Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Abstract—An automated gas transfer and data logging prototype chromatography (GC). The process can be very tedious and
developed as an alternative for gas pooling in static chamber- labor intensive since collection, sampling, and data logging
based greenhouse gas measurements is presented. A gas transfer
requires manual use of sampling equipment from one chamber
component with a fan and damper mechanism and a sensor
component with a combination of three MQ-4 semiconductor to another [10]. Moreover, GC units are bulky and fairly
sensors were used for collecting and measuring methane gas expensive, and needs frequent calibration to operate [11].
(CH4) from a static chamber in one-hour intervals. The prototype
provides a reliable and easily accessible representation of An alternative method of gas transfer can be through the
greenhouse gas flux data for chamber and sensor based use of gas-moving mechanical devices such as axial fans,
greenhouse gas measurements in smallholder systems. which moves small volumes of gas at low pressures and in
moderately high operating efficiencies [12]. For gas sensing,
Keywords—Arduino; greenhouse gases; semiconductor sensor; semiconductor sensors are small, low-cost, low-power
static chamber; data logging alternatives that have no moving parts and have high
sensitivity to gases [11,13-14].
I. INTRODUCTION In this paper therefore the development of an automated
The development of methods in quantifying the exchange static chamber and semiconductor sensor based GHG
of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the landscape to the measurement system is discussed. To address the problem of
atmosphere has been very popular in the last two decades due syringe and vial sampling, GC analysis, and manual data
to the growing concern in mitigating the effect of GHGs from recording, a fan-damper mechanism was used as the mode of
the agriculture [1] and waste sector [2]. The common types of GHG gas transfer from the static chamber directly to
GHGs in concern are carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH4), semiconductor sensors for analysis, and an accompanying SD
and nitrous oxide (N2O) which are primarily emitted from card module controlled by an Arduino program was used as
soils due to microbial processes and respiration of soil fauna, the mode of data logging. As a specific example for the
fungi, and roots [3,4]. Soils act as sources and sinks of GHGs
development of the static chamber-based GHG measurement,
emissions which are largely influenced by the soil’s moisture,
temperature, pH level, and nutrient content [5,6]. the measurement system of methane gas (CH4) from
residential compost is used.
The most commonly used standard method for measuring
GHG emissions from soils is the chamber-based II. METHODOLOGY
measurements approaches [7], which can be applied at low
A. System Setup
costs at remote sites and with small field requirements [8].
Chamber-based measurements allow measurements of GHG 1) Hardware Setup
fluxes from soil areas less than 1 m 2 and are then suited for The system components were packaged in protective, clear
small-scale areas such as smallholder farming systems [9]. plastic containers suitable for outdoor deployment, as shown
There are two types of chambers used for GHG measurement: in Fig. 1. The system components are outlined as follows:
dynamic and static chambers. For dynamic chambers, air is
The gas transfer, sensing, and data logging operations were
either circulated over the headspace or passed directly to a gas
controlled by an Arduino Uno microcontroller board (1). The
analyzer or a collector, while in static chambers there is no air
gas transfer (2), gas sensing (3), soil monitoring (4), and data
circulation and gas samples are taken over a period of time
logging (5) components, and the fan and damper relay module
[7]. The latter is the most widely used type of chamber, and
(6) were all connected to the Arduino to achieve an automated
numerous efforts have been made for the standardization of its
sampling and measuring system. The Arduino Uno (1), soil
methods. Static chambers are usually mounted on a frame that
monitoring (4), and data logging components (5) were
serves as an anchor to the landscape. Once the chamber is
assembled together in a plastic container (a), while the gas
closed gas-tight to the anchor, GHG flux concentrations
sensing component (3) was contained separately in a container
within the headspace changes over time. For static chambers,
with exhaust holes for the gas sample (b).
spatial variability of GHG fluxes due to the changes of the
soil’s environmental conditions has been a common problem
[8]. A proper sampling design such as gas pooling
compensates spatial variability. In gas pooling a composite air
sample is generated out of the headspace of the chambers and
the gas sample is transferred to a vials using syringes [9]. The
samples in the vials are then analyzed using gas
GHG concentration, time of sampling, and the soil’s
temperature and moisture content.
2) Software Setup
The built-in open-source Arduino Integrated Development
Environment (IDE) software was used to program the
functions of the system. The Arduino IDE uses a Processing
programming language based on Java with a simplified syntax
and graphics user interface. For program testing and
troubleshooting, the Arduino Uno was attached to a PC which
served as the serial monitor for the functions of the system
components.
An automated and independent function was provided by
the Arduino IDE in transferring the accumulated gas from the
static chamber to the gas sensor and in recording the measured
GHG concentration from the gas sensor to the micro SD card.