Automation of air quality system

An air quality measurement system is responsible for measuring the amount of contaminants present in the air.

When air quality is good (it has few contaminants), people can breathe this air indefinitely without affecting their health. When bad, some health complications may occur, such as eye irritations, breathing and even heart problems. To keep air quality levels in controlled in ranges that are permissible, the authorities may take measures such as prohibiting the movement of vehicles emitting pollution, or the operation of some industries with certain emission characteristics.

Factors that affect air quality

Governments now have more controls and better regulations. This has increased profits. In addition to fuel quality improvements. However, pollutant emissions from vehicle traffic have increased exponentially, rising into the main polluting source in cities.

Global warming

A nivel mundial se ha descubierto que las emisiones de dióxido de carbono (o emisiones de CO2) derivadas de la combustión del petróleo, el carbón y el gas natural están generando de una forma determinante en el incremento de la temperatura global. Esto a causa del efecto invernadero que estas emisiones provocan en el planeta. Sin embargo es importante aclarar que estas emisiones de CO2 no son las principales causantes de una mala calidad del aire que afecten directamente la salud.

Las principales emisiones que afectan la salud son:

• sulfur oxides,
• nitrogen oxides,
• tropospheric ozone (at low altitude, different from stratospheric ozone, which is very beneficial),
• carbon monoxide,
• volatile organic compounds and
• suspended particles.

The main anthropic sources (of human origin) of air pollution are:

• Industrial factories or facilities without the right filters for aerial emissions.
• Thermoelectric plants.
• Vehicles with internal combustion engine.
• Heating of diesel, natural gas, coal or biomass.

Air quality can also be compromised by natural causes such as:

• Volcanic eruptions.
• [Viento] transport of suspended particles.

Industrial facilities

For each pollutant, the maximum amount that can be discharged in air emissions is regulated. Maximum values are generally set by the national authority dealing with the environment. Regulations may be validated throughout the national territory, or specific to some particular regions, by their own characteristics. Emissions-producing companies have a responsibility to comply with prescribed regulations. It is the responsibility of companies to obtain the respective operating permits. Individual control over each of the emission producers, and enforcing existing regulations, is extremely important. However, it is not enough. Indeed, if there are many industries in a given area that discharge atmospheric emissions, even if they respect individual emission limits, air quality may be affected. It is necessary by law to establish parameters that determine the maximum degree of permissible contamination. These parameters are of two types:

• Limit values: indicate, for each substance, the maximum acceptable quantity;
• Guide value :indicate, for each substance, the maximum desirable quantity;

National environmental regulations establish who bears responsibility for monitoring air quality and various parameters. Industrial plants that produce particularly dangerous atmospheric emissions may even be restricted in relation to their location.