Help > Device Topics > Particle Monitoring within RMS

Based upon the EU Annex 1, the main particle sizes monitored are 0.5µm and 5µm and are shown in particles/m3 or particles/ft3 and the ISO 14664 standard specifies a flow rate of 1 cfm for counter particles that are equal or larger to 5µm.

Lighthouse, Particle Measuring Systems, Beckman Coulter and Climet are just a few suppliers of particle counters and the devices can be integrated in to RMS via the RMS-CONVERTER-100 or the RMS-ADC-L-R. A wireless option also exists with the RMS-MADC-868/915-A/V.

Some examples of integrations:

•Lighthouse Apex R5 data logger.

•Airnet II Particle Sensor.

Particle counters will either have an integrated pump or will require a pump to draw air through the sample chamber to measure the amount of particles. This pump should be setup to a defined flow rate, most commonly 1 cfm flow rate and 0.1 cfm flow rate are used. The 1 cfm flow rate allows for a faster sample collection. A 0.1 cfm flow rate can achieve the same results, but in a longer time. It is important to state that the calibration of the particle counter must be done with the air flow used during monitoring.

Regulations state that a sample of 1m3 is required (1 m3 is 35.3147 f3) to demonstrate compliance to ISO:

•With a flow rate of 1 cfm, 35.3147 minutes are required to sample 1m3.

•With a flow rate of 0.1 cfm, 353.147 minutes are required to sample 1m3.

Within the RMS software, it is possible to Add an Average measuring point over the last 35 or 36 values/minutes. It is also possible to Add a Formula (add(MPT123[0...35]) that will calculate the sum of the last 36 values.

Applications and cost will dictate if the monitoring is continuous or sequential and is defined by the customer.

Via the RMS interface, when adding particles two options are available:

1.Particles: select this if the data sent to RMS is in particle counts/m3.

2.Analog: select this if the data sent to RMS is NOT in particle counts/m3.