BAM-1020

Beta Attenuation Mass Monitor

PM2.5 and PM10 Federal Equivalent Method

Met One Instruments, Inc.

August 2009

1/10/2015

Typical Configurations

The BAM-1020 is designated as a class III U.S. EPA PM10 or PM2.5

Federal Equivalent Method (FEM) monitor, when equipped with

the appropriate settings and accessories.
For PM2.5 FEM monitoring, the unit must use the EPA-mandated
BGI VSCC-A PM2.5 cyclone, along with the normal PM10 inlet, the
BX-596 AT/BP sensor, and the BX-827 Smart Inlet Heater. The
unit is operated with standard glass fiber filter tape, and actual
volumetric flow control.
2

Typical Configurations

For PM10 monitoring, the cyclone is omitted, and unit is operated

with standard glass fiber filter tape, actual flow control, and
standardized flow and concentration reporting.
A pair of BAM-1020 units are also configurable for PM10-2.5 (PMcoarse) monitoring by connecting the two units together with a BXCOARSE kit. This provides PM10, PM2.5, and PM10-2.5
measurements all at once.
3

Typical Configurations

The BAM-1020 can be set up on a

workbench with all accessories for
acceptance testing and evaluation in
a matter of only minutes.
4

Typical
Configurations

The BAM-1020 is frequently

installed inside a walk-in
shelter with a variety of other
instruments.
Any length of inlet tube can
be supplied, up to 16.
A 2 hole in the roof is
required.
Bench-top or rack mountable.

Typical
Configurations

The BAM-1020 is often

installed inside a small
weatherproof enclosure.
Air conditioned, heated, and
dual-BAM enclosures are
available from Met One.
There is enough room inside
for dataloggers or telemetry
equipment.
6

Operation

At the beginning of the hour, a small Carbon 14

element emits beta rays through a clean spot of
filter tape to determine a zero reading.
The BAM advances this exact spot to the sample
nozzle where air containing particulate is sampled
onto the filter tape.
At the end of the hour, the same exact dirty spot is
placed back at the source where is it re-measured
with beta rays.
The dirty tape absorbs more beta rays than the
clean spot did. The difference between the two
measurements is related to the mass concentration
by a variation of Beers Law.
7

Operation

The BAM-1020 always makes a separate concentration

measurement on a fresh spot of tape each hour.

An automatic hourly membrane foil measurement verifies the
span stability of the unit.
The beta attenuation method is virtually unaffected by the
chemical or elemental composition of the sampled particulate.
A smart inlet heater controls the RH of the sampled air.
8

Maintenance

The BAM-1020 filter tape roll will last just over 60 days.
The cyclone and PM10 head particle traps should be

cleaned on a monthly basis.

BAM-1020 leak checks, nozzle/vane cleaning, and flow
audits are the three critical maintenance items, and are
usually performed on the same monthly basis. Complete
maintenance and audits can usually be performed in less
than 15 minutes.
9

Maintenance
A leak check is always performed during flow audits as a data

validation check. A flow leak is basically the only problem that the
BAM-1020 may not automatically detect. Unresolved leaks may
cause positive or negative concentration errors.
The sample nozzle and tape support vane must be kept clean to
prevent nozzle leaks.

Flow audits consist of simple

ambient temperature, barometric
pressure, and air flow checks
using the same traceable
reference devices that would be
used for an FRM sampler.
10

Data Collection
The BAM-1020 has a powerful built-in datalogger to store up to

182 days worth of all data parameters and alarms.

Data may be collected from the BAM through the serial port using
a separate digital datalogger, or a computer and simple software.
The ESC 8832, Campbell CR1000, and Dr DAS dataloggers are
are all widely used with the BAM-1020, especially when other air
monitors are also being operated at the same site.
BAM serial data may be obtained through phone, cell, radio,
satellite, or IP addressable modems.
Complete error logs, settings files, and flow statistics files are also
available from the BAM through the serial port.
BAM concentration data may also be obtained through a 0-1 volt
analog voltage output channel.
11

Contacts
Sales:
Science:
Engineering:
Service:

David Gobeli, Ph.D.

Jo Ann Pottberg
Peter Pomponi
Herbert Schloesser, Ph.D.
Dennis Hart
Mike Putnam, Service Mgr.

Phone:
Web:

(541) 471-7111
www.metone.com

1/10/2015

12