United State*
Environmental Protection
Aflency
Environmental Sciences Research
Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
EPA-600/2-79-113
June 1979
Research and Development
Development of a
Monitor for HCN in
Mobile Source
Emissions
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RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES
Research reports of the Office of Research and Development, U S. Environmental
Protection Agency, have been grouped into nine series. These nine broad cate-
gories were established to facilitate further development and application of en-
vironmental technology Elimination of traditional grouping was consciously
planned to foster technology transfer and a maximum interface in related fields.
The nine series are:
1. Environmental Health Effects Research
2. Environmental Protection Technology
3. Ecological Research
4. Environmental Monitoring
5. Socioeconomic Environmental Studies
6. Scientific and Technical Assessment Reports (STAR)
7. Interagency Energy-Environment Research and Development
8. "Special" Reports
9. Miscellaneous Reports
This report has been assigned to the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TECH-
NOLOGY series. This series describes research performed to develop and dem-
onstrate instrumentation, equipment, and methodology to repair or prevent en-
vironmental degradation from point and non-point sources of pollution. This work
provides the new or improved technology required for the control and treatment
of pollution sources to meet environmental quality standards.
This document is available to the public through the National Technical Informa-
tion Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.
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EPA-600/2-79-113
June 1979
DEVELOPMENT OF A MONITOR FOR HCN
IN MOBILE SOURCE EMISSION
by
Darrell E. Burch, Pamela S. Marrs Davila,
Francis J, Gates and John D. Pembrook
Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation
Aeronutronic Division
Newport Beach, California 92663
Contract No. 68-02-2716
Project Officer
Fred Stump
Emissions Measurement and Characterization Division
Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES RESEARCH LABORATORY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA 27711
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DISCLAIMER
This report has been reviewed by the Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory,
TJ. S. Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for publication. Approval
does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the view and policies
of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or
commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
ii
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ABSTRACT
Three real-time monitors for measurement of HCN concentrations in mobile
source emissions have been designed, built, tested and delivered to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The important design parameters for
these nearly identical instruments were determined during the first phase of
the program by performing tests with a versatile gas-filter correlation spec-
trometer built previously in our laboratory for the EPA. The instruments
employ a gas-filter cell to provide sensitivity to HCN while discriminating
against other infrared active gases such as H20, CC-2, NH3 and many hydro-
carbons that occur in mobile source emissions. These gases absorb near 3
micrometers, the approximate center of the narrow spectral band employed by
the instrument.
Samples are contained in a temperature-controlled cell that uses a
20-pass optical system with an optical path length of 15.5 m. An H20 monitor
built as an integral part of the instrument measures the H20 concentration,
making it possible to account for a small amount of interference by this gas
in the sample. The rms noise-equivalent-concentration of HCN is less than
0.02 ppm. The combined error after accounting for ^0 interference for most
dilute samples is less than 0.1 ppm of HCN.
iii
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iv
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CONTENTS
Abstract
Figures v
Abbreviations and Symbols vi
1. Introduction 1
2. Conclusions 3
3. Recommendations 5
4. Optical Diagram and Layout 6
5. Gas-Filter Cell and Principles of Detection 11
6. Electronics and Processing Detector Signal 17
7. H20 Monitor 21
8. Instrument Performance 25
9- Conversion of the Versatile Gas-Filter 31
Correlation Spectrometer
10. References 34
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FIGURES
Number Page
1. Optical Layout of the HCN Instruments 7
2' Optical Diagram of the Retroreflector-Grid Assembly 8
3. Side View of the Detector Optics 8
4. Images Formed by the Multiple-Pass Optics 10
on Mirror C2
5. Diagram of Gas-Filter Cell Assembly 12
6. Transmission Spectra of HCN, HO, NH and C H 15
7. Block Diagram of Signal Processing Electronics 18
8. Optical Diagram of the H_0 Monitor 22
9. Log-log Plots of the Output Signal vs HCN Concentration 26
for the 5 Different Sensitivity Ranges
vi
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ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS
AGC -- automatic gain control
-- acetylene
D.R. — discrimination ratio, ratio of the concentration of an
interfering gas species to the concentration of HCN that
produces the same output signal. This ratio may be posi-
tive or negative.
GFC — gas-filter cell
HCN -- hydrogen cyanide
1pm -- liters per minute
m -- meter
mm -- millimeters
NHg -- ammonia
ppm -- parts per million (by volume)
RTF — relative transmission function of the grating assembly
V — voltage
Vc — component of amplified voltage at the carrier frequency, 360 Hz.
Va — component of amplified voltage at the modulation frequency, 30 Hz.
V — Va/Vc(related directly to HCN concentration)
Hm -- micrometer (unit of wavelength)
sec -- second
dc « direct current
Hz -- cycles per second
rms — root mean square
vii
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SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
Certain types of catalytic mufflers used in automobile exhaust systems
have been found to produce HCN when the vehicle is tuned fuel-rich. Under
some extreme conditions, the HCN concentration in the exhaust may reach un-
safe levels as high as 20-50 ppm. Because of the very high toxicity of HCN,
it is important that the concentration of this gas be controlled below a
harmful level. The chemical process by which the HCN is generated is not
fully understood, nor is it possible to predict the HCN concentration result-
ing from different vehicle operating conditions. It is, therefore, essential
that vehicles that are potential producers of high concentrations of HCN be
tested so that proper controls and safety precautions can be established.
At the time of the discovery that significant amounts of HCN could be
produced, there were no available instruments capable of real-time measure-
ment of the concentration of this gas in vehicle exhaust. This report deals
with the development of an infrared instrument for this purpose.
Gas-filter cell (GFC) techniques have been proven by several groups of
workers to be quite useful for instruments to measure the concentrations of
many different gases that contain much structure in their absorption spectrum.
Gas-filter cell instruments depend for their sensitivity and discrimination
on a filter that consists of a small cell that contains the gas species to be
measured. The infrared spectrum of HCN contains much structure, making this
gas a good candidate for GFC techniques.
The first phase of the present project involved a series of tests to in-
vestigate the feasibility of an HCN instrument based on GFC techniques and to
determine the important parameters and expected performance of such an instru-
ment. The tests were performed on a versatile GFC Spectrometer built pre-
viously for the EPA.l It is convenient to interchange many of the components
in this instrument, such as detectors, gas-filter cells, gratings, filters,
etc. It is possible to employ virtually any desired spectral bandpass from
0.3 |im to 14 M/m. After the required tests were performed with the versatile
GFC spectrometer, it was converted for use as an HCN monitor and returned to
the EPA where it has been used for several months. This converted instrument
is adequate for most of the measurements to be made with it, although the
performance is not as good as can be expected from an instrument designed
specifically as an HCN monitor.
1. Burch, D.E,, F.J. Gates, D.A. Gryvnak and J.D. Pembrook. "Versatile Gas
Filter Correlation Spectrometer", Prepared by Aeronutronic Ford Corpo-
ration under Contract No. 68-02-1227. EPA Report No. 600/2-75-02^,
June 1975.
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The second phase of the project called for designing, building, testing,
and delivering three HCN monitors to be used in analyzing exhaust from mobile
sources. Results of the tests performed in the first phase served as the
basis for the design of these instruments. These three nearly identical in-
struments employ a narrow infrared spectral interval near 3 (Jta that contains
several sharp absortion features of the HCN absorption spectrum. The same
basic GFC technique employed in previous instruments provides good sensitiv-
ity, stability and discrimination. With the exception of Section 9, most of
the remainder of this report deals with these three instruments.
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SECTION 2
CONCLUSIONS
The capability of a gas-filter correlation instrument to measure the con-
centration of HCN in automotive exhaust has been demonstrated. Although
several exhaust gases absorb significantly in the vicinity of the 3 pm HCN
band, it is possible to use this absorption band to measure the HCN concentra-
tion and to reduce the interference by the other gases to an acceptable level.
The most serious interference results from H20; some interference also results
from C02, C2H2 and NH^. Interference by other exhaust gases in their normal
concentrations is negligible. Much of the good discrimination against other
gases that absorb in the same spectral interval is due to the gas-filter cell;
however, the spectral bandpass of the instrument must be selected carefully
to obtain adequate discrimination. A cell that contains C2H2 is placed in
the monitoring beam to reduce further the interference by this gas.
Even with the instruments adjusted for optimum discrimination, there is
still excessive interference by H20. This interference is accounted for by
measuring the H20 concentration and correcting the output signal by an amount
that is related to the H20 concentration. The relationship between the con-
centration of H20 and the interference it produces is determined ahead of
time from samples of H20 + N2. This relationship is not linear, making it
impractical to account automatically for the interference with simple electro-
nic circuits as we have done on other instruments built previously. The H20
concentration is measured by automatically comparing the transmittances over
2 adjacent spectral intervals; one interval near 1.9 Mm includes strong H20
absorption lines, and the other contains only weak lines.
A constant amount of HCN vapor can be kept for several months, and possi-
bly longer, in the small gas-filter-cell with quartz windows fused to a quartz
cell body. Less than 0.5 mm of surface of epoxy cement is in contact with
the HCN vapor in the small opening used to fill the cell. Epoxy cement or
silicone rubber cement cannot be used to seal windows to the cell body because
the HCN causes the cement to deteriorate.
Two important features of the GFC assembly contribute to the good stabil-
ity of the zero setting (the output signal when there is no absorbing gas in
the sample cell). A temperature-controlled enclosure maintains the HCN in the
GFC at a nearly constant temperature, thus maintaining nearly constant trans-
mittance. The monitoring beam of radiant energy is transmitted through the
rotating GFC assembly with essentially no deviation in position or direction
of the beam as the assembly rotates. Therefore, the stability of the output
signal is almost independent of any unavoidable wobble or shift in the assem-
bly as it rotates. This feature represents an improvement over the mo. 3 com-
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mon type of GFC Instrument, which employs a rotating mirror chopper with a
stationary GFC. Wobble in the rotating mirror chopper causes deviations in
the position and direction of the reflected beam. This instability in the
optical beam leads to instability in the zero setting.
The electronic system processes the detector signal in such a way that
the output signal varies almost linearly with HCN concentration and is insen-
sitive to small changes in source brightness or detector sensitivity. Good
signal-to-noise ratios are made possible by the convenient tungsten-iodide
energy source and the liquid-nitrogen-cooled InSb detector. Adequate sensi-
tivity for a 0-1 ppm of HCN full-scale range is achieved by the 15.5 m optical
path in the multiple-pass cell. Five separate sensitivity ranges (1,3,10,30,
and 100 ppm) make it possible to measure concentrations from approximately
0.05 to 100 ppm.
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SECTION 3
RECOMMENDATIONS
The performance of the instruments meets the requirements for the type
of measurements for which it is designed. However, results of some of the
tests performed on the completed instruments indicate a few design changes
that could improve the performance, A few of the changes are discussed below.
Some unexpected instability in the zero-setting has been attributed in part
to the non-uniform brightness of the energy source. The source is a tungsten-
iodide bulb with a coiled filament; therefore, the image formed on the entrance
slit of the grating assembly does not illuminate the slit uniformly. Slight
shifts in the optics of the sample cell move the image on the slit and cause
slight shifts in the zero setting. If this shift proves troublesome during
day-to-day operation, the bulb could be replaced with a Nernst glower, or
some other acceptable source that would illuminate the entrance slit more
uniformly. ,_A Nernst glower is much less convenient to operate than the
tungsten-iodide bulb, but in the spectral interval of interest, the radiance
of a Nernst glower is 507o-100% greater than that of the bulb. Therefore, a
slightly higher signal-to-noise ratio could also be achieved with a Nernst
glower.
The liquid-nitrogen-cooled detector should be mounted so that it is
better insulated thermally from the other components. This would probably
improve the stability of the zero-setting. Two changes in the sample cell
are recommended to reduce errors due to adsorption of HCN on the cell walls.
The cell body could be glass lined or made of solid glass, and the volume
could be reduced by reducing the diameter. The latter change would reduce
the rate that the sample must be flushed to avoid significant reduction in
the HCN vapor concentration due to adsorption.
Several of the design features of the instruments are based on the
problems related to the real-time measurement of low concentrations of HCN
in automotive exhaust. Certain of these design features could be changed
for an instrument to monitor the HCN concentration in other kinds of samples.
Sensitivity could be increased by increasing the length of the sample
cell. This change would be quite practical if instrument size was not an im-
portant factor and if large volumes of sample gas could be used. If C2H2 and
NHg were not present in the sample, the sensitivity to HCN could be improved
by employing a wider spectral bandpass shifted to a nearby region where the
HCN adsorption is stronger. Sensitivity could also be increased by changing
to a narrow spectral interval near 14 M-m that includes some very strong rtCN
adsorption lines. This spectral interval is not practical, however, if the
sample contains a high concentration of C02, as does automotive exhaust. Dis-
crimination could also be improved by operating the sample cell at reduced
pressure; however, this would complicate the gas-handling system.
5
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SECTION 4
OPTICAL DIAGRAM AND LAYOUT
OPTICAL DIAGRAM
Figure 1 is an optical diagram of an HCN analyzer. Radiant energy from
the source, a tungsten-iodide bulb, enters the heated enclosure that surrounds
the gas-filter cell (GFC) assembly. Lens LI, which serves as an entrance win-
dow, forms an image of the source on the 1.4 mm wide by 3.5 mm high slit
(slit 1) mounted on the inside wall of the heated enclosure. Flat mirror Nl
rotates the converging beam from lens LI through an angle of 90° so that it
passes through the rotating GFC assembly approximately 2 cm below the axis
of rotation. The beam alternately passes either through the GFC or the at-
tenuator at a frequency of 30 Hz. A reticle attached to the rotating GFC
assembly chops the beam at 360 Hz. Field lens L2 serves as an exit window for
the heated enclosure and forms an image of LI near mirror N3 . Mirror N3
(f.l. =7.5 cm) forms a magnified image of slit 1 next to the front surface
of mirror C2 in the sample cell. Lens L3 functions both as an entrance win-
dow for the sample cell and as a field lens, imaging mirror N3 near mirror Cl.
The path of the beam through the multiple-pass optics is complex; a brief
description is given in this section under "Description of the Sample Cell."
After passing through the sample cell 20 times, the beam is focused by spheri-
cal mirror C6 onto the 0.4 mm wide by 5.1 mm high entrance slit (slit 2) of
the grating assembly. The image overfills the slit in the horizontal direc-
tion but underfills it in the vertical direction.
The beam of radiant energy entering the grating assembly is rotated 90°
by flat mirror Gl and collimated by spherical mirror G2 (f.l. = 38.1 cm). The
collimated beam is dispersed by the diffraction grating. Spherical mirror G3
picks off the dispersed energy in the wavelength interval of interest and
forms a dispersed image of slit 2 in the grid plane of the retroreflector-
grid assembly. A retroreflector with a grid, illustrated in Figure 2, passes
the desired spectral interval. The grid has two 7.62 mm high openings cut in
it. One of the openings is 0.56 mm wide and the other is 0.94 mm wide. The
openings are separated by a 0.20 mm wide metal strip. The beam exiting from
the retroreflector assembly follows the reverse path of the beam entering the
retroreflector assembly, except the returning beam is displaced vertically.
As a result of the vertical displacement of the beam, the returning radiant
energy passed by the grid strikes mirror G2 below the incoming beam from mir-
ror Gl. Radiant energy in the spectral intervals passed by the grid is fo-
cused by spherical mirror G2, forming an undispersed image near the germanium
lens LD of the detector optics shown in Figure 3.
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GAS
IN
GAS
OUT
f)
SAMPLE CELL
GRATINC
ASSEMBLY
POWER
SUPPLY
SECTION
VIEWING
WINDOW
Figure 1. Optical layout of the HCN instruments.
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oo
InSb DETECTOR
FILTER FD
LENS LD
—GLASS DEWAR
COLD SHIELD
SAPPHIRE WINDOW
MIRROR G6
Figure 2. Optical diagram of the retroreflector-
grid assembly.
Figure 3. Side view of detector optics,
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The converging beam from mirror G2 passes underneath flat mirror Gl and
is incident on flat mirror G6, which is mounted 45° from the vertical. After
striking mirror G6, the beam travels vertically to the germanium lens LD. This
7 mm focal length lens forms an image of the grating on the 1 mm x 1 mm ele-
ment of the InSb detector. Filter FD has a spectral bandpass approximately
0.6 urn wide centered near 3 Mm. This cold filter reduces the detector noise
by reducing the amount of background energy incident on the detector; it also
blocks overlapping orders of shorter wavelengths that are passed by the grat-
ing assembly.
The phovoltaic InSb detector is mounted in an evacuated glass dewar and
is cooled with liquid-nitrogen. The glass dewar has a liquid nitrogen hold
time of approximately 3 hours and is potted with RTV in a stainless steel cy-
lindrical housing. (The housing is not shown in Figure 3.) The detector is
surrounded by a cold shield, and the bandpass interference filter is mounted
in the cold shield. Both of these components are contained in the glass de-
war.
The stainless steel grating assembly is spaced off from the baseplate of
the instrument by three stainless steel spacers in such a way that stresses
in the baseplate will not cause stresses in the grating assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLE CELL
The sample cell body consists of an 80-cm long piece of 7.6 cm ID (3.0")
stainless steel tubing with flanges welded to each end. The flanges provide
support for the various mounts and adjustment plates for the multiple-pass
optics. End covers are screwed to each flange and 0-rings provide leak-proof
s.eals. Optical path lengths of 337 cm to 2465 cm may be obtained by adjusting
the multiple-pass optics; it is intended that the optics remain adjusted to
20 passes, which give a 1553 cm path length.
The cell is maintained at 55eC by a temperature controller that controls
the average power dissipated by the heaters. One heater is coiled around the
cell body, and a power resistor mounted on each end plate provides additional
heat at the ends. The endplates are within ±2°C of the cell body when the cell
temperature is stabilized. The temperature near the center of the cell body
may be determined by monitoring the output of an iron-constantan thermocouple
embedded in the cell body. Foam rubber insulation is wrapped around the cell
body and secured with aluminum tape; black foam rubber insulates the ends.
The cell is welded to two stainless steel mounting plates which are spaced off
the baseplate with 1.27 cm (0.5") thick phenolic spacers to minimize conduc-
tive heat losses through the baseplate.
Gas flows into and out of the cell through tubing attached to the 1/4"
Swagelok fittings. Gas enters the end of the cell to which mirror C2 is
attached and exits the cell at the opposite end, as indicated in Figure 1.
Figure 1 illustrates the multiple-pass optical components mounted "'nside
the sample cell. Spherical mirrors Cl and C3 are cut from the same mirror
blank with a 76.2 cm (30") radius of curvature. The distance between the
front surfaces of mirrors Cl and C3 and the front surface of spherical mirror
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C2 is approximately 76 cm (30"). The magnified image of slit 1 formed by
mirror N3 is located adjacent to the front surface of C2. Mirrors Cl and C3
form multiple images of the source on mirror C2. The number of images, and
thus the number of cell passes made by the beam, can be set by adjusting the
aximuth adjustment screw for mirror Cl. Figure 4 illustrates the image pattern
on mirror C2 as viewed through the viewing window when the cell is adjusted
for 20 passes.
Part of the beam from mirror N3 spills over mirror Cl onto mirror C3,
which forms an image of the source adjacent to mirror C2 near lens L5. This
energy exits the sample cell after only 2 passes and is use in the I^O moni-
tor discussed in Section 7.
After passing through the sample cell 20 times, the beam is incident on
mirror C4 (focal length = 15.0 cm). This mirror is adjusted to make the beam
strike flat mirror C5, which directs the beam to spherical mirror C6. Mirror
C6, with a focal length of 6.0 cm, forms an image of slit 1 on slit 2, the
entrance slit of the grating assembly. An anti-reflection coated sapphire
window is bonded to the exit port of the sample cell. Lens L4 is on a mount
attached to the grating assembly and functions as a field lens.
EXIT WINDOW
(TO H20 OPTICS)
2 6 10 14 18
SAMPLE CELL WALL
ENTRANCE WINDOW
Figure 4. Images formed by multiple-pass cell optics on mirror C2.
Numbers by the images indicate the number of passes of the
beam through the sample volume when the image is formed.
10
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SECTION 5
GAS-FILTER CELL AND PRINCIPLES OF DETECTION
GAS-FILTER CELL
It was found that gas-filter cells made by us in the past are not suit-
able for HCN because HCN slowly attacks the epoxy seal, causing it to leak.
Thus, the HCN gas-filter cell should not incorporate glass-metal interfaces
with epoxy used as a bond. This restriction on the design made fabrication
of a leak-proof cell difficult because quartz windows had to be fuzed to the
quartz body of the gas-filter cell.
Figure 5 is an assembly diagram of the assembly, which is composed of
four parts: the holder, the gas-filter cell, the attenuator windows, and the
reticle. The entire assembly is mounted on the shaft of the 1800-rpm
hysteresis synchronous motor. As the GFC assembly spins, the beam of radiant
energy, located approximately 2 cm below the axis, passes alternately through
the attenuator and then through the gas-filter cell at a frequency of 30 Hz.
A heated enclosure surrounds the spinning assembly. (Figure 8 in Section 7 is
a diagram of the enclosure showing some of the components mounted on or with-
in it.) The temperature of the enclosure, and thus the temperature of the
GFC, is maintained at approximately 50°C by a temperature controller that re-
gulates the power dissipated by two power resistors mounted on the enclosure.
Insulation is attached to the body of the enclosure, and a phenolic mounting
spacer minimizes conductive heat losses to the base plate of the instrument.
The GFC consists of a quartz cell body with quartz windows fused to each
side of the cell body. The cell body is made from a disk 5.7 cm in diameter
and 6.4 mm thick. The disk is cut approximately in half to form the cell
body, and 6 equally spaced radial slots are drilled out of the cell body. Ribs
are left between these slots for added strength. Shallow grooves not shown in
Figure 5 cut in the cell body interconnect the 6 slots. Another groove con-
nects these grooves with a small hole drilled in the straight edge of the cell
body. After the 1.5mm thick quartz windows are fused to the cell body, the
6 radial slots and interconnecting grooves in the cell body form a cavity that
contains the HCN. The cell is filled with HCN by attaching a special fitting
to the hole drilled in the straight edge of the cell body. The gas flows into
the slot volumes via the interconnecting grooves between the slots. After the
cell is filled, the hole in the straight edge of the cell body is sealed with
epoxy cement.
The attenuator consists of one 1.5-mm thick quartz window and a glass
window approximately 0.5-mm thick. The glass window absorbs enough eneigy to
11
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QUARTZ WINDOWS-
HOLDER
ATTENUATORS•
Figure 5. Diagram of the GFC assembly.
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make the average transmittance ot the attenuator over the spectral region of
interest approximately the same as that of the GFC.
The GFC and the attenuator windows are mounted in the black-anodized
holder. This 6.9 cm diameter holder has 10 radial slots, 6 slots on the side
containing the GFC and 4 slots on the side containing the attenuator. The 6
slots in the GFC are aligned with 6 slots in the holder. Only 4 slots are on
the attenuator side of the holder because the GFC, when mounted in the holder,
extends into the attenuator side of the holder. The edge of the GFC therefore
covers part of the area where the other two slots would normally be. Employ-
ing only 4, instead of 6, slots in the attenuator side does not reduce the
average value of the chopped energy reaching the detector during each cycle
of the GFC assembly because the average transmittance of the attenuator side
must be reduced to match the average transmittance of the GFC side. The glass
attenuators selected to match the average transmittances of the two halves of
the GFC assembly are more transmissive than they would be if 6 slots were used
instead of 4.
The disk-shaped reticle is 1.3 mm thick and 6.9 cm in diameter. It has
12 symmetrically placed radial slots that are aligned with the slots in the
gas-filter cell and the slots in the holder. As explained in the previous
paragraph, no energy passes through 2 of the reticle slots since there are
only 10 slots in the holder. Each of the reticle slots is narrower than its
corresponding slot in the GFC or the holder, and thus the reticle slots limit
the beam as it passes through the gas-filter cell assembly. As the reticle
spins at 30 revolutions per second, it chops the beam and produces a strong
360 Hz component on the detector output signal.
PRINCIPLES OF DETECTION
Detailed explanations of the spectroscopic principles of detection and
gas-filter correlation principles are given in several reports published by
us. ' ' The instrument produces a dc output signal proportional to the
1. Burch, D. E., F. J. Gates, D.A. Gryvnak and J.D. Pembrook. "Versatile Gas
Filter Correlation Spectrometer", Prepared by Aeronutronic Ford Corpo-
ration under Contract No. 68-02-1227. EPA Report No. 600/2-75-024,
June 1975.
2. Burch, D.E., and D.A. Gryvnak. "Infrared Gas-Filter Correlation Instru-
ment for In-Situ Measurement of Gaseous Pollutants." Prepared by Philco-
Ford Corporation for EPA under Contract No. 68-02-0575. EPA Report No.
EPA-650/2-74-094. Also, Burch, D.E., and D.A. Gryvnak. "Cross-Stack
Measurement of Pollutant Concentrations Using Gas-Cell Correlation
Spectroscopy." Chapter 10 of Analytical Methods Applied to Air Pollution
Measurements, Stevens, R.K. and W. F. Herget, (eds) Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor
Science Publishers Inc., 1974.
3. Burch, D. E., Gates, F. J., Gryvnak, D.A., and J. D. Pembrook. "Versatile
Gas-Filter Correlation Spectrometer." Prepared by Aeronutronics Ford
Corporation for EPA under Contract No. 68-02-1227. EPA Report No. EPA-
600/2-75-024, June 1975.
13
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concentration of HCN in the sample cell. When no HCN is in the sample cell,
the two halves of the gas-filter cell assembly cycle are electronically and
optically balanced to produce zero output. When HCN is added to the sample
cell, the gas absorbs a fraction of the energy that passes through the at-
tenuator when it is in the beam. However, when the gas-filter cell is in the
beam, the HCN in the GFC absorbs most of the energy at wavelengths where the
HCN in the sample cell absorbs. Therefore, the addition of HCN in the sample
cell effectively decreases the energy incident on the detector when the at-
tenuator is in the beam more than it reduced the energy when the GFC is in the
beam. Thus, the detector signal is chopped at 360 Hz with a modulation at
30 Hz, the rotational frequency of the gas-filter cell. The detector^signal
is processed by the electronics to produce a dc output signal proportional to
the fractional modulation of the energy incident on the detector, and thus to
the concentration of HCN in the sample cell.
Any absorbing gas species other than HCN in the sample cell will not
produce a 30-Hz modulation if there is no correlation between the spectral
structure of the gas and the spectral structure of the HCN in the gas-filter
cell. When there is no correlation between the spectral structures, the gas
absorbs exactly the same fraction of the energy passing through the gas-fil-
ter cell as that passing through the attenuator. Thus, under this idealized
condition, no 30-Hz modulation is produced and there is no interference in
the output signal by the gas. Of course, the instrument can not operate pro-
perly if the absorbing gas absorbs a large fraction of the radiant energy in-
cident on it. Unfortunately, there is usually a small amount of correlation
between the spectral structures of the gas species to be detected and another
gas that absorbs in the same spectral region.
Figure 6 shows superimposed spectra of HCN and three other automotive
exhaust gases that absorb in the spectral region of interest. Reducing in-
terference by these three gases, H20, C2H2 and NH3, while maintaining good
sensitivity to HCN has been the most difficult problem in the HCN analyzers
The unpublished curves in Figure 6, obtained with a Fourier Transform Inter-
fermometer by Dr. Herget4, show spectral features for each gas. Careful
consideration of these features is required in order to optimize the dis-
crimination. The dashed curve represents the absorption spectrum for 4 75 m
of atmospheric path at 20°C and is labelled "H20^since H20 is the only'
significant atmospheric absorber in this spectral region. The other three
curves are spectra of the three gases indicated in a 10-cm absorption cell
at 20 C. The HCN sample consisted to 6650 ppm of HCN in N2 at 1-atm total
pressure. The NH3 and C2H2 samples were pure at pressures of 40 torr and
20 torr, respectively.
4. Herget, Dr. William F., Environmental Protection Agency, Research
Triangle Park, K.C., 27711 (Private communication)
14
-------
(jt
3325
3330
3335 3340
WAVENUMBER (cm'1)
3343
335O
3355
3.005
3.000
2.995
WAVELENGTH (gm)
2990
2.895
2390
Figure 6. Transmission spectra of HCN, H20, NH3 and C2H2. The relative transmission function of the
grating assembly is indicated by the curve labelled RTF.
-------
The "relative transmission function," RTF, of the retroreflector-grid
assembly is illustrated graphically in Figure 6. This function is determined
by the width of the entrance slit, the widths and spacings of the slots in
the grid (see Figure 2), and the dispersion in the plane of the grid. An
opaque strip between the two grid slots causes the minimum in the relative
transmission function near 3348 cm"-'-. Reducing the relative transmission
near 3348 cm greatly reduces the interference by C2&2- ^ the complete
spectral interval were employed with approximately the same relative transmis-
sion over the entire interval, the G^2 would interfere positively in the
measurement of HCN concentration and would thus cause the instrument to in-
dicate too high of a concentration of HCN. Blocking out some of the energy
near the almost coincident HCN and £<2&2 lines close to 3348 cm~^ reduces
the positive correlation between the spectral structures of these two gases.
The 1/3 - atm of C2H2 in the series cell further reduces the inter-
ference by C2H2 in the sample. The gas in the series cell absorbs much
of the radiant energy from thi monitoring beam at wavelengths where this
gas absorbs strongly. Thus, the absorption by the C2H2 in the sample cell
is greatly reduced. The series cell is so-named because it is placed op-
tically "in series" with the sample cell and the monitoring beam passes
through it at all times. By contrast, the gas-filter cell is only in the
monitoring beam during half of each revolution of the gas-filter cell
assembly.
The spectral bandpass was selected experimentally to minimize inter-
ference by ^0, the automotive exhaust gas that interferes most. Ammonia
(NH3) also absorbs within the spectral interval passed by the instrument,
but interference by this gas is not serious because of the small amount of
correlation between the spectral structures of NH^ and HCN.
16
-------
SECTION 6
ELECTRONICS AND PROCESSING OF DETECTOR SIGNAL
The electronics process the signal from the detector and produce a dc
voltage that is proportional to the concentration of HCN in the sample gas.
The relationship between the output voltage and the HCN concentration is de-
termined by calibrating the instrument with samples of known concentration.
A block diagram of the electronics used to process the detector signal is
shown in Figure 7. The 360-Hz component of the signal from the detector
serves as the carrier for the 30-Hz component that is to be measured. The
30-Hz component of the detector signal resulting from any 30-Hz variation of
radiant energy on the detector that is not also chopped at the carrier fre-
quency is rejected by the electronics. The electronics consist basically of
two demodulators in series. The first demodulator operates at the carrier
frequency, 360 Hz; the average output of this demodulator is proportional to
the amount of radiant energy chopped at 360 Hz. If the chopped energy inci-
dent on the detector is also modulated at 30 Hz, the 30-Hz component of the
output signal from the 360-Hz demodulator is proportional to the modulation.
This 30-Hz component then passes through a series of gain controls and am-
plifiers to the 30-Hz sychronous demodulator. The output of the 30-Hz syn-
chronous demodulator is proportional to the 30-Hz modulation of the 360 Hz
signal, and thus to the concentration of HCN in the sample gas. The reference
signal for the 30-Hz synchronous demodulator is supplied by the 30-Hz reference
pick-up mounted on the heated enclosure where it senses the rotation of the
GFC assembly.
When H20 is in the sample gas, the 30-Hz signal also contains a component
due to the H^O. This interference is accounted for analytically from the
output of an H^O monitor described in Section 7 that produces a dc signal
proportional to the ^0 concentration. Several instruments built previously
by us have employed "^0 Correction" circuitry that used the output of the
HjO monitor to produce an electrical signal in the electronics that process
the signal from the detector in the main channel. This electrical signal was
proportional to the ^0 concentration and was adjusted to correct automati-
cally for the interference by ^0 in the main channel. However, this correc-
tion circuitry can not be used in the same manner in the HCN analyzers be-
cause the interference by ^0 is not proportional to the ^0 concentration.
Therefore, it is necessary to read the ^0 concentration from the ^0 monitor
and determine the correction from a curve determined experimentally for each
unit.
A time constant switch mounted on the main electronics card makes it
possible to select an electronic time constant of 0.3, 1, 3 or 10 sec. The
17
-------
00
He Terence
Pickup
(30 Hz)
Tuned Reference
Amplifier
(30 Hz)
Adjustable
Phase
Shifter
Adjustable
Phase
Shi fter
i
From
Detector
Preamplifier
1
1
Tuned Amplifier
(360 Hz)
Automatic Gain
Control Amplifier
(Constant Vc)
Individual
Span Adjustments
I I
Range Switch
Tuned Amplifier
Span Adjustment
30 Hz
S ynchronous
Demodulator
Amplifier with
Adjustable Time
Constant
Output Jack
10 V
Full Scale
H20
System
Electronics
Adjustable
Attenuator
Output Jack
(V ) 10 V Output Jack
Full Scale (va) 1 mV - 10 V
Full Scale
Figure 7. Block diagram of the signal-processing electronics.
-------
main output signal can be determined from a panel meter or from either of two
output jacks. A signal that corresponds to a full-scale reading of the panel
meter produces a 10 volt dc signal on one of the output jacks. The corres-
ponding full scale reading for the other output jack can be adjusted from less
than 1 mv to 10 v. Thus, the instrument can be used with a wide range of re-
corders or meters, provided the input impedance is sufficiently high.
During the normal mode of operation it is desirable that the output signal
be proportional to the ratio, Va/Vc = V", where Va is the average demodulated
30-Hz component of the detector signal and Vc is the 360-Hz component of the
detector signal. The instrument calibration relates the HCN concentration of
the sample gas to V, and it is desired that this relationship be independent
of source brightness, detector sensitivity, etc. During the normal mode of
operation, Vc is maintained at a constant value by the automatic gain control
(AGC) circuits. If, for example, the signal from the photodetector decreases
because of dirt on a window or a decrease in source brightness, the AGC in-
creases the amplification of both the 360-Hz signal and the 30-Hz signal by
the same factor. Therefore, V is kept directly proportional to the output,
Va, and maintains a constant relationship with the HCN concentration.
The 30-Hz reference pickup consists of a light-emitting diode (LED) and a
small phototransistor. Aluminum tape is wrapped around half the circumference
of the reticle, and the other half is black. As the GFC assembly spins at
1800 rpm, light from the LED is reflected by the aluminum tape but not by the
black area. The reflected light is sensed by the detector and produces a
30-Hz signal. The amplifier for the 30-Hz reference pickup is tuned and con-
tains an adjustable phase shifter to produce a "clean" signal with the proper
phase for the 30-Hz synchronous demodulator.
The zero-balance assembly electronically accounts for any misbalance bet-
ween the two halves of each cycle of the GFC assembly when there is no HCN in
the sample cell. This electronic assembly would not be required if it were
practical to maintain a perfect optical balance between the two halves. Ap-
proximately ± 10 percent variation in the transmittance through either of the
two halves of the cycle can be accounted for by this electronic zero-balance
assembly. The assembly changes the amplification ahead of the 360 Hz de-
modulator during one of the two halves of the GFC assembly cycle. A signal
from the 30-Hz reference pickup switches the zero-balance assembly between
the two different gains with the proper phase. The difference in the gains
between the two halves is adjusted with the "zero" potentiometer mounted on
the top of the instrument.
Five ranges of sensitivity are provided: 1,3,10,30, and 100 ppm full
scale. The gain in each range can be adjusted independently over a factor of
approximately 5 if different sensitivities are desired. A five-position
switch mounted on the top of the instrument makes it convenient to change from
one range to another. An additional potentiometer mounted on the main elect-
ronics card is also provided to change the gain of all 5 ranges simultaneously
by the same factor. This single adjustment is usually adequate for making
small corrections in the span calibration.
19
-------
A four-position switch mounted on the main electronics card makes it
possible to use the panel meter to monitor quantities other than the output
signal. The 30-Hz reference signal and the average carrier voltage, Vc, can
be checked with this meter to see if they are in the correct operating range.
When the selector switch is in the "signal-in" position, the meter reads -he
level of the signal going into the 360 Hz synchronous demodulator. With the
selector switch in the "signal out" position, the meter reads the level of
the output signal. The signals on the output jacks are not affected by the
position of the selector switch.
20
-------
SECTION 7
MONITOR
OPTICAL
The H20 monitor produces a dc voltage that is proportional to the con-
centration of H20 in the multiple-pass sample cell. The ^0 concentration is
determined by comparing the transmission of the sample at two wavelengths,
one in the region of strong ^0 absorption near 1.9 Mm and one in a nearby
region of weak H20 absorption.
The optical components employed by the H20 system are shown in Figure 8.
The bottom portion of the figure is a side view of the H20 detection system
optics, and the top portion of the figure is a top view. The heated enclosure
for the GFC assembly is shown. Components mounted inside the enclosure are
shown as they would be viewed with the top off, for the top view, and the
back wall off, for the side view. Detectors DA and DB and their associated
filters, FA and FB, are mounted on an aluminum block, which is mounted in the
top section of the heated enclosure. The spinning GFC assembly, which is
mounted on the motor shaft inside the heated enclosure, is also shown in the
figure.
When the sample cell is set at 20 passes, mirror C3 forms an image of
the source adjacent to mirror C2 and next to lens L5. (See Figure 4) This
energy exits from the sample cell and is used in the H20 detection system.
Lens L5, with a focal length of 10.1 cm, forms an image of C3 near lens L6.
The combination of flat mirrors HI and H2 raises the beam of energy exiting
from the sample cell by 5.7 cm and directs the beam into the top section of
the heated enclosure. Lens L6, with a focal length of 3.8 cm, forms images
of slit 1 on detectors DA and DB.
Detectors DA and DB have photoconductive PbS elements, 4 mm x 4mm, that
are mounted on a small aluminum block as shown in Figure 8. Filter FA acts
as a dichroic beam-splitter, transmitting a narrow spectral interval in the
region of strong H20 absorption near 1.9 (Jm. The wavelengths not transmitted
by filter FA are reflected to filter FB, which transmits a narrow spectral
interval of weak H20 absorption. The gains of the preamplifiers are adjusted
so that the 360 Hz signals from the two detectors are equal when no absorb-
ing gas is in the sample cell. It is apparent that the addition of 1^0 to
the sample cell would reduce the amount of energy incident on detector DA
more than it would reduce the amount of energy incident on detector DB. The
resulting difference in the detector signals is proportional to the H^O con-
centration.
21
-------
HEATED
ENCLOSURE
SAMPLE
CELL
\
L5
HI
o
t
O
Ley
GFC
ASSEMBLY
Figure 8. Optical diagram of the H^O monitor.
22
-------
Since small variations in the temperatures of the detectors and filters
can produce drift in the zero-reading of the H20 monitor, these components
are maintained,at approximately 50° C by the heated enclosure. We have found
from experience with similar instruments that this 2-detector type of monitor
is quite adequate for the present purposes. By employing two fixed filters
and two detectors, it is possible to keep the optics of the H20 monitor re-
latively simple and not employ any moving optical components that are not
required by the HCN channel.
SIGNAL PROCESSING
The bias voltage for detectors DA and DB is provided by a ± 15 Vdc
power supply used with the main electronics. A separate preamplifier ampli-
fies the output of each detector, and the outputs of both preamplifiers are
fed into a difference amplifier. When the sample cell is free of any 1^0,
the monitor is zeroed by adjusting the outputs of the preamplifiers so that
they are equal, thus producing a zero input to the difference amplifier. This
is done with a fine zero control that is mounted on the front panel of the in-
strument and a coarse zero control that is mounted on the E^O electronics card.
The addition of 1^0 to the sample cell creates a misbalance between the signals
from the two preamplifiers and results in a signal from the difference ampli-
fier. This signal passes through a tuned amplifier and is then demodulated to
produce a dc voltage that is proportional to the t^O concentration. A refer-
ence signal for the synchronous demodulator is obtained from the output of the
preamplifier for detector DB.
A variable-gain amplifier makes it possible to adjust the "span" so that
full-scale readings of the panel meter can be made to correspond to 1^0 con-
centrations between approximately 1 percent and 10 percent. An output jack
mounted on the instrument can be used to monitor the t^O output signal. The
HoO output signal is displayed on the panel meter mounted on the top of the
instrument when the 1^0 button is pressed.
An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit is employed so that the amplified
difference signal is nearly independent of slight changes in such things as
source brightness or dirt on windows that would change the amount of energy
incident on both detectors by about the same factor. The AGC circuit main-
tains the signal from the preamplifier for detector B at a constant level.
For example, if a change in the optics occurs that would ordinarily decrease
the detector signal, the bias voltage is increased automatically to com-
pensate for the decrease in radiant energy. The bias voltages for both de-
tectors are increased by the same factor; therefore, to a good approximation,
the change in bias voltage increases the outputs of both detectors by the
same factor. It follows that a given output of the difference amplifier re-
presents a certain fractional difference in the outputs of the two preampli-
fiers. This difference can then be related to the E^O concentration and is
nearly independent of small changes in source brightness, dirt on windows,etc.
The amount of E^O interference is different for each of the 3 units;
therefore a separate curve relating the interference error to the output of
the HoO monitor is provided for each unit. As a typical example, the max-
imum HoO interference on Unit 2 corresponds to 0.7 ppm of HCN and is produced
23
-------
by approximately 1.5% H^O. At either higher or lower concentrations, the
interference is less. Because of the non-linear relationship between the I
interference and the concentration of this gas, it is not possible to use the
ttjO "Correction" circuitry originally designed and built to account automati-
cally for the H20 interference. Instead, the 1^0 concentration is determined
from the output signal of the t^O monitor, and the correction determined from
the interference curve is applied analytically to the output signal of the HCN
channel.
24
-------
SECTION 8
INSTRUMENT PERFORMANCE
SENITIVITY AND CALIBRATION
Hydrogen cyanide vapor adsorbs readily to the surfaces of many types of
containers, including metal tubing and the stainless steel sample cell. The
adsorption, and subsequent desorption, can cause serious errors in sampling
dilute mixtures of HCN + N2- A larger fraction of the HCN can adsorb on the
container walls when the concentration is low than when it is high. This makes
it difficult to make accurate dilute mixtures that can be used reliably as
standards to calibrate instruments. This difficulty was partially overcome in
calibrating the HCN instruments by using sample path lengths much shorter than
the 15.5 m path length at which the instrument is to be used. The output sig-
nal of the instrument is proportional to the product of path length and HCN in
concentration. Therefore, we were able to use higher concentrations of HCN in
the standard HCN + N£ mixtures. The lowest concentration of the standard sam-
ples was approximately 500 ppm.
Two short calibration cells (1.5 cm and 6.0 cm) were placed in the monitor-
ing beam near the series cell (see Figure 1), and the multiple-pass cell was
adjusted to 4 passes. The multiple-pass cell and the short cells were maintained
near 50°C, normal operating temperature of the multiple-pass cell. All
standard calibration samples were maintained at essentially 1.00 atm and were
flushed through the cells long enough that adsorption on the walls did not
reduce the vapor concentration significantly when the output signal was
measured.
Figure 9 shows typical log-log plots of the output signals for the 5
different sensitivity ranges vs the equivalent concentration at the normal
path length of 15,5 m. A 10 volt output signal corresponds to full-scale de-
flection of the panel meter. When the concentration is lower than approximately
10 ppm, the output signal is directly proportional to the concentration. An
accurate set of curves is provided for each instrument to relate HCN concentration
to the output signal for the 30 ppm and 100 ppm ranges.
NOISE AND DRIFT
Most of the noise on the output signal originates in the detector and
preamplifier when the optical components are clean and aligned properly. If
some of the optical components, particularly the multiple-pass mirrors, are
not aligned properly, additional noise may result from vibrations in the optics.
The noise level corresponds to the same concentration of HCN regardless of the
sensitivity range employed.
25
-------
ro
0.7
0.5
0.1
0.1
0.5 0.7 1
2 57
CONCENTRATION OF HCN (ppm)
10
50 70 100
Figure 9. Log-log plots of the output signal vs HCN concentration for the 5 different
sensitivity ranges. Concentrations below 10 ppm can be determined Directly
from the output signal or the panel meter.
-------
The noise level of each instrument was measured by recording the output
signal with a strip chart recorder. The sample cell was filled with No, and
the recording was made for 10 minutes at each of two different time constants:
10 sec. and 3 sec. Table 1 summarizes the rms noise levels (expressed in
ppm of HCN) estimated from these recorder tracings.
Flushing gas through the multiple-pass sample cell at rates up to approxi-
mately 10 1pm does not significantly increase the noise level. Even higher
flow rates may be usable without increasing the noise level, but they have not
checked.
TABLE 1 RMS NOISE MEASUREMENTS EXPRESSED IN
PPM OF HCN
Instrument No. 3 Sec Time Constant 10 Sec Time Constant
1 0.015 0.012
2 . 0.010 0.007
3 0.007 0.005
A small drift in the zero-setting (output signal with no absorbing gas in
the sample cell) appears to be correlated to filling the detector with liquid
nitrogen. Slight shifts in the grating assembly due to temperature differences
apparently lead to very slight changes in the spectral bandpass, which in turn,
cause shifts in the zero-setting. The drift can be minimized by keeping the
detector cooled and not filling it with liquid NZ to within 1" of the top. If
these precautionary procedures are followed, the drift in zero-setting can be
reduced to less than 0.2 ppm of HCN per hour.
INTERFERENCE
Table 2 summarizes typical interferences by several gas species that occur
in automotive exhaust. The second column gives the concentration of the inter-
fering gas species in a typical sample studied. All interference test samples
were at 1 atm total pressure. The average absorptance A, given in the third
27
-------
TABLE 2,, TYPICAL INTERFERENCE DATA
Gas
Concentration
(ppm)
Interference
Error
(ppm of HCN)
Discrimination
Ratio
H20
H20
H20
C02
TSIH 3 (ammonia)
CH^Cmethane)
C2H2( acetylene
C2H2
C2H/^(ethylene
C2H6( ethane)
CjH.g( propane)
C^H^gC butane)
6 , 000
13,000
25,500
60,000
386
3860
83
340
682
3860
3860
3860
3860
0.03
0.06
0.11
0.009
0.052
-,0. 0015
0,032
0,122
0.227
0.003
0.017
0.217
0.115
+0.38
+0.60
+0.39
-0.12
-0.54
0.01
-0.13
+0.00
+0.94
-0,04
+0. 015
-0.036
-0.37
+15,800:1
+21,700:1
+65,400:1
-500,000:1
-715:1
> 386,000:1
-640:1
CO
+730:1
- 96,500:1
+260,000:1
-107,000:1
- 10,400:1
28
-------
column, was determined from (IO-I8) /I where T and I are the 360 Hz input
signals observed with the sample in and the sample out, respectively. The inter-
ference, or false signal, produced by each sample appears in the fourth column.
The discrimination ratio, D.R., given in the fifth column, represents the ratio
between the concentration of an interfering gas and the concentration of HCN
required to produce the same output signal. A negative value of D.R. indicates
that the interfering gas produces a negative output signal. Note that propane
absorbs significantly, but it does not produce a significant interference signal.
This indicates that there is little correlation between the spectral structures
of propane and of the HCN in the GFC.
It is unlikely that any of the gases listed in Table 2 would occur in con-
centrations high enough to produce significant interference, except for H20, CO2,
NH3 and C^. The interference by C02 or NH3 is nearly proportional to the con-
centration of the gas; therefore, the discrimination ratio for each of these two
gases is essentially independent of the concentration. In most cases the
interference by NH^ is probably negligible, but a small correction may be
needed if the concentration of this gas is unusually high. The correction for
C02 interference usually corresponds to less than 0.1 ppm of HCN. The
interference by C2H2 or H20 is not directly proportional to the gas concentration.
of each o-f these gases is provided for each instrument. Interference by ^0 is
positive for all H20 concentrations below approximately 3% (30,000 ppm). The
interference increases with increasing H«0 concentration up to approximately
13,000 ppm; as the concentration increases further, the interference decreases.
Interference by C2H2 is negative for small concentrations then becomes
positive for higher concentrations.
The most serious interference results from H20. The concentration of this
gas is measured by the H20 monitor, making it possible to account for the inter-
ference by using previously obtained interference data on H20 + N2 mixtures.
The very small amount of interference by C02 can be accounted for from the
known discrimination ratio and the concentration, which is usually known
accurately enough for this purpose. In situations when the NHo or C2H2 concen-
tration is usually high, it may be necessary to measure the concentration of the
gases so their interferences can be accounted for accurately.
GAS HANDLING
Measurements of the HCN concentration can be made either while a sample
is stationary in the sample cell or while it is flowing. If measurements are
to be made on a stationary sample, checks should be made to see if a signifi-
cant amount of the HCN adsorbs on the walls of the incoming-gas lines or the
sample cell. Adsorption depletes some of the HCN vapor from the mixture,
causing the instrument output signal to be lower than it would be in the
absence of adsorption. Adsorption may take place for several minutes after
a sample has been introduced into the cell. The continuing adsorption re-
sults in a decrease in the output signal. Errors due to adsorption can be
reduced by pre-conditioning the gas lines and cell by filling them for several
minutes with a sample that contains approximately the same HCN concentration
as the sample to be measured. This mixture can then be flushed out by the
sample to be measured.
29
-------
If a sample of high HCN concentration has been in the sample cell, care
must be exercised to avoid errors in the next sample if its HCN concentration
is much lower than the original sample. In this case, HCN adsorbed on the
walls from the original sample may come off the walls and cause an erroneously
high reading.
It is recommended that samples be flushed through the cell at 5-10 1pm if
enough sample is available. If only a limited amount of sample gas is available,
the cell can be preconditioned to reduce errors due to adsorption. No sig-
nificant errors are being caused by adsorption if the output signal is
essentially constant while the flushing rate varies by 50% to 100%.
False output signals corresponding to a few tenths of a ppm of HCN may
result while a zero gas is being flushed from the cell with a sample of exhaust
gas. A false signal may also occur during the opposite flushing process. These
false signals may occur even if neither of the two gases would produce a signal
if sampled separately. The signals are apparently due to the difference in
the indices of refraction of the two gases. When the gases are not mixed uni-
formly in the sample cell, the difference in indices causes a slight shift of
the monitoring beam where it enters the grating assembly. A slight shift in
the zero-setting results. When one of the gases has completely displaced
the other one, the false signal disappears and the output signal represents the
HCN concentration in the sample cell,
A sample of gas in the cell is approximately 85% flushed out by another
gas when the volume of the incoming gas flushed through is 3.7 liters, the
volume of the sample cell. When twice the cell volume has been flushed through,
between 98 and 99% of the original gas has been removed.
30
-------
SECTION 9
CONVERSION OF THE VERSATILE GAS-FILTER
CORRELATION SPECTROMETER
This section describes the tests performed as the first phase of the
program on the versatile gas-filter correlation spectrometer and the conver-
sion of the spectrometer for use as an HCN analyzer. The spectrometer has
been described in detail in a previous report . Locations of the components
discussed below are shown in the optical diagram in Figure 1 of the same re-
port, along with definitions and discussions of the operating principles and
the important instrument parameters.
The work performed during this first phase of the program served two
purposes. The first was to perform the tests required to determined an op-
timum set of instrument parameters and to determine the performance that could
be expected from gas-filter cell instruments built specifically for use as HCN
analyzers. Conversion of the EPA - owned versatile gas-filter correlation
spectrometer for use as an HCN analyzer constituted the second task of the
first phase. After the spectrometer was converted, it x^as returned to the EPA
to use in tests on automotive exhaust until three new instruments designed
specifically as HCN monitors were built and tested.
DETERMINATION OF INSTRUMENT PARAMETERS
The relatively strong HCN band centered near 3312 cm (3(J*n) was selected
instead of the stronger band near 712 cm"1 (14|Jm). Serious interference by
COo could be expected if the lower wavenumber band were used because of the
strong absorption lines of this gas in the region of the HCN band. In addi-
tion, convenient window materials are not available for the low wavenumber
region.
1. Burch, D.E., F. J. Gates, D.A. Gryvnak and J. D. Pembrook. "Versatile Gas
Filter Correlation Spectrometer," Prepared by Aeronutronic Ford Corpora-
tion under Contract No. 68-02-1227. EPA Report No. 600/2-75-024, June 1975.
31
-------
The 300 line/mm grating, the Nernst glower source, and the liquid-
nitrogen-cooled PbS detector were installed in the versatile spectrometer.
Various sample cell lengths were employed during the tests, but the multiple-
pass sample cell was adjusted to 28 passes (L = 28m) before the instrument
was calibrated and returned to the EPA. By using a variety of grids in the
retroreflector-grid assembly and by adjusting the grating position, we were
able to use many different spectral b -ndpasses for the tests. The most im-
portant factor in the choice of the spectral bandpass is the need to minimize
the interference by H20, 02% and NH.$. As explained in Section 5, use of the
strongest portion of the 3|jun HCN band is not practical because of excessive
interference by C2H2 and ^3- Bandpasses of many different widths and center
positions were tried. The bandpass selected for the versatile spectrometer
extends from approximately 3338 cm"1 to 3356 cm"1. The minimum width of the
bandpass is determined by the amount of radiant energy required to produce an
acceptable ratio of the detector signal to noise.
While assembling the 3 new instruments built under Phase II, we deter-
mined that somewhat better discrimination could be obtained by using a grid
with two openings that produces the spectral transmittance function illustra-
ted in Figure 6. Because of the improved detectors used in the new instru-
ments, we were able to achieve a satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio while
employing this bandpass, which is narrower than the one employed in the con-
verted versatile spectrometer.
Epoxy cement used to seal windows to the body of the gas-filter cell
was found to decompose because of reaction with HCN in the cell. Leaks develop-
ed in the seal within a few weeks after a cell was filled. This problem was
overcome by fusing qu?rtz windows to the quartz 'cell body. A one-half atmos-
phere mixture of 15.8% HCN, 6.7% C2H2 and 77.5% N3 was introduced into the
1.1 cm long cell through a small-bore tubing, and the cell was sealed by filling
the tubing with epoxy cement. Only approximately 0.1 mm2 .of epoxy is in con-
tact with the HCN vapor. Infrared spectrum of the HCN in the cell have been
scanned periodically and compared with a spectrum scanned a few days after the
cell was filled. The comparisons indicate that the amount of HCN in the cell
has not changed by more than 10% in nearly a year. The change, if any, may be
much less than this amount.
Discrimination against C2H2 and NH3 is improved further by a "series"
cell in the optical path near the entrance window of the multiple-pass sample
cell. The 500 torr of C2H2 and 250 torr of NH3 in this 5-cm long series cell
absorb much of the energy near the centers of the strong absorption line of
these gases. Thus, adding either of these two gases to the sample cell has
less effect on the detector signal than it would have without the series cell
in place.
After inserting the series cell, C2H2 and NH3 still interfered slightly.
The NHg interfered positively, i.e., it caused the output signal to be too
large. This interference was reduced further by placing an "attenuator cell"
in the alternator section of the instrument in the position normally occupied
by a neutral-density attenuator. The 1-cm long attenuator contains 450 torr
of NH3. Negative interference by C2H2 was greatly reduced by the 25 torr of
C2H2 added to the HCN in the GFC. With this combination of gas-filter cell,
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series cell and attenuator cell, the interference signal caused by C2H2 and
NH^ at the highest concentrations normally found in automotive exhaust cor-
responds to less than the minimum detectable concentration of HCN.
A slight interference by I^O in the sample is accounted for in the same
manner as in the three monitors described in the first 8 sections of this
report. An H^O monitor similar to the one described in Section 7 measures
the H^O concentrations.
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SECTION 10
REFERENCES
1, Burch, D. E., F.J. Gates, D.A. Gryvnak and J. D. Pembrook.
"Versatile Gas Filter Correlation Spectrometer", Prepared by
Aeronutronic Ford Corporation under Contract No. 68-02-1227.
EPA Report No. 600/2-75-024, June 1975.
2, Burch, D.E. and D.A. Gryvnak. "Infrared Gas-Filter Correlation
Instrument for In-Situ Measurement of Gaseous Pollutants." Pre-
pared by Philco-Ford Corporation for EPA under Contract No. 68-
02-0575. EPA Report No. EPA-650/2-74-094. Also, Burch, D.E. and
D.A. Gryvnak, "Cross-Stack Measurement of Pollutant Concentrations
Using Gas-Cell Correlation Spectroscopy." Chapter 10 of Analytical
Methods Applied to Air PollutionMeasurements, Stevens, R.K. and
W.F. Herget, (eds) Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Science Publishers Inc.,1974.
3. Burch, D.E,, Gates, F,J., Gryvnak, D.A., and J. D. Pembrook.
"Versatile Gas-Filter Correlation Spectrometer." Prepared by
Aeronutronics Ford Corporation for EPA under Contract No. 68-02-1227.
EPA Report No. EPA-600/2-75-024, June 1975.
4. Herget, Dr. William F., Environmental Protection Agency, Research
Triangle Park, N.C., 27711, (Private Communication)
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Inaaitcrions on the rc\ erse before completing,'
REPORT NO.
EPA-600/2-79-113
2.
TITLE AND SUBTITLE
DEVELOPMENT OF A MONITOR FOR HCN IN MOBILE
SOURCE EMISSIONS
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSIOONO.
5. REPORT DATE
June 1979
AUTHOR(S)
D.E. Burch, P.S. Davila, F.J. Gates, and
j.D. Pembrook
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
U-6470
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation
Aeronutronic Division
Ford Road
Newport Beach, California 29663
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
1AD712 BA-54 (FY-78)
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
Contract No. 68-02-2716
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory—RTP,
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711
NC
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Final 4/77 - 10/78
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
EPA/600/09
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
16. ABSTRACT
Three real-time monitors for measurement of HCN concentrations in mobile
source emissions have been designed, built, tested and delivered to the En-
vironmental Protection Agency (EPA). The important design parameters for these
identical instruments were determined during the first phase of the program of
performing tests with a versatile gas-filter correlation spectrometer built
previously in our laboratory for EPA. The instruments employ a gas-filter cell
to provide sensitivity to HCN while discriminating against other infrared active
gases such as H20, CO», NH and many hydrocarbons that occur in mobile source
emissions. These gases absorb near 3 micrometers, the approximate center of
the narrow spectral band employed by the instrument.
Samples are contained in a temperature-controlled cell that uses a 20-
pass optical system with an optical path length of 15.5 m. An HO monitor
built as an integral part of the instrument measures the HO concentration,
making it possible to account for a small amount of interference by this gas
in the sample. The rms noise-equivalent-concentration of HCN is less than
0.02 ppm. The combined error after accounting for HO interference for most
dilute samples is less than 0.1 ppm HCN.
17.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
b.lDEIMTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSATI Field/Group
* Air pollution
* Motor vehicles
* Emission
* Hydrogen cyanide
* Monitors
* Development
13B
13F
07B
13. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
RELEASE TO PUBLIC
19. SECURITY CLASS (ThisReport)
UNCLASSIFIED
20. SECURITY CLASS (This page)
UNCLASSIFIED
21. NO. OF PAGES
A3
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
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