In the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, the burning of solid fuels in private households during the cold season is a significant source of air pollution. Despite general awareness of the negative effects, there has been a lack of concrete data to demonstrate the impact of local heating systems on air quality. This issue is particularly exacerbated by unfavorable meteorological conditions like inversions, which hinder the dispersion of pollutants. In response to this critical situation, our partner Envitech Bohemia launched a comprehensive project to investigate the impact of residential heating systems on air quality in three cities within the South Moravian Region. The project aimed to collect detailed data on aerosol particle concentrations of various sizes, with the goal of raising awareness about the issue and providing a foundation for air quality improvement measures. The project was largely funded by Norway Grants (called SGS-2 “Svalbard”) and the State Environmental Fund. A key aspect of this project was the use of a hybrid network that combined different types of air quality monitoring systems to ensure both broad coverage and data accuracy (reference, near-reference, and sensor-based devices).
This hybrid network included highly accurate reference and near-reference devices like the AQ Guard Smart 1000, which were used to calibrate and validate the data collected by the more cost-effective sensor-based systems. By integrating these various technologies, the project could monitor air quality across a wide area while maintaining the reliability of the data. This approach allowed the team to effectively assess the impact of local heating systems on air quality and ensured that the findings were scientifically robust.
Core monitoring tools——AQ Guard Smart 1000
Various devices of the type AQ Guard Smart 1000 from Palas GmbH were used in this project. These state-of-the-art stations were strategically placed in the cities of Znojmo, Vyškov, and Židlochovice. The devices measured not only particle concentrations but also meteorological data to analyze pollutant dispersion under different conditions. By integrating these various technologies, the project could monitor air quality across a wide area while maintaining the reliability of the data. This approach allowed the team to effectively assess the impact of local heating systems on air quality.
Highly Accurate Palas® Instruments Solve Critical Problems
During the campaign, several challenges arose, particularly concerning the accuracy of the sensor-based systems. While these systems are cost-effective, they exhibit biases and data quality issues under real-world conditions. To address these challenges, a 40-day comparative test was conducted prior to the main measurements, comparing the sensors with reference stations compliant with EN 16450. The resulting calibration and validation functions allowed for the adjustment of measurement data, leading to more accurate interpretation. AQ Guard Smart 1000 stations were used to monitor and correct potential measurement drifts in real time, ensuring accuracy. During the project, an exceptional event occurred when intense dust from the Sahara swept over the Czech Republic. This episode was detected by the reference instruments, but the more cost-effective sensor-based systems did not capture the phenomenon. This highlights the need for continuous review and calibration of the devices used, as well as the limitations of low-cost monitoring systems.
Insights That Call for Action
The results confirmed the significant impact of residential heating on air quality. A noticeable increase in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations was observed, particularly in the late afternoon and evening, which is typical for areas with intense heating activity.
The topography of the cities also played a role; higher pollutant concentrations were recorded in densely built areas, such as near town halls, due to poorer ventilation and higher emissions from older buildings which are often still heated by solid fuel boilers no longer permitted in newer buildings. Also within the compared sites, there was a clearly visible difference between the concentrations of locations with different altitudes.
Another key finding was the correlation between outdoor temperature and particle concentration: the colder the temperature, the higher the measured values. Significant increases were noted on colder days in January, while concentrations were lower around December 21, 2023, due to milder weather conditions including rain and wind. Additionally, the study revealed that local sources are not the only contributors to air quality; long-range pollutant transport also plays a role, as evidenced by higher concentrations under certain wind conditions.
Outstanding Fidas® technology
The AQ Guard Smart 1000 not only offers excellent performance benefits but is also quick and easy to install and offers long-term stability. Sensors that measure temperature, humidity, and pressure are integrated as standard.AQ Guard Smart System has a pole or tripod mount and can be extended with a sunshade and LoRa modem if required. The device is capable of maintaining stable performance under extreme weather conditions and records temperature, humidity, and pressure data in real-time by integrating high-precision sensors. Besides, the system works on the principle of 90-degree scattered light measurement on the single particle, based on the EN 16450 certified Fidas® 200 technology. These features of the AQ Guard Smart 1000 made it an integral part of Envitech’s Bohemia program, demonstrating its strong technological capabilities in the field of air quality monitoring.
AQ Guard Smart on a tripod
Palas® AQ Guard Smart 1000
Advantages
· Quick and easy installation
· Long-term stability (24/7) and low maintenance
· Flexibility in communication and data transmission
· Reliable measurements (near-reference standard for particles)
· Simultaneous measurement of PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10, TSP, CN
· Versatile application possibilities even in demanding environments
· Suitable for high dust concentrations
· Access to data in real-time and with high temporal resolution
Applications
· Urban air quality monitoring
· Smart city projects
· Open pit mining and landfills
· Formation and dispersion studies
· Construction sites
· Immission monitoring of industrial plants
· Measurement of dust emissions from road and rail traffic as well as ports
· Risk areas (natural and anthropogenic)
Palas® organizes a series of roadshows and webinars on various topics to share professional knowledge of aerosol measurement technology. Palas® technical experts and industry scholars from all over the world will give you detailed online explanations. Welcome to register to attend and learn more about the webinars as soon as possible!
| Date | Time | Topic | |
| 11/27-28 | 14:00-17:50,
09:30-17:30 |
Palas® Autumn Training Event 2024 – Nanjing/Wuhan | Offline Roadshow |