Evaluation of an infrared transmissometer for monitoring particulate mass concentrations of emissions from stationary sources

The experimental study investigates the validity of using a single-wavelength infrared transmissometer to measure mass concentration of particulate emissions from stationary sources. Results show that the extinction-to-mass concentration for a given aerosol type is dependent on particle size at the visible wavelength but nearly independent of particle size at the infrared wavelength. Therefore, the infrared transmissometer is an eminently suitable instrument for monitoring mass concentration of particulate emissions with a range of particle sizes. Moreover, the results obtained for the different particle types indicate that this transmissometer can provide estimates of particulate volume concentration that are nearly independent of particle shape, composition, or size.