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Annals of the University of Petroşani, Mechanical Engineering, 22 (2020), 49-54 49
MEASUREMENTS MADE USING DSM501A SENSORS
VERSUS MEASUREMENTS MADE BY NATIONAL AIR
QUALITY MONITORING NETWORK
ALEXANDRA STANIMIRESCU1, SORIN MIHAI RADU2,
SOICA FLORIN FLAVIUS3
Abstract: This paper analyzes and monitors an important environmental factor,
namely air. This paper checks the air quality with the help of DSM501A sensors in the Jiu
Valley. The device used in the paper uses the "DSM501A" dust sensor, which is one of the
cheapest sensors on the market and is capable of detecting PM2.5 and PM10 particles.
Keywords: environment, contamination, mines, pollution
1. INTRODUCTION
Particles - also known as atmospheric aerosol particles, atmospheric particles,
are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. Particle sources
can be natural or anthropogenic. They have an impact on the climate and precipitation
and negatively affect on human health, by direct inhalation and the environment by
deposition on its surface.[7]
Atmospheric particle types include suspended particles; thoracic and respirable
particles. These inhalable coarse particles, called PM10, are particles with a diameter
of 10 micrometers (μm) or less, and fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less are
called PM 2.5.[7]
Particles are the most harmful form of air pollution due to their ability to
penetrate deep into the lungs, blood and brain, causing health problems, including heart
attacks, respiratory diseases and premature death. According to studies conducted by
IARC and WHO, particulate matter in the environment is the sixth risk factor for
premature death globally.
1 PhDC. eng., University of Petrosani, alexandra_valynikalay@yahoo.come
2 Professor, Ph.D.eng., University of Petrosani
3 Engineer, SC CEH SA
Stanimirescu, A., Radu, S.M., Soica, F.F.
50
The particles appear both naturally - from dust storms, volcanic eruptions,
vegetation fires, etc., and artificially - such as human activities of burning fossil fuels,
road dust, various industrial processes, etc.
This paper analyzes and monitors an important environmental factor, namely
air. This paper checks the air quality with the help of DSM501A sensors in the Jiu
Valley. Jiu Valley is an intramontane region of Romania, where the main economic
activity is coal mining.[2]
Air quality monitoring is a well-known and established science that began in
the 1980s. At that time, the technology was quite limited, and the solution used to
determine the air pollution, really cumbersome and expensive. Fortunately, nowadays,
with the latest and most modern technologies, the solutions used for air quality
monitoring are much more accurate, but also faster to measure. The devices are getting
smaller and have a much lower price.
The device used in the paper uses the "DSM501A" dust sensor, which is one of
the most available sensors on the market and is capable of detecting PM2.5 and PM10
particles.
Dust sensor module: the DSM501 series detects the level of dust, particles and
pollen inside the air, being ideal for use in a self-contained air filter or IAQ monitor.
The detectable particle size is limited to a minimum of 0.7 μm.
2. METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS
The measurements made for this paper work were made with the help of 3
DSM501a sensors connected to three Raspberry Pi boards. These systems were placed
in 3 different parts of the Jiu Valley, as following: one in Petrosani, one in Vulcan
and one in Lupeni. We chose to place these devices in the three cities, because these
are mining cities where the mining units still operate.
The purpose of this study was to determine the air quality in these areas with
the help of these sensors, and to compare the data obtained with the official data
presented by the RNMCA stations in Romania. From the study conducted in 2020 we
chose to present in this paper the results obtained in May, August and December 2020
and to compare the measurements obtained by us using the system created with the
measurements made by RNMCA stations.
The measurements were made taking into account the regulations of law no.
104/2011. According to the law for a healthy environment pm values must be between
-∞ and 10 µg/m3. A very good environment has values between 10 µg/m3 and 20
µg/m3, and a good one values between 20 µg/m3 and 30 µg/m3 . Values that exceed
30 µg/m3 points to worst environment conditions. Thus, indicating an average
environment when values are between 30 µg/m3 and 50 µg/m3, and a bad one when
values are between 50 µg/m3 and 100 µg/m3 or very bad for values exceeding 100
µg/m.[5]
Below are the results obtained in the form of graphs in which the x-axis
represents the environment and the y-axis the number of days in the month.
Measurements made using DSM501A sensors versus measurements made …
51
Fig.1 Graphical representation of the results obtained using DSM501A sensor-May 2020
Fig.2 Graphical representation of the results obtained using RNMCA station -May 2020
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Very bad bad medium good very good excellent
Measurements made using DSM501A sensor-May
2020
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Very bad bad medium good very good excellent
Measurements made using RNMCA station-May
2020
Stanimirescu, A., Radu, S.M., Soica, F.F.
52
As we can observe in the two graphs above, the measured values are
approximately identical, from both variants resulting that may 2020 being a month
with average air pollution values.
Fig.3 Graphical representation of the obtained using DSM501A sensor-August 2020
Fig.4 Graphical representation of the obtained using RNMCA station-August 2020
Measurements made using DSM501A sensors versus measurements made …
53
August 2020 is a month with some air values that frame the environment in a
good one. As we can see in figures 3 and 4, the sensors recorded 14 days with values
that charge the environment in a good one, and the RNMCA stations recorded 13 days
that charge the environment in a good one.
Fig.5 Graphical representation of the obtained using DSM501A sensor-December 2020
Fig.6 Graphical representation of the obtained using RNMCA station-December 2020
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Very bad bad medium good very good excellent
Measurements made using DSM501A-December
2020
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Very bad bad medium good very good excellent
Measurements made using RNMCA station-
December 2020
Stanimirescu, A., Radu, S.M., Soica, F.F.
54
Because December 2020 is not over yet, we chose only 20 days for our study.
As with the other chosen months, we can see that the values are approximately equal in
the case of both variants and both the sensor chosen by us and the RNMCA stations
place the environment in a good one.
3. CONCLUSIONS
The objective of this study was to verify whether adjacent devices can provide
exact values or close to those measured by nationally approved stations.
As we could see in the graphs presented in this paper, the measured values are
approximately equal or identical to those identified by the approved devices.
Taking into account the laws of Romania we can say that the air in the Jiu
valley measured both with the device created by us and with the RNMCA stations is
clean air and frames the environment in an acceptable one.
REFERENCES
[1.] Handra A. D., Popescu F. G., Creșterea eficienţei energetice în mineritul de suprafață,
Editura Universitas, Petroşani, 2011, pag. 116, ISBN 978-973-741-170-9.
[2.] Soica F.F., Egri A., Stanimirescu A., Analysis of quality indicators from slurry
decanters, Editura Universitas Petrosani, 2018, pag.105, ISSN 1454-9166
[3.] Stanimirescu A., Radu S.M., Measurement of air quality in the Jiu Valley with the help
of RNMCA stations. Editura Universitas Petrosani 2019, pag. 89, ISSN 1454-9166
[4.] Tomus, O.B., Andraş, A., Andraş, I. Study of the dependence between the cutting
direction relative to stratification and the digging characteristics of lignite in Oltenia coal
basin (Romania), 17th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference. ISSN
1314-2704, 17(13), 825-830, (2017). DOI: 10.5593/sgem2017/13/S03.104
[5.] Climate change and air. Avaible on http://www.eea.europa.eu
[6.] Institutul national de statistica, Avaible on http://www.recensamantromania.ro
[7.] Particulates. Avaible on http://www.wikipedia.org
