Background

The ability to predict the future behaviour of the atmosphere over all time scales (hours to decades) brings great benefits to society and the economy. Examples include short-term public warnings of hazardous air quality and the long-term evaluation of climate change and policy effectiveness. Atmospheric predictions use complex models that are underpinned by observations and a sound understanding of the underlying processes and interactions between atmospheric components and their environment. Atmospheric simulation chambers are the most advanced technology for studying and quantifying atmospheric processes and are used to provide many of the parameters incorporated in air quality and climate models. Without chamber-derived parameters to constrain predictive models, any forecasts of the atmosphere are highly unreliable, both in the short- and long-term.

Since, in the ambient air, it is difficult to separate the chemistry from meteorology and other processes, closed technologies have been developed since the late 1960s. While not totally artefact-free, these technologies referred to as environmental simulation chambers (or “smog chambers”) provide a controlled environment to study the formation and the evolution of atmospheric pollutants, by isolating specific compounds of interest and controlling the oxidizing environment.

 “Development and validation of a temperature regulated environmental chamber for studying atmospheric oxidation processes and mechanisms (DEV-TREC)” project has been built in the framework of the above presented aspects. Since 2014, at the ”Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Romania, an environmental simulation chamber (ESC-Q-UAIC) has been developed through the CERNESIM project funded by POSCCE-O 2.2.1 (CERNESIM, SMIS-CSNR 13984-901, No. 257/28.09.2010). Upon our knowledge these technology is unique in Romania and in Eastern Europe.

(DEV-TREC) project consolidates, improves, and further develops the infrastructure build within the Sectorial Operational Programme “Increase of Economic Competitiveness”, Priority Axis 2, RD&I: Operation 2.2.1 and National Programme “Capacities”, module I: Large Investment Projects.

The indoor ESC-Q-UAIC chamber is a closed cylindrical vessel of internal dimensions of 0.48 m diameter and 4.2 m length. The reactor volume is of 760 L and the ratio of interior surface to volume is about 8.8 m-1. This rigid reactor is made of three quartz tubes connected by flanges and is vacuum compatible. It can be operated over a range of pressure from 10-3 to 1200 mbar. The chamber body is mounted on a steel framework with help of six adjustable anti-vibrating stands in order to limit the vibration effects coming from the ground level and the pumping system. The chamber is connected to the ground to prevent any electrical charge build-up. It is closed at both ends by stainless steel flanges with appropriate insertions for reactants and bath gases inlet systems, pressure and temperature measurement units. Sampling lines made either of PTFE or stainless steel are appropriately disposed for on-line/off-line measurements of various chemical parameters (gaseous or aerosol phase products). A schematic view of the existing ESC-Q-UAIC facility chamber is presented in Figure 1.