Real Time particle monitoring requires placing laser particle counters or a particle sensor at a designated location within the cleanroom. The laser particle counter sensor counts particles and monitors their events at the specified location in the cleanroom. The particles are monitored in particles per cubic foot or per cubic meter. There are no gaps in the particle counting data, making the Real Time system highly effective at critical locations to properly monitor sensitive processes.

Real Time particle monitoring offers a choice between using a remote particle counter or a stand alone laser particle counter with a built-in vacuum pump. The remote particle counter provides a process vacuum for sampling or a separate pump dedicated to particle counting may be used.

Sequential particle monitoring is also known as a Manifold monitoring system or as Pneumatically Multiplexed Particle Counting. In this system, a single handheld laser particle counter is used to monitor multiple location points. To accomplish this, a sequential manifold sampler must be added to connect the particle counter to the various sampling tubes. These individual tubes are then sampled in a sequential order.

The particle counter stops counting until the tube change is complete and allows any air from the previous sample to be purged. The number of monitoring points determines the frequency of each sample. In a typical setting, each station is sampled for 60 seconds and then purged for 10 seconds while the sampling arm moves to the next location.

Real Time Particle Monitoring Benefits:

* Very effective for monitoring low detection limits

* Excellent for equipment monitoring and preventative maintenance

* Provides continuous detection of all particle events

Sequential Particle Monitoring Benefits:

* Fewer particle counters required to cover a specific area

* Particle counters more easily serviced via central location

* Data collection between particle counters not necessary