Orion AQM Series™
Air Quality
Monitoring Stations

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Index
Section Page
Features 4
Components 7
• Sensors 8
• Monitoring 18
• System Configuration 21
• Mechanical Specs 23
Operating Environment 25
Maintenance and Calibration 26
Support 27

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The Orion AQM series professional air quality
monitoring systems provide for immediate, on-
site data for analysis, compliance, and decision-
making. Near reference measurement
performance offers significant value over
traditional AQ monitoring.
All models include the basic meteorological
parameters of temperature, humidity, and
barometric pressure.
New Value in Air Quality Monitoring
Measurement performance is based on
proprietary advanced algorithms that enable
parts per billion (ppb) measurements at an
affordable price by using electrochemical
sensors.
Using the met sensor data, the algorithms
compensate for the impact of ambient
conditions and aging on the sensor elements
and remove the need for costly gas sampling
and maintenance equipment.

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• Measures four most common urban air
pollutants: NO2 , NO , CO, and O3
• Intelligent algorithms compensate for
environmental conditions and for the aging
of the sensor element
• Compact design; easy to deploy in the field
• Low power consumption (typically 0.5 W)
• Weather MicroServer for data collection,
calculated averages, and Air Quality Index
(AQI) for all parameters
• Optional cellular communication
• CWS Weather Server for monitoring
through the Cloud
Features

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Applications
• Urban air quality networks
• Industrial emission monitoring
• Safety monitoring
• Roadside monitoring
• Building monitoring
• Air quality research

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The Orion AQM is specifically designed for
air quality monitoring networks in urban
areas, road networks, or around industrial
sites and transportation hubs.
Thanks to its small weight and compact
size, the Orion AQM is ideally suited for
deployment even in large air quality
networks.
Monitoring is accomplished via the
Weather MicroServer which receives the
measurement data via a serial connection.
Easy to Deploy Networks
The MicroServer calculates sensor
averages and air quality index (AQI) for
all the parameters.
The data is stored in data log files (CSV
format) on a one-minute interval with a
one-year storage capacity.
The MicroServer can upload the data to
the Internet including our CWS Cloud
Weather Server.

Components
• AQM Sensor/Transmitter
• Weather MicroServer™
• WeatherMaster™ Software
• Optional Orion 532/533 wind/rain
sensors
• Optional cellular communication
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Sensors
Orion AQM-Complete™
Particulates:
• PM2.5
• PM10
Common gaseous pollutants:
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• Nitrogen monoxide (NO)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Ozone (O3)
Meteorological parameters:
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Barometric Pressure
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Sensors
Orion AQM-PM™
Particulate Matter:
• PM2.5
• PM10
Meteorological parameters:
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Barometric Pressure
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Sensors
Orion AQM-GAS™
Common gaseous pollutants:
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• Nitrogen monoxide (NO)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Ozone (O3)
Meteorological parameters:
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Barometric Pressure
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Sensors
Gas Measurement Technology
The gas measuring technology is based on proprietary advanced algorithms and electrochemical technology.
The sampled gas causes a reduction or oxidation reaction in an electrochemical cell. Both reactions create a
weak electric current. The electric current is directly dependent on the volume of measured gas.
By measuring the electric current and using advanced calculation and compensation algorithms, the AQM-Gas
calculates the gas content. Most electrochemical cells are highly susceptible to ambient conditions
(temperature and humidity), but the AQM-Gas reverses the impact with a proprietary adjustment and
compensation system, which guarantees accurate ppb measurements.
The electrochemical cells require a stabilization period of at least 24 hours after switching the device on
before using the measurement results.
To ensure optimal measuring accuracy, a 48-hour stabilization period is recommended.
The devices take measurements during the stabilization period, but the measurements are marked as invalid.

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Sensors
Gas Measurement Performance Specs
Gas Range Detection Limit Field Accuracy
NO2 2000 ppb 5 ppb ±20 ppb
NO 2000 ppb 5 ppb ±60 ppb
CO 10000 ppb 10 ppb ±350 ppb
O3 2000 ppb 5 ppb ±30 ppb

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Sensors
Laser Particle Measurement
Technology
The technology of the laser particle counter in the
Orion AQM - PM is based on the scattering of laser
light caused by passing particles.
With the help of optics and photosensitive sensors,
the laser particle counter measures the angular
scattering intensity data and analyzes it with digital
signal processing (DSP).
The method allows measuring of particles of sizes 0.3
... 10 µm, and calculating the particle masses PM2.5
and PM10. The laser particle counter is a Class 1 laser
product.

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Sensors
Particle Measurement Performance Specs
Particle counter channels PM2.5 and PM10
PM2.5 Particle diameter range 0.6 – 2.5 μm (spherical equivalent)
PM10 Particle diameter range 0.6 - 10 μm (spherical equivalent)
Sampling time 1 min
Sampling interval 10 min
Sample flow rate 0.9 SLM
Measurement range PM2.5: 0 - 1000 µg/m3
PM10: 0 - 2500 µg/m3
Measurement resolution 0.1 μg/m3

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Sensors
Met Measurement Technology
Incorporating temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, algorithms compensate for the
impact of ambient conditions on the sensor elements.
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Humidity Accuracy 0 - 90 %RH: ±3 %RH
90 - 100 %RH: ±5 %RH
Humidity Resolution 0.1 %RH
Temperature accuracy (at +68°F/20°C) ±0.5 °F (0.3 °C)
Temperature resolution 0.1°C / 0.1 °F
Pressure accuracy ±15 hPa
Pressure resolution 1 hP

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Sensors
Industrial Enclosure
With an enclosure made of anodized
aluminum and stainless steel, and a
protective rating of IP65, the AQM sensors
are built to withstand industrial
environments.
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Sensors (Optional)
Orion 532/533 Wind Speed
and Direction/Rainfall
The Orion 532 measure wind speed and
direction are measured using an advanced
ultrasonic sensor. The accurate wind sensor has
no moving parts, which makes it maintenance
free. The measurement range for wind speed is
from 0 to 134 mph (0 to 60 m/s) and for wind
direction from 0 to 360°.
The Orion 533 combines wind speed and
direction and rainfall measurements. The rain
sensor utilizes an impact piezoelectrical sensor
with no moving parts.
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Monitoring
Weather MicroServerTM
A hardware component that provides datalogging,
Network/Internet communications and industrial
protocols for automation systems.
Features:
• Modbus RTU + Modbus TCP/IP
• FTP output (XML and CSV)
• XML web service Internet browser user interface
• Datalogging capability
• Optional monitoring with WeatherMaster™ Software
• Two general-purpose analog channels
• Additional sensors: Solar Radiation, Visibility, and CO2
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Monitoring
Cloud-based Weather Server
Real-time web monitoring included free with the
Weather MicroServer to access weather data from
any Internet-enabled device.
Features:
• For one or multiple systems
• Data is automatically uploaded every 5 seconds
• A security solution for customers who are
unable to upload data (via FTP) to their website
or implement port forwarding for the
MicroServer
• A no-hassle weather website for your
organization
• Customization available.
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Monitoring
A professional-grade weather software for robust
meteorological calculations and interoperability
with computer models.
Features:
• Real-time monitoring + calculated
parameters
• Data logging and reports
• Multi-station monitoring
• Alarm notification
• Email/text weather reports to multiple recipients
For Weather Parameters:
• Automatic CAMEO/ALOHA Interface
• Automatic interface to Weather Underground™
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WeatherMaster Software
™

System Configuration
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Orion AQM-Complete

Optional Cellular Communication
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Orion AQM-Complete

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Mechanical Specs
Dimensions: (H × Ø)
335 × 133 mm (13.19 × 5.24 in)
Weight (with mounting kit): 2.4kg (5.29 lb)
Material, base module: Anodized aluminum
Material, radiation shield: Polycarbonate (PC)
Color, radiation shield: White (RAL9003)
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Mechanical Drawing

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Operating
Environment
Operating temperature: −20 ... +40 °C (−4 ... +104 °F)
Operating humidity: 15 ... 100% RH, non-condensing
Operating pressure: 800 ... 1150 hPa
EMC compliance: EN/IEC 61326-1 EN 55032 Class B
IP rating: IP65
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Maintenance &
Calibration
Clean the device as needed. With large amounts of
fine dust, for example sand or smoke particles, it is
necessary to check the condition of the device more
often and take the necessary actions to keep the
device clean.
When the device health is lower than 30%, it is
recommended to send the unit in to have the
electrochemical gas sensors replaced.
Maintenance tasks can be performed by a qualified
technician, or the module can be returned to the
factory for service.
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Support
27
The User Manual is a comprehensive source of
information with detailed instructions.
Personal, technical support is free via phone
and/or email.
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Headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, CWS
manufactures the Orion AQM quality monitoring
systems and the Orion, Pulsar, Magellan, and
Capricorn lines of weather stations, distributing
them around the world. Key markets include
professionals in public safety, military, government
and industry.
In 1998 CWS was spun off from our sister company
Hinds Instruments has been in operation since
1971.
CWS is known for advanced technology and
personal customer service, offering flexibility and
quick response to customer needs.
About Columbia Weather Systems
28

Thank You
We make environmental monitoring easy
so you can do your job more effectively
with the right equipment for your
requirements and budget.
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