Purpose: Cyclones are used to keep pollen, soil particles, fog droplets and other contaminants out of the particulate matter sampling systems. Cyclones should be cleaned once a month, as described below.
Required Equipment: Disposable gloves
Squeeze bottle filled with distilled water
Kimwipes
12" piece of Teflon tubing
Site log
Reference: SOPMAN
1. Put on a pair of disposable gloves. Remove the pipe stem from the channel 1 cyclone and place on the roof of the PCM.
2. Remove the cyclone from the gooseneck and unscrew the cup on the bottom of the cyclone. Squirt a small amount of water into the cup and wipe clean with a kimwipe. Place the cup on the roof of the PCM.
3. Tear a kimwipe in half and fold to form a tampon about 3-4" long. Moisten the kimwipe and push through the pipe stem several times with the Teflon tubing. Note the presence of insects, spider webs or other material on the kimwipe in the site log.
4. Sight through the body of the cyclone and note any obstructions (e.g., insects, spider webs, etc.) in the site log. Dampen a kimwipe and clean the accessible portions of the cyclone. This can best be done by twisting the kimwipe to a sharp point, inserting into the top of the cyclone as far as it will go, and rotating the cyclone back and forth. Rinse the inside of the cyclone thoroughly with distilled water. Remove excess water from the cyclone with 3 or 4 sharp downward shakes.
5. Dampen a clean kimwipe and gently wipe the gaskets of the pipe stem connector and the cyclone/gooseneck connector.
6. Thread the cup into the base of the cyclone. Note that this connection should be hand tight. The cup should seat up against the cyclone when properly connected.
7. Thread the cyclone into the gooseneck connector. Warning: Do not over tighten this connection or it will leak. Tighten until you begin to feel resistance then continue to tighten until the pipe stem connection is pointing away from the gooseneck.
8. Reconnect the pipe stem to the cyclone. Warning: Do not over tighten this connection or it will leak. The pipe stem must be pointing downward to prevent intrusion of rain.
9. Return to step # 1 and repeat the procedure for channels 3 and all other cyclones.