Compact Nanoparticle Size Distribution Measurement System for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Emissions from energy production and other anthropogenic activities are altering the physical and chemical properties of the atmosphere and have been linked to climate change, environmental degradation, human health problems, and changes in clouds and aerosols. Modelers of climate change require observational constraints on the particle number size distribution and hygroscopic growth in order to predict the effect of changing aerosol properties on cloud concentration nucleus (CCN) activity. Observations are particularly needed in the Arctic, where climate change is likely accelerating the ice melt. Because particles smaller than 200 nm diameter often control the CCN number concentration, and since particle size plays such an important role in determining whether a particle acts as a CCN, nanoparticle size distribution measurements are a key component of the suite of instruments necessary to reveal how changes in particle size, concentration and composition impact CCN concentrations and cloud radiative properties. This SBIR project will develop a new, miniaturized nanoparticle size distribution measurement system suitable for deployment on UASs in order to make observations 1) more often, 2) in more locations, 3) at reduced cost compared to conventional aircraft, and 4) in difficult to access regions such as the Arctic. Specifically, the project will support the development of: A miniaturized differential mobility analyzer optimized for UAS deployment, a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS) based electrometer to replace the condensation particle counter (CPC) detector, and the hardware and software to enable measurements of aerosol size and concentration between 0.005 and 0.3 micrometer diameter. Phase I of the project will involve the redesign of an existing DMA/CPC system to reduce its size, weight and power consumption for deployment on the ScanEagle and other similarly sized UASs. A new differential mobility analyzer design will be miniaturized for the small size requirements of the UAS and tested for particle sizing performance. Commercial applications and other benefits include creating new, cost-effective tools to study aerosol forcing of climate, creation of data sets to validate climate change and urban air shed air quality models, measurements in health effects studies, flux measurements of aerosol species from ocean and land surfaces, studies of rapid aerosol evolution in power-plant plumes, monitoring of drug development by pharmaceutical firms, and providing sensors for indoor air quality monitoring for green buildings, industry and households. Brechtel Manufacturing Incorporated (BMI) proposes to develop a new air quality and climate change-relevant instrument to measure the size distribution of airborne nanoparticles. The device will be simple to use, inexpensive, easily deployable for remote operation on UASs, and offer sensitivity to a broad range of particles found in the air we breathe.