Evaluating Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors to Inform Air Quality Monitoring
Client:
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
To determine the effectiveness of two brands of low-cost sensors monitoring the air quality effects from ground operations at a coal-fired power plant, STI deployed a network of the sensors along with reference and meteorological instruments.
The goal of the ten-month study was to measure the sensors’ success at detecting lofted coal dust, as accurate data could be used to improve operational decision-making and thus mitigate air quality impacts. The sensors had mixed performance in the field, likely due to very low temperatures in the winter and high humidity throughout the year.
The goal of the ten-month study was to measure the sensors’ success at detecting lofted coal dust, as accurate data could be used to improve operational decision-making and thus mitigate air quality impacts. The sensors had mixed performance in the field, likely due to very low temperatures in the winter and high humidity throughout the year.
