Air Monitoring 47
in industrial furnaces to optimize the material properties of their surfaces. For some of these processes surface oxidation by O₂, CO₂ or H₂S has to be prevented by a controlled neutral gas atmosphere while the thermal treat- ment achieves a specifi c crystalline structure by tempering and annealing. During these processes a precisely defi ned atmosphere modifi es the surface to infl uence the workpiece’s hardness and adhesion (e.g. for applying paints). Carbonizing, decarbonizing and carbonitriding are examples of such treatments. When carbonizing, the surface of steel parts is enriched with carbon at high temperatures, for which a mixture of nitrogen and methanol is used. By contrast, decarbonizing reduces the hardness by removing carbon from the workpiece’s surface. A further procedure is carbonitriding. In such cases, ammonia is added to the furnace atmosphere so that its nitrogen binds to the surface alongside the carbon, resulting in a particularly high degree of hardness. Many of these processes are infl uenced by CH₄, hence its concentration must also be monitored. The ULTRAMAT 23 multi-component gas analyzer can measure CO, CO₂ and CH₄ concentrations in a single instrument, so it is ideally suited to monitor the gas composition with precision during thermal treatment.
Connectivity, integration and handling
The ULTRAMAT 23 gas analyzer has an open architecture, offering RS 485, RS 232, PROFIBUS and SIPROM GA interfaces for connectivity. This simplifi es the integration into CEMS, which usually comprise a sample probe, a heated fi lter, a heated sample line and a sample gas conditioning unit. As a leading global technology group, Siemens offers not just the hardware but also the expertise and reach to assemble and install CEMS all over the world. Dealing with only a single experienced supplier
of the products and the related services ensures a smooth implementation process.
Handling the ULTRAMAT 23 is as easy as gas monitoring gets. The AUTOCAL feature allows day-to-day autocalibration to be performed with ambient air, which saves effort and costs, as calibration gases are not required. A test with calibration gases is necessary only once a year.
A further feature that keeps the running costs down is that the analyzer cuvettes can be reused: they are simply cleaned on site in the event of contamination.
Menu-assisted operation of the ULTRAMAT 23 is in plain text, with no manual required for operation, ensuring a high level of operator safety. Gas analysis is controlled via the SIPROM GA software, which is run on a connected PC or laptop, and it also comprises a service tool. Remote operation and control are possible. Coded input levels protect against unauthorized access and increase data and operative safety. There is service infor- mation in the logbook that supports personnel to perform preventive maintenance, saving costs over time.
So once installed, there is no need to worry about anything – the ULTRAMAT 23, renowned for its dependability, performance and versatility, can turn advanced analytics into a commodity.
CTA: Find out more about the ULTRAMAT 23 multi-component gas analyzer on the product web page:
https://new.siemens. com/global/en/products/automation/process-analytics/ extraktive-continuous-process-gas-analytics/
ultramat-23.html
Enhanced Availability for Gas Analyzers
Software-based predictive maintenance to minimize reactive servicing
siemens.com/processanalytics
Author Contact Details Clemens Barth, Siemens AG • Address: Östliche Rheinbrückenstr. 50, 76187 Karlsruhe, Germany • Email:
barth.clemens@
siemens.com Web:
www.siemens.com/processanalytics
TALKING POINT The week that New York had the worst air quality in the world
New York City is as much a set of world-famous icons as it is a city: the City That Never Sleeps. Moreover, it is world- renowned in a variety of fi elds, from fi nance and tech to medicine and the arts. But for one week in June, it topped global charts for another reason – and this time, it’s hardly an advertisement for the City.
Last week, the city’s air quality index (AQI), an integrated measure of various pollutants, peaked over 400 out of a possible 500. An ordinary weekend reading, in comparison, lingers around 30. Just 24 hours after reaching apocalyptic levels, the AQI receded to 160, still alarmingly high but a slight reprieve. The perpetrator was a fugitive smoke cloud from distant Canadian wildfi res that had descended upon the East Coast, transforming the clear blue into a pall of smoky yellow.
The subterranean life of New York was not spared either. Researchers from New York University recorded PM2.5 particulate matter levels at subway stations that signifi cantly exceeded typical readings. A usual day might register about 12 micrograms of particles per cubic meter of air; on that ominous June 7, the Broadway-Lafayette station in Manhattan registered a staggering 660.
These astronomical fi gures measured particulate matter alone. In contrast, the AQI encompasses both particulate matter and ozone among other pollutants, painting a more holistic, albeit grave, picture.
Recent studies highlight the acute vulnerability of the subway network to such hazardous air, with stations near underwater tunnels particularly prone to high levels of pollution. This river-tunnel eff ect was exacerbated by the week-long deluge of wildfi re smoke, making the subway system a particularly hazardous environment. Other studies indicated that some subway sections experienced air contamination levels comparable to wildfi re sites and demolition zones.
The health impacts were immediately evident, with emergency room visits for respiratory ailments skyrocketing on June 7. The city’s Health Department recorded 309 ER visits for
asthma and related symptoms, a signifi cant jump from the average of 135 to 200 visits.
Political leaders faced mounting criticism for their response to the crisis. New York City Mayor Eric Adams faced backlash for the city’s apparent unpreparedness for the situation, despite precedence set by California and federal guidelines for managing such conditions. Controversially, his proposal to dilute the right-to-shelter mandate while urging residents to stay indoors did not sit well with many.
Yet, the crisis put the broader problem into perspective. The city’s struggle underscored the accelerating eff ects of climate change and the gap between our preparedness and the rapidly worsening environmental conditions.
In a bid to alleviate the situation, Governor Kathy Hochul declared that one million N95-style masks would be freely distributed at public centers and transport hubs across the city. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which had initiated a pilot project for improved air fi ltration systems in 2020, stepped up their eff orts, albeit in a limited capacity.
The eff ects of the smoke were not only respiratory but also had a strange olfactory and gustatory impact. According to Kathryn Medler, a taste expert at the University at Buff alo, many New Yorkers experienced an odd “mouldy cigar-like” taste, likely the result of smoke particles lingering in their mouths.
The origin of the calamity lay hundreds of miles away in Canada, where hundreds of forest fi res had set ablaze about 3.8 million hectares of land - approximately 15 times the average. The resultant smoke cloud stretched far south, engulfi ng New York City and resulting in the cancellation of fl ights, closure of tourist attractions, and an orange smog overlaying iconic landmarks like Times Square.
The wildfi res, ignited by a mix of lightning strikes and human activity, found fertile ground due to unusually low snow due to cover and high temperatures in the spring. These conditions, partly attributed to climate change, exacerbated the wildfi res’ intensity and longevity, enabling the smog to reach
unprecedented territories like New York.
When the fog of smog fi nally lifted from New York, life was far from returning to normal. The crisis had opened a new front in the ongoing conversation about climate change, urban planning, and public health. The week-long event underscored the interconnectedness of climate phenomena and the global nature of environmental challenges.
Residents, government, and researchers are now grappling with the long-term consequences of this exposure. The immediate health crisis might have passed, but the aftermath has thrown into sharp relief the urgent need for preventative action. An increasing number of researchers and environmental activists are stressing the importance of predictive modelling, early warning systems, and resilient urban planning to protect residents’ health in future similar occurrences.
While New York recuperates, the event serves as a harsh reminder of climate change’s tangible eff ects. The week New York became the world’s smog capital is a chilling testament to a changing world. The impacts of climate change aren’t a distant future problem, but a present reality that we must face head-on, armed with science, informed policy, and collective global action.
WWW.ENVIROTECH-ONLINE.COM
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