Mobile Air Monitoring Lab

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has added two new Mobile Air Monitoring Labs (MAMLs),  to enhance the Department's ability to monitor the air quality in Louisiana. The new MAMLs were acquired in late 2019.. These MAMLs allow LDEQ to deploy monitoring anywhere in the state. Using the MAMLs allows access to near real-time air quality data.

 

The 2019 MAMLs, built on Freightliner M2 106 chassis, have an overall length of approximately 41 feet and a total height of 13’6”. The 32’ long laboratory is 8’ wide with an interior height of 8’ and includes an 8’ by 18” slide out to provide additional space within the laboratory.

 

The all diesel vehicle has dual 60 gallon fuel tanks that supply both the vehicle and a 30 kilowatt water cooled diesel generator that provides all the necessary electricity to power the laboratory and instrumentation. This generator is backed up by a second identical 30 kilowatt generator when needed.

 

All of the data is reported to an Agilaire Model ESC 8872 B Site Node/Data Logger that provides a platform for data polling, storage, archiving, validation, and reporting. A Teledyne Model T700H Dilution Calibrator with two mass flow controllers and a Teledyne T701 High performance zero air generator provide diluted calibration gasses for the multipoint calibrations required by most of these analyzers.

 

Air sampling and analysis is conducted by three gas chromatographic (GC) systems found on each of the 2019 MAMLs. The three air systems are capable of sampling from either canister samples collected at other locations or directly from the ambient air through silicone lined, heat traced, stainless steel tubing. Each system has a different analytical detector including mass spectroscopy detector (MSD), flame ionization detector (FID), and a pulsed flame photometric detector (PFPD). A fourth GC system is found on one MAML that is capable of performing soil and water analysis and is equipped with a GC/MS.

 

Other onboard equipment include a hydrogen generator for the production of fuel gas, zero air generator for the production of combustion gas, a mercury free air generator, digital flowmeters, digital manometers, digital temperature controllers, and an array of digitally controlled solenoid valves used to select between sampling ambient air or calibration gas. A front mounted Northern-Air five-ton air conditioning/heating system provides sufficient temperature control for most activities inside the MAML. If needed, five roof mounted air conditioners may be utilized for zone cooling on demand, otherwise are available as back-up to the main unit. High pressure compressed gases are housed in an isolated room at the rear of the laboratory and a gas detection system, with oxygen and hydrogen sensors throughout the lab provides protection to personnel. To facilitate the movement of the compressed gas cylinders, a wide rollup door is provided at the rear of the laboratory along with a folding hydraulic tailgate lift. Also attached to the rear of the laboratory is a fold out ladder that provides access to the roof and a pneumatic telescoping mast for raising the meteorological sensor.