Aeroqual Winterization Kit Maintains Reliable Performance in Extreme Temperatures During Canadian Ambient Air Monitoring Study

Maintaining accurate data is a persistent challenge for environmental consultants and air quality professionals operating in harsh climates. Extreme temperatures are known to interfere with even the toughest ambient air quality monitors on the market, so these operators require innovative solutions to ensure reliable performance. This is especially true for Canadian consultants and air quality agencies, where ambient temperatures can plummet as low as -40°C during winter.

To solve this issue and help our customers manage any cold-weather limitations, we developed the Aeroqual Winterization Kit. Comprised of a custom silicone-impregnated fiberglass jacket and built-in heater module, the Winterization Kit is designed to extend the lower operating range of the Dust Sentry and Aeroqual AQS 1 Air Quality Monitor from -10°C to -40°C. Recently, we put the Winterization Kit to the test as part of a co-location evaluation study in Northern Alberta, Canada.

To test the effectiveness of the Winterization Kit, alongside measuring the year-long performance of the Dust Sentry, we partnered with the Peace Airshed Zone Association (PAZA), an Alberta-based environmental non-profit. With the help of a local equipment partner, C.D. Nova Instruments Ltd., we deployed a Dust Sentry monitor (with a PCX particle sensor) at the Henry Pirker Air Monitoring Station in Grande Prairie, Alberta. The Dust Sentry was co-located with a Teledyne T640x instrument, a US EPA-designated method for monitoring PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, and equipped with the Aeroqual Winterization Kit during the winter months. The integrated PCX module combines an optical particle counter and proprietary algorithm to convert particle size and count data into accurate PM measurements (continuously monitoring PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, alongside PM₁, PM₄, and TSP).

Over the year-long evaluation, temperatures at the Henry Pirker station reached as low as -37°C. The graph below shows the hourly ambient temperature data across the winter months (recorded by the reference station) in red, and the internal temperature of the Dust Sentry in grey. Following installation of the Winterization Kit in early December, the Dust Sentry consistently maintained an internal temperature above 15°C, despite the extreme cold.

By mitigating the impact of the extreme cold, the Winterization Kit enabled the Dust Sentry to continue recording PM measurements with excellent correlation to the T640x reference instrument throughout the winter, as represented graphically below.

This evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of the Winterization Kit in minimizing cold-weather interference. The Dust Sentry with PCX recorded 100% data capture across the year-long evaluation and delivered near-reference performance according to relevant ASTM standards.

In addition to expanding the operating range of the Dust Sentry and AQS 1, the Winterization Kit’s temperature-controlled heater module is energy efficient. Should the internal temperature rise above a defined limit, the heater module will automatically shut off to conserve power. Extended mounting brackets make it simple to fit the insulation jacket to pole- or wall-mounted instruments, and a front jacket cover allows for easy instrument access when needed.

An in-depth evaluation report, including test methodology and detailed performance metrics, is available to download here.