Felix Storch F-900 Instruction Manual
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Felix Storch F-900 Instruction Manual

Portable ethylene analyzer
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DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Manufacturer:
Declares that the CE-marked Product:
Product Model(s):
FCC Compliance Statement :
Complies With:
Compliance Standards:
December 18, 2013
CID Bio-Science, Inc.
rd
1554 NE 3
Ave
Camas, WA 98607
Model F-900
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
89/336/EEC Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive
73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive
EN 55027
Technology Equipment
EN 50082-1
EN 60950
Technology Equipment Including Electrical Business Equipment
Leonard Felix
President
RF Emissions Information
EMC Immunity Standard
Safety of Information

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  • Page 1 Camas, WA 98607 Declares that the CE-marked Product: Product Model(s): Model F-900 FCC Compliance Statement : This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Sensor Stability ............................. 14 Graph Mode ............................14 Monitor Mode ............................15 Measurement Settings ......................... 17 Notes About Measurements with the F-900 ..................17 Electrochemical Sensor Response ....................17 Auto-Escape Feature ........................18 Flow Block Error ..........................18 No SD card Present ......................... 18 F-900RK: Using the Research Kit Fruit Chamber ................
  • Page 4 Manually Set Zero: Standard Operating Procedure ................ 33 Manually Set Zero: PolarCept Enabled .................... 34 Automatically Set Zero: Offset Correction ..................34 F-900 Menu System Diagram ....................... 36 Setup Menu ............................... 37 Setup Measure ............................. 37 Setup Autosave ............................ 37 Setup Sensor ............................
  • Page 5 Technical Support ............................ 70 Frequently Asked Questions ......................71 Supporting Sciences References ...................... 75 APPENDIX I: Procedure for F-900 Validation Using Fruit ..............77 Method 1: Sampling with No Filtration/Trapping ................77 Method 2: Sampling with Filtration/Trapping ..................77 Method 3: Long-Term Monitoring with Filtration ................78 APPENDIX II: Guidelines for Measuring Sample Bags ..............

  • Page 6: Introduction

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Introduction Congratulations on the purchase of your new F-900 Portable Ethylene Gas Analyzer. The F-900 provides accurate real-time measurement of ethylene gas concentrations in a compact instrument suitable for field and laboratory use. At the core of the instrument is an electrochemical sensor that offers extraordinary sensitivity to ethylene, at levels as low as 0.025...

  • Page 7: Features

     GC Emulation Mode for small sample volumes ranging 0.8 – 20 ppm C (optional) Figure 2: The removable SD card on the F-900 makes data transfer quick and simple. 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835...

  • Page 8: F-900 Specifications

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Specifications F-900 Specifications Display Sunlight visible transflective graphic LCD 0°C - 45°C (0-90% humidity non- Operating environment condensing) 5-8 hours - Rechargeable Li-Ion (5000 Battery Capacity mAh) Dimensions 183.5mm x 111 mm x 120 mm Weight 2.96 kg...
  • Page 9 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Optional Sensors Low-Power Non-Dispersive Infrared Gas PPM Sensor Analyzer Chopping Frequency Source Life 5000 Hours 1 – 2000 ppm (Standard) Nominal Range Resolution 0.1 ppm Repeatability ±0.1 ppm (short term) Accuracy Sample Cell 100 mm x 10.2 mm (3.94" x 0.4" diameter) Warm-up time <3 minutes...

  • Page 10: Warnings

     Keep the analyzer in a clean and ventilated room at ambient temperature.  Do not allow fluid to aspirate in the analyzer, which can destroy the sensors.  Do not use the F-900 in a high RF (radio frequency) environment. High RF will disrupt the F-900.

  • Page 11: Theory Of Operation

    (C) counter electrode (E) electrolyte. Image credit: doi:10.1093/aob/mcs259. The F-900 flow rate is regulated by a pump and a flow meter. Additional optional sensors are enabled/disabled in the Setup Menu (see page 40), as well as “conditioning chambers” on the back of the instrument (see page 45).

  • Page 12: Interfering Gases

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Figure 4: Flow path diagram of the F-900 ethylene analyzer. Dashed line indicates optional flow path capabilities. 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 13: Polarcept: Measure

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 the polar molecules are held in the trap, while ethylene passes through the water trap to the sensor, where oxidation occurs. CO is released as the oxidation product from the sensor. The water being used can become saturated after several minutes, so it must be cleaned of the trapped interfering gas molecules.

  • Page 14: Unpacking The F-900

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Unpacking the F-900 The F-900 base unit arrives with the F-900 and several accessory parts to use with the instrument. Included are the heavy duty USB cable, charger, tubing accessory kit, potassium permanganate (KMnO ) and an F-900 Instruction Manual. Several different styles of connector pieces and various lengths of tubing that do not outgas (ex: Viton or Teflon) are provided as part of the tubing accessory kit.

  • Page 15: F-900 Research Kit Accessories

    The F-900RK includes all the parts and accessories that arrive with the F-900, as well as an external conditioning tube, sample bag, injection port assembly, glass syringe, needle, and a jar of silica gel which can be used to dehumidify the gas.

  • Page 16: Operating Instructions

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Operating Instructions To turn the instrument on, press the green power button. The top of the display reads F-900 and the current firmware version the unit is running. For information on the latest firmware version, please visit the F-900 software webpage (http://felixinstruments.com/support/f-900-support).

  • Page 17: Charging The Internal Battery

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Charging the Internal Battery The F-900 arrives with a wall charger that can be used to recharge the F-900 battery, as well as for continually powering the unit during long-term monitoring. To charge the F-900:  Connect the mini-USB cable to the front panel of the F-900 ...

  • Page 18: F-900 Co 2 Ppm Sensor And Battery Power

    F-900 CO PPM Sensor and Battery Power The CO PPM sensor will draw power when turned on, even if the F-900 is not actively measuring. If trying to conserve battery life, the sensor should be turned off when not being used.

  • Page 19: Measure Menu: Taking A Measurement

    Sensor Stability The F-900 will begin to warm-up. The F-900 will display the “Sensor Stability” screen after pressing the RIGHT arrow to get into the Measure Menu. The display will show the file that is open and the flow of gas being pumped through the instrument. Below this will be whether the initialization is automatic or manual.

  • Page 20: Monitor Mode

    Every time a data point is added, the time scale is incremented. For time under 10 minutes, the graph is updating almost every second. The bottom of the display shows the uptime of the F-900 and current battery level. Monitor Mode The large bold value on the top line is the digitally filtered value of the raw ethylene measurements.
  • Page 21  Sensitivity to C : 0.1 µL/L or 100 nL/L Therefore, the F-900 optimally detects around 1200 nL/hr. The unit is nanoliters of ethylene per gram fresh weight per hour. 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835...

  • Page 22: Measurement Settings

    Chamber Out is primarily used with potassium permanganate (KMnO ) for cleaning water and setting the instrument’s offset. Changes cannot be made to the settings menu if the F-900 is “correcting offset”. If the measurement is setup for PolarCept (Setup > Chamber > Chamber In = Special) then Chamber In cannot be turned on/off from the Measure >...

  • Page 23: Auto-Escape Feature

    F-900. There is a white hydrophobic filter directly down the flow path Chamber In to be checked for water, as well as a hydrophobic filter near the IN port on the front of the F-900. If water is found inside the tubing or filters, Stop the measurement and allow the instrument to dry out.
  • Page 24  Attach the chamber to the F-900 by screwing on the wand to the top of the chamber.  Next, connect one of the tubes from the wand to the intake port on the front of the F-900.  Connect the black power chamber cable to the left of the display to power the fans in the fruit chamber.
  • Page 25 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017  Observe and record the rate of change of ethylene over time with the F-900 Monitor Mode. 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 www.felixinstruments.com...

  • Page 26: Gc Emulation Mode

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 GC Emulation Mode To use the F-900 to analyze a small sample in a syringe, the GC Emulation Mode should be used. With the simple addition of our inline injection port, small volumes of analyte can be accurately measured.

  • Page 27: Gc Emulation Mode Operation Procedure

     In general, higher injection volume will also increase signal detection. Recommended minimum injection volume is 5 ml.  The F-900 requires about 5-10 minutes of warm-up time when using GC Emulation Mode. When using GC Emulation Mode, the protocol is to perform 1 injection per sample, which takes approximately 5 minutes: 1.
  • Page 28 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Figure 14: Injection port setup. 3. Wait for the instrument to stabilize. Stabilizing environment Enter: Skip C2H4 x.xxxppm Humidity Temperature Flow Uptime 00:11 Bat 98% 4. Set parameter then press Enter. Set parameter then press Enter Sample volume(ml) 5.
  • Page 29 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Figure 15: Injection of gas sample. 6. Wait while the sample is processing (~140 seconds). Results Enter: Repeat, Stop: Exit Injection Volume C2H4 … 7. View the results, Enter to repeat for another sample or Stop to exit.

  • Page 30: F-900 Calibration

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 F-900 Calibration The F-900 can be calibrated without any additional software. To access the calibration options, navigate to Setup > Calibration. The C ppb and ppm sensor, CO ppm and PCT sensor, and sensor are all accessible for on-device set zero and span calibrations. Refer to the specifications on pages 3-4 for the calibration schedule on each sensor.
  • Page 31 F-900. When using an On Demand-Flow Regulator, the gas is drawn out of the regulator/cylinder by the pump of the F-900. When the regulator is fully twisted onto the cylinder, the PSI on the gauge will move. Rotate the regulator until it is tightly onto the cylinder of gas (clockwise).

  • Page 32: Standard Operating Procedure

    Figure 18: T-valve in tubing. Standard Operating Procedure A similar menu flow is set up for each sensor on the F-900. Deviations from these standard operations will be further addressed under the specific sensor below. The F-900 will automatically close and open the needed valves for offset and span calibrations without manual change being required by the user.

  • Page 33: Ethylene Sensors

    The entered concentration should be in ppb. If your standard gas spec sheet reports the value in ppm, convert to ppb. 5. The F-900 will automatically start setting offset using the KMnO4 in Chamber out and will give a countdown to completion. Zero calibration takes the instrument around 15-20 minutes to complete.

  • Page 34: Co2 Ppm

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 CO2 CALIBRATION CO2 PPM CO2 PCT As given in the specifications on page 3, CO ppm zero calibration is recommended weekly. PCT zero calibration is recommended every six months. However, if the unit is in an environment where the temperature fluctuates frequently, zero calibration may be necessary more often than the recommended intervals.
  • Page 35 Tips for Calibrating the F-900 CO Sensor with a buffer system:  The operator should stand away from the F-900.  Use extra tubing to get the intake source away from human breath.  Use a buffer tank system to stabilize the intake source.
  • Page 36 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 5. Make sure that the tube and cap has no leaks. 6. Connect the “in” tubing to the intake port on the instrument. 7. To use the buffer bottle, make sure that the tubing is clear from obstruction.

  • Page 37: Co2 Pct

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Note: The instrument shown in these images is a CI-340 Photosynthesis Analyzer (CID Bio- Science, Inc). The buffer tank system technique can be used to help stabilize the ambient intake of any IRGA CO sensor (images courtesy of ZealQuest, China). CO2 PPM...

  • Page 38: Ethylene Sensor Zero Calibration

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Ethylene Sensor Zero Calibration The instructions above are for two-point calibrations of the F-900. Solely setting zero for the ethylene sensor can be accomplished through the Settings screen. The Settings screen is accessed by using the right arrow from Monitor Mode and provides a short list of variables which may be manipulated while measurements are being made.

  • Page 39: Manually Set Zero: Polarcept Enabled

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 ii. Chamber IN = Off iii. Closed Loop = On 12. The instrument will run for the amount of time set in the following menu: Setup > Calibration > C2H4 > Offset Correction. It is recommended to keep this setting at 10 minutes.
  • Page 40 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 during the set zero process. This should be used during continuous monitoring or experiments longer than 24 hours. The offset correction duration is adjustable (default: 30 minutes) and happens during “Sensor Stability”, the first screen when measurement mode is initiated. The default interval between offset corrections is 24 hours for continuous use, or during the next start-up for units that are not running continuously.

  • Page 41: F-900 Menu System Diagram

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 F-900 Menu System Diagram Below is a map of the F-900 ethylene analyzer menu system. Press the right arrow to enter a menu and the left arrow or Stop to exit. Sensor Stability Graph View Measure...

  • Page 42: Setup Menu

    Monitor Mode or GC Emulation Mode. Instructions to use Monitor Mode are started on page 15. GC Emulation Mode is available with the F-900 Research Kit and requires the use of the inline injection port with septum. To save changes in the Setup>Measure menu, press Save. Use the up and down arrows to toggle between options.

  • Page 43: Setup Sensor

    Not all F-900’s are built with all sensors, so see the Production Check Sheet at the end of the manual to see which sensors are included in your unit. All units are equipped with a High...

  • Page 44: Setup Calibration

     Press Save to save any changes.  Press Stop to exit to the Setup Menu. Setup Calibration Please see the F-900 main calibration section, starting on page 27, for calibration procedures. Calibration Parameters and re-calibration steps for C , CO...

  • Page 45: Offset Correction

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Calibration Parameters Internal offset Internal gain Calibrated RH Calibrated t RH slope RH offset t slope t offset Offset Correction Offset Correction allows the unit to adjust the baseline, or zero, for the ethylene sensors, which may drift from the zero set at the time of calibration.

  • Page 46: Flow Rate Calibration

    Setup Time and Date To change the time and date on the F-900, press the right arrow when “Time” is highlighted on the Setup Menu. This utility allows the user to set-up the instrument in different time zones or to adjust the time after daylight savings.

  • Page 47: Setup Chamber

    The removable plastic containers are used to hold the consumables potassium permanganate, distilled water, soda lime, and silica gel. Keep the plastic containers on the F-900, even when empty, to protect the brass intakes. Always ensure the conditioning chamber is seated properly when screwing it on the F-900.
  • Page 48 IN and OUT ports on the front of the F-900. Figure 22: The back of the F-900 with removable and refillable containers for distilled water and KMnO (left) and a diagram showing the flow path of the gas stream (right).
  • Page 49  Fill Chamber In with distilled water to max fill line (located on back of F-900)  This mode may not be applicable at high ethylene concentrations.  When the F-900 is using the water to filter out alcohol, the water must be cleaned by running a longer cleaning period than the measure period.

  • Page 50: Setup Terminals

    B_SPEC, meaning that Chamber In is enabled in Special mode. Next, the current state (measure or cleaning) will be shown. If the F-900 is in a state of Measure, the data will reflect the current measurement. If the F-900 is in a state of Cleaning, “Clean” is shown in the upper right corner of the display.
  • Page 51 1.5-5.0V: Cleaning enable (Closed Loop On, Chamber In On) To connect a gas control to the terminal block of the F-900, first pull off the removable portion of the terminal block (pull straight out). The piece in the figure below will separate from the F-900.

  • Page 52: Setup Board

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Figure 23: The removable piece of the F-900 terminal block. Table 3: Designations of the 10 pins of the terminal block (On = 5V; Off = OV): Function Ground Current Loop (reserved) Plus 5 volts (limited through 4.7 ohm resistor)
  • Page 53 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 for calculated concentrations displayed on the F-900. Those concentrations are then updated (every 200 milliseconds) to a DAC output on the terminal block (for CO2 and Ethylene). There is no output for the O2, but there is for the CO2 and C2H4 sensors.

  • Page 54: View Menu

    “View” is highlighted on the display. This menu allows the user to navigate to and see the files, as well as check on many features of the F-900. Options from the View Menu are: Files, Voltage, Battery, Flash, Time, GPS, and SD card.

  • Page 55: View Battery

    SD card is not fully inserted, “no SD card” will appear on the display. GPS System Features The F-900 has a built-in GPS system which can relay the longitude, latitude and altitude of the instrument when performing measurements. The View>GPS screen displays the mode of the GPS sensor (SEN= $GPGGA), as well as the values for latitude, longitude, altitude and indicates the number of satellites currently connected to.
  • Page 56 Often, when the instrument is turned on indoors, the latitude, longitude and altitude will be blank. This occurs when no satellite signal can be obtained by the instrument. Powering up the F-900 outdoors will correct this problem and allow latitude, longitude and altitude readings to be taken.

  • Page 57: File Menu

    Here, the user can manipulate files on the F-900, with options to clear, delete, create and open files. The F-900 uses an SD card to store all measurements. This means the user is able to create, clear and delete any measurement file.

  • Page 58: Create A File

    “enter” on the bottom. The F-900 will save all parameters for each measurement on the SD card. Once finished creating the file name, press the Enter key, or press Stop to abort the process. The F-900 will exit to the File Menu.
  • Page 59 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017  Press the right arrow to open the file. “Done!” will flash across the screen if the file was opened successfully.  Press Stop or the left arrow to go back to the File Menu.  Moving the cursor to another file after opening a file and then exiting the menu by pressing either Stop or the left arrow opens the second file (the last file highlighted on the menu is opened).

  • Page 60: Data Transfer To A Computer

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Data Transfer to a Computer To view the collected data on a computer, remove the SD card and insert it in an SD card reader on the computer. Or, use the supplied USB cable and connect the instrument to the USB host (computer).
  • Page 61 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Figure 24: Example data spreadsheet for a F-900 measurement. REMEMBER: Always save the data files to the computer before making changes or starting analysis. Below is an example of ethylene data plotted for PolarCept, that shows the typical peaks and valleys for the measure/cleaning cycle.

  • Page 62: Wireless Sd Memory Card Operation

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Figure 25: Example of ethylene data graphed showing peaks/valleys for measure and cleaning periods. Wireless SD Memory Card Operation These instructions are meant to accompany the instructions supplied by the vendor for Toshiba FlashAir™ W-03 to use specifically with the F-920 Check It! Gas Analyzer, which can be similarly applied to other Felix Instruments products.
  • Page 63 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 6. The Wi-Fi card can be enabled in “internet pass thru mode”, outlined in the following documentation provided within the FlashAirTool software:  Go to Network Settings on the main menu Check Internet pass thru mode FlashAir™...
  • Page 64 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Set the internet access point password. Enter the password for the access point that you will use. o In your browser, enter http://flashair to view or stream your files FlashAir™ For more information on the Toshiba W-03 Wireless SD Memory Card, contact the application vendor at https://www.toshiba.co.jp/p-media/wwsite/contact.htm.

  • Page 65: Firmware Update

    1. Connect the F-900 to the computer using the mini-USB to USB cable. 2. Launch F-900_Package_Setup_v1.0.exe 3. Set up device as prompted message below 4. The F-900 requires an libusb driver. In the Zadig window, select Options > List All Devices. In the dropdown list, select CI-DFU (Interface 1) device.
  • Page 66 Note: driver. When the device drivers and software package installation is done, check for Java updates. In the Windows Start menu, there will be shortcuts for F-900 Controller and F-900 Firmware Upgrade. F-900 Firmware Update Procedure 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835...
  • Page 67 After the green LED is flashing quickly, connect the device to the PC with USB cable. Select File and Open in the F-900 Firmware Upgrade program. 5. Navigate to where the F-900-ver-x.xx.bin is saved on the PC hard drive. This is the code for the instrument.
  • Page 68 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 3. Connect the device to computer via USB and repeat the download firmware procedure. After the firmware update is successful, it is recommended to let the F-900 measure with the Closed Loop On (Measure > Settings) for 12 hours.

  • Page 69: G.a.s. Gas Analysis Software

    2. Plug the F-900 into your PC through the USB cord and power on the F-900. 3. Once connected, the button in the right-hand corner will read ‘connection’ and your device serial number should appear in the upper left-hand corner of the window.
  • Page 70 The following will describe the menu system functions and symbols: The ‘Files’ menu allows viewing of files saved on the gas analyzer. This option is greyed out when connected to a F-900 as the current software version does not support this feature for the F-900.
  • Page 71 See the ‘Control Panel’ section below for more information on the simulated device screen. Another known bug is if the monitored F-900 has a CO2 ppm sensor installed, it will still report these values as concentrations in the graphic view. Once again, the reported concentrations have the correct units on the simulated device screen.
  • Page 72 Calibration The Calibration menu enables a two-point calibration process for the F-900 Including Zero Calibration and Span Calibration. The set zero process will require known standard gas of 100% Nitrogen (N2) gas to set a zero baseline. Next the user will be prompted to connect a known standard gas to set the span for your sensors.
  • Page 73 Checking Ambient Measurements is the second diagnostic test. The test checks the reported concentrations of the device while measuring ambient air against typical ambient air gas concentrations. In the case of the F-900, the reported concentrations must fall within the specified ranges reported below.
  • Page 74 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Sensor Concentration Concentration C2H4 PPB 0.01ppm 0.8ppm C2H4 PPM 0ppm 2ppm 19.5% CO2 PPM 350ppm 850ppm CO2 PCT 200ppm 800ppm If any of the reported concentrations fall outside of these values, an error will be detected. The diagnostic test will identify the sensor that did not pass and make the recommendation to zero or calibrate the failed sensor.

  • Page 75: Technical Support

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Technical Support If you have a question about the F-900, first look in the F-900 Operation Manual. There is also online support available for the F-900 at http://felixinstruments.com/support/f-900-support. If you cannot find the answer, you can contact a Technical Support Representative located in your country.

  • Page 76: Frequently Asked Questions

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Frequently Asked Questions If there are any questions about the F-900, please check the Frequently Asked Questions below, as well as the Felix Instruments support webpage at http://felixinstruments.com/support/f-900-support. 1. What type of fruit produces ethylene? a. Climacteric fruits refer to fruits that have high respiration rate during the fruit's ripening.
  • Page 77 5. How do I create and open a file to start using the F-900? a. To start using the F-900, create a file to save data into. Go to File>Create. Change the file00 to the desired file-name and press save. Next, open the file to save measurements.
  • Page 78 10. What are the advantages of the F-900RK over the standard F-900? a. Both are portable, but the research kit includes the other components as listed in the “Unpacking the F-900” section of the User Manual, such as the fruit chamber and wand and hard-sided, wheeled carrying case. The Research Kit is designed to make measurement of fruits non-destructively or in a closed chamber.
  • Page 79 The air should be scrubbed by enabling conditioning Chamber Out (filled with potassium permanganate). Attach the tubing from the wand that returns to the fruit chamber to the Out port on the front of the F-900. 13. Where are temperature and humidity measured? a.

  • Page 80: Supporting Sciences References

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Supporting Sciences References The following list of citations represent Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, current peer-reviewed and other literature volume 47, 1646-1651, 1999.. concerning electrochemical sensors, the DOI: 10.1021/jf980906c study of climacteric fruit and ethylene.
  • Page 81 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Morgan, P.W. Another Look at Interpreting Climacteric fruit ripening: Ethylene- Research to Manage the Effects of Ethylene dependent and independent regulation of in Ambient Air. Crop Science, volume 51, ripening pathways in melon fruit. Plant pages 903-913, 2011.

  • Page 82: Appendix I: Procedure For F-900 Validation Using Fruit

    This can be thought of as the baseline response Procedure: 1. Turn on the F-900, verify chambers are set to off and flow is set to 200 ml/min. 2. Connect experimental setup as shown in Figure 25. 3. Load the sample specimen into the fruit chamber.

  • Page 83: Method 3: Long-Term Monitoring With Filtration

    Procedure: 1. Fill conditioning Chamber In with distilled water and clean the water using potassium permanganate in an in-line column connected to the intake port of the F-900, until the background signal is below 40ppb. 2. Verify that Chamber In is set to “Special” with a sufficient cleaning period for the produce being monitored.

  • Page 84: Appendix Ii: Guidelines For Measuring Sample Bags

    F-900 using the accessory parts.  Ensure that the bag material and fittings are appropriate for the compounds to be sampled.

  • Page 85: Analyzing A Sample Bag With The F-900

     Connect the sample bag to the IN port of the F-900.  Open the sample bag to allow gas to start flowing to the F-900.  It takes about 3-5 minutes to measure a sample bag if the concentration of ethylene before measuring the sample bag is low.

  • Page 86: Appendix Iii: 8L Chamber Accessory

    These visuals supply the user with the basic Do’s and Don’ts of working with the 8L Chamber accessory. Designed for measuring samples in a closed system, the 8L chamber can easily attach to the inlet and outlet on the F-900 to monitor ethylene, carbon dioxide and oxygen accumulation.

  • Page 87: Appendix Iv: F-900 Controller Software For Calibration

    Set C PPB Span 1. Connect the F-900 to the PC using the USB cable. Power on the F-900 and open the F- 900 Controller software (Latest version of Java required. Check http://www.java.com/ a. If the F-900 display becomes frozen consistently when connecting to the PC, it is possible the SD card is corrupted.
  • Page 88 Press the right arrow again to skip the sensor stabilization. a. There is a short lag in the F-900 Controller software as it pulls data from the F- 900 instrument. This lag interval is adjustable in 1 second intervals. The monitor...
  • Page 89 7. Connect the standard gas to the F-900 intake. Verify that the F-900 measurement settings have Chamber In, Chamber Out and Closed Loop turned off. 8. Watch the ethylene data on the F-900 Controller software now that the standard gas is connected. The data should be trending towards the expected concentration and begin to stabilize.
  • Page 90 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 11. Disconnect the calibration gas and watch the data trend toward ambient ethylene levels. 1554 NE 3 Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA Phone: (360) 833-8835 www.felixinstruments.com...

  • Page 91: Appendix V: Guide For Purchasing Standardized Gases For Calibration

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 APPENDIX V: Guide for Purchasing Standardized Gases for Calibration When deciding which standard gases to purchase for calibration, there are some important considerations that will help guide your purchase: 1) Determination of concentration of the gas to be purchased. The concentration of the standard gas is the first consideration.
  • Page 92 F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Ethylene(C2H4) in air: Part number: 103DSxxxC2H4A xxx- ppm concentration 2, 5,10,20,75,100 or 500 ppm CO2 balance Nitrogen: Part Number: 103DSxxxxCO2N xxxx-ppm concentration 1,000ppm or 2,000ppm Part Number: 103DSxxVCO2N xx- % volume concentration 5%vol, 16%vol or 95% volume Oxygen balance N2: Part Number: 103DS20.9VO2N...

  • Page 93: F-900 Production Test Check Sheet

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 F-900 Production Test Check Sheet SERIAL NUMBER: Firmware Version: Optional Sensors Included (Yes/No) C02 PPM CO2 PCT O2 PCT CALIBRATION PARAMETERS C2H4 PPB C2H4 PPM Internal offset Internal gain Calibration RH Calibration T RH slope RH offset...

  • Page 94: Warranty Information

    F-900 Instruction Manual 8/14/2017 Warranty Information Seller's Warranty and Liability: Felix Instruments- Applied Food Science warrants new equipment of its own manufacturing against defective workmanship and materials for a period of one year from date of sale. The results of ordinary wear and tear, neglect, misuse, accident and excessive deterioration due to corrosion from any cause is not to be considered a defect.

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