PAN and Trace Hydrohalocarbon ExpeRiment

Status

Status
Operational
Operated By
PI

PANTHER uses Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detection and (GC-ECD) and Gas Chromatography with Mass Selective Detection (GC-MSD) to measure numerous trace gases, including methyl halides, HCFCs, peroxyacetyl nitrate, nitrous oxide, SF6, CFC-12, CFC-11, Halon-1211, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride.

3 ECDs with packed columns (OV-101, Porapak-Q, molecular sieve).

1 ECD with a TE (thermal electric) cooled RTX-200 capillary column.

2-channel MSD (mass selective detector). The MSD analyzes two independent samples air concentrated onto TE cooled Haysep traps, which are then heated to desorb the analytes and separate using through two temperature programmed RTX-624 capillary columns.

With the exception of PAN, all channels of chromatography are normalized to a stable in-flight calibration gas references to NOAA scales. The PAN data are normalized to an in-flight PAN source of ≈ 100 ppt with ±5 % reproducibility. This source is generated by efficient photolytic conversion of NO in the presence of acetone. Detector non-linearity is taken out by lab calibrations for all molecules.

Instrument Type
Gas chromatography
Measurements
(CH3)2CO,
PAN,
H2,
CH4,
CO,
N2O,
SF6,
CFCl3,
CF2Cl2,
Halon-1211
Aircraft
DC-8 - AFRC,
WB-57 - JSC
Recent Missions
POSIDON
(WB-57 - JSC)
;
ATom
(DC-8 - AFRC)
;
TC4
(WB-57 - JSC)
;
CR-AVE
(WB-57 - JSC)
;
AVE Houston 2
(WB-57 - JSC)
;
SOLVE II
(DC-8 - AFRC)
Point(s) of Contact
James W. Elkins
(POC; Co-I),
Eric Hintsa
(Co-I),
Fred Moore
(Co-I),
Brad Hall
(Co-I)
Range of Measurement
In situ
Weight
90.70 kg
Size
71.00 cm (L) x 61.00 cm (W) x 38.00 cm (H)
Power:
1000.00 W
(maximum
2000.00 W
)
Location
Transition pallet on WB-57
Notes
Sampling frequency: 60-120 seconds
Accuracy: 2% or better, except 10% for PAN
Precision: 1% or better, except PAN at 5% or better.
Publications

 

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