UV and VIS Radiation Meters for
Environmental Monitoring
1)
Petro SMERTENKO, Vitaliy KOSTYLYOV, Ivan KUSHNEROV,
Olexandra SHMYRYEVA, Eduard MANOILOV,
2)
Mykola BRYCHENKO, Valeriy KRUGLOV, Anatoliy MARYENKO,
Rostislav STOLYARENKO,
3)
Yaroslav BLUME
4)
Don J. DURZAN
1)
V.Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Department of Optoelectronics,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 45 Prospect Nauki, Kyiv, 03028 Ukraine
2)
S. Korolyov MERYDIAN JSC, 8, I. Lepse blvd, Kyiv, 03680 Ukraine
3)
Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering, Cell Genetics Department,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 112 Zabolotnogo Str., 03207 Kyiv, Ukraine
4)
Department of Plant Sciences, MS 6, University of California,
One Shields Ave. Davis, CA 95616-8587, USA
Abstract. New UV meters and software have been developed and manufactured
for environmental monitoring in the Ukraine. The multifunctional meters offer
low cost and provide one and four channels for biological, meteorological and
medical applications. The main specifications, advantages, and design features
of each device developed is presented.
Introduction
UV irradiation is one of the environment factors that has either a favorable or unfavorable
dose-dependent effect on living organisms [1-10]. Exceeding the UV irradiation dose is
harmful and even pathological. In humans and animals UV-irradiation deficiency leads to
vitamin imbalance, a decrease in immune protection [11-16]. Many an examples exist why
it is necessary to carry out the UV monitoring [17-23].
Control of the optical energy irradiation and dose in wide spectral ranges (UV to
NIR, including visible radiation) is important to determine the separate actions of UV,
photosynthesis, and thermal effects of the radiation. Control also enables the estimation of
complex influence of optical radiation on biological objects and their surroundings [24-29].
In all cases, it is necessary to have simple and accurate measuring devices.
In the world-wide market there are many different devices. These comprise
radiometers of UV radiation, flux meters, radiometers of IR radiation, and others (Fig.1.)
[30-32]. Their high costs are prohibitive for common applications in Ukraine. Therefore
one of our main criteria for the development and manufacture of the photometers was their
cost characteristic with the highest possible design unification in the monitoring system
[33].
UV meters
Spectral
Integral
Dose meters
Effective
Erdosemeters
Spectroradiometers
Irradiation meters
Effective
Еnergetic
UV dose
meters
Energetic
UV
photometers
Bactmeters
Radiometers
Ermeters
Figure 1. A proposed classification of UV meters [30]. Bold arrows show the types of devices developed for the Ukraine.
1. Optical energy irradiation and dose meters (OIM and DM)
To develop OIM and DM and yet retain their low cost, the filter broadband was redesigned.
Classification of the optical devices for measurements of UV radiation is presented in Fig.
1. [33]. The ermeter measures erythema, the device for quantifying the electromagnetic energy to
control the degree of erythema. It was calibrated in erythema units. The erdosemeter determines the
erythermal dose by optical measurement. It was calibrated in units of erythema doses. The
bactmeter is used to evaluate the bacteriological action of UV radiation. It used for to measure
disinfection, sterilization or sanitization by UV radiation. These devices measure either
irradiance or dose. The devices for measuring of irradiance and dose are divided into those
that measure energy values or effective values. We selected the best way to measure energy
values (bold arrows in Fig.1.).
Their main advantages are:
- easy to use;
- broad distribution possible;
- response function similar to biological weighting function;
- low cost.
The main disadvantages concern the high demands for instrument calibration for:
- wavelength coverage;
- sensitivity;
- long-time stability;
- temperature stabilization;
- data logger capacity.
These instruments can monitor, collect and store information. This requires linkage
with a personal computer (PC) for portability and long-term automated operation for
accurate measurements and simplicity of use. These specifications were successfully
introduced for two kinds of devices: portable one-channel FEO-M, and professional fourchannel FEO-P photometers.
Both kinds were designed as unified selective photodetectors to provide
measurements in different ranges of spectrum (spectral types UVА, UVВ, UVАВ, vis etc).
They were also modified to meet a variety of end uses and complexity of measurement
tasks.
The portable photometer of optical energy irradiation and dose FEO-M (Fig.2.) is a
simple one-channel portable small current (up to 3 мА) meter. It was designed from the
simple and relatively cheap microelectronic elements – microcontroller of type PIC16F628
and ADC of type AD7822, which increases its desirable functionality for:
- measuring of optical energy irradiance;
- automatic identification of the working photodetector;
- automatic calculation of optical irradiance and dose of irradiation;
- control of time of radiant dose exposure;
- measuring of ambient temperature in the point of measurements;
- digital indication of optical irradiance, dose, time of exposure and detector
temperature;
- interface transmission of data to PC for the next visualization and processing.
The professional photometer of optical energy irradiation and dose FEO-P (Fig.3.)
is the device that measures information. It has a 4-channel microprocessor block for
measurements. Data are displayed on the LCD panel. Automatic turning of the limits of
measurements ensures desirable multifunctionality of the device for:
- measuring of optical energy irradiance;
- automatic identification of the working photodetector;
- automatic calculation of optical irradiance and dose of irradiation;
- control of time of radiant dose exposure;
- measuring of ambient temperature in the point of measurements;
- setting of limits of radiant dose or time of exposure in each optical channel;
- digital indication of irradiance, dose, temperature, time of exposure, limits of
radiant dose and exposure time;
- sound signalization about exceeding of set limits;
- storage of information in nonvolatile memory;
- interface transmission of data to PC for the next visualization and treatment
according to procedure.
Figure 2. Portable photometer FEO-M
Figure 3. Professional photometer FEO-P
The device has 4 independent input measuring channels that transform signals into
the digital values by 24-bit ADC of type ADS1240. The digital filter and pre-amplifier with
128-stage turning of the amplification coefficient allows us to increase significantly the
dynamic range of measurements to 108. In contrast, with FEO-M, a more powerful
microcontroller of type РІС16F877 (20 MHz, 8k x 14 – FLESH ROM) provides wider
functionalities. The functional possibilities and technical characteristics of devices are
shown in Table 1.
In comparison with portable photometer FEO-M, the professional photometer FEOP has the following advantages:
- multichannel work from the 4 photodetectors simultaneously;
- large dynamic range of measurements - due to utilization of more powerful
microscheme of ADC with 24-bit and build-up programming 128-time preamplification;
- big volume of programming memory up to 4 times (8 kilowords)
- high speed of program execution up to 20 times – due to utilization of more
powerful microcontroller PIC16F877;
- graphic display of 128x64 pixels instead of LCD indicator of 4 numbers;
- extended control with the use of keyboard;
- registration of IR trends - due to utilization of microscheme of permanent memory
500 Kbytes, sufficient to remember of dozen measurements;
- build-up sound indicator of programming limit values of the exposure dose in each
channel.
Table 1. Technical characteristics of fabricated photometric devices (without photodetectors)
Parameters
Number of measuring channels
Range of measurement of optical energy irradiation E, W/m2
Limit of the irradiation measuring error dE, %
Range of measurement of the exposure dose D, kJ/m2
Limits of the dose measuring error dD, %
Range of measurement of the exposure time Т, min
Limit of the exposure time measuring error dT, %
Range of measurement of the temperature, оС
Limit of the temperature measuring error dt, %
Power supply current Iс, mA
- with the illumination
Range of work temperatures, oC
Interface with PC
Transmission speed, bod
Operational time in autonomous CW mode, h
FEO-M
1
5x10-2...104
±3
5x10-2...104
±4
1 ... 6 103
0,01
- 9 ...+60
±0.5
2
-10 ...+50
RS232
9600
100 – 250
FEO-P
4
10-3...104
±1
10-3...104
±1
3.3 10-2... 6 105
0,01
- 9...+60
±0.5
30
300
-10...+50
RS232
9600
2. Unified photodetector for the photometers of optical energy irradiation and dose
FEO-M and FEO-P.
The unified selective photodetector (FD) is a constituent part of the photometers FEO-M
and FEO-P. FD transforms directly the irradiation into electrical signals. The change of the
photodetector changes the sensitivity of the photodetector. The photodetector presents the
photosensitive element with the selective optical filter.
FD uses an identifier which identifies the photodetector by the spectral range and
the limits of measurements. This takes into account the spectral characteristics and corrects
for the temperature dependence. It can utilize photodetectors of different types. The
identifier’s input limits measurements to 1000, 300, 100, 30, 10, 3, 1 or 0.3 W/m2. This
represents a coefficient of transformation provided by the amplifier with the following
spectral characteristics: (В type) 280-315 nm, (A-type) 315-400 нm, (АВ-type) 280-400 nm
and (V-type) 400-760 nm.
The photodetector (PD) has the following components:
- optical filters that can transmit optical radiation in the given range;
- photosensitive sensor that can transforms the light flux into the electrical
signal;
- circuit board where pre-amplifier and identifier are situated;
- connector for connection between photodetector and microcontroller for data
processing.
The glass optical filters and photosensors are united into the photoreceiver that has a
single case marked by the corresponding types (А, В, С, V, IR). If necessary, interference
filters can be used.
PD includes the selective photodiode, which transform the optical radiation into the
electrical current, the identifier of the detector type (D1 – DS18S20), and the scheme of
normalization of the output signals (D2 – ADS8551AR). We recognized the need to
regulate the transformation coefficient to adjust of the photodetector and photometer. The
identifier (microscheme) has a unique number (48 bits), a temperature sensor (accuracy
±0,50С), and a permanent memory (16 bit) for writing the values of the coefficient of
transformation and the type of spectral characteristics. The photodetector is recognized by
the photometer, and determines the type and the data necessary for pre-programming
corrections and measurements.
The normalization of the signal is executed as an amplifier-transformer I/U on a
precise operational amplifier. The latter has very low (20 рА) input current and bias (5 µV)
with a small temperature drift (0.03 µV/oC). This allows the user to select the coefficient of
transformation (ko= Uout /Iin) in a very wide range (roughly – by changing of the resistance
nominal R1 in the limits of 1.0...1000 kΩ, and precisely, in 1.5 steps – by the potentiometer
R2). The necessary coefficient of transformation ko is determined from the formula ko=Un
out / Emax⋅Si, where Unout is output voltage of the transformer. This is equal to maximal input
voltage of ADC (2.5 V as for FEO-M and for FEO-P); Emax is the limit of optical energy
irradiation, W/m2; Si is integral sensitivity of the phototransformer, µA/Wm-2. Thus, for
example, during the measurement of the energy irradiation in the field of UV-B from the
natural sun (Emax= 10 W/m2) by the photodetector with sensitivity Si = 1 µA/Wm-2, it is
necessary to set a transformation coefficient ko = 0.25 V/µA (Roc = 0.25 MΩ).
For the photodiode we used a Si special diode [33, 34]. Its reproducibility is shown
on Fig. 4. The spectral characteristics of PD in UV and visible ranges are shown on Figs.
5.6., respectively.
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
700
600
S, mA/W
500
400
300
200
100
0
400
600
800
1000
1200
λ, nm
Figure 4. Dispersion of spectral sensitivity curves for 7 experimental samples of the Si pgotodiodes [34].
There are photodiodes on the base with other materials [36-40]. The GaN and
diamond photodiodes may be used in UV meters to blend with the visible range, but they
are currently too expensive for use in our devices.
3. Development of the software for monitoring of UV irradiation
For UV irradiation monitoring, the EMMStation program has been developed. It allows
collecting, storing and processing the data got from photometer FEO-M/FEO-P.
60
1
50
S, mA/W
40
30
2
20
10
0
280
300
320
340
360
380
400
λ, nm
Figure 5. Spectral sensitivity of photosensor in UV ranges:1 – UVA, 2 – UVB.
250
200
S, mA/W
150
100
50
0
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
λ, nm
Figure 6. Spectral sensitivity of PD in visible range
EMMStation include the following components for:
- interaction with FEO-M/FEO-P (data collection and operation);
- database support, using BDE driver (Borland Database Engine) and operating
the database in Paradox format;
- generation and forming of alarm messages ;
- a mail agent for sending alarm messages through the SMTP mail server;
- an adjustment wizard for the mail agent and parameters of dispatch.
EMMStation allows:
- inspecting and collecting the data from FEO-M/FEO-P;
- storing observed data in the database with possibility of their graphics
visualization on each of measuring channels selected by the user and in a
selected range of a time;
- exporting observed data from the database to a text file and to import from a
text file to the database;
- carrying out a control of integrity and clearing (restoring) of the database;
- inspecting the generation and creation of alarm messages and sending these
through a SMTP mail server on the given users addresses.
Depending on specific tasks (object of visualization, range and errors of
measurements, spatial and temporal resolution, station site, and IOM/DM situation), we
can:
- select different modes of observation with necessary parameters of monitoring;
- offer appropriate methods of diagnostics with necessary characteristics of
sensitivity and selectivity;
- develop advanced algorithms of signal registration;
- processing and represent data;
- entered the optimum configuration for the monitoring equipment.
Further improvements will yield more informative methods of monitoring and
sensing of the optical irradiation and dose of biological active atmospheric radiation from
the sun and the sky.
4. Conclusions
The cost-effective portable FEO-M and professional FEO-P photometers provide precise
measurements of optical energy irradiation in different spectral ranges. The devices have a
high accuracy on a real time-scale, and control the irradiation dose. Alarm protection occurs
during the accumulation of doses in spectral ranges used for common monitoring.
These instruments have a unique combination of functions.
The portable photometer FEO-M offers:
- measuring of optical energy irradiance;
- automatic identification of the working photodetector;
- automatic calculation of optical irradiance and dose of irradiation;
- control of time of radiant dose exposure;
- measuring of ambient temperature in the point of measurements;
- digital indication of optical irradiance, dose, time of exposure and detector
temperature;
- interface transmission of data to PC for the next visualization and processing.
The professional photometer FEO-M provides:
- measuring of optical energy irradiance;
- automatic identification of the working photodetector;
- automatic calculation of optical irradiance and dose of irradiation;
- control of time of radiant dose exposure;
- measuring of ambient temperature in the point of measurements;
- setting of limits of radiant dose or time of exposure in each optical channel;
- digital indication of irradiance, dose, temperature, time of exposure, limits of
radiant dose and exposure time;
- sound signalization about exceeding of set limits;
- storage of information in nonvolatile memory;
- transmission of data to personal computer for the next visualization.
The operation of these devices and their software was tested in some centres of
ozone and UV irradiation. This includes the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Research
Institute (Kyiv city) and the sunniest zone in Ukraine (Crimea). The Crimea Geophysical
Observatory (Kurortnoe town) was involved in this activity.
Acknowledgments
This work was done in the frame of STCU project #1556.
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