturator.



1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1 Introduction:

Ultrafine particles (UFP) exist all around us in the air that we breathe. The amount of ambient UFP, those less than 100nm (0.1m) in size, cannot be measured by current reference methods for PM 2.5 and PM10. The condensation particle counter (CPC) provides valuable information to the studying of potential health impacts at near road emissions sources and other areas where both acute and chronic exposure are believed to lead to health problems. This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) describes procedures used by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) Air Quality Surveillance Branch (AQSB) to operate the Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instruments (TAPI) Model 651Ultrafine Particle Monitor to count ultrafine particles in ambient air. This procedure is designed to supplement the instruction manual by describing hardware and operating procedures as implemented by the AQSB for monitoring of ultrafine airborne particles in the ARBs ambient air monitoring network. References to the TAPI Model 651 Operation Manual refer to the Fifth Edition, dated June 2013. At the time of this writing, the firmware in use is M651-Version 1.26. The intent of this SOP is to supplement and not to duplicate or replace the TAPI Model 651 Operation Manual and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

1.2 Principle of Operation:

The Model 651 uses a water-based condensation growth process to count the number of qualified ultrafine particles (7 nm to 3 m) in an air sample to yield a particle concentration value. This result is displayed as the number of particles detected per cubic centimeter of sampled air (particles/cm3). For a more detailed discussion of the instrument's measurement principle, please reference Chapter 7, Particle Counting in the manufacturer's operation manual. In the monitor, an aerosol air sample is drawn through a sharp cut cyclone size selective inlet through a down tube assembly consisting of a stainless probe segment attached to black dissipative tubing that is cut to the appropriate length and attached to the aerosol inlet port. An external vacuum pump continuously draws the aerosol sample through the sampling system. The Model 651 particle counting process occurs after the aerosol stream enters the sample inlet cyclone where particles greater than 0.6 m are removed and then routed through an externally accessible large particle removal screen. At this point a portion of the primary 3.0 LPM flow has been diverted and sent to the



exhaust as transport flow. The aerosol stream enters a conditioner where it is saturated with water vapor and temperature-equilibrated. The aerosol flow is further diverted to achieve a nominal sample flow of 0.12 LPM through the remaining system. The sample then passes to a growth tube where wetted walls are heated to raise the vapor pressure. Properties of the water vapor and surrounding environment create a supersaturated condition along the radius of the flow stream. These engineered conditions facilitate water condensation on the particles in the sample stream. By this process, ultrafine particles that range from 7 to 600 nm (.007-0.6 m) that are too small to scatter adequate light for detection by the optical sensor are grown to a larger, measurable size. The sample stream of enlarged particles is uninterrupted and follows a laminar flow path as it is ultimately passed through the optical detector. In the optical detector, the particles pass through a laser beam and create large pulses that are detected and counted. Particle concentration is measured by counting each particle in the air stream at sub-second time resolution.



Figure 1: Model 651 System Schematic



1.3 Interferences:

Operating outside of the factory specified temperature range of 10oC to 35oC can lead to an inaccurate displayed concentration. Also, Coincidence can occur when more than one particle passes through the optical sensor simultaneously. This can have an impact on the measured concentration at higher particle concentrations. This effect is minimalized through the instruments electronics. Lastly, the effects of using tap water in the instrument are so strongly advised against that doing so will void the product warranty. Tap water (which includes bottled drinking water) must not be used.

1.4 Personnel Qualifications:

ARB personnel in the Air Quality Surveillance Branch (AQSB) staff fall into four categories: Air Resources Technicians, Air Resources Instrument Technicians and Air Pollution Specialists/Engineers. Staff authorized to operate this monitor is limited to personnel that have been assigned a specific function by their immediate Supervisor and who are at a minimum familiar with this SOP, the manufacturers instrument manual, and have received hands-on training from designated staff.

1.5 Equipment and Supplies:

Instruments are received from the manufacturer with the following components:

Model 651 Ultrafine Particle Monitor Water Supply/drain bottles Vacuum pump & tubing Inlet down tube (Stainless) Static Dissipative Aerosol Inlet Tubing (3 Meters) BGI 0.732 Sharp Cut Cyclone head Maintenance Kit

A supply of consumable parts consisting of spare wicks, inline filters and critical orifices are included in the maintenance kit. Otherwise, all supplies are received, stored and dispensed at the ARB Monitoring and Laboratory Divisions (MLD) Sacramento facility. Distilled water can be sourced locally. Standard installation at an ARB air monitoring site requires an RS-232 serial connection for integration with a CARBLogger data acquisition computer.



Flow verification and calibration standards are assigned to the respective Air Pollution Specialist/Engineer and Site Operator staff that bear the responsibility for maintaining them in proper operating and certified condition. TAPI recommends BGI TetraCal or bubble meters for flow measurements. The Alicat Whispertm series of mass flow meters have also provided sound results in the CARB laboratory.

1.6 Safety Precautions:

Care should be taken not to tilt the instrument once the water bottle has been connected (>10o), this can result in flooding of the instrument optics. Instructions for transporting the instrument short distances, shipping and storage can be found in Chapter 3 of the Operations Manual, Moving and Shipping the Model 651. Always use a three-prong, grounded plug on the instrument and take steps to avoid electro-static discharge. Adhere to general safety precautions when working around electronics, electrical sources and water. The monitor utilizes a Class I laser which will not expose the user during normal operation. Exposure to this type of intense, focused visible light can cause blindness. Therefore, it is imperative to take these precautions: Do not remove the instrument housing or cover while the monitor is powered on. Do not remove any components from the instrument unless specifically instructed to do so in the factory manual.

2.0 INSTALLATION PROCEDURE 2.1 General Information:

Some flexibility in installation is provided in that the units can be either bench or rack mounted. Consideration should be made if installing the instrument in a standard 19 instrument rack so that it can be accessed for maintenance, repair work and troubleshooting, etc. The standard 19 instrument rack should be bolted to the floor and properly grounded while the water reservoir should be situated away from other electronics. The instrument is designed to operate in a shelter



temperature range between 10 and 38C. However, ARB monitoring practices state that shelter temperatures should be maintained between 20C to 30C. The instrument does not have the capacity to store data internally. While a USB thumb drive may be used to store/save measurement data, the preferred method is to utilize CARBLogger/DMS for data collection and storage. These steps are outlined in Section 2.4.

2.2 Physical Inspection:

The instrument is normally purchased with the following standard equipment:

Model 651 Ultrafine Particle Monitor 10 Amp Power cable Water Supply bottle Water drain bottle Vacuum pump tubing (Teflon) Vacuum pump Inlet down tube (Stainless) Sample inlet tubing (Static dissipative type) BGI SCC head Spare wick cartridge/case 7/64 hex wrench Maintenance Kit (consumables)

Also for a complete installation/operation the following must be sourced:

Distilled (



2.3 Instrument Siting:

The instrument should be sited in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 58 Appendix E Probe and Monitoring Path Siting Criteria for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring. Roadside monitoring applications may require siting criteria subject to other EPA documentation such as, Appendix D to 40 CFR Part 58, Network Design Criteria for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring.

2.4 Instrument Set-Up & Operational Verification:

NOTE: Prior to operation of the instrument, operators must read the

respective instruction manual to familiarize themselves with the operation of the instrument.

Figure 2: Rear Image of Model 651 Showing Connections

Prior to operating the Model 651, ensure that the proper connections have been made. In summary, at most ARB monitoring locations this involves the following connections:

Connect the BGI SCC inlet cyclone/ stainless downtube/dissipative tubing assembly to the aerosol inlet port on the Model 651 rear panel.

Install the water supply bottle bracket on the upper right hand side so that



the fill bottle rests above the instrument. Connect the tubing to the water fill connection port and fill the bottle with distilled water. If the bracket is not used, ensure that the bottle is securely placed higher than the instrument for proper feeding.

Connect the water exhaust bottle tubing to the instrument port/bottle and locate the bottle below the instrument level.

Connect the Model 651 power cord to a well-grounded and appropriate power outlet.

Connect an RS-232 cable from an available serial port on the

CARBLogger computer to the rear panel serial connection on the Model 651 (see Figure 2 for location).

Connect the external vacuum pump line to the rear panel fitting labeled

vacuum.

After proper connections have been made, turn on the power switch and connect the external pump to power. At initial power on, the 651 display reads WARMUP. After approximately twenty minutes, when the optics and growth tube temperatures are within two degrees of their operating temperatures the display will read READY on the HOME screen. At that point, the STATUS/SETUP menus can be utilized to perform the following:

Turn flow on and off

Set date and time

Set sampling parameters

Check flow

Set data collection and network options (i.e. sample time at 60 seconds)

Collect data (Enable respective CARBLogger channel to engage)



Figure 3: Model 651 Ready Mode Display

A blue indicator light on the front of the instrument shows when the instrument is counting particles and establishes that it is in good working order. A flashing or continuously blue light indicates the instrument is measuring particles. A red color indicates that there is a fault, see Section 5. Troubleshooting. Note: If this instrument is connected to a CARBLogger terminal using the

appropriate TAPI Model 651 driver, all errors will be recorded and placed into a diagnostic email to specified users.

Detailed operating instructions for the TAPI 651 are presented in section 4.0, OPERATION & ROUTINE SERVICE CHECKS.

2.5 CARBLogger Configuration & Connection:

CARBLogger is designed to provide minute-based, digital data recording and alerts for a variety of instruments. AQSB staff can configure CARBLogger by



following the instructions on the text based user interface provided by the program. Care should be taken to install the proper CARBLogger driver for the instrument you are using. For specific assistance with the CARBLogger configuration, contact the AQSBs Operation and Data Support Section (ODSS).

In order for the data stream to travel from instrument to the final reporting location, an instrument must first be connected to the on-site CARBLogger computer and then the CARB Data Management System (DMS) must then be configured to accept/report the resulting data residing in CARBLogger. These steps provide a brief overview in integrating the instrument to the data network:

Ensure that the instrument is connected by serial cable to an open port on CARBLogger.

Confirm that communications with the Model 651 have been established by opening the PuTTY program on the CARBLogger computer. After determining and entering in the appropriate serial connection information, verify that properly formatted text appears. Once you have verified the communications settings, make a note of them, close PuTTY and proceed.

On the CARBLogger computer, choose the Add Instrument option on the main screen.

A driver list will appear. The CPC will use the driver TAPI_651_drv. Installation of collocated units may require the loading of an a_drv to distinguish between units.

On the instrument configuration screen change the Serial Port (option d) to the respective serial label, minus 1, as verified above. For example, if the Model 651 is plugged into the RS-232 serial cable numbered 5, then the port location would be: /dev/ttyPS4

After all parameters are correctly entered, hit s to save the settings and CARBLogger will restart.

On the Display Channels menu of CARBLogger make sure the CPC data and parameters text turns black, if the text is red there is a problem.

CARBLogger will now start saving CPC data locally. The dms.cfg must be configured in order for data to report to the network.



Navigate to the dms.cfg file by using the Linux operating system file

explorer at the top of the desktop screen. Click on Places -> Home Folder -> CARBLog -> sys_resources, then double-click on dms.cfg and choose display (See Figure 4).

If the CPC PARAMETERS section is missing in the dms.cfg file then contact the Operation and Data Support Section, ODSS for assistance. If editing the dms.cfg file, make sure to save the changes.

CPC data will now be uploaded to DMS hourly.

Figure 4: CARBLogger Sample Screenshot

Note: To reduce the number of diagnostic parameters appearing on the CARBLogger Display Channels screen, the home/aqdms/CARBLog/TAPI_651_drv/.display file may be edited. Contact ODSS to have the changes made permanent. For additional assistance, questions or concerns, please contact ODSS.



Note: In the event of a CARBLogger malfunction, data gaps will ensue as there is no internal logging capacity in the instrument.

As an alternative, flash drives less than 16 GB may be used to store particle concentration and analog input data. This option may be useful where deployment options do not readily allow for integration into alternate data acquisition systems. See Chapter 8, Computer Interface, Commands, and Data Collection of the instrument manual for specific details.

3.0 FLOW CALIBRATION /VERIFICATION 3.1 Calibration Introduction:

A calibration is a procedure for checking and or aligning the output or operating parameters (in the case of samplers) of an instrument to a known true standard. AQSB typically employs two stages for field flow calibrations. The first, referred to as an AS-IS calibration is conducted to evaluate the instruments performance up to the point that it has been challenged over a range of flow rates. Maintenance or adjustments may be conducted at this point if required. The steps of the AS-IS calibration are then repeated such that a Final condition is established as a data validity milestone To ensure the quality of the data collected within the ARBs air monitoring network, ALL instruments in the network are calibrated:

during initial field installation and every six months thereafter following physical relocation before any scheduled major maintenance or repair after any unscheduled major maintenance or repair when terminating sampling of the pollutant Instrument calibrations within the CARB network shall be performed and documented in accordance with the appropriate SOP and/or instruction manual. This ensures that all instruments in the network are calibrated correctly and in a consistent manner

3.2 Calibration/Verification Overview:

The design of the Model 651 Monitor is such that the three system flows are established by fixed orifices and are measured against their displayed settings. In the case of the inlet and bypass flows, they are not adjustable. The 0.12 sample flow value can be adjusted by manipulating the factory set Flow Constant value



(Figure 5.). This section of the SOP provides a list of the necessary equipment and the recommended procedures to accurately check and verify the sample, inlet and bypass flows.

3.3 Calibration/Verification Apparatus:

Certified external flow meter (as covered in section 2.2).

One-quarter inch outside diameter tubing for air flow connections between flow standard and instrument (friction fit over aerosol inlet).

Station logbook or instrument maintenance sheet to record data.

3.4 AS-IS Calibration/Verification:

With the instrument powered on, perform the following steps to conduct an AS-IS calibration/verification on the aerosol sample flow, the bypass and total inlet flows can be checked similarly:

Disable the appropriate channel on the station data logger.

Record the instruments diagnostic parameters (on maintenance sheet).

Allow ample warm-up time for the CPC and the flow measurement device.

Make appropriate entries in the site logbook and/or instrument maintenance sheet such as flow standard identification and certification data and dates as well as instrument property and serial numbers.

Install a section of tubing from the flow measurement device to the aerosol

inlet (slip-fit) of the CPC.

On the Home Screen, in ready mode press SETUP. Pressing the FLOW MODE button will allow the user to toggle between the Inlet Flow (3 LPM), Bypass Flow (0.6 LPM) and Sample Flow (0.12 LPM). The flow rate at the aerosol inlet will change accordingly depending on which flow is toggled and can then be recorded.

Compare the corrected, true reading of the flow standard to the sample

flow constant. The true reading should be within 5% of the sample flow constant.



Figure 5: ADDITIONAL STATUS Screen With the Flow Constant of .131 LPM in Figure 3, the acceptable flow meter readings would be between .124 LPM and .141 LPM. The 0.12 LPM sample flow is the most critical of the three flows. This value is compared to the sample flow constant. To display the sample flow constant for the respective instrument, press STATUS MORE from the Home Screen to arrive at the Additional Status Screen

Total Inlet Flow

Auxiliary + Transport+ Sample flows

3.0 LPM (+/-5%)

Bypass Flow

Transport+ Sample Flows

0.6 LPM (+/- 5%)

Sample Flow

Aerosol flow into optical chamber

0.12 LPM indicated (+/-5% of flow constant)

Table 1: Flow Rate Matrix



Should a measured flow fall outside of the allowable range, the filters, orifices and vacuum pump should be checked and if warranted, serviced/replaced. If after troubleshooting steps are taken and replacement of the constant flow orifice is deemed warranted, the flow constant setting should be adjusted to the measured certified true flow rate. Reported data should be reviewed to determine if any portions were affected and if so, invalidated. Contact the ODSS repair shop for assistance. If maintenance or repair was performed, then a FINAL calibration/verification would be conducted by repeating the AS-IS steps.

3.5 Completion of Calibration/Verification Steps:

Record and verify performance results from the AS-IS (and FINAL if necessary) for the three resultant flows on the maintenance sheet and site logbook

Reconnect the instrument to the dissipative tubing line Allow the instrument response to stabilize to the ambient source

Ensure that the instrument is set on the 3 LPM flow setting Enable appropriate CARBLogger channel

4.0 OPERATION & ROUTINE SERVICE CHECKS 4.1 General Information:

Per the manufacturer, the Model 651 is designed to operate unattended for long periods of time; however, Air Quality Surveillance Branch practices require prescribed actions to be conducted on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Operators should refer to the Model 651 operation manual, Chapter 9 Maintenance, Service and Troubleshooting to become familiar with specific maintenance procedures. The following routine service checks and maintenance actions are to be performed in accordance with the Operation/Maintenance schedule (Table 2). Status indicators with accompanying descriptions are presented in Table 3.



Perform the routine service checks at least at the prescribed intervals. The station operator must keep a copies of the Monthly QC Check Sheet in the air monitoring station. A blue indicator light is located on the front of the instrument panel under the display (see Figure 3). This flashes once for each particle detected in the normal mode. The light glows continuously when the particle concentrations exceed 100 particles/cm3.

Activity Daily* Weekly Monthly

Semi-Annual As Req.

Power On Note X Error Flags Note X Review CARBLogger E-Mails Note X Record Test Parameters Record X Perform Flow Check Record X Clean Cyclone Maint. X Clean Inlet Screen Maint. X Clean/Fill Water Fill Bottle Maint. X Replace Wick Maint. X Verify Clock Accuracy Maint. X Complete and Submit the AQSB QC Form Forward X Perform Field Verification 6 months X Replace orifice/flow filter Maint. X Zero Check Maint. X Inlet Pressure Check Maint. X Empty Water Exhaust Bottle Maint. X

Table 2: Operation/Maintenance Schedule

* Daily indicates that for each working day where the site technician visits the station, this check should be performed.



4.2 Daily Checks:

Daily (or each site visit) review instrument display/ status screen for diagnostic and concentration indicators. Also review automated CARBLogger email reports for any indication of analyzer malfunction. Check the instruments for any error messages.

4.3 Weekly Checks:

Record test parameters on the designated QC form (see Appendix A. for an example) from the STATUS screen display, measure and record, inlet, bypass and sample flows (flow check) with assigned station flow standard. If a flow should fall out of the acceptable range, consult with calibration staff to determine if the constant flow orifice should be replaced and a calibration/Verification scheduled.

Table 3: Status Indicators with Descriptions

4.4 Monthly Checks:

Replace the wick (Ch. 9 page 79 of Operation Manual), and clean inlet flow system-cyclone and inlet screen. A spare wick cartridge is included with the maintenance kit which enables the operator to pre-assemble the replacement prior to swapping and thus simplifying the installation process. Make sure to

Status Description Expected Range

ConcentrationParticle number concentration in particles/cm3 Max measurement is 10

6 particles/cm3

Pulse HeightVaries with particle concentration and is useful for indicating problems with the wick

700-3000 mV

Optics Temp Temperature of the optics 60.0 +/- 0.1C

Growth Tube Temp Temperature of the particle growth tube 60.0 +/- 0.1C

Conditioner Temp Temperature of the conditioner 20.0 +/- 0.1C

Vacuum Vacuum pressure in mbars less than 0.5x Inlet pressure

Inlet Pressure Atmospheric pressure in mbars near current barometric pressure*

Nozzle Pressure Pressure difference upstream / downstream of the optics assembly >90%

Separator Temp Temperature of the water separator 7.0 +/- 0.1C

* Parameter is preset and can be used to indicate a blockage.



check /record the flows after the wick change. Note: access SETUP screen to toggle Vacuum Button to OFF when performing maintenance on flow system. Complete and submit the QC form to your second level reviewer along with regular monthly data submittal package.

4.5 Semi-Annual Checks:

APS/ARE staff should perform flow verification. Use an independent flow standard and record the results on the QC form and station logbook. Assess the flow results using the flow rate matrix values in Table 1.

4.6 As-Required Checks:

Replace Orifices

Inspect/Clean instrument fans

Empty Water Exhaust bottle

Clean Water Fill bottle

Replace internal filters (CH.9 p.81)

Perform a zero check by placing a HEPA filter on the inlet ensuring that particle concentration is < 0.01 particles/cm3

Verify inlet pressure relative to ambient pressure is in correct operating

range

o Check the inlet pressure value on the status screen, then disconnect the aerosol inlet and check the value again. The pressure drop caused by an inlet restriction should not exceed 250 mbars (25 kPa).

or

o Check inlet pressure on the status screen, then turn the instrument vacuum off and check the pressure again. The pressure drop caused by an inlet restriction should not



exceed 250 mbars (25 kPa).

NOTE: TAPI recommends annual maintenance and calibration for the Model 651 CPC. This is an option that the user may wish to consider.

5.0 TROUBLESHOOTING & REPAIR 5.1 General Information:

The instrument has been designed to rapidly detect possible problems during operation and allow for their quick evaluation and subsequent repair. The Unit continuously performs self-test diagnostics and if being run with CARBLogger, any diagnostic parameters which drift outside of the acceptable range will cause an alert to be emailed to the site operator and key designated staff twice daily. Table 4 shows common status messages that may require corrective action. If the Pulse Height or any of the other parameters (i.e. flow, temperature, humidity control), fall outside of the manufacturer recommended ranges, the display will turn from white to red in color on the front panel and an alarm will be indicated in the stored and/or output data file. The three flows of the instrument are controlled by way of critical orifices that are protected by upstream particle filters to keep them free from obstructions. Flow issues can be avoided by preventative maintenance on the flow system along with maintaining a good vacuum supply. Should instrument malfunctions occur and troubleshooting is required to determine the problem, operators should refer to Chapter 9, Maintenance, Service and Troubleshooting in the Model 651operation manual. If station operators cannot repair an instrument using procedures stated in the instruction manual, contact the ODSS instrument repair shop.



Table 4: Home Screen Status Messages

Note: Status messages will be displayed at the top of the home screen.

These will show when the instrument is warming up or when there is a problem with the instrument. Only one indicator will appear at a time. Checking the STATUS screen will provide more details about possible issues.



6.0 DATA MANAGEMENT & RECORD RETENTION 6.1 General Information:

Data management and records retention are defined by consistent practices implemented by the AQSB. Data collection and management for analytical samplers is a continuous automated process utilized throughout the ARB monitoring network. Paper records are generated at each respective site and form the basis of a monthly data submittal process wherein all records (i.e. QC check sheets and logbooks) are kept together by month, by site.

6.2 Method of Data Acquisition: Data acquisition is obtained through the use of the CARBLogger system described in Section 2.5. All CARBLogger computer data is aggregated in the AQSB Data Management System (DMS) maintained by ODSS. In DMS, the end user is able to observe, flag/code, and review minute data (as available) as well as lock hourly data averages for subsequent uploading and reporting to EPA or other data clients.

6.3 Data Management & Record Retention:

Data and QC documentation are typically stored for three calendar years. This practice is consistent with EPA guidelines on record retention. Electronic data residing on CARB servers is available for longer periods. Further details on general QC checks and data processing procedures are outlined in AQSB SOP 610, Data Review.

7.0 QUALITY CONTROL & QUALITY ASSURANCE 7.1 General Information:

Quality Control (QC), in the context of ambient air quality monitoring can be defined as the set of procedures intended to ensure that data collection and reporting adheres to a defined set of quality criteria and meets the requirements of CARB and EPA for criteria pollutant monitoring. Quality Assurance (QA) is the independent quality assessment of QC activities, regulatory requirements and system evaluation. At ARB, this function is the responsibility of the independent Quality Management Branch (QMB).



7.2 Quality Control:

Many of the steps outlined in Section 4.0, Operation and Routine Service Checks, form the basis for ensuring representative, defensible data by performing and documenting defined daily, weekly and monthly tasks. Essential QC functions of AQSB staff are:

Flow checks, leak checks and zero checks Documentation of instrument parameters Noting observations of environmental events reviewing/coding/validating data reviewing system error notifications Maintaining certified standards Ensuring all required operating conditions are met

7.3 Quality Assurance:

Extensive Quality Assurance activities and programs are conducted by the ARBs QMB. The overall program is detailed in the Quality Management Plan for Ambient Air Monitoring Volume 1, available on the ARB online web manual. Staff from the QMB Quality Assurance Section performs independent flow audits annually. Control limits are set in Table 5: Flow Audit Pass/Fail Criteria. Exceeding the control limits can result in the issuance of an Air Quality Data Action (AQDA) request by QA Section staff. This formal request requires monitoring staff to investigate the validity of the ambient air quality data for the affected time interval and is resolved when appropriate actions are taken on potentially impacted data in agreement with QMB staff.

Audit Target Criteria

Total Flow

3.0 LPM

+/- 5% of target

Bypass Flow

0.6 LPM

+/- 5% of target

Sample Flow

0.12 LPM

+/- 5% of flow constant

Table 5: Flow Audit Pass/Fail Criteria



REFERENCES

CARB, July, 2009. Standard Operating Procedure: TSI Model 3781 Water-Based Condensation Particle Counter. Air Monitoring Quality Assurance Volume II Standard Operating Procedures for Air Quality Monitoring, First Edition. Monitoring and Laboratory Division. Sacramento, CA TAPI, June, 2013. Operation Manual: Ultrafine Particle Monitor. Model 651 Fifth Revision. Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation. San Diego, CA TAPI, October, 2013. Standard Operating Procedure: Model 651 Ultrafine Particle Monitor. First Edition. Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation. San Diego, CA

NACAA-EPA MSC, July, 2010. TSI 3783 Ambient Water CPC for Routine Particle#/UFP measurements. George Allen, NESCAUM CARB Primary Quality Assurance Organization (PQAO) website http://www.arb.ca.gov/aaqm/qa/qa.htm CARB, July 2013. Quality Management Plan For Ambient Air Monitoring Volume 1. Monitoring and Laboratory Division. Sacramento, CA http://www.arb.ca.gov/aaqm/qa/pqao/repository/qmp_final.pdf

http://www.arb.ca.gov/aaqm/qa/qa.htmhttp://www.arb.ca.gov/aaqm/qa/pqao/repository/qmp_final.pdf



APPENDICES

APPENDIX A

Sample Maintenance QC Check Sheet



TELEDYNE Advanced Pollution Instruments (TAPI)MODEL 651 ULTRAFINE PARTICLE MONITORJuly 2017Approval of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)TABLE OF CONTENTSTELEDYNE ADVANCED POLLUTION INSTRUMENTSMODEL 651 Ultrafine Particle MonitorTABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)TELEDYNE ADVANCED POLLUTION INSTRUMENTSMODEL 651 Ultrafine Particle MonitorREFERENCES 24 07/17APPENDICES 25-26 07/17TABLES & FIGURES 07/17

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