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Felix Storch F-950 Operation Manual

Three gas analyzer
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Operations Manual
F-950
Three Gas Analyzer

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Summary of Contents for Felix Storch F-950

  • Page 1 Operations Manual F-950 Three Gas Analyzer...
  • Page 2 CID Bio Science, Inc. Felix Instruments – Applied Food Science 1554 NE 3 Camas, WA 98607 Declares that the CE-marked Product: Product Models (s): Model F-950 Complies With: 89/336/EEC Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive Compliance Standards: EN 55027...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Introduction ................. 1 Features ..................3 Specifications ................4 Unpacking the F-950 ..............5 Operating Instructions ..............6 Loading the Battery ..............6 Basic Operation ................ 8 Measurement Modes ............... 9 Interfering Gases ................11 PolarCept ................12 Measure ..................16 Continuous Mode ..............16...
  • Page 4 Installing the F-950 Driver ............. 38 Updating the Firmware ............40 F-950 Menu System Diagram ............. 45 Appendix I: F-950 Controller Software and Sensor Calibration . 46 Appendix II: Sampling from a Jar ..........56 F-950 Production Test Check Sheet ........... 58 FELIX INSTRUMENTS HARDWARE WARRANTY ......

  • Page 6: Introduction

    Simple to operate and weighing less than a kilogram, the F-950 uses an electrochemical cell to measure ethylene between 0- 200 ppm in air. It records date, time, relative humidity, temperature, and coming soon GPS location.
  • Page 7 O concentrations. Quality assurance for perishable cut produce demands a more comprehensive analysis. The F-950 makes it possible to respond to the change in ripening gases to ensure longer shelf-life and higher quality commodities. We hope you enjoy using your F-950 Three Gas Analyzer.

  • Page 8: Features

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Features  Portable, lightweight and easy to operate. Rapid response time, with data points saved every second.  Repeatable, precise measurements.  Three versatile modes of operation Measure in Continuous, Fixed Volume, or Trigger mode depending on your application.

  • Page 9: Specifications

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Specifications F-950 Specifications Air Sampling Rate 70 mL/min Measuring Rate Automated; 1 sec intervals Data Storage Removable 4 GB SD card Display Sunlight visible transflective LCD 0°C - 45°C (0-90% humidity non- Operating environment condensing)

  • Page 10: Unpacking The F-950

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Unpacking the F-950 The F-950 arrives with a hard-sided carrying case, two sets of batteries and a charger, a removable 4 GB SD card, and several accessory parts. The unit comes with an external conditioning...

  • Page 11: Operating Instructions

    If the batteries of the F-950 discharge during storage, replace with charged batteries and allow the instrument to stabilize 48 hours before use.
  • Page 12 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 To remove the batteries, twist the battery compartment cap, located on the bottom of the case. The cap can be twisted with fingers or a screw-driver to tighten or loosen. Take care when removing batteries, as the cap is spring loaded. Both batteries should be inserted into the unit positive (+) side first (towards intake or top).

  • Page 13: Basic Operation

    The main menu displays the following options: Measure, Setup, and File. If the green power button is pressed, the display will prompt for confirmation before shutting off the F-950. To scroll between menu items in the list, use the Up and Down arrows.

  • Page 14: Measurement Modes

    Trigger measurement mode begins with the valve closed and the pump off. To start taking a measurement, press the square start button on the key-strip of the F-950 to initiate a new measurement. The pump will run and air will enter the F-950...
  • Page 15 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 until a stable reading has been reached for all sensors, or until the user stops the measurement by pressing the start button again. The final values will be displayed under the word “last” in the graph and saved to the SD card. The pump will then turn off until the user initiates a new measurement.

  • Page 16: Interfering Gases

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Interfering Gases No analytical method is completely specific. Gases present in the environment, other than the “target” gas of a measurement, may affect instrument response. Interferences are not necessarily linear, and may also exhibit time dependent characteristics.

  • Page 17: Polarcept

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Felix Instruments has tested a method to absorb some of the competing gases and provide better ethylene measurements. This method, PolarCept, uses distilled water in an external chamber and has been shown to filter out some polar hydrocarbons and alcohols to produce less interference.
  • Page 18 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 The PolarCept filter consists of a plastic molded part, hydrophobic filter and O-ring. It is also used with the “fixed volume tubing” and sample probe needle. A small plastic syringe is used to fill and empty PolarCept. Once the hydrophobic filter and O-ring are in place, it should be very difficult to remove it, creating a leak-proof seal.
  • Page 19 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 To properly use PolarCept, keep the sample needle pointed downwards while measuring, as seen in the example below on the left. The water in the filter should “bubble” as the gas sample is pulled through it, causing some of the interfering gases to be trapped.
  • Page 20 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 See the following graph of measured ethylene concentration by the F-950 with and without using PolarCept, measuring the same headspace of bananas. After about 20 minutes, the water becomes saturated, and the signal beings to rise with PolarCept.

  • Page 21: Measure

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Measure From the main menu, press the right arrow when the word Measure is highlighted, to enter the measurement display screen. All measurement variables are saved to the SD card every 1 second in continuous mode. When the SD card is not present, the data will not be saved.

  • Page 22: Controls

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 The x-axis of the graph is time. The y-axis of the graph displays the range of the concentration (in ppm for ethylene and % for and O ), and the dynamic range is labeled at the top. The y- axis scale is set by the highest value shown in the buffer.

  • Page 23: Trigger Mode

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 through the tubes and valves to the input and output are closed. From the control screen, the Pump can be turned On or Off. When the pump is on, the unit will flow at 67 mL per minute, which is the default flow rate.
  • Page 24 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Once adequate sample has been collected, press the square button to stop the measurement and view the results. The maximum sample volume in this mode is 41 mL. The results will be saved to the SDcard.

  • Page 25: Fixed Volume Mode

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Fixed Volume Mode To begin, the unit should be disconnected from the sample of interest while the sensors purge, stabilize and equilibrate to the ambient environment. The instrument will purge for 5 seconds to remove the previous sample from the internal tubing of the instrument.
  • Page 26 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Assemble the probe by connecting the “Fixed Volume Needle Probe” black tubing to the intake of the F-950. Next, twist on a hydrophobic filter to the end of the tubing. The filter will prevent any moisture or debris from being sucked into the instrument.
  • Page 27 Maximum sample volume in fixed volume mode is 18.5 mL. Minimum sample volume is 10 mL for 5-10% accuracy. When the loop is closed the F-950 system should be disconnected from the sample. The unit will read “Processing… after the fixed volume is drawn inside the unit. Once processing...
  • Page 28 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 The final result is then displayed on a new screen. The values listed are the concentrations of C , CO , and O present in the sample. To the right of the concentrations, are the relative humidity, temperature, volume of sample, and duration to collect and analyze sample.

  • Page 29: Auto-Escape Feature

    An upper limit auto-escape feature acts as a safety feature of the unit. This safety feature is always on. If the sensor detects over 200 ppm ethylene, the F-950 will auto-escape from monitor mode to prevent poisoning the electrode in the ethylene sensor.

  • Page 30: Setup

    Use the right arrow to enter the Setup Menu from the Main Menu screen. The F-950 has a number of utility functions that allow the user to manage the instrument’s capabilities. Five setup functions are available: Mode, Calibration, Set Zero, Date & Time and RH Conversion, GPS and Factory Setup.

  • Page 31: Setup Calibration

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 USB mode should be set to Mass Storage. Virtual COM is the other mode, and should only be used to update the firmware if instructed by a Felix Instruments technician. Setup Calibration Setup Calibration lists the C...

  • Page 32: Setup Set Zero

    ) to the inlet and use the “male to male adapter” to connect to the outlet of the F-950. Then use the right arrow to enter Set Zero. Always allow the instrument adequate time to warm up (3 min) with the KMnO attached before setting the zero.
  • Page 33 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Always store the KMnO air tight by connecting the ends of the tubing. Replace the cotton ball filters at either end of the external conditioning tube each time the KMnO is replaced (color indicator turns from purple to brown when it expires).

  • Page 34: Setup Date And Time

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Setup Date and Time Use the Right and Left arrows to move between Month/Day/Year and Hour/Minute/Second and use the Up and Down arrows to change the values. To exit, use the left arrow to back out of the screen and return to the Setup menu.

  • Page 35: Setup Rh Conversion

    The Setup RH Conversion menu is used to correct for the temperature sensor being inside F-950 housing. This causes the temperature sensor to reflect the temperature of the F-950 and not the ambient temperature. The temperature is usually several degrees above ambient. The Relative Humidity is calculated based on temperature.

  • Page 36: Setup Gps

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Setup GPS The GPS sensor inside of the F-950 can be used to record latitude and longitude to within 10 meters. The instrument should be operated outside, without overhead obstruction for best GPS performance. It may be difficult to acquire a fix on GPS satellites indoors.

  • Page 37: File

    In the main file menu, four options are available: Select, New, Delete and Review. All files created by the F-950 are .csv (comma separated value) files. To view data on a computer, simply insert the SDcard into the computer’s SDcard reader.

  • Page 38: File Select

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 File Select File Select displays a list of .csv files that exist on the F-950 SD card. Use the Up and Down arrows to move between files, and the right arrow to select a file to which new data will be saved.

  • Page 39: File New

    File Delete File Delete displays a list of files that exist on the F-950 SDcard. Use the Up and Down arrows to scroll between files and use the right arrow to display the option to delete the selected file. A message will appear that reads “Delete File?”...

  • Page 40: File Review

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 File Review File Review displays a list of files that are on the SD card and allows you to view the data in the files. Use the Up and Down arrows to scroll between files and the right arrow to enter the selected file.

  • Page 41: Data Files On The Computer

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Data Files on the Computer Open the data files saved on the SDcard on the computer using Microsoft Excel or Notepad. Data files are saved as .csv (commas separated value). The following figure is an example data spreadsheet.
  • Page 42 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Example spreadsheet data of an F-950 measurement. 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 sales@felixinstruments.com www.felixinstruments.com...

  • Page 43: Firmware Update

    1. F-950_Package_Setup32.exe (or F- 950_Package_Setup64.exe, under Windows 64 bit) 2. Firmware code file: FW_950_v.X.X.X.X.dfu 3. Mini-USB to USB cable to connect to F-950 to PC. Installing the F-950 Driver 1. Launch F-950_Package_Setup.exe. 2. Set up device by powering on the F-950 and connecting it to computer via USB port.
  • Page 44 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 4. Click Next, then enter your information into the window below. Click Next in the next several steps. 5. If Windows prompts the following message, select “Install this driver software anyway”: 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 sales@felixinstruments.com...

  • Page 45: Updating The Firmware

    2. Open the F-950 Firmware Upgrade software on your pc. 3. With the unit powered off, connect the F-950 to the computer using the mini-USB to USB cable. 4. Hold the Down Arrow button down on the F-950, then press the Power button, then release both buttons.
  • Page 46 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 computer for the first time, it may take a minute for the device to show up in the drop down menu. 6. At the bottom of the transfer software screen, click “Choose…”. 7. A dialogue box labeled open will appear. Navigate to the desktop of your computer and select the new .dfu...
  • Page 47 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 8. Click “Upgrade”. A dialogue box will appear- click “Yes” to proceed. 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 sales@felixinstruments.com www.felixinstruments.com...
  • Page 48 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 9. The device is now being updated with the newest firmware. The green bar at the bottom of the screen tracks the progress of the upgrade. When the green bar reads “Upgrade successful” the process is complete.
  • Page 49 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 11. Power on the F-950. In the lower right hand corner of the device screen, the new version of firmware will appear. 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 sales@felixinstruments.com www.felixinstruments.com...

  • Page 50: F-950 Menu System Diagram

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 F-950 Menu System Diagram Below is a map of the F-950 ethylene analyzer menu system. Press the right arrow to enter a menu and the left arrow to exit. 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 sales@felixinstruments.com...

  • Page 51: Appendix I: F-950 Controller Software And Sensor Calibration

    F-950/F-900 devices from standard USB connection. Instructions: 1. Open the F-950 Controller software 2. Connect the F-950 to the computer using the mini-USB to USB cable. 3. In F-950 device Setup>Mode>USB menu, select Controller mode.
  • Page 52 5. Monitoring information from your device should display in monitor tab. 6. For more information on using the controller software to calibrate the F-950, navigate to the FAQ page on the F-950 support webpage: https://felixinstruments.com/support/F-950/ and select How do I calibrate the instrument?
  • Page 53 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Ethylene (C ) Sensor Set Span *6 months 1. Connect the high resolution flowmeter, Ethylene calibration gas, and 950 intake ports together using a T- junction of tubing. If a sample bag of ethylene is being used, make a connection from the 950 intake port to the bag using the huber needle.
  • Page 54 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 used, make a connection from the 950 intake port to the bag using the huber needle. 2. On the 950, begin measure mode. 3. Scroll through the graphs on the 950 (use the up and down arrow keys) so that it is displaying the C concentration graph.
  • Page 55 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 2. On the 950, begin continuous measure mode. 3. Set the flowrate on the N gas tank so that the flow meter reads roughly 90 mL/min. If the 950 gives a “Flow Blocked” error, then increase the flow on the meter by 10 mL/min and begin measure mode on the 950 again.
  • Page 56 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 If the error persists, contact tech support. If a sample bag is being used, skip this step. 5. Let the 950 read the gas for three minutes. 6. In the controller software, in the CO2 field, set the concentration to the value of the calibration gas being used.
  • Page 57 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 6. The 950 should read the same value as the verification gas within 5%. If it does not, repeat the “Carbon Dioxide Sensor Calibration” section above. Oxygen (O ) Sensor Calibration Setting the Zeroes (Offset) with Nitrogen Gas (N ) *6 months 1.
  • Page 58 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 tubing. If a sample bag of O is being used, make a connection from the 950 intake port to the bag using the huber needle. 2. On the 950 begin measure mode. 3. Scroll through the graphs on the 950 (use the up and down arrow keys) so that it is displaying the O concentration graph.
  • Page 59 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 3. Scroll through the graphs on the 950 (use the up and down arrow keys) so that it is displaying the O concentration graph. 4. Set the flowrate on the O gas tank so that the flow meter reads roughly 90 mL/min.
  • Page 60 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 5% ± .5 PPM of Results standard gas □Yes □No Verification Gas For information on sourcing known gases required for calibration, please refer to the following website to inquire about your region: https://www.airliquide.com/group/where-we-operate 1554 NE 3...

  • Page 61: Appendix Ii: Sampling From A Jar

    The following photos utilize a glass jar customized with the addition of a Vacutainer® septum. The F-950 can draw and analyze a headspace gas sample from a rigid jar by incorporating an input probe and output flow into the septum to compensate for removed airspace, thus preventing a vacuum from occurring.
  • Page 62 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 *If you receive a Clogged probe? error, check that your needle is not bent and that the needle has penetrated through the septum and into the sampling space. For larger sampling jars, consider incorporating an internal fan to improve circulation within the sample space.

  • Page 63: F-950 Production Test Check Sheet

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 F-950 Production Test Check Sheet SERIAL NUMBER: Firmware Version: C2H4 CALIBRATION PARAMETERS C2H4 Offset C2H4 Gain Internal Volume Fixed Volume Flow Rate NOTES: 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 sales@felixinstruments.com...
  • Page 64 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 sales@felixinstruments.com www.felixinstruments.com...

  • Page 65: Felix Instruments Hardware Warranty

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 FELIX INSTRUMENTS HARDWARE WARRANTY Important: Please Read! Seller’s Warranty and Liability: Seller warrants new equipment of its own manufacturing against defective workmanship and materials for a period of one year, of a single shift operation,...
  • Page 66 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 material and equipment, or out of the use of any method or process for which the same may be employed. The purchaser is to pack, ship, or deliver the instrument to Felix Instruments, in Camas, Washington, USA, within 30 days after Felix Instruments has received written notice of the defect at the customer’s...
  • Page 67 F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 sales@felixinstruments.com www.felixinstruments.com...

  • Page 68: Warranty Registration Card

    F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16 Warranty Registration Card 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 Fax: (360) 833-1914 e-mail: sales@felixinstruments.com Web: www.felixinstruments.com PRODUCT REGISTRATION CARD Please complete and return this form to Felix Instruments within 30 days to validate your Warranty on Parts & Labor.

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