Portable diffuse flux meter

with LI-COR CO2 detector

Release 8.2 September 2012

LY
ITA
Fault
If your equipment requires maintenance in Italy:

BEFORE YOU SHIP THE INSTRUMENT BACK TO ITALY REMEMBER:

! When you ask your shipping agent to send the instrument to Italy
check that on the Air Waybill the Airport of destination is PISA. Any
other airport of destination creates a lot of problems in delivering the
items (delay, costs, custom problems, etc).
! Check that the Company your shipping agent chooses lands in Galileo
Galilei Airport in Pisa. If not, ask your shipping agent to change the
Company or send the items by DHL or UPS or FedEx.
! Mark each item with a serial number, if not already present, and write
this number on the document (proforma or original invoice or item
list) where you list the parts you are sending back to Italy.
! Specify a correct value of the parts you are sending back in the
documents mentioned above.

Pay attention to these rules because Custom law in Italy is very

complicated and probably different from your Country.
If you follow these suggestions everything will be easier for you and for
us.

West Systems srl

Via Don Mazzolari 25

Zona Ind. La Bianca
56025 Pontedera (PI)

Phone : +39 0587 294216 ; +39 0587 483335

Fax : +39 0587 296068

Support:
[Link]@[Link]
[Link]@[Link]
 INDEX
INDEX

Chapter Argument Page

[Link]

[Link]
1 Introduction
The package content 1.1
Safety information 1.2
Hints 1.2
Quick start guide 1.3

2 Software FluxManager
How to use the FluxManager software 2.1
Battery status / Copyright 2.8
Changing the visualization scale 2.11

3 Measuring flux
Theoretical curve 3.1
Pratical example 3.3
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The perfect curve 3.4
Strange shape curves 3.4

4 Quantifying the flux

A basic theory 4.1
The measurement unit 4.1
ppm/sec or moles/sm/day? 4.2
Accumulation chamber A factors 4.3
Accumulation chamber B factors 4.4
Accumulation chamber C factors 4.5
Accumulation chamber C-floating factors 4.6
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

5 Components
The accumulation chambers 5.1
The pump 5.5
The battery 5.7
Cables 5.9
Board panel 5.10
The Backpack 5.11

6 Calibration of the flux meter

Fluxmeter calibration 6.1
The influence of pumping flow 6.3
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7 Pneumatic connections
Tubes, filters and fittings 7.1
Inside the fluxmeter 7.2
Accumulation chamber connections 7.3

8 Troubleshooting
Power supply related problems 8.1
Basic communication problems 8.1

9 Software FluxRevision
Software FluxRevision 9.1
 INDEX

INDEX

A Air-Soil Box
Installation A.1
Specifications A.2

B Glossary of terms
Glossary of terms B.1
[Link]

[Link]
C References
List of flux related papers C.1

H Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector

Detector specifications H.1
Detector calibration H.5
Replacing the sensor head H.10
WS6B11 HiResolution ADC Converter H.12
Flux and concentration calibration results H.14

L LI820 CO2 Detector

General discussion L.1
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Calibration of LICOR L.1

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

M WS-HC-IR Methane Detector
General discussion M.1
Calibration M.5

N WS-CH4-TLD Methane Detector

Detector specifications N.1
Detector calibration N.5

P The palmtop
The palmtop P.1
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Recharge the pda with the fluxmeter P.1
FluxManager installation P.2
PC based installation P.2
Bluetooth communication P.6

S Soil Box
General description S.1
Connectors pinout S.2
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 1.1
The package contents

PAGE
List of the Portable fluxmeter components:

Accumulation chambers

Accumulation chamber type A

[Link]

[Link]
Accumulation chamber type B
Accumulation chamber type C
Accumulation chamber type C-floating

Sensors

CO2 LI820 Detector s/n

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

CH4 WS-HC Detector s/n

H2S TOX05-H2S Detector s/n

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Air probe

Soil probe

Pocket PC
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Pocket PC with accessories

Accessories

Flux meter handbook

Flux meter software CD
Battery charger

Backpack
[Link] 2 Battery pack
 1.2
Safety information
PAGE

!
Carbon dioxide is a TOXIC GAS.
Carbon dioxide is colorless, odorless, tastless and is heavier than air. Air
concentration higher than 5000 ppm can cause dizziness, shortness of
breath, rapid pulse. Higher concentrations of carbon dioxide can be
lethal.
Methane is a colorless, odorless, tastless and very flammable gas.
[Link]

[Link]
Hydrogen Sulfide is a poisonous gas:Air concentration higher than few
ppm can be lethal.

Diffuse carbon dioxide fluxes are normally related to anomalous carbon

dioxide air concentration. The user must verify the safety conditions
before entering dangerous areas.
The Fluxmeter described in this manual is designed to measure diffuse
emission of soil gases and CANNOT be used for different purposes.

The instrument and the electronic accessories are NOT designed to work
in explosion risk areas.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Hints
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Accumulation chamber (see page 5.2)
The mixing device of the accumulation chamber is powered by an
alkaline 9 Volt battery.

Accumulation Chamber (see page 5.3)

About the utilization of the water trap refer to chapter 5.
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 1.3
Quick start guide

PAGE
Pneumatic connections

! Check internal connections.

! Check the internal filter.
! Connect the accumulation chamber and check its filter.
! Do not use the magnesium perchlorate water trap if there is H2S
in the soil gases (see chapter 4 and 7).
[Link]

[Link]
External connection panel
3 HIGH ALARM

5 LOW ALARM
TERMINALS

13 4-20 mA 1
1 12-30VDC

11 4-20 mA 2
7 V OUT 2

9 V OUT 1
2 GND

4 GND

6 GND

8 GND

10 GND

12 GND

14 GND
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

OUT
FLOW
IN

compensation
Pressure
SERIAL I/O
LOW BATTERY
HIGH ALARM
LOW ALARM
POWER

>
>
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Pump Accumulation chamber
Internal filter

Powering ON

Press the On/Off button on the external connection panel.

The LED on the button will become RED immediately , hold the button until
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the LED becomes GREEN.

FLUXMETER- BT DATA and BATTERY

RS485
On/Off button
IN

OUT

BT
 1.4
Quick start guide
PAGE

Please NOTE :

In order to conserve battery-life the instrument will turn OFF

automatically after one hour if not under the control of
FluxManager software.
When the battery is close to depletion the LED starts to blink,
[Link]

[Link]
alternating between green and red , continuously.

Pump

! The pump is managed by the instrument and is turned off until you
begin a measurement.

Accumulation chamber

! Turn on the mixing device using the switch on the accumulation

chamber handle.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

PalmTop PDA

! Turn on the PalmTop. Please refer to the PDA handbook for instructions.

Powering Off
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Press the On/Off button on the connection panel.
The LED on the button will become RED immediately, hold the button until the
LED is off.
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 2.1
Software FluxManager

PAGE
How to use the FluxManager software

Start
! The instrument must be ON and connected
Today to the Palmtop (PDA).
Calendar
Contacts ! Turn on the PDA.
Inbox
Internet ex ! Click on Windows Mobile Start button.
FluxManager
Click on FluxManager , in a couple of
[Link]

[Link]
Notes !
seconds the main screen will appear.
If the FluxManager icon is not present under
the Start menu, proceed with the
installation of the software. To install, just
copy the file [Link] (furnished in
the SD storage card and in the shipping CD)
in PDA's directory \Windows\Start Menu.

File Tracks Tools Help

CO2: 453.2 ppm

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Status label
Once started, the software loads the last instrument
configuration and check its validity. Then
FluxManager will show the actual concentration
reading of the first gas detector.

If the configuration is no longer valid, or because it's the

first run of software, or you reinstalled the software, or
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

you changed the sensor configuration, FluxManager will
take you to the sensor configuration menu. Please refer
File Tracks Tools Help to Appendix A page 4
CO2: 453.2 ppm

Status label

Now FluxManager is showing the actual CO2

reading

To change the currently displayed detector, select the

desired one from the Tracks menu.
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Tracks menu

File Tracks Tools Help

!
Blue CO2
CO2: 453.2 ppm
Red H2S
To change the active detector select the desired
one from the Tracks menu. A "check"
highlights the active track.

When working with the WS-HC detector a

periodic reset of the base line value could be
necessary. Please see page M.2.
 2.2
Software FluxManager
PAGE

File Tracks Tools Help

H2S: 22.2 ppm

Status label

Now Flux Manager is showing the actual H2S

reading
[Link]

[Link]
File Tracks Tools Help

H2S: 22.2 ppm

Starting the measurement
To start the recording of flux curves press the start
button:
The reading of both detectors will be shown as flux
curves.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The LICOR LI820 IR sensor is temperature-stabilized in order to reduce the
interferences due to the gas sample temperature. If the temperature of the sensor is
less than 50°C the software will advise you and will ask if you want start a
measurement in these non optimal conditions.
Normally the LI820, after a cold startup needs 3-4 minutes to reach the 50°C
temperature and 10-15 minutes to reach a good reading stability. The same
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

considerations about a 20 minutes warm-up period are valid also for the H2S sensor.

Target gas name

File Tracks Tools Help

11:05
H2S: 3.4 ppm, 75 s Target gas actual reading and elapsed time.
Slope:0.036 ppm/s , r 0.987
40.0
Target gas flux and regression quality factor

CO2 (blue) Flux curve

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H2S (red) Flux Curve

Regression left and right limits marker

20.3 100 s

Time scale
While measuring the flux curves of sensors with ‘trace’ active are shown. The
concentration scale maximum and minimum values, as well as the flux and
regression quality factor, refer to the selected target gas. Changing the selected gas
does NOT affect the recording or the flux computation, but simply changes which
information is shown. To facilitate the individuation of tracks the Target Gas Name
label has the same color of the track.
To change the active detector select the desired one from the Track menu.

! Please note that the track color change is related with the detector ID order ,
then the H2S track color can be blue or red or another color, depending on the
instrument configuration.
 2.3
Software FluxManager

PAGE
File Tracks Tools Help While recording, the plot of target gas concentration is
H2S: 3.4 ppm, 75 s
11:05 showed in real time: two labels indicate the minimum and
Slope:0.036 ppm/s , r 0.987 maximum value of the plot.
40.0

Y axis maximum scale value (ppm)

[Link]

[Link]
Y axis minimum scale value (ppm)

The first touch on the screen will place the left cursor, the
second will place the right one. Once both cursors are
20.3 100 s placed and there are points between the two, the flux (or
the slope, if the ACK has not been set) and the regression
quality factor information is shown on the screen, and
they refer to the selected target gas.
The flux is computed making a linear fit of the curve in the
interval between the "left" and the "right" limit.
The selection of the flux curve interval where to compute
the flux is critical and a wrong selection can cause an
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

File Tracks Tools Help
error on the estimation of the flux. In the following pages
11:05
H2S: 3.4 ppm, 75 s some examples of the correct interval selection are
Slope:0.036 ppm/s , r 0.987
shown.
40.0

Left limit marker

Right limit marker

To change the interval move the left and right limits to

the desired position. To move the limit you have to touch
the screen close to the limit you want to move and drag it
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

20.3 100 s
to the correct position.
The software will move the limit that's closest to the point
you touch on the screen. (See the next example)

File Tracks Tools Help

11:05 Initial position
H2S: 3.4 ppm, 75 s
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Slope:0.036 ppm/s , r 0.987
40.0
Dragging

Final position

20.3 100 s

To move the left marker touch the screen close to the left limit marker and drag it as
shown in the drawing.

The software will move the closest limit, and it is easier to select the limit to move by
touching the screen outside the interval defined by the two limits, for example if you
want to move the right limit you have to touch the screen in the right part of the
screen, outside the interval, to be sure to select the right marker.
 2.4
Software FluxManager
PAGE

File Tracks Tools Help

11:05
H2S: 3.4 ppm, 75 s
Slope:0.036 ppm/s , r 0.987
40.0
[Link]

[Link]
20.3 100 s

Once having selected the interval FluxManager will compute the regression and the
results will be shown as text and as best fit line.

File Tracks Tools Help

11:05
H2S: 3.4 ppm, 75 s
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Slope:0.036 ppm/s , r 0.987
40.0

Plot of the flux-curve and of the linear best fit

Each flux curve (H2S, CO2) has a distinct regression

interval, then after the computation of the regression of
one flux curve you have to select, using the {Track}
20.3 100 s menu, the other gas flux curve and select the
appriopriate regression interval.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

File Tracks Tools Help
11:05
H2S: 3.4 ppm, 75 s
Slope:0.036 ppm/s , r 0.987
40.0 Flux and regression quality factor

The results of the flux measurement are given, as slope,

in ppm/s (ppm per second) or as flux, in m/sm/day
(moles per square meter per day, if the ACK factor has
been set). Subject matter is investigated in detail in
chapter 4.
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WEST Systems
20.3 100 s

File Tracks Tools Help

H2S: 3.4 ppm, 75 s
Slope:0.036 ppm/s , r 0.987 Normally a flux measurement requires from 90 up to 240
40.0 seconds. This depends on the measured flux.
Only while measuring low H2S fluxes a longer period is
necessary.

To stop the flux measurement press the Round circle

shaped button.

20.3 100 s

! For a more detailed description of the flux results, the accumulation

chamber calibration and the flux measurement units please refer to
paragraph 4 of this handbook.
 2.5
Software FluxManager

PAGE
File Tracks Tools Help Target gas flux and regression quality factor
11:05
H2S: 3.4 ppm, 75 s
Flux:0.036 ppm/s , r 0.987
40.0

The selected target gas is shown on this label.

[Link]

[Link]
H2S Flux Curve

Once having selected the desired interval where to

compute the flux for the target gas, H2S in this example,
20.3 100 s
the operator has to select the second target gas from the
Data menu.
File Tracks Tools Help
11:05
H2S: Blue
3.4CO2
ppm, 75 s
Flux:0.036 ppm/s , r 0.987
Red H2S
40.0
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The display will show the CO2 information, then the
operator has to select the interval range wher to compute
the CO2 flux.
Once having computed the flux for both gases, it will be
possible to save the data on the PalmTop memory.

20.3 100 s

File Tracks Tools Help

11:05
CO2:
Connect1440 ppm
Flux:3.6 ppm/s , r 0.987
Save
40.0
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Exit

20.3 100 s
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File Tracks Tools Help

Site After selecting the [File][Save] menu an information

Point Elevation summary form appears.
Latitude It will be possible to store some user information such as:
Longitude ! Site name
Temperature °C ! Sampling point #
Pressure mBar ! Elevation
Accumulation Chamber A ! Latitude
Site
! Longitude
Note
! User note
Date 01/01/07 [Link]
! Air temperature
Next> Cancel
! Barometric pressure
 2.6
Software FluxManager
PAGE

File Tracks Tools Help If your instrument is equipped with a LICOR LI8x0 the
Site
value of the cell pressure channel will be assigned to the
Point Elevation Barometric Pressure field. The pressure is read when the
Latitude instrument pump is off.
Longitude
Temperature °C If your instrument is equipped with a WS-HC detector the
value of the cell temperature will be assigned to the Air
[Link]

[Link]
Pressure mBar
Accumulation Chamber A temperature field. Please note that this temperature is
Site normally 3°C more than the real air temperature.
Note
Date 01/01/07 [Link]
Next> Cancel

! Site: Is the sampling site, for instance "Etna volcano" or "Taiwan-EOF";

! Point: is a numerical field that allows you to identify every point on your map.
This field will be automatically increased by the software;
! Elev: Point elevation in meters or feet;
Lat: Geographical latitude, for example: "N21° 49' 50.2"';
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

!
! Long: Geographical longitude, for example: "E 121° 10' 50.5";
! Note: User notes, feel free to insert any note here;
! Press.: The barometric pressure, expressed in mBar (HPa), measured by the
instrument if aLICOR is present, or entered by the user if a barometric pressure
gauge is not present. Anyway the information can be replaced with a more
accurate barometric pressure measurement if available .
! Temp: As for the pressure, this information can be replaced with the air
temperature or the soil temperature measured by the user, when using the WS-
HC detector the cell temperature of the detector is shown by default.

! [Link]: Select the accumulation chamber you’re using: Type A, B, C or

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

C-floating.
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File Tracks Tools Help Once having entered the user information press the
Site NEXT> button to proceed, please note that Site and
Point Elevation Point information are considered mandatory and must be
Latitude entered.
Longitude Pressing the Cancel button will abort the saving
Temperature °C
operation.
Pressure mBar
Accumulation Chamber A
Site
Note
Date 01/01/07 [Link]
Next> Cancel
 2.7
Software FluxManager

PAGE
File Tracks Tools Help
CO2 Slope ppm/sec: 12.456 ErrQ: 0.9987
H2S Slope ppm/sec: 1.3456 ErrQ: 0.9873 Now you can modify the default filename, if desidered.
The Default filename is composed using the SITE
[Link]

[Link]
information, followed by the POINT number and then
Date/time info.
Enter the filename to be used
Pressing the Cancel button will abort the saving
Pisa_3_02012007_123434
operation.
Save Cancel
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Now, after you have saved the last measurement, the FluxManager will wait for you to
press the Start icon to begin a new analysis.

! Obviously the data are the most important thing of your work.
It’s strongly recommend you take note of the measures in your logbook.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

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 2.8
Software FluxManager
PAGE

Battery status

File Tracks ToolsHelp Selecting [Help][About Flux Manager] menu option a

H2S: 3.4About
ppm, 75
11:05
FluxManager
s
copyright form will appear and the release number as
Flux:0.036 Battery
ppm/s , status
r 0.987 well the compilation date will be shown.
40.0
[Link]

[Link]
20.3 100 s

File Tracks ToolsHelp Selecting [Help][Battery Status] menu voice the Power
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

H2S: 3.4About
11:05
FluxManager
ppm, 75 s
form will be loaded. This form show the status of the
Flux:0.036 Battery
ppm/s , rstatus
0.987 NiMH 14.4V 4 A/h battery that supply the instrument and
40.0 the status of the PalmTop battery.

20.3 100 s
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Initial configuration
After the installation the sofware has to be configured in order to be able to connect the
fluxmeter. The software communicates with the instrument via a serial RS232 port. This
port can change, depending on the palm top brand and configuration. Run FluxManager
from the [Start] menu of the palmtop.
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Tools menu

File Tracks ToolsHelp Selecting [Tools][Setting] menu

H2S: 3.4Set
ppm,Zero
75 s
11:05 option the settings form will be
Flux:0.036 Settings
ppm/s , r 0.987 loaded. This form shows some
40.0
Devices important information, described in
Rescan
Zoom Out the detail below:

20.3 100 s
 2.9
Software FluxManager

PAGE
File Tracks Tools Help ! Comm port: Is the number of the
Settings communication port that FluxManager will use
Communication port: to connect the instrument: The list of the availale
COM1
serial ports will be shown when you press the
[Link]

[Link]
Mode Flux down arrow of the combo-box. See Appendix P to
Pum off delay (sec) 25 get the port to be used.
Unit 1.0 ! Mode: This field must be set to: Flux.
A.C.K. 1.0 ! Pump off delay: Is the period, expressed in
GPS Time 1.0
seconds, that the pump remains ON after the end
Synchronise
of the flux measurement. This pumping period is
Get
useful for the cleaning of the tubes and the
OK Cancel
sensors cell from the soil gases.
! A.C.K.: Is the "constant" of the accumulation
chamber. This factor is used to convert the
results of the measurement from the basic unit
"ppm/sec", to the desired unit, by default, moles
per square meter per day. To enter in deeper
detail please refer to Chapter 4 of this handbook.
GPS TIME: If you don't see this box, your PDA is
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

!
not equipped with an integrated GPS, or the GPS
is not well configurated (signal this to
info@[Link]). Press Get to acquire
the GPS time. If you have GPS coverage, you will
see the time in the text box, otherwise "n.a.".
Check also the time zone settings of the PDA
(press the Windows Mobile Start button, click
Settings, navigate to System tab and select
Clock & Alarms. Set the proper time zone).
The Synchronise button permits to synchronise
the PDA clock from the GPS time. It's important
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

that the clock of the PDA is correct since all the
measurements points will be tagged with the
PDA date and time.

!
A wrong setting of the CommPort field value can stop the instrument
from working.
A wrong setting of the A.C.K. can change the instrument response in an
umpredictable way.
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After making change press OK to accept the new values or Cancel to
cancel the operation.

File Tracks ToolsHelp

11:05
H2S: 3.4Set
ppm,Zero
75 s
Flux:0.036 Settings
ppm/s , r 0.987
Devices
40.0
Rescan Selecting [Tools][Rescan] menu voice FluxManager will
Zoom Out
reset the actual sensor configuration and will start to
search the sensors that are connected to the instrument.
Normally this operation is NOT necessary unless the
configuration of instrument is changed. Once the scan of
the sensors is finished the "Devices Form" must be loaded
in order to configure the working configuration:

20.3 100 s
 2.10
Software FluxManager
PAGE

File Tracks ToolsHelp To configure the detectors and the

H2S: 3.4Set
ppm,Zero
75 s
11:05 tracks select [Tools][Devices] menu
Flux:0.036 Settings
ppm/s , r 0.987 voice. The Connected devices form
40.0
Devices will be loaded. This form show the
Rescan
Zoom Out list of the detectors and allows the
configuration of tracks and filtering.
[Link]

[Link]
The list of detectors contains the following information:
20.3 100 s
! The ID that's is the "Identification" of the
detector: In the example 05 is the ID of the CO2
detector and 09 is the ID of the H2S detector. The
ID is not user editable and each detector must
have a unique ID in the RS485 chain otherwise
FluxManager can't work.
File Tracks Tools Help ! The Type of the detector , in the example D3 is
11:05 the type assigned to the CO2 and F0 is the H2S
Connected devices
one.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

05 D3 CO2 V Trace ! The description of detector: CO2 and H2S.
ppm 20000 Filter
! The unit used by the detector: ppm.
09 F0 H2S West V Trace
! Select the Trace check-box of the detector you
ppm 20 Filter wish to use to measure flux: In this case CO2 and
H2S. Only for debug purpose you can check the
Temp.°C or Press. mBar., if present, in order to
see the variations of barometric pressure or Cell
temperature during the flux measurement. You
can select up to a maximum of 8 tracks.
! Select Filter check-box to apply a digital low-pass
filter to the track: this feature will reduce the
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

noise of the detector.

Low pass digital filter

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! The filter will"clean" the curve from
the noise of the detector that can
affect the curve when the
Gas concentration

concentratration increasing is low.

On red the unfiltered curve and on
blue the curve after filtering.

The digital filter is designed to do not affect

the slope of the curve and then to do not
affect the accuracy of the flux
measurement.

Time
 2.11
Software FluxManager

PAGE
Changing the visualization scale

Target gas
File Tracks ToolsHelp
11:05
H2S: 3.4Set
ppm,Zero
75 s
Flux:0.036 Settings
ppm/s , r 0.987
Devices
40.0
Rescan
[Link]

[Link]
Zoom Out

By clicking [Tools][Zoom Out] or [Tools][Zoom In] you

can switch from the default "autoscale" feature of the plot
to the fixed scale visualization: In this case the span of Y
axis will be fixed between 0 and the full scale value of the
target gas.
20.3 100 s

Y Axis scale labels

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

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 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
2.12
WEST Systems
Software FluxManager

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Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 3.1
Measuring flux

PAGE
In this chapter how to measure the flux and how to interpret the results will be explained.
Please refer to chapter 2 to learn about the use of the instrument and the FluxManager
software. To better understand the this chapter a basic theory is explained:

The theorical flux curve is shown in the figure below: The plot represent the variation of
the concentration of the target gas versus time.
[Link]

[Link]
Gas concentration
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Figure 3.1
Time

In the next figure some characteristic areas of the plot are identified

C Soil
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Concentration limit.
Gas concentration

Sampling line
cleaning.

C Air
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Figure 3.2 Time

Concentration increase ppm/sec

CAir is the target gas air concentration, 350 ppm in the case of carbon dioxide , few ppm in
the case of other gases. CSoil is the target gas concentration in the soil. A very long
recording period is necessary to reach the limit CSoil concentration.
In the first part of the flux curve a "sampling line cleaning" area is highlighted : in this
area the gas pumped from the accumulation chamber is replacing the gas into the pump,
the tubes and the cell detector cell( Dead volumes). The cleaning efficiency depends on
the dead volumes and on the pumping flow.
When the target gas concentration become close to the soil concentration the flux curve
slope decreases. Normally the flux curve recording time in not enough to highlight this
effect. The carbon dioxide concentration in the anomalous soils is normally more than
5%.
The two vertical lines delimit the good flux curve interval where to compute the flux.
 3.2
Measuring flux
PAGE

To have a good evaluation of the flux the correct

interval of the flux curve has to be selected.
A period in the range from two up to four minute of
Gas concentration

flux curve record is necessary to obtain a good flux

curve.
[Link]

[Link]
a

Time
Figure 3.3

A linear best fit of the flux curve in the interval is computed, in order to evaluate the
coefficient a, using the following formula:

a, the angular coefficient of the linear fit is computed as:

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Where x is the time, in second and y is the concentration expressed in ppm. Each
summative function is intended for each point in the flux curve that is within the
selected interval.
The number n is the number of points used for the flux evaluation.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

a has the ppm/sec dimension and is the slope of the the linear regression of the flux
curve, and is assumed as the the slope of the flux curve in the selected interval.

ErrQ, the linear regression quality factor is computed as:

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
The value of ErrQ can vary in the range from 0 up to 1.
Values of ErrQ close to zero (ErrQ < 0.5) means that the regression is not good and that
the linear curve computed does not fit the curve.
Values of ErrQ close to one (ErrQ > 0.9) means that the regression is quite good and the
linear curve fits the flux curve very well.
Since the points are homogeneously distributed in the time domain the ErrQ quality
factor is a univocal indicator of the regression quality. Please note that when the slope of
the regression is zero the ErrQ also has to be zero.

Obtained a, the slope of the flux curve expressed in ppm/sec, an additional calculation
will be necessary, taking account of the accumulation chamber shape and of the
environmental parameters, to transform the slope into a flux evaluation. This matter is
described in detail in the chapter 4.

The complete theory of the accumulation chamber method will be not discussed in this
handbook and can be found in the papers listed in the Appendix C.
 3.3
Measuring flux

PAGE
The measurement

File Tracks Tools Help

CH4
2500 ppm 4.8 ppm, 85 s
[Link]

[Link]
Run FluxManager and start the measurement. As written
in chapter 2 please let the detectors warm up before
starting a measurement. Having pressed the start button
the plot of the concentration of the target gas(es) is
shown in the display.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

File Tracks Tools Help
Palm flux 11:05
CH4
2500 ppm 4.8 ppm, 85 s
Flux:50.6 ppm/s , r 0.999
The chamber was placed onto the soil.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Now place the accumulation chamber in the desired
200 ppm 100
point, checking the perfect sealing of the chamber with
the soil.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems

File Tracks Tools Help

Palm flux 11:05
CH4
2500 ppm 4.8 ppm, 85 s
Flux:50.6 ppm/s , r 0.999
The chamber was removed from the soil.

The lenght of the flux curve recording is normally in the

interval 90-240 seconds. Only when measuring very low
flux of methane a 300-360 second measurement could
be necessary.
200 ppm 100
 3.4
Measuring flux
PAGE

The "perfect" curve

CH4
2500 ppm 4.8 ppm, 85 s
Flux:50.6 ppm/s , r 0.999

In the figure on the left the display of palmtop during a

[Link]

[Link]
flux mesurement is shown.

For clearness only the CO2 flux curve is shown.

The shape of the curve is quite perfect and the
computation of the flux is done with a very good
accuracy: r (regression quality factor) very close to 1.

In the following figures some examples of strange shape flux curves:

CH4
Air contamination
2500 ppm 4.8 ppm, 85 s
Flux:32.6 ppm/s , r 0.815
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The flux curve is no longer "linear", the linear best
fit curve do not fit exactly the flux curve as pointed
out by the regression quality factor (0.815 in the
example). This effect is probably due to
atmospheric air contamination.
If you obtain this kind of curve check the sealing of
200 ppm 100
the accumulation chamber with the soil or check
that tubes, filters and pump are intact.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

CH4
Gas stratification
2500 ppm 4.8 ppm, 85 s
Flux:32.6 ppm/s , r 0.815

This shape of curve indicates that the concentration

of the target in air, close to the soil, is very high.
This stratification is quite common in case of very
high flux combined with a very stable atmosphere.
In this case clean the gas line making a measure in
air, one meter above the soil surface, and
afterwards repeat the flux measurement.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
You can use the measurement choosing the second
200 ppm 100 part of the curve for regression computation.

CH4
2500 ppm 4.8 ppm, 85 s
Flux:32.6 ppm/s , r 0.815

Selecting the second part of the curve the line fits

the flux curve very well and the regression quality
factor become 0.999.

200 ppm 100

 3.5
Measuring flux

PAGE
C02
Low fluxes
2500 ppm
Flux:0.6 ppm/s , r 0.925 This type of curve is normal when the flux is low
and the "noise" of the detector is comparable
with the increase of concentration. This effect is
bigger for the methane sensor and is minimum
for the carbon dioxide one.
[Link]

[Link]
200 ppm 100

C02
Very low fluxes
280 ppm
Flux:0.06 ppm/s , r 0.8

Of course the noise disturbation increases when

the flux is very low.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

200 ppm 100

No flux
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

C02
2500 ppm
Flux:0.006 ppm/s , r 0.04
The curve is flat and the increase of the gas
concentration is very low.

! There is no flux.
! Is the pump working?
! Are the tubes correctly connected?
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
200 ppm 100

C02
Very high flux
2500 ppm 19600 ppm, 85 s
Flux:500 ppm/s , r 0.925
The first part of the curve is not linear. The
problem is due to the combined effect of the high
flux and the sampling line cleaning. To avoid this
increase the flux curve record time until the
concentration of gas reachs the full scale value
and select the last part of the curve for the flux
computation.

200 ppm 100 This effect is due to the

cleaning of the sampling
line dead volumes
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
3.6
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Measuring flux

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Portable Flux Meter

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WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 4.2 4.1
Quantifying the flux
PAGE

PAGE
How explained in the chapter 3 the flux is proportional to the concentration increase ratio
ppm/sec. The proportionality factor depends on the chamber volume/surface ratio as
well as the barometric pressure and the air temperature inside the accumulation
chamber.
[Link]

[Link]
C Soil
Gas concentration
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

C Air
Time

Concentration increase ppm/sec

There are two methods to carry out the field work, in both cases for each measurement
you have to record the type of accumulation chamber used, the barometric pressure, and
the air temperature.
The variation of few mBar of the pressure and or few degrees of temperature do not
affect the evaluation of flux very much, then you can use a mean value for both
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

parameters. Of course that depends on the accuracy you want to reach for the evaluation
of flux.
The instrument measures the barometric pressure, using the embedded pressure sensor
of the LICOR, with a good accuracy. A platinum Pt100 or a thermo-couple thermometer
can be used to measure the air temperature as well as the soil temperature.

Choosing the flux measurement unit

The first measurements made, 10 years ago, with the accumulation chamber was
expressed in cm/sec which is a speed, the speed of carbon dioxide flowing out from the
soil. During the last ten years several units have been used by volcanologist and by
geochemistry researchers. The most common unit is grams/squaremeter per day, but
using the same instrument for two gas species to express the flux using this unit means
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
to have two different conversion factors. Actually we use the unit moles/squaremeter
per day that has two advantages: A single conversion factor for every gas specie and an

!
easy conversion of the flux in grams/sm per day simply multiplying the result expressed
in moles/sm per day for the molecular weight of the target gas.

From the [tools][settings] menu you can set the accumulation

chamber factor in the "A.c.K." field.

If this factor is set to 1 the instrument will give you results

expressed in ppm/sec, that's simply the slope of the curve in the
selected interval.

If you set the A.c.K to a value different from 1 the instrument will
give you the results expressed in moles per square meter per day.

Please see next page.

 4.2
Quantifying the flux
PAGE

Method 1: Measuring the slope

Set the Accumulation Chamber factor to 1 in order to have the flux measurement
expressed in the slope unit "ppm/sec" and translate it in the desired unit with a post
processing.
Using this method you can focus only on the accumulation chamber interfacing with the
soil, the flux curve shape and the other aspects of the measurement, putting off
choosing the correct accumulation chamber factor.
[Link]

[Link]
Method 2: Measuring the flux directly in moles/sm/day.

To get the results directly in moles/sm/day you have to set the Accumulation Chamber
factor to the correct value, taking it from the tables.
For each measurement, if there are variations in the air temperature, or of the
barometric pressure, or if you changed the accumulation chamber you have to select the
[tools][settings] menu and put the correct accumulation chamber factor in the "A.c.K."
field. This operation can be "critical". In any case on the saved files you'll find the results
of flux evaluation expressed in both units , the raw ppm/sec and the moles/sm/day
computed with the A.c.K. you set.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The accumulation chamber factors
Here following the formula used to compute the A.c.K.:

86400 P V
K= 6
10 R Tk A
Where
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

! P is the barometric pressure expressed in mBar (HPa)
R is the gas constant 0.08314510 bar L K mol
-1 -1
!
! Tk is the air temperature expressed in Kelvin degree
! V is the chamber net volume in cubic meters
! A is the chamber inlet net area in square meters.

The dimensions of the A.c.K. are

WEST Systems

WEST Systems

In the table the conversion factors vs temperaure and barometric pressure for the
Accumulation Chamber Type A and B are reported.

An example:

You're using the accumulation chamber B, the slope of the flux curve is 2.5 ppm/sec, the
barometric pressure is 1008 mBar (HPa) and the air temperature is 22 °C.
From the table B get the value that correspond to the barometric pressure and
temperature. In this case I get the value computed for 25°C and 1013 mBar : 0.696.

Then the flux is: 2.5 x 0.696= 1.74 moles per square meter per day.
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Air temperature °C
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Area:
1033 0.382 0.374 0.367 0.360 0.354 0.347 0.341 0.335 0.330 0.324 0.319 0.313 0.308
Volume:

1013 0.374 0.367 0.360 0.353 0.347 0.341 0.335 0.329 0.323 0.318 0.312 0.307 0.303
993 0.367 0.360 0.353 0.346 0.340 0.334 0.328 0.322 0.317 0.311 0.306 0.301 0.297
973 0.359 0.352 0.346 0.339 0.333 0.327 0.321 0.316 0.310 0.305 0.300 0.295 0.291
953 0.352 0.345 0.339 0.332 0.326 0.320 0.315 0.309 0.304 0.299 0.294 0.289 0.285
933 0.345 0.338 0.332 0.325 0.319 0.314 0.308 0.303 0.298 0.293 0.288 0.283 0.279
913 0.337 0.331 0.324 0.318 0.313 0.307 0.302 0.296 0.291 0.286 0.282 0.277 0.273
893 0.330 0.323 0.317 0.311 0.306 0.300 0.295 0.290 0.285 0.280 0.275 0.271 0.267
-3

873 0.322 0.316 0.310 0.304 0.299 0.294 0.288 0.283 0.278 0.274 0.269 0.265 0.261
2.756*10 m

853 0.315 0.309 0.303 0.297 0.292 0.287 0.282 0.277 0.272 0.268 0.263 0.259 0.255
3.140*10-2 m2
3

833 0.308 0.302 0.296 0.291 0.285 0.280 0.275 0.270 0.266 0.261 0.257 0.253 0.249
813 0.300 0.295 0.289 0.284 0.278 0.273 0.269 0.264 0.259 0.255 0.251 0.247 0.243
793 0.293 0.287 0.282 0.277 0.271 0.267 0.262 0.257 0.253 0.249 0.245 0.241 0.237
773 0.286 0.280 0.275 0.270 0.265 0.260 0.255 0.251 0.247 0.242 0.238 0.235 0.231
753 0.278 0.273 0.268 0.263 0.258 0.253 0.249 0.244 0.240 0.236 0.232 0.229 0.225
733 0.271 0.266 0.260 0.256 0.251 0.246 0.242 0.238 0.234 0.230 0.226 0.222 0.219
713 0.263 0.258 0.253 0.249 0.244 0.240 0.235 0.231 0.227 0.224 0.220 0.216 0.213
693 0.256 0.251 0.246 0.242 0.237 0.233 0.229 0.225 0.221 0.217 0.214 0.210 0.207
673 0.249 0.244 0.239 0.235 0.230 0.226 0.222 0.218 0.215 0.211 0.208 0.204 0.201
Accumulation chamber A factors

653 0.241 0.237 0.232 0.228 0.224 0.220 0.216 0.212 0.208 0.205 0.201 0.198 0.195

Barometric pressure mBar (Hpa)

633 0.234 0.229 0.225 0.221 0.217 0.213 0.209 0.205 0.202 0.199 0.195 0.192 0.189
613 0.226 0.222 0.218 0.214 0.210 0.206 0.202 0.199 0.196 0.192 0.189 0.186 0.183
593 0.219 0.215 0.211 0.207 0.203 0.199 0.196 0.192 0.189 0.186 0.183 0.180 0.177
573 0.212 0.208 0.204 0.200 0.196 0.193 0.189 0.186 0.183 0.180 0.177 0.174 0.171
553 0.204 0.200 0.197 0.193 0.189 0.186 0.183 0.179 0.176 0.173 0.171 0.168 0.165
533 0.197 0.193 0.189 0.186 0.182 0.179 0.176 0.173 0.170 0.167 0.164 0.162 0.159
513 0.190 0.186 0.182 0.179 0.176 0.172 0.169 0.166 0.164 0.161 0.158 0.156 0.153
493 0.182 0.179 0.175 0.172 0.169 0.166 0.163 0.160 0.157 0.155 0.152 0.150 0.147

Portable Flux Meter PAGE

4.3

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
4.4
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Air temperature °C
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Area:
1033 0.835 0.819 0.804 0.789 0.774 0.760 0.747 0.734 0.721 0.709 0.698 0.686 0.675
Volume:

1013 0.819 0.803 0.788 0.773 0.759 0.746 0.732 0.720 0.707 0.696 0.684 0.673 0.662
993 0.803 0.787 0.772 0.758 0.744 0.731 0.718 0.705 0.693 0.682 0.671 0.660 0.649
973 0.787 0.772 0.757 0.743 0.729 0.716 0.703 0.691 0.679 0.668 0.657 0.646 0.636
953 0.771 0.756 0.741 0.728 0.714 0.701 0.689 0.677 0.665 0.654 0.644 0.633 0.623
933 0.754 0.740 0.726 0.712 0.699 0.687 0.675 0.663 0.652 0.641 0.630 0.620 0.610
913 0.738 0.724 0.710 0.697 0.684 0.672 0.660 0.649 0.638 0.627 0.617 0.607 0.597
893 0.722 0.708 0.695 0.682 0.669 0.657 0.646 0.634 0.624 0.613 0.603 0.593 0.584
-3

873 0.706 0.692 0.679 0.666 0.654 0.643 0.631 0.620 0.610 0.599 0.590 0.580 0.571
6.186*10 m

853 0.690 0.676 0.664 0.651 0.639 0.628 0.617 0.606 0.596 0.586 0.576 0.567 0.558
3.140*10-2 m2
3

833 0.674 0.661 0.648 0.636 0.624 0.613 0.602 0.592 0.582 0.572 0.563 0.553 0.545
813 0.657 0.645 0.632 0.621 0.609 0.598 0.588 0.578 0.568 0.558 0.549 0.540 0.531
793 0.641 0.629 0.617 0.605 0.594 0.584 0.573 0.563 0.554 0.544 0.535 0.527 0.518
773 0.625 0.613 0.601 0.590 0.579 0.569 0.559 0.549 0.540 0.531 0.522 0.514 0.505
753 0.609 0.597 0.586 0.575 0.564 0.554 0.544 0.535 0.526 0.517 0.508 0.500 0.492
733 0.593 0.581 0.570 0.560 0.549 0.539 0.530 0.521 0.512 0.503 0.495 0.487 0.479
713 0.577 0.565 0.555 0.544 0.534 0.525 0.515 0.507 0.498 0.490 0.481 0.474 0.466
693 0.560 0.550 0.539 0.529 0.519 0.510 0.501 0.492 0.484 0.476 0.468 0.460 0.453
673 0.544 0.534 0.524 0.514 0.504 0.495 0.487 0.478 0.470 0.462 0.454 0.447 0.440
Accumulation chamber B factors

653 0.528 0.518 0.508 0.499 0.489 0.481 0.472 0.464 0.456 0.448 0.441 0.434 0.427

Barometric pressure mBar (Hpa)

633 0.512 0.502 0.492 0.483 0.474 0.466 0.458 0.450 0.442 0.435 0.427 0.421 0.414
613 0.496 0.486 0.477 0.468 0.459 0.451 0.443 0.435 0.428 0.421 0.414 0.407 0.401
593 0.480 0.470 0.461 0.453 0.444 0.436 0.429 0.421 0.414 0.407 0.400 0.394 0.388
573 0.463 0.454 0.446 0.437 0.429 0.422 0.414 0.407 0.400 0.393 0.387 0.381 0.375
553 0.447 0.439 0.430 0.422 0.414 0.407 0.400 0.393 0.386 0.380 0.373 0.367 0.362
533 0.431 0.423 0.415 0.407 0.399 0.392 0.385 0.379 0.372 0.366 0.360 0.354 0.348
513 0.415 0.407 0.399 0.392 0.384 0.378 0.371 0.364 0.358 0.352 0.346 0.341 0.335
493 0.399 0.391 0.384 0.376 0.369 0.363 0.356 0.350 0.344 0.338 0.333 0.328 0.322

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Air temperature °C
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Area:

1033 0,410 0,402 0,394 0,387 0,380 0,373 0,366 0,360 0,354 0,348 0,342 0,337 0,331
Volume:

1013 0,402 0,394 0,387 0,379 0,372 0,366 0,359 0,353 0,347 0,341 0,336 0,330 0,325
993 0,394 0,386 0,379 0,372 0,365 0,359 0,352 0,346 0,340 0,335 0,329 0,324 0,319
973 0,386 0,379 0,371 0,364 0,358 0,351 0,345 0,339 0,333 0,328 0,322 0,317 0,312
953 0,378 0,371 0,364 0,357 0,350 0,344 0,338 0,332 0,327 0,321 0,316 0,311 0,306
933 0,370 0,363 0,356 0,349 0,343 0,337 0,331 0,325 0,320 0,314 0,309 0,304 0,299
913 0,362 0,355 0,348 0,342 0,336 0,330 0,324 0,318 0,313 0,308 0,303 0,298 0,293
893 0,354 0,347 0,341 0,334 0,328 0,322 0,317 0,311 0,306 0,301 0,296 0,291 0,286
-3

873 0,346 0,340 0,333 0,327 0,321 0,315 0,310 0,304 0,299 0,294 0,289 0,285 0,280
6.878*10 m
7.116*10-2 m2
3

853 0,338 0,332 0,326 0,320 0,314 0,308 0,303 0,297 0,292 0,287 0,283 0,278 0,274
833 0,331 0,324 0,318 0,312 0,306 0,301 0,295 0,290 0,285 0,281 0,276 0,272 0,267
813 0,323 0,316 0,310 0,305 0,299 0,294 0,288 0,283 0,279 0,274 0,269 0,265 0,261
793 0,315 0,309 0,303 0,297 0,292 0,286 0,281 0,276 0,272 0,267 0,263 0,258 0,254
773 0,307 0,301 0,295 0,290 0,284 0,279 0,274 0,269 0,265 0,260 0,256 0,252 0,248
753 0,299 0,293 0,287 0,282 0,277 0,272 0,267 0,262 0,258 0,254 0,249 0,245 0,242
733 0,291 0,285 0,280 0,275 0,270 0,265 0,260 0,256 0,251 0,247 0,243 0,239 0,235
713 0,283 0,277 0,272 0,267 0,262 0,257 0,253 0,249 0,244 0,240 0,236 0,232 0,229
693 0,275 0,270 0,265 0,260 0,255 0,250 0,246 0,242 0,237 0,233 0,230 0,226 0,222
Accumulation chamber C factors

673 0,267 0,262 0,257 0,252 0,247 0,243 0,239 0,235 0,231 0,227 0,223 0,219 0,216

Barometric pressure mBar (Hpa)

653 0,259 0,254 0,249 0,245 0,240 0,236 0,232 0,228 0,224 0,220 0,216 0,213 0,209
633 0,251 0,246 0,242 0,237 0,233 0,229 0,225 0,221 0,217 0,213 0,210 0,206 0,203
613 0,243 0,239 0,234 0,230 0,225 0,221 0,217 0,214 0,210 0,207 0,203 0,200 0,197
593 0,235 0,231 0,226 0,222 0,218 0,214 0,210 0,207 0,203 0,200 0,196 0,193 0,190
573 0,227 0,223 0,219 0,215 0,211 0,207 0,203 0,200 0,196 0,193 0,190 0,187 0,184
553 0,219 0,215 0,211 0,207 0,203 0,200 0,196 0,193 0,189 0,186 0,183 0,180 0,177
533 0,211 0,207 0,203 0,200 0,196 0,192 0,189 0,186 0,183 0,180 0,177 0,174 0,171
513 0,204 0,200 0,196 0,192 0,189 0,185 0,182 0,179 0,176 0,173 0,170 0,167 0,165
493 0,196 0,192 0,188 0,185 0,181 0,178 0,175 0,172 0,169 0,166 0,163 0,161 0,158

Portable Flux Meter PAGE

4.5

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
4.6
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Air temperature °C
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Area:

1033 0,711 0,697 0,684 0,671 0,659 0,647 0,636 0,625 0,614 0,604 0,594 0,584 0,575
Volume:

1013 0,697 0,684 0,671 0,658 0,646 0,635 0,623 0,613 0,602 0,592 0,582 0,573 0,564
993 0,684 0,670 0,658 0,645 0,632 0,622 0,611 0,601 0,590 0,580 0,571 0,562 0,553
973 0,670 0,657 0,644 0,632 0,621 0,610 0,599 0,588 0,578 0,569 0,559 0,550 0,541
953 0,656 0,643 0,631 0,619 0,608 0,597 0,587 0,576 0,567 0,557 0,548 0,539 0,530
933 0,642 0,630 0,618 0,606 0,595 0,585 0,574 0,564 0,555 0,545 0,536 0,528 0,519
913 0,629 0,616 0,605 0,593 0,582 0,572 0,562 0,552 0,543 0,534 0,525 0,516 0,508
893 0,615 0,603 0,591 0,580 0,570 0,559 0,550 0,540 0,531 0,522 0,513 0,505 0,497
-3

873 0,601 0,589 0,578 0,567 0,557 0,547 0,537 0,528 0,519 0,510 0,502 0,494 0,486
6.697*10-2 m2

853 0,587 0,576 0,565 0,554 0,544 0,534 0,525 0,516 0,507 0,499 0,490 0,482 0,475
11.231*10 m
3

833 0,573 0,562 0,552 0,541 0,531 0,522 0,513 0,504 0,495 0,487 0,479 0,471 0,464
813 0,560 0,549 0,538 0,528 0,519 0,509 0,500 0,492 0,483 0,475 0,467 0,460 0,452
793 0,546 0,535 0,525 0,515 0,506 0,497 0,488 0,480 0,471 0,464 0,456 0,448 0,441
773 0,532 0,522 0,512 0,502 0,493 0,484 0,476 0,467 0,460 0,452 0,444 0,437 0,430
753 0,518 0,508 0,499 0,489 0,480 0,472 0,463 0,455 0,448 0,440 0,433 0,426 0,419
733 0,505 0,495 0,485 0,476 0,468 0,459 0,451 0,443 0,436 0,428 0,421 0,415 0,408
713 0,491 0,481 0,472 0,463 0,455 0,447 0,439 0,431 0,424 0,417 0,410 0,403 0,397
693 0,477 0,468 0,459 0,450 0,442 0,434 0,427 0,419 0,412 0,405 0,398 0,392 0,386
673 0,463 0,454 0,446 0,437 0,429 0,422 0,414 0,407 0,400 0,393 0,387 0,381 0,375

Barometric pressure mBar (Hpa)

653 0,450 0,441 0,432 0,424 0,417 0,409 0,402 0,395 0,388 0,382 0,375 0,369 0,363
633 0,436 0,427 0,419 0,411 0,404 0,397 0,390 0,383 0,376 0,370 0,364 0,358 0,352
613 0,422 0,414 0,406 0,398 0,391 0,384 0,377 0,371 0,364 0,358 0,352 0,347 0,341
593 0,408 0,400 0,393 0,385 0,378 0,372 0,365 0,359 0,353 0,347 0,341 0,335 0,330
573 0,394 0,387 0,379 0,372 0,366 0,359 0,353 0,347 0,341 0,335 0,329 0,324 0,319
553 0,381 0,373 0,366 0,359 0,353 0,346 0,340 0,334 0,329 0,323 0,318 0,313 0,308
Accumulation chamber C-floating factors

533 0,367 0,360 0,353 0,346 0,340 0,334 0,328 0,322 0,317 0,312 0,306 0,301 0,297
513 0,353 0,346 0,340 0,333 0,327 0,321 0,316 0,310 0,305 0,300 0,295 0,290 0,285
493 0,339 0,333 0,326 0,320 0,315 0,309 0,303 0,298 0,293 0,288 0,283 0,279 0,274

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 5.1
Components

PAGE
Depending on your instrument configuration some of the listed parts may not be
provided, please refer to page 1.1 of this handobook to know which components
included with your instrument.

The accumulation chambers

[Link]

[Link]
Internal diameter: 0.2 m (200 mm)
Internal height: 0.097 m (97 mm)
Internal volume chamber: 2.797*10 m
-3 3

Dead volumes (electric engine,

RS 245-6089

filters and detector cell): 4.095*10-5 m3

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Net volume: 2.756*10-3 m3
Base area: 3.140*10-2 m2
Mass: 1.650 Kg (with alkaline battery)

Type A
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

RS 245-6089

Internal diameter: 0.2 m (200 mm)

Internal height: 0.198 m (198 mm)
Internal volume chamber: 6.231*10-3 m3
Dead volumes (electric engine,
filters and detector cell): 4.498*10 m
-5 3

Net volume: 6.186*10-3 m3

Base area: 3.140*10-2 m2
Mass: 2.150 Kg (with alkaline battery)

With Accumulation Chamber Type B you can measure flux

higher than 10000 grams/m2 x day with more accuracy.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Type B

Internal diameter: 0.3 m (300 mm)

Internal height: 0.97 m (97 mm)
RS 245-6089
Internal volume chamber: 6.925*10-3 m3
Dead volumes (electric engine,
filters and detector cell): 4.647*10 m
-5 3

Net volume: 6.878*10 m

-3 3

Base area: 7.116*10 m

-2 2

Mass: 1.900 Kg (with alkaline battery)

Type C
 5.2
The accumulation chambers
PAGE

RS 245-6089
[Link]

[Link]
Type C-floating

Internal diameter: 0.3 m (300 mm)

Internal height: 0.97 m (97 mm)
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Internal volume chamber-floating: 11.277*10-3 m3
Dead volumes (electric engine,
filters and detector cell): 4.647*10-5 m3

Net volume: 11.231*10 m

-3 3

Base area: 6.697*10-2 m2

Mass: 2.000 Kg (with alkaline battery)

With accumulation chambers type C-floating you can measure flux over lakes or other water
sources.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Mixing device

The mixing device is supplied by a 9 volts battery.

Battery replacement
Unscrew the 4 screw on the gray box
and replace the battery.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
compensation
Pressure

Accumulation chamber electrical specifications

Motor : RS245-6089
Mixing device speed : 80 RPM (rotations per minute)

Battery: 9 Volts MN1604 6L61 Duracell or equivalent

Battery expected life 48 hours
 5.3
The accumulation chambers

PAGE
Water trap
Filter IN
[Link]

[Link]
compensation
Pressure
A.C. Outlet
tube fitting

!
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

A magnesium perchlorate dessicant trap can be integrated on the accumulation
chamber between the outlet fitting of accumulation chamber and the Inlet of the PTFE
Filter: It could be used when you're working in a very wet environment to avoid
condensation inside the instrument.
Do not use magnesium perchlorate if there is an high methane concentration.
Magnesium perchlorate can trigger fire or explosion when in contact with combustible
gases.

The trap volume is intentionally very small in order to not add more dead volume in the
sampling line.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

If you're using it please check the status of the water trap frequently and replace it when
necessary.

Tygon tube
Sponge plug

Mg(ClO4)2 Sponge plug

WEST Systems

WEST Systems

Filter IN A.C. outlet fitting

Siringe Filter: PTFE Membrane 0.45 um
COLE-PALMER Part number 02915-30

!
DANGER!
Pay attention while handling magnesium perchlorate.
It causes irritation, and contact with combustible materials or powered metals can cause fire or
explosion.

WEST Systems do not provide magnesium perchlorate because its shipping is not allowed by Air
Carriers.
The 'Baker Analyzed' company markets magnesium perchlorate with under the "ANYDRHONE"
brand.
 5.4
The accumulation chambers
PAGE

The instrument is supplied with two accumulation chambers. The type A (Height 100
mm) is useful to increase the sensivity of the instrument to very low fluxes by a factor 2.
Under normal use we advise using the type B (Height 200 mm) that can cover a very
large range of soil flux with a good sensitivity and linearity.
[Link]

[Link]
The accumulation chamber is the main part of your instrument.
The interfacing of the chamber with soil must be performed with great attention.

Once the chamber is placed on soil in the measuring site it has to be verified that the rim
is placed correctly on soil in order to avoid atmospheric air to enter the chamber.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

RS 245-6089

Soil

If necessary seal the external rim of the chamber with the soil, as in the figure
above, carefully putting some earth around the rim.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

The measuring site should be disturbed as litlle as possible. [Link] et al.
have demonstrated that if soil is disturbed, for example levelling the ground or
digging a hole in order to place the chamber, the flux condition varies in an
unpredictable way and takes a long time to stabilize again

On the contrary measures performed on the same site, trying to disturb the soil
as little as possible, shows a very good precision and repeatibility.

If you plan on sampling underground gas, first perform the flux measurement
and then the sampling.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems

The instrument has good resistance against sulfur gases, but in the case of high
concentration of hydrogen sulphide it is better to use a trap in the gas line.
Hydrogen sulphide is very aggressive and therefore we advise reducing to a
minimum the instrument (especially the palmtop) and operator exposure to
corrosive gases.

Working in high gas emission areas take care of your safety: Do not
work alone and use a gas mask or take adequate precautions.
 5.5
The pump

PAGE
Pump drawing
[Link]

[Link]
Outlet

>
>
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Inlet
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

PUMP POWER SUPPLY female panel connector

1 2 PIN 1 : 12.0 Volt to positive pole of Pump

4 3 PIN 4 : Ground to negative pole of Pump
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Pump specifications

Rated flow: 1000 SCCM (Standard cubic centimeter per minute)

Power supply 150 mA @ 12 Volts

Manufacturer #1 ASF THOMAS, Germany

ANR 50020972

Manufacturer #2 KNF, Germany

NMP 02067694

Pneumatic fittings diameter : 4 mm

In order to avoid unwanted variation of pumping flow due to power supply

the pump is supplied with a stabilized voltage reglulator.
 5.6
The pump
PAGE

Pump maintenance
The pump efficiency can be affected by deposits of dust or water. When
necessary it's possible to clean the pump:

! Disassemble the pumping head.

! Clean the diaphragm, the washer, and the valves using a compressed air
flow.
[Link]

[Link]
! Reassemble the head.

Unscrew the 4 screws

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

>
>

Screws (4)
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Pump head cover
Pump head gasket

Pump head

Pump diaphragm
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 5.7
The battery

PAGE
Battery specifications
Type : WS14-4 Ni-MH Sealed maintenance-free
Nominal voltage 14.4 Volts
Nominal capacity 4.0 A/h
Nominal battery duration 4 hours
CAUTION
[Link]

[Link]
avoid short circuit
do not charge in a sealed container
Charging instruction:
Charge the batteries after every use.

Battery mechanical specifications:

Size: 110 x 90 x 55 mm
Mass: 1100 grams

Connectors: male panel 4 pin: Battery inlet

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

1 Pin1 : +14.4 Volts
2 4 Pin2: +14.4 Volts
Pin3: Battery Temp-Sensor
3
Pin4: Ground
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Battery
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
3 HIGH ALARM

5 LOW ALARM
TERMINALS

13 4-20 mA 1
1 12-30VDC

11 4-20 mA 2
7 V OUT 2

9 V OUT 1
2 GND

4 GND

6 GND

8 GND

10 GND

12 GND

14 GND

OUT
FLOW
IN
SERIAL I/O
LOW BATTERY
HIGH ALARM
LOW ALARM
POWER

>
>
 5.8
The battery
PAGE

Battery charger

Model GENIUS 1000/12

Input 100-250 VAC , 50/60 Hz

OutPut 1,1 A : Charging time ~ 4 hours

[Link]

[Link]
GREEN LED light: Power ON.

YELLOW/RED LED:
YELLOW light on: Charging the battery.
YELLOW light off: Battery charged.
RED light: Replace battery.

To recharge the spare battery connect the battery charger to the battery and
wait that the yellow led light switch off.

The recharge the battery inside the instrument connect the battery-charger to
the adapter and connect it to the “Data and battery” connector on the green
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

panel of the instrument.

! ATTENTION: Please do not turn on when the instrument is charging with

the adapter.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

GENIUS 1000/12

Battery charger
connector
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Battery charger Adapter

FLUXMETER- BT
DATA & Battery
RS485
In

Out

BT
 5.9
Cables

PAGE
Palmtop charger cable

USB type A Female connector Amphenol 6+T Female connector

[Link]

[Link]
The cable have to be connected to the RS485 port of the external connection panel.

The cable have a power supply of 5 Vdc , 500 mA.

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 5.10
CS-D0023_01 Board panel
PAGE

RS485 Battery Pump Power-A Power-B

RS232-A
2 2 2 2
1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3
4 4 4 4
[Link]

[Link]
SET

RS232-B FLUXMETER-BT

SENSORS POWER SUPPLY female panel connector

POWER-A POWER-B connectors

PIN 2 : 14.4 Volt - to PIN 1 of Detectors Terminals

PIN 4 : Ground - to PIN 2 Detectors LI800 Terminals

PUMP POWER SUPPLY female panel connector

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

PIN 1 : 12.0 Volt to positive pole of Pump
PIN 4 : Ground to negative pole of Pump

BATTERY IN male panel connector

PIN 1 : 14.4 Volt to battery
PIN 3 : Battery Temp. Sensor
PIN 4 : Ground
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

RS232-A female panel connector: LICOR LI820/840 port
Connect here the Licor LI820/840 using a pin-to-pin male/female cable

RS232-B male panel connector: External BT

Connect here an optional emergency Bluetooth device,
to be used in case of fault of the internal BT.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
RS485 male IDC panel connector:

DB9 PIN IDC PIN Function

1 1 GND
2 3 14.4V
3 5 GND
4 7 RS485 B
5 9 RS485 A
6 2 GND
7 4 14.4 V
8 6 GND
9 8 RS485 B
 5.11
The backpack

PAGE
Backpack assembly.
Assemble the Fluxmeter on the backback using the screw on the internal
side of backpack
[Link]

[Link]
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Safety hints
If you need to free your self from the backpack and the instrument pull the
red belt.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
5.12
WEST Systems

Page intentionally left blank

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 6.1
Calibration of the flux meter

PAGE
Fluxmeter calibration
Here is reported the procedure followed by WEST Systems to check the fluxmeter
calibration.
[Link]

[Link]
How to verify the fluxmeter calibration
The calibration described refers to carbon dioxide calibration, for other gases, like
methane or hydrogen sulphide, the same procedure has been followed.

Sketch of calibration device

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

RS 245-6089

7 3
Calibration table
5 5
1

9.0
3

7
1

Sta
nd
ard
ta
Standard taoms. om
s.
9.0
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Mass flow controller

100% carbon dioxide (or target gas)

cylinder and pressure reducing valve
WEST Systems

WEST Systems

CO2 fluxes from soil are simulated by injecting a known flow of gas into the
accumulation chamber. The interface between the accumulation chamber and
the calibration table is built to minimize the gas leakage.
The apparatus is schematized in figure 1.
For flux between 0.5 and 300 moles/(m day) the injected flux is controlled and
2

measured with a precision mass flow controller. This MFC, calibrated for CO2, is
electronically stabilized (Accuracy 1%).
 6.2
Calibration of the flux meter
PAGE

Fluxmeter calibration

For fluxes between 300 moles/(m day) and 700 moles/ (m day) the injected
2 2

flux is controlled by means of a mechanical flow reducer and measured using a

bubble flowmeter (Accuracy 3%) before and after the flux measurement with
the accumulation chamber.
[Link]

[Link]
Two series of measure were performed for flux of 300 moles/(m2day) to
evaluate the coherence between the two different methods of flow
measurement.

A thermometer and barometer were utilized to measure the barometric

pressure and the air temperature during the experiment in order to select the
correct accumulation chamber conversion factor.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

A flow meter is utilized to measure the pumping flow during the experiment.
During all the measures a 100% CO2 flow was utilized.
The same procudure was utilized to check the instrumental response to
methane / Hydrogen Sulfide.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 6.3
Calibration of the flux meter

PAGE
The influence of pumping flow

Influence of pumping efficiency on the flux measurement results:

We have carried out some sets of measures utilizing the same injected flux but
[Link]

[Link]
with different pumping flow from the accumulation chamber to the detector.
The pumping flow was changed by means of a mechanical flow reducer and
measured with a Microbridge Mass Airflow sensor (Accuracy 2%).
We have not noted a significant variation of the measures except when the
pumping flow is less than 200 SCCM.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Imposed flux
1 10 100 1000 10000 100000
4

2
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

0

-2
1200 SCCM
-4 1000 SCCM
Error %

800 SCCM
-6
500 SCCM
-8 300 SCCM
100 SCCM
-10

-12
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
-14

-16

In the diagram the plot of the measurement error versus the imposed flux of
carbon dioxide (expressed in grams per square meter per day) at different
pumping flow rates is shown.

In order to avoid unwanted variation of pumping flow due to power supply the
pump is supplied at 12 V DC with a stabilized voltage regulator.

The pumping flow , after the power supply stabilization, is 1000 SCCM 20%.
The efficiency of pump can vary due to dust or moisture in the pump body.
Periodic maintenance is necessary.
 6.4
Calibration of the flux meter
PAGE

The influence of mixing device

The mixing device was suspected, by some researcher, to affect the accuracy of the flux
measurement.
In our experience the precision of the measurements was noteably reduced without a
mixing device present.
In the two plots below the measurements at various regimes of mixing device rotation
[Link]

[Link]
are reported.

Influence of the mixing device rotation speed

Influence of the mixing device rotation speed on flux reading In the plot the measured flux vs the mixing
device rotation speed.
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
Error %

0
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

-0.5
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
RPM

Battery status vs RPM.

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

RPM vs battery voltage In the plot the mixing device RPM (Rotation per
140
minute) vs power supply voltage. The normal range
120
for the battery voltage is between 9.6 V (new
100
battery) and 6 Volt (discharged battery)
80
RPM

60

40

20

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Volt
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 7.1
Pneumatic connections

PAGE
The tubes
Four types of tube are used to realize the gas sampling line:

! RILSAN tube 6 mm external diameter 4 mm internal diameter;

! SILICON tube 8 mm external diameter 3.3 mm internal diameter;
SILICON 12.5 mm external diameter 4.3 mm internal diameter;
[Link]

[Link]
!
! Tygon 13.5 mm external diameter 8 mm internal diameter.

The filters
Two types of filters are used to protect the gas sampling line:

! 25 mm diameter 0.22 m PTFE membrane Cole-Palmer 2915-20 or

equivalent;
! 50 mm diameter 0.45 m PTFE membrane Cole-Palmer 2915-30 or
equivalent.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The PTFE membrane filters are permeable to gases and water vapour and are
impermeable to liquid water and dust particles. The use of the filters protects
the gas detectors and the other pneumatic parts. Please check the status of the
filters very often.

The fittings
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems Tube fitting for RILSAN 6x4 and Silicon tubes

M10 x 1mm

2.8 mm Diameter

25 mm
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
44 mm
Material : Chromed brass

The gas sampling line is assembled with 1/8" gas cylindrical or conical thread fittings.
The sealing is guaranteed by (r) Loctite 542 dope.
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
7.2
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

TERMINALS

1 12-30VDC
2 GND
3 HIGH ALARM
POWER 4 GND
LOW BATTERY 5 LOW ALARM
HIGH ALARM 6 GND
LOW ALARM 7 V OUT 2

Tubing legend
8 GND
9 V OUT 1
10 GND
11 4-20 mA 2

!
12 GND
13 4-20 mA 1
14 GND
FLOW
Inside the fluxmeter

SERIAL I/O IN OUT

to the LI820
to the pump
Pump
Pneumatic connections

IN

OUT
>
>

RS485
PTFE filter

FLUXMETER- BT

BT

diameter 3.3 mm internal diameter;

C-Flex or silicon tube 6 mm external
DATA and BATTERY
panel
Connection

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 7.3
Pneumatic connections

PAGE
Accumulation chamber connections

FLUXMETER- BT DATA and BATTERY

RS485
IN
[Link]

[Link]
OUT

BT

PTFE filter 0.45 um

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

compensation
Pressure
WEST Systems

WEST Systems

Tubing legend

! RILSAN tube 6 mm external diameter 4 mm

internal diameter BLUE color;
! RILSAN tube 6 mm external diameter 4 mm
internal diameter RED color;

! SILICON 12.5 mm external diameter 4.3

mm internal diameter;
 7.4
Pneumatic connections
PAGE
[Link]

[Link]
compensation
Pressure

Tubing legend
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

! Tygon 13.5 mm external diameter 8 mm
internal diameter;

! SILICON 12.5 mm external diameter 4.3

mm internal diameter;
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Tygon tube
Sponge plug

Mg(ClO4)2 Sponge plug

Filter IN A.C. outlet fitting

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Siringe Filter: PTFE Membrane 0.45 um
COLE-PALMER Part number 02915-30

! For the usage of water trap see the warning of page 5.3.
 8.1
Troubleshooting

PAGE
In most cases the problems are related to the battery charge status and to
the serial data communications between palmtop and instrument.

The palmtop and its serial cable are the most fragile components of your
instrument.

A) Power supply related problems

[Link]

[Link]
The FluxMeter does not turn On:
The LED light on the On/Off button do not become green:
! The battery pack is plugged to the instrument?
! The battery pack is charged?

Hints
! A charged battery's voltage must be more than 14.4 Volts.
! NiMH batteries can be recharged in any charge status. They do not
have "memory effect".
! The LED light on the power button is flashing green/red: This means
that the battery charge status is LOW.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

B) Basic communication problems
Message: Connection failed / not connected
Fluxmanager cannot communicate with the instrument:
! The selected communication port is not the correct one;
! The bluetooth of the palmtop is OFF;
! The instrument is OFF;
! The distance between the instrument and the palmtop exceed the
bluetooth range.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Please see Appendix P

Message: Fluxmeter not found

Fluxmanager can communicate with remote bluetooth but not with the the
instrument:

Reset the palmtop by pressing the reset button in the palmtop

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
!
bottom.
! Switch off the instrument, wait 10 seconds and turn on it again.
! Restart with the connection procedure (see Appendix P).
 8.2
Troubleshooting
PAGE

Please report all problems that you encounter in using this device to us.
This will help us to improve our instrument as well as customer support.

e-mail to: [Link]@[Link]

[Link]

[Link]
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 9.1
Software FluxRevision

PAGE
FluxRevision is the software that allows to quickly elaborate a large number of
files created by FluxManager. Note: FluxRevision runs on Microsoft Windows
operating systems; the Microsoft .NET framework is required on the machine.

There are two ways to download the FluxManager files from the PDA to a
[Link]

[Link]
personal computer:

- Copy the files from the location \My Documents\FluxManagerFiles to the

storage card (SD or MicroSD card) and plug the memory card to a PC
(using a card reader).
- Install on the PC the software Microsoft Activesync (the installer is on the
CD furnished with the PDA, or it can be freely downloaded from the
Microsoft website). Then plug the PDA to the PC with the USB cable. The
ActiveSync window will appear and will allow to navigate into the PDA
directories. Go to the path \My Documents\FluxManagerFiles and copy
the files to the PC.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Once you have the files in the PC, start the FluxRevision application. In the first
instance you'll be ask to select the folder where you have the files to be
examinated. The folder you select will be proposed the next time you start the
software. Select the folder and press OK. If there are valid files, the application
will start to parse the data.

To estimate the flux from the slope of the regression line, the application will
need to know the following parameters (see chapter 4 for details):

- Air temperature
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

- Barometric pressure
- Volume of the accumulation chamber

If the barometric pressure is missing (because you don't have a pressure probe
inside the fluxmeter and you didn't manually inserted the value in the
FluxManager saving window), but the fluxmeter of the PDA is equipped with a
GPS antenna, FluxRevision can estimate the pressure from the elevation (of
course this calculation can't be as accurate as having a sensor).
WEST Systems

WEST Systems

If some files are missing environmental parameters, you'll see the window
appear.
 9.2
Software FluxRevision
PAGE
[Link]

[Link]
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The volume of the accumulation chamber is obtained with the type of chamber
(A, B or C) that you inserted in the FluxManager software. Check that the
information about the chamber type (A in the illustration) is correct: the
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

displayed type is the one obtained from the files. If the files present more than
one chamber types, an asterisk will signal this. For example if you select a folder
with some file with accumulation chamber A and some with type B, you will see a
window like this:
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 9.3
Software FluxRevision

PAGE
To set the barometric pressure or the temperature in the measures that are
missing this parameter, replace the default values (1013 mBar and 20°C) and
press OK. If the “Apply to all analysis” box is checked, the parameters in the
measures that already had them will be overwritten.

Once all the files are parsed, you'll see the measures in the list of the left.
[Link]

[Link]
Create KML: If the files
Folder: The folder that Create report: Allows to contain GPS data, will be
contains the measure files. create the report file. See generated a KML file, just
the paragraph for details. to have a quick
Curve: You can choose the representation of the
currently displayed gas specie. spatial distribution of
Changing the specie has the measure points. The file
effect to display the ErrQ and can be opened with
the Flux on the list. So the filter software like Google Earth.
and the sorting of the list will
refer to the selected specie.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Filter Records: This box allows
filtering the measures in the list.
The measures excluded from the
filter will however be present in
the report file.

Never revised: Checking this

box, the list will contain only the
measures that have never been
revised (with no revision date).
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

ErrQ and Flux: Entering a value
in these 2 boxes will exclude the
measures with Flux or Errq
higher or lower than the inserted
threshold. Pressing the >=
button will invert the sign.

Auto Regression: this will

automatically determine the
best time interval to calculate
the linear regression, according
to the following algorithms:
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
- Best Slope: the interval which
determines the highest slope
is chosen. Point: it's the value you inserted in the “Point” field in
the FluxManager saving window. By default it's
- Best Errq: the interval which
numerical and auto incremental but you can insert
determines the highest Errq is also words.
chosen. Sampling date: it's the date and the time the
- Best Product: the algorithm measure was performed. Warning: this information is
taken from the PDA clock so check it before to start the
looks for a good compromise
analysis' sequence.
between the 2 previous Revision date: it's the date and time the measure
parameters. was edited (with FluxRevision) by modifying left and
right limits of flux interpolation and then modifying
the value of the flux.
ErrQ: it's the value referred to the currently displayed
First..Last: Navigates the gas specie. For example select Errq <= 0.9 to evaluate
measure list. You can sort the if there are curves with a bad linear interpolation.
measures by clicking on the Flux: it's the value referred to the currently displayed
column header. gas specie.
 9.4
Software FluxRevision
PAGE

Selecting an item in the list or pressing one of the navigate buttons, the flux
curves are displayed. Like in FluxManager, are displayed the graphs of the
sensors with TRACK=ON. They are usually the gas sensors.
The window is composed by 3 panels:
- The graph: time vs. concentration (or whatever measure unit is).
Clicking with the middle mouse button, the X and Y value will be shown.
Clicking with the right mouse buttons, it will be possible to export the
[Link]

[Link]
plot as a JPEG image file, or to perform an automatic regression (in the
same way as the Auto Regression work, but only for this file).
- The control panel, composed by Scale panel and Regression panel.
- The information box, which contains additional information about the
measure point.

The scale panel allows to scale the Y axis of the plot. The Custom button permits
to view only concentration interval. Then press the Auto or View All to restore
the whole range.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
The red points are used to calculate the interpolation line (and so, the flux), the
green ones are ignored. To modify the interpolation time interval, move the left
and right limits with the mouse left button. As you leave the button, the line is
automatically recomputed and drawn: you will see the labels Slope, Flux, ErrQ,
Left Limit, Right limit change. As you decide the interval is correct, click the Save
to File button.

Warning: By saving, the file of that measure will be updated, and the interval
you chose in the PDA with FluxManager will be overwritten.

You will see also the field Revision date in the list will be updated with the current
time.
 9.5
Software FluxRevision

PAGE
Report file

The report file is a table where each row corresponds to a measure point. The
number of the columns is variable, since the 3 red fields are repeated for every
sensor with TRACK=ON. The fields are the following:
[Link]

[Link]
- DATE
- TIME
- SITE
- POINT
- LONGITUDE
- LATITUDE
- UTM ZONE
- UTM LONGITUDE
- UTM LATITUDE
- ELEVATION
- NOTE
- PRESSURE (Hpa)
- AIR TEMPERATURE (°C)
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

- SOIL TEMPERATURE (°C)
- SOIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY (%)
- ACCUMULATION CHAMBER
- ACK
- SLOPE [ppm/s]
- FLUX [mol/mq/day]
- ERRQ
- FILENAME

The report file is a text file, the fields are separated by the TAB character, so the
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

file can be easily opened with applications such as Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice
Calc.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
9.6
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Software FluxRevision

Page intentionally left blank

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 Air-Soil Box A.1

PAGE
Installation
The design below shows the connections of air and soil probes.
The soil probe needs to be completely covered by soil (not just the fork).
When removing the soil probe, do not pull it by the cable: this could break
the internal wires.
Air probe
[Link]

[Link]
Soil T&RH
1 +12V 2 +5V
T&RH
SOIL
2 TD 3 Data
3 n.c. 5 Sck
T Gnd 6 Gnd

AIR
T&RH

ASBOX
RS485/2

RS485/2
1 Gnd
2 RS485-A
3 RS485-B
6 +12V
ID
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

[Link]
Air.T°C
RS485/1

1 Gnd [Link]
2 RS485-A
3 RS485-B Soil.T°C
6 +12V

RS485/1
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

3 HIGH ALARM

5 LOW ALARM
TERMINALS

13 4-20 mA 1
1 12-30VDC

11 4-20 mA 2
7 V OUT 2

9 V OUT 1
2 GND

4 GND

6 GND

8 GND

10 GND

12 GND

14 GND

OUT
FLOW
IN
SERIAL I/O
LOW BATTERY
HIGH ALARM
LOW ALARM
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
POWER

>
>

Soil probe

FLUXMETER- BT DATA and BATTERY

RS485
IN

OUT

BT
 A.2 Air-Soil Box
PAGE

RS485 Configuration

Sensor Conf RS485 ID

Soil Relative Humidity 0xA0 0x14

Soil Temperature 0xB0 0x15

[Link]

[Link]
Air Relative Humidity 0xDA 0xA4

Air Temperature 0xD9 0xA5

Soil temperature and volumetric water

content gauge
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Sensor Specifications

Soil temperature
Range: -40 to +50°C
Resolution: 0.1 °C
Accuracy: ±1°C

Soil relative humidity

Range: 0-100% (volumetric water content)
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Accuracy: ±3%
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 Air-Soil Box A.3

PAGE
Silicon Air Temperature and relative humidity
gauge

Sensor specifications
[Link]

[Link]
Two sensors for relative humidity & temperature:
- Measurement range: 0-100% RH
- Absol. RH accuracy: +/- 2% RH (10...90% RH)
- Repeatability RH: +/- 0.1% RH
- Temp. accuracy: +/- 0.4°C (5...40 °C)
- Calibrated & digital output
- Fast response time < 3 sec.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Probe schematics
J1
AMP 6+T MALE
TMMBAT46
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

SEN1 R1 D1
1K 1
VDD 4 VDD +5V
2
SCK 3 SCK SCKD
3
2 DATA DATAD
DATA 1 GND
4
GND 5
1K R2 6
SHT1X
7
D2
TZB 5V
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Probe Layout (actual size)

5 Sck 6 GND
Sck 1K TZB 5VR1
1

Vdd
Gnd AirT&RH 1K R2
WEST
Data SHT75 D2 2 +5V
4

3 Data D1

Amphenol 6T male
 A.4 Air-Soil Box
PAGE

Silicon Air Temperature and relative humidity gauge

Air Temperature accuracy Vs. temperature

Temperature accuracy
[Link]

[Link]
1.6
1.4
1.2
Error °C

1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Measured temperature °C
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Relative Humidity accuracy Vs. RH%
Relative Humidity Accuracy

4
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Error %

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
%RH
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 B.1
Glossary of terms

PAGE
Activesynch: Communication software, furnished with the
palmtop, that allows the communications between the palmtop
and the desktop computers via docking cradle and USB
connection.
[Link]

[Link]
AcK : Conversion factor between the native unit of instrument
(ppm/sec) and the user unit (Normally moles/squaremeter/day)

CF Compact Flash memory card: Non volatile memory card that

is used to store programs or data. The card can be used to share
the data between the palmtop and your personal computer. An
adapter might be necessary to use the card on you personal
computer.

Docking Cradle: desktop base used to connect the palmtop to a

Handbook - Release 8.2 Septemner 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 September 2012

personal computer via USB using MS ActiveSynch (See the

palmtop manual).

ErreQ, r^2, sr: The quality factor of the regression. A value of

ErreQ higher than 0.9 means that the regression quality is very
good.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Filter: PTFE membrane syringe filter.

LICOR,LI820,LI8x0 LI800, GasHound : A carbon dioxide

detector.

LPM : Flow unit, Liter per minute

PDA, PalmTop : The Compaq iPAQ or Hewleet Packard Pocket

PC palmtop computer.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
p.p.m. : Gas concentration in parts per million per volume.

PTFE : Polytetrafluorethylene or (r) TEFLON, inert plastic that do

not suffer chemical attacks.

SCCM : Flow unit, Standard cubic centimeter per minute.

SD Secure digital memory card : A non volatile memory card

(see CF compact flash and appendix A).
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
B.2
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 September 2012

Page intentionally left blank

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 Septemner 2012
 References C.1

PAGE
If you'd like to have your paper(s) reported here please send us the
paper abstract and we'll include it in the next releases. Thanks.

Monitoraggio del flusso di biogas diffuso dal suolo da discariche RSU:Il

caso di Legoli, Peccioli (PI).
Raco B., Cioni R., Guidi M., Scozzari A., Lelli M., Lippo G., Rifiuti Solidi Vol.
XX n°2, pagg. 119-135, 2006.
[Link]

[Link]
Carbon dioxide degassing by advective flow from Usu Volcano, Japan.
Hernandez P.A , [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link],
[Link], [Link] and [Link], Science 292, 83-86, 2001.

Dynamics of carbon dioxide emission at Mammoth Mountain

[Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], [Link], California.
Earth and Planetary Science Letters 188, 535-541, 2001.

Continuous monitoring of diffuse CO2 degassing, HorseShoe Lake

Mammoth Mnt. California.
J.D. Rogie, D.M. Kerrick, M.L. Sorey, G. Chiodini, M.L. Sorey, G. Virgili
Proc. AGU EOS Trans 81 (1998) F1323.
Handbook - Release 8.2 September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 September 2012

Soil CO2 flux measurements in volcanic and geothermal areas.
G. Chiodini, R. Cioni, M. Guidi, B. Raco and L. Marini, Appl. Geochem 13,
543-552, 1998.

Diffuse CO2 efflux from Iwojima volcano, Izu-Ogasawara arc, Japan:

Notsu K., Sugiyama K., Hosoe M., Uemura A., Shimoike Y., Tsunomori F.,
Sumino H., Yamamoto J., Mori T. and Hernández P.A., Journal Volcanology
and Geothermal Research. Volumen 139, 147- 161, 2005.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Graben structure in the Las Canadas edifice (Tenerife, Canary Islands):
implication for active diffuse degassing and insights on the caldera
formation. Galindo I., Soriano C., Marti J. and Pérez N. Journal of
volcanology Geothermal Reserch. Vol 144, 73-87, 2005.

Dynamics of diffuse degassing at Ilopango caldera El Salvador, Central

America, López d., Ransam L., Pérez N.M., Hernández P.A., Monterrosa J.
and Nots, Bulletin Geological Society of America Special Paper, Volumen
375, 191-202, 2004.

Diffuse degassing of carbon dioxide, radon and mercury at San Miguel

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
volcano, El Salvador, Central America, Cartagena R., Olmos R., López D.,
Barahona F., Soriano T., Hernández P.A. and Pérez N.M. Bulletin Geological
Society of America Spaecial Paper. Volumen 375, 203 - 212, 2004.

Diffuse CO2 and 222Rn degassing from San Salvador volcano, El Salvador,
Central America, Pérez N.M., Salazar J.M.L., Hernández P.A., Soriano T.,
Lopez K. and Notsu K. Bulletin Geological Society of America, Vol 375,
227-236, 2004.

Spatial and temporal variations of diffuse CO2 degassing at Santa Ana-

Izalco-Coatepeque volcanic complex, El Salvador, Central America,
Salazar J.M.L., Hernández P.A., Pérez N.M., Olmos R., Barahona F.,
Cartagena R., Soriano T., Lopez K., and Notsu K. ,Bulletin Geological
Society of America, Volumen 375, 135-146, 2004.
 References
C.2

Soil Gas Radon and Helium Distribution at Cañadas caldera, Tenerife,

PAGE

Canary Islands, Spain, Hernández P.A., Pérez N.M., Salazar J.M., Reimer
G.M., Notsu K., and Wakita H., Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal
Research, Vol 131, 59-76, 2004.

Diffuse degassing and relation to structural flow paths at Ahuachapan

Geothermal Field, El Salvador, Padrón E., López D.L., Magaña M.I., Marrero
R., and Pérez N.M., Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, Volumen
27, 325-330, 2003.
[Link]

[Link]
Carbon dioxide emissions from soils at Hakkoda, North Japan, Hernández,
P.A., Notsu, K., Tsurumi M., Mori T., Ohno M., Shimoike Y., Salazar J.M. and
Pérez N.M., Journal Geophysical Research, Volumen 108, 6-1 to 6-10,
2003.

Dynamics of non-controlled emision of biogas from landfills, Lima N.,

Nolasco D., Salazar J.M.L., Hernández P.A., and Pérez N.M., Proceedings of
the First International Conference on Waste Management and the
Environment, 469-478, 2002.

Precursory diffuse carbon dioxide degassing related to a 5.1 magnitude

earthquake in El Salvador, Central America, J. M. L. Salazar, N. M. Pérez, P.
Handbook - Release 8.2 September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 September 2012

A. Hernández, T. Soriano, F. Barahona, R. Olmos, R. Cartagena, D. L.
López, N. Lima, G. Melián, E. Padrón, I. Galindo, K. Notsu, Earth and
Planetary Science Letters , Vol 205, 1-2, 81-89, 2002.

Preliminary Results of Diffuse Emissions of CO2 and Soil Gas Pressure

Gradient Measurements at Tarumae Volcano, Japan, P. A. Hernández, G.
Natale, F. Tsunomori, K. Sugiyama, T. Ito, K. Notsu, H. Okada, N. M. Pérez,
Bulletin Volcanol. Soc. Japan., Volumen 46, 121-125 , 2001.

Diffuse emission of carbon dioxide from Cerro Negro volcano, Nicaragua,

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Central America , J. M. L. Salazar, P. A. Hernández, N. M. Pérez, G. Melián,
J. Álvarez, K Notsu , Geophysical Research Letters, Vol 28, 4275-4278,
2001.

Diffuse emission of carbon dioxide from Miyake-jima volcano, Japan, P. A.

Hernández, J. M. L. Salazar, Y. Shimoike, T. Mori, K. Notsu, N. M. Pérez,
Chemical Geology, Vol 177, 175-185, 2001.

Bernard A. and Mazot A. (2004). Geochemical evolution of the young

crater lake of Kelud volcano in Indonesia. Proceedings of the Eleventh
International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction, Saratoga Springs,
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
New York, USA, vol.1, p.87-90.

Bernard A., Escobar C. D., Mazot A. and Gutierrez R. E. (2004). The acid
volcanic lake of Santa Ana volcano, El Salvador. Geological Society of
America, Special Paper 375, p. 121-133.
 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector H.1

PAGE
rrtox
[Link]

[Link]
Power supply in
&
Inlet Outlet RS485 Output

Pin Signal
1 Gnd
2 +VDC Legenda
3 Gnd Gnd: Ground reference for power supply and RS485
+VDC: 10-28 Volts Power supply input
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

4 RS485-B
5 RS485-A RS485-A: Digital signal output A
6 Gnd RS485-B: Digital signal output B
7 +12V
8 Gnd
9 RS485-B

Sensor specifications
Ambient conditions:
Air temperature -30°C to 50 °C
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Air pressure 800 hPa to 1200 hPa
Air RH 15% ... 90% non condensating.
Expected sensor life > 24 months.
Chemical cell order code: WEST H2S-BH
Detector order code: WEST TOX-05-H2S-BH
Factory calibration : 20 ppm
RMS Noise < 0.02 ppm
Zero Offset < ±0.05 ppm
Max Overrange 200 ppm

The chemical cell reaction is:

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
H2S + 2O2 = H2SO4
the gas sample specific consuption is very low:

2.5 x 10-10 moles/sec per ppm

Due to this consuption the H2S flux is methodically

understimated by a -10% with the accumulation chamber A
and by a -5% when using the accumulation chamber B.
Then we advise to use the accumulation chamber B except
when the flux is very very low.
 H.2 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector
PAGE

Cross sensitivity tables

Unfortunately the hydrogen sulfide detector is affected by cross sensitivity with
several gas species: In the table below these cross sensitivity are reported:

Test @ ppm Reading ppm

SO2 Sulfur Dioxide 20 < 2
NO Nytrogen monoxide 50 < 1.5
NO2 Nytrogen dioxide 10 < -3
[Link]

[Link]
Cl2 Chlorine 10 < -2.5
H2 Hydrogen 400 < 1
C2H4 Ethylene 400 < 0.4
CO Carbon monoxide 400 < 4
NH3 Ammonia 20 < 0.02

Example: if the detector is exposed to a 20 ppm concentration of sulfur dioxide

the reading can reach a maximum of 10 ppm.
The reading is negative when exposed to chlorine or nytrogen dioxide.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector H.3

PAGE
Hydrogen sulfide detector calibration dates:

Date: By:

Standard gas mixture: ppm Zero: ppm

Barometric pressure HPa Air T. °C

[Link]

[Link]
Date: By:

Standard gas mixture: ppm Zero: ppm

Barometric pressure HPa Air T. °C

Date: By:

Standard gas mixture: ppm Zero: ppm

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Barometric pressure HPa Air T. °C

Date: By:

Standard gas mixture: ppm Zero: ppm

Barometric pressure HPa Air T. °C

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Date: By:

Standard gas mixture: ppm Zero: ppm

Barometric pressure HPa Air T. °C

Date: By:

Standard gas mixture: ppm Zero: ppm

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Barometric pressure HPa Air T. °C

Date: By:

Standard gas mixture: ppm Zero: ppm

Barometric pressure HPa Air T. °C

 H.4 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector
PAGE

Calibration

As explained previously in Chapter 4 the flux measurement is proportional to the slope of

the concentration curve versus time. The proportionality factor depends on the
volume/surface ratio of the accumulation chamber used for the measurement, as well
as, the barometric pressure and air temperature at the moment of making the
measurement.
The most important aspect to understand is that the flux is proportional to the gradient of
concentration over time: ppm/second.
[Link]

[Link]
This aspect allows us to simplify the control of the response of the gas sensors utilised.
Each time a measurement campaign is initiated the instrumental response of the gas
sensors must be verified and, if necessary, their calibration fine tuned.
To simplify the explanation see the following example:

Calibration control example:

Before verifying the calibration turn on the instrument and leave it on for a minimum of
20 minutes to stabilise the temperature of the detector.

Step1: Verifying the zero:

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Inject a flow (1 liter per minute) of nitrogen, or synthetic air, into the instrument and on
the palmtop screen read the concentration of carbon dioxide. Obviously, it is important
that the injected mixture not contain Hydrogen Sulpide. In the absence of a standard
mixture with these caracteristics you can intake atmospheric air, as long as it is outside
the area of abnormal emissions.

The method for injecting standard gas mixtures is explained in detail in the following
pages.

Step2: Verification of the span:

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Inject a standard mixture containing approximately 20 ppm of H2S and check the
response of the instrument.
Let's suppose that the check performed gave the following results:
Injecting a mixture at zero concentration of H2S the detector returns a reading of 0.2
ppm.
Injecting a mixture containing a 20 ppm concentration H2S the detector returns a reading
of 19.7 ppm.
At a variation of concentration set at 20 ppm the instrument has a slightly different
response: 19.5 ppm (=19.7 - 0.2 ppm). The evaluation error is of about 0.5 ppm, which
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
in percentage points over the span corresponds to 2.5% less.
The error in evaluating the increment in concentration manifests as a systematic error in the
evaluation of flux and, therefore, must be corrected by calibrating the instruments when it is too
high (> 5%).
 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector H.5

PAGE
Step 1 : Calibrating the Zero

Option A)
Inject a flow (approximately 1 liter per minute) of nitrogen, or synthetic air, into the instrument
using a Mass Flow Controller or a needle type flow regulator and a flow meter following the
scheme below.
[Link]

[Link]
In this case the instrument pump must be disconnected from the
IDC10O
calibration circuit.

Flow-meter
Waste
1.0 LPM
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

3 7 5
5
1
3
7

s.
om
ta
ard
nd .smoat dradnatS
Sta

Needle-type Flow regulator

or
Mass flow controller

Option B) Preferred
Fill the 5 liters Tedlar-bag with nitrogen, or synthetic air and connect it to the instrument:
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

In this case the instrument pump is connected and will be
IDC10O
managed by the [Link] calibration software.

>
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
>

Waste
5 Liters Tedlar-bag
 H.6 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector
PAGE

Step 1 : Calibrating the Zero

To calibrate the detector you need :
!
!A cylinder with nitrogen or UPP air (Mixture of 79% of N2 and 21% of oxigen);
!A cylinder with 15 / 20 ppm of H2S in nitrogen or UPP air;
!A 5 (10) liters TEDLAR bag;
!Warm up the instrument for a 30 minutes period before to start calibration.
[Link]

[Link]
Open the calibration software supplied with the instrument: Calibra

Calibra reads the instrument configuration made by FluxManager, then before to run
Calibra be sure that FluxManager recognized the correct configuration of instrument.

Calibra
2 devices found

Check that the communication port is the correct

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Comm port. COM6: Bluetooth serial
one: 11:05
Select sensor. COM6: Bluetooth for the wireless connection
COM1: Serial for the wired connection.

Start calibration The port information is taken from the

Restore configuration
FluxManager configuration file, then if
FluxManager was working also Calibra has to work.
Exit
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Calibra

Actual reading : 5.00 ppm Select the H2S detector: 09: H2S
Comm port. COM6: Bluetooth serial
11:05
Select sensor. 09: H2S

Start calibration

Restore configuration
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Exit

Calibra Once selected the sensor you want to calibrate you

2 devices found can see the actual reading.
Actual reading : 5.00 ppm

Comm port. COM6: Bluetooth serial

11:05
Select sensor. H2S

Start calibration

Restore configuration

Exit
 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector H.7

PAGE
Step 2 : Calibrating the Span

Calibra
2 devices found

Actual reading : 5.00 ppm

[Link]

[Link]
Comm port. COM6: Bluetooth serial Fill the TEDLAR bag with the H2S free gas
11:05
Select sensor. H2S West
mixture and connect it to the inlet port of the
instrument.

Start calibration

Restore configuration
By pressing Start Calibration the detector
Exit configuration is reset to default value and the
pump is switched on.

By pressing Start Calibration Calibra asks the current calibration values to the
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

detector and store it in a file. These saved values can be used to restore the current
calibration if something worog will happen.

Now the gas mixture is injected into the detector and the concentration readings
are shown in the botton part of the screen.
The goal is to wait the stabilization of reading and then to select an interval where
the readings are stable.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Next> Cancel
Current value : 33.400 ppm
Average : 28.00 ppm
H2S actual reading
drift : 0.200 ppm/sec
40.0
H2S Drift and average

H2S zero curve

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
left and right limits marker
20.3

Once selected an interval you can read the average value and the drift in the
interval. The average value of the selected interval will be used to calibrate the
detector. The drift value will give you an idea of "readings stabilization". The drift
value must be close to zero as possible.

Once ready press the "NEXT>" button to proceed with calibration.

 H.8 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector
PAGE

Step 2 : Calibrating the Span

Now connect the TEDLAR bag filled with the standard gas mixture (8000 ppm of
H2S , in the example) to the instrument.
Also here the goal is to wait the stabilization of reading and then to select an
interval where the readings are stable.

Set Span Calibrate Cancel

[Link]

[Link]
Set Span 8000 Calibrate Cancel
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Then you've to enter the exact concentration of
H2S in the gas mixture you'd like to use for the
calibration: for instance 8000 ppm.
Click on the "SetSpan" label and, using the virtual
keyboard, enter the value , expressed in ppm :
8000, once finished click again "SetSpan" to hide
the keyboard.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Set Span 8000 Calibrate Cancel
Current value : 7500 ppm
Average : 7520.00 ppm
H2S detector actual reading.
drift : 0.200 ppm/sec
8500.0
Drift/Average

H2S at span curve

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
left and right limits marker
7000.0

Once selected an interval you can read the average value and the drift in the
interval. The average value of the selected interval will be used to calibrate the
detector. The drift value will give you an idea of "readings stabilization". The drift
value must be close to zero as possible.
 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector H.9

PAGE
Step 2 : Calibrating the Span
Now, if you press calibrate the detector will be calibrated with the new
parameters.

If you want to abort the operation press the Cancel button:

[Link]

[Link]
Set Span 8000 Calibrate Cancel
If you want to cancel the current calibration,
Current value : 7500 ppm
Average : 7520.00 ppm
because troubles during the procedure, press the
drift : 0.200 ppm/sec button "cancel", the main calibra screen will appear.
8500.0
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

7000.0

Calibra
2 devices found

Actual reading : 5.00 ppm

Comm port. COM6: Bluetooth serial

Select sensor. H2S West

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Then press the Restore configuration to reset the
Start calibration previuos calibration.
Restore configuration
If you press Exit you'll use the "standard calibration"
Exit that could be not so accurate.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 H.10 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector
PAGE

Replacing the sensor head

[Link]

[Link]
IDC10O
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Remove the 2 socket head screws
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

IDC10O

Now proceed following the

instruction from step 1 to step 4.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
(Step 4) Remove the O-ring gasket

(Step 3) remove the online adapter

(Step 2) remove the flange

(Step 1) remove the socket head screws

 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector H.11

PAGE
Replacing the sensor head
[Link]

[Link]
IDC10O
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Extract carefully the sensor head
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Now install the new sensor head (WS-H2S-BH Head) and re-assemble the detector.
Please check the O-Ring status and check the sealing of the sensor head/on line
adapter.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
After changing the head you have to re-calibrate the detector.
 H.12 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector
PAGE

WS6B11 HiResolution ADC Converter

[Link] PROGR J3
R19 C42 CON2 R18
[Link] C11

1M

100n
1M C10

J6
22p 22p

C43

100n
V14.4 R15
C15
R32

VR2

TMMBAT46
100K
1K
Hi U7
10K

D1
R26
100n

AD7714

U2
R27
D6 LED
1uF
100K MIC5201
C44

R38
Low
C16

C12
100n

100K
R1
[Link]

[Link]
ATMEGA128
R36

100n
10K
Gnd R16
L1

10K
C13
50R 0.1%

100n
100uH R14
100n U3 1M
WEST

C31
+
C14 C1 ST485AD

C36 C37
C41 Systems
10uF 22p 22p
100n
100n 100n
REF-43 U1
HiResADC C40 Rel.2.00 Sept. 02

The WS6B11 is a high resolution analog to digital converter with the following
specifications:

Resolution 20 bit @ 1 Hz;

Repeatibility 0.01% of Full Scale value;
Accuracy 0.025% of Full Scale value;
Full Scale value 20 mA;
Protocol WS6B11 with CheckSum enabled;
Configuration Type (Conf) D0
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Interface RS485 @ 9600 bit/sec, none parity, 8 bit data, 1 bit stop;
RS485 Address 01;

Power supply 12-18 Volts DC 30 mA.

Sampling frequency 1 Hz

IDC10O
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems

The WS6B11 Must be set as:

Conf: D0;
Configuration PINS OPEN;
RS485 ID : By default 01 HEX;

The 4-20 mA configuration must be done while in Conf: 06;

The calibration software must be [Link]
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

J3
PROGR

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
RST

VCC Aggiunto il 18 Giugno 2003

CON2 J6
C?

1
2
100n

64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
U7 R18
1M
51

VCC

GND
GND
(AD0) PA0

AVCC
AREF
1 PEN (AD1) PA1 50
(AD2) PA2 49
2 48
PE0 RXD0/(PDI) (AD3) PA3 R26

PF0 (ADC0)
PF1 (ADC1)
PF2 (ADC2)
PF3 (ADC3)
3 47
4 PE1 TXD0/(PDO) (AD4) PA4 46
PE2 (XCK0/AIN0) (AD5) PA5 1K

PF7 (ADC7/TDI)
5 45

PF4 (ADC4/TCK)
PF5 (ADC5/TMS)
PF6 (ADC6/TDO)
PE3 (OC3A/AIN1) (AD6) PA6 D6
DRDY 6 44
PE4 (OC3B/INT4) (AD7) PA7 LED
7 43
8 PE5 (OC3C/INT5) (ALE) PG2 42
9 PE6 (T3/INT6) (A15) PC7 41
10 PE7 (IC3/INT7) (A14) PC6 40 VCC
PB0 (SS) (A13) PC5
SCK 11 39
PB1 (SCK) (A12) PC4
MOSI 12 38
PB2 (MOSI) (A11) PC3
MISO 13 37
PB3 (MISO) (A10) PC2
14 36 AD7714_CS
15 PB4 (OC0) (A9) PC1 35 RES7714
16 PB5 (OC1A) (A8) PC0
PB6 (OC1B)
17 PB7 (OC2/OC1C) PG1 (RD) 34
18 TOSC2/PG3 PG0 (WR) 33

VCC 19 TOSC1/PG4

RESET
VCC
GND
XTAL2
XTAL1
PD0 (SCL/INT0)
(SDA/INT1) PD1
(RXD1/INT2) PD2
(TXD1/INT2) PD3
(IC1) PD4
(XCK1) PD5
(T1) PD6
(T2) PD7
R14 R16 ATMEGA128
10K 1M

20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
U3 RST
DE 3
6 2 C1
A RE 100n
7 R17
B 4 1M CRYSTAL
D 1 Y2 L2
R15 R
C40 C41 100uH
10K 5 ST485AD 8 VCC VCC
GND VCC 22p 22p
C12 C14
100n 100n
J4
C42 C43
10 D1
9 TMMBAT46 22p 22p
8 J7
AN1
AN2

7 MIC5201 VR2 To Sensor

VCC R19
1
2
3
4

6 VIN OUT

VIN
5 1M C15 C16
C10 C11

GND
4 100n EN 100n 100n 100n
XT1 VIN
3 XTAL R32
2
U2 100K
1
VCC 23 2
DVDD MCKIN
RS485 3 R27
MOSI 22 MCKOUT AN1 100K AD1
WS6B11 HiResolution ADC Converter
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector

DIN
SCK 1 7
SCK AIN1 C44
AIN2 8 100K
GND 4 AN2 1uF R36 R38
AD7714_CS 19 POL 9 50R 0.1%
DRDY 20 CS AIN3 10
DRDY AIN4
MISO 21 17 AD2
DOUT AIN6
VCC 5 13
VCC
SYNC BUFF 15 VREF
R1 RES7714
6 VREF+ 14 GND
RESET VREF-
L1 AVCC 10K 16
AIN5
100uH VCC
U1 12 AVCC
AVCC
1 8 24 18
2 TESTTEST 7 C13 DGND AGND 11 VCC
3 VIN N.C. 6 VREF
STBY
C37
TEMPVOut
+ C36 4 5 AD7714
10uF 100n
GND Trim
REF-43 100n

ADC1

100n C31

Portable Flux Meter PAGE

H.13

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 H.14 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector
Flux and concentration calibration results
PAGE

H2S fluxes from soil are simulated by injecting a known flow of gas into the
accumulation chamber. The interface between the accumulation chamber
and the calibration table is built to minimize the gas leakage.
For flux between 0.0002 and 0.02 moles/(m2day) the injected flux is
controlled and measured with a precision mass flow controller. This MFC is
[Link]

[Link]
electronically stabilized (Accuracy 3%).

For fluxes between 0.06 moles/m2/day and 0.6 moles/m2/day the injected
flux is controlled by means of a mechanical flow reducer and measured using
a bubble flowmeter (Accuracy 3%) before and after the flux measurement
with the accumulation chamber.

A thermometer and barometer were utilized to measure the barometric

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

pressure and the air temperature during the experiment in order to select the
correct accumulation chamber conversion factor.

The same procudure was utilized to check the instrumental response to

Carbon Dioxide.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

RS 245-6089

5 7 3 5
1

9.0
3

7
1

Sta
nd
ard
ta
Standard taoms. om
s.
9.0
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Mass flow controller

Standard mixture of hydrogen sulfide/carbon dioxide/nitrogen

cylinder and pressure reducing valve
 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector H.15

Flux and concentration calibration results

PAGE
The simulated flux experiment was done using the accumulation chamber B
that's more accurate for the hydrogen sulfide measurement.
Room temperature : Betwenn 20.2 and 21.4 °C
Air relative humidity 52-54%
Barometric pressure between 1013.1 and 1013.8 HPa
Accumulation Chamber B constant at 1013 and 20°C 0.707
(moles/sm/day)/(ppm/sec)
For each imposed flux 3 measurement was done to show the repeatibility.
[Link]

[Link]
1

0.1
moles/sm/day
Measured

0.01

0.001
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

0.0001
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1
Im p o s e d F lu x m o le s / s m / d a y

Errors plot

In the plot below the error evaluating flux vs flux are shown

error % Vs Flux
0.00

-5.00
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

-10.00

-15.00

-20.00
Error %

-25.00

-30.00

-35.00

-40.00

-45.00
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Imposed Flux moles/sm/day

A flux curve
In the plot below a typical hydrogen sulfide flux curve: the slope is 0.028
ppm/sec and the flux is 0.019 moles/sm/day

H 2 S F lu x c u r v e

12

10

8
ppm

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450
T im e S e c
 H.16 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Detector
PAGE

Flux and concentration calibration results

In the plot below the "base line" of the hydrogen sulfide detector output is
reported. The initial drift is due to the sensor temperature adjustement when the
pump is switched on. The injected gas mixture was the laboratory air.
[Link]

[Link]
H2S ppm

0.25

0.2

0.15
H2S ppm

0.1

0.05
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Time (sec)
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

In the plot below the stability of the hydrogen sulfide detector output is reported.
The injected gas mixture at 1 liter per minute was 20 ppm of H2S in nitrogen.

medium term stability @ 20 ppm

22

21.5

21

20.5
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
ppm

20

19.5

19

18.5

18
0 60 120 180 240 300 360
Time secs
 LI820 CO2 Detector L.1

PAGE
General discussion
The subjects regarding calibration of your portable instrument for the
measurement of diffuse flux will be discussed in this chapter.
As explained previously in Chapter 4 the flux measurement is proportional to
the slope of the concentration curve versus time. The proportionality factor
depends on the volume/surface ratio of the accumulation chamber used for the
measurement, as well as, the barometric pressure and air temperature at the
[Link]

[Link]
moment of making the measurement.
The most important aspect to understand is that the flux is proportional to the
gradient of concentration over time: ppm/second.
This aspect allows us to simplify the control of the response of the gas sensors
utilised.
Each time a measurement campaign is initiated the instrumental response of
the gas sensors must be verified and, if necessary, their calibration fine tuned.
To simplify the explanation see the following example:
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Calibration of LICOR
Before verifying the calibration turn on the instrument and leave it on for a
minimum of 20 minutes to stabilise the temperature of the detectors.

Step1: Verifying the zero:

Inject a flow of nitrogen, or synthetic air, into the instrument and on the palmtop
screen read the concentration of carbon dioxide. Obviously, it is important that
the injected mixture not contain carbon dioxide. In the absence of a standard
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

mixture with these caracteristics you can intake atmospheric air, as long as it is
outside the area of abnormal emissions, and taking into consideration a
standard value of 350 ppm for carbon dioxide.
The method for injecting standard gas mixtures is explained in detail in the
following pages.

Step2: Verification of the span:

Inject a standard mixture containing approximately 1% (10,000 ppm) of
carbon dioxide and check the response of the instrument.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Let's suppose that the check performed gave the following results:
Injecting a mixture at zero concentration of carbon dioxide the CO2 detector
returns a reading of 10 ppm.
Injecting a mixture containing a 10,000 ppm concentration of carbon dioxide
the CO2 detector returns a reading of 9940 ppm.
At a variation of concentration set at 10,000 ppm the instrument has a slightly
different response: 9930 ppm (=9940-10 ppm). The evaluation error is of about
70 ppm, which in percentage points over the span corresponds to 0.6% less

The error in evaluating the increment in concentration manifests as a

systematic error in the evaluation of flux and, therefore, must be corrected
by calibrating the instruments when it is too high (> 5%).
 L.2 LI820 CO2 Detector
When you need to calibrate the LICOR LI820/LI800
PAGE

The LICOR is a very stable detector, the pressure compensation and the thermal
stabilization features allows the instrument to maintain it calibration for long
periods. The calibration is necessary if you decide to change the optical path or
to clean it. In any case we advise calibrating it only if necessary.

What you need to calibrate the LICOR LI820/LI800

! A personal computer running MS Windows 9x, or NT4.0 or Windows 2000 or XP;
[Link]

[Link]
! A null modem cable, furnished with the LICOR LI8x0;
! A cylinder of nitrogen or synthetic UPP Air, or a SODA LIME trap or a DRAGER
PIPE to trap the carbon dioxide.
! A cylinder of standard mixture of 1% of carbon dioxide in air (or nitrogen); The
CO2 concentration has to be minimum the 50% of the full scale vale of LI8x0 and
maximum the 95% of this value. If the full scale value is 2% by volume of CO2
the concentration of standard must be in the range from 1% up to 1.9% of CO2;
! A flow meter able to measure up to 2000 cubic centimeter per minute (not
strictly necessary);
! A screwdriver and a hexagonal wrench to access the DB9 connector.

Connect the RS232 serial cable to a free serial port of your computer.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Run the LICOR windows software (Furnished with the LICOR sensor) on your
personal computer.

Flow the gas mixture into the LICOR , not exceeding 1000 SCCM (Standard
Cubic Centimeter per minute)

Follow the instruction of LICOR handbook to calibrate the zero and the span of
your detector:
LI800 (page 3 to 11 of the LI800 handbook)
LI820 Page 3.24 of the LI820 handbook
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

To access the LICOR DB9 serial
port you've to remove the
cable that connect the LI820 to
the instrument.
3 HIGH ALARM

5 LOW ALARM
TERMINALS

13 4-20 mA 1
1 12-30VDC

11 4-20 mA 2
7 V OUT 2

9 V OUT 1
2 GND

4 GND

6 GND

8 GND

10 GND

12 GND

14 GND

OUT
FLOW
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
IN
SERIAL I/O
LOW BATTERY
HIGH ALARM
LOW ALARM
POWER

>
>

5 liters TEDLAR bag

9 PIN NullMODEM serial cable
(female - female connectors)
This cable is furnished
with your LI800 (LI820)
To the RS232 port of your computer

Once ready reassemble the instrument.

 LI820 CO2 Detector L.3

PAGE
3 HIGH ALARM

5 LOW ALARM

TEDLAR BAG
TERMINALS

13 4-20 mA 1
1 12-30VDC

11 4-20 mA 2
7 V OUT 2

9 V OUT 1
2 GND

4 GND

6 GND

8 GND

10 GND

12 GND

14 GND
[Link]

[Link]
OUT
FLOW
IN
SERIAL I/O
LOW BATTERY
HIGH ALARM
LOW ALARM
POWER

>
>
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

To apply the gas mixture to the LI820 fill and connect a TEDLAR BAG to the inlet port; then to
turn on the pump START a measurement with FluxManager.

The LI800/820 settings.

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

In the figure at the left the main screen of the LI820
configuration / checking software.

Selecting [View][Settings] you access to the configuration

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
screen.
Enable heater must be checked
Pressure compensation must be checked
The Span range (Thas the Full scale of LICOR) for the normal
use is set to 20,000 ppm (2%). If you want to increase the low
flux measurement accuracy you can set the Span range to 5,000
ppm (0.5%). With the FS set at 5000 ppm the capability of
measuring high flux will be reduced to a maximum of 100 moles
per square meter per day.

Selecting [View][Calibration] you access to the calibration

screen.
Calibrate for first the zero and then the span.
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link]
L.4
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012 PAGE
LI820 CO2 Detector

Page intentionally left blank

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 WS-HC Methane Detector M.1

PAGE
WS-HC Hydrocarbon Flux measurement:
The HydroCarbon detector is based on a double beam infrared
spectrometer able to detect methane, hexane , propane and other
molecules with HC linkages. The instrument comes calibrated for the
methane. The instrument requires a frequent zero base-line
calibration that will be done using atmospheric air. The calibration requires
20 second.
[Link]

[Link]
Detector specifications:
Accuracy 5%
Repeatibility 2%
Resolution 22 ppm (Methane equivalent)
Full scale range is 10000 ppm of methane.
Detection limit 60 ppm.

2
Methane flux measurement range from 0.2 to 300 moles/m per day
2
(accumulation chamber A or C) and from 0.2 to 600 moles/m per day
(accumulation chamber B).
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The precision depends on the measured flux:
2
range 0.2 - 10 moles/ m per day ±25%
2
10 - 600 moles/ m per day ±10%

2
The measurement of very low fluxes (< 0.2 moles/m per day ) is possible
but the error will increase due to the low detector sensitivity.

WS-HC Detector
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

RS485

IN OUT

CE
[Link]

RS485 Connector DB9 Male panel

Pin 1 Gnd
Pin 2 +Power supply
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Pin 3 Gnd
Pin 4 RS485 B
Pin 5 RS485 A
Pin 6 Gnd
Pin 7 +Power supply
Pin 8 Gnd
Pin 9 RS485 B

The gas fittings can be used with rilsan 6x4 mm tubes or silicon
5x3.2 tubes. Please respect inlet and outlet ports.
 M.2
PAGE WS-HC Methane Detector

WS-HC detector / Set of baseline

The WS_HC detector requires a frequent baseline correction: From FluxManager

start a measurement taking the accumualtion chamber far from the soil in order to
sample atmospheric air instead of soil gas.
Select the {Tools} {Set zero} menu voice and wait for 15-20 seconds. During this
period the WS-HC will not send any concentration data. Once finished the base line
[Link]

[Link]
(then the readings) of WS-HC will be zero and the instrument will be ready to
work.

WS-HC detector / technical informations

To access the DIP switches

remove the 4 hexagonal screw and then remove the cover

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The dip switch
1 ON = Address base
5 ON = Temperature active

Re-assemble the cover.

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Factory Configuration Dip switches
U7 C5 JP2 U3 C1
D2

J1
D20

C15 CR R19 C13 R1 JP1 C9

1 J6 C8

1 8
S1
J5

D1 R3
Iridium

1 5 U8 C2
C21
Rel_00
C11
1

6 9 C40
C20

F1 C10
C39
DB9 male

C12
4

D5
U

R10
C3

D11 R17
West
C6
Systems
J3 ToD9F-Port2 R7 C14
R16
D10

R11 D6 R12 D7 R13 D8

R18 U1
S

Y1
3

R15
J2
D9

1
R4

R14
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Factory Configuration
Description Conf Unit Sw1 On Sw1 Off
Methane E6 ppm 01 0A
Temperature E9 °C 02 0B

DIP switch settings

DIP Enable Default
SW1 Base Address On
SW2 Reserved Off
SW3 Reserved Off
SW4 Reserved Off
SW5 Temperature On/Off On
SW6 Reserved Off
SW7 Reserved Off
SW8 Reserved Off
 WS-HC Methane Detector M.3

PAGE
WS-HC detector
The WS-HC readings are very stable: here is reported the record of 300 seconds
while injecting UPP air or nitrogen at 1 liter per minute flow rate.

WS-HC Detector s/n WS-HC 2007/33

[Link]

[Link]
0.01

0.008

0.006

0.004

0.002

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
-0.002

-0.004

-0.006
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

-0.008

-0.01

WS-HC s/n WS-HC 2007/33

10000
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

9990

9980
ppm

9970

9960

9950
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
9940
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
sec

Here is reported the record of 300 seconds while injecting a standard mixture of
10000 ppm of methane in nitrogen at 1 liter per minute flow rate. The readings
drift is 0.086 ppm/sec. The average value is 9975 ppm and the error is -0.25%.

The drift is the most important parameter to control while measuring flux.

!
Since it's not possible to distinguish between a drift, due to thermal and
electrical instability of the detector, and a real variation of concentration
due to the flux the drift of detector reduce the precision while measuring
flux.

The drift of 0.086ppm/sec (at 1013 and 26°C ) correspond to a 0.03

2
moles/m per day value of flux.
 M.4
PAGE WS-HC Methane Detector

WS-HC s/n WS-HC 2007/33

25000
[Link]

[Link]
20000

15000
ppm

10000

5000
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
sec

2
In the plot a typical methane flux curve: the flux is about 80 moles/m /day.

WS-HC s/n WS-HC 2007/33

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

250

200

150
ppm

100
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
50

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
sec

2
In the plot the typical curve at very low flux: 0.18 moles/m /day.
 WS-HC Methane Detector M.5

Calibration of the methane detector

PAGE
General discussion
The subjects regarding calibration of your portable instrument for the
measurement of diffuse flux will be discussed in this chapter.
As explained previously in Chapter 4 the flux measurement is proportional to
the slope of the concentration curve versus time. The proportionality factor
depends on the volume/surface ratio of the accumulation chamber used for the
measurement, as well as, the barometric pressure and air temperature at the
[Link]

[Link]
moment of the measurement.
The most important aspect to understand is that the flux is proportional to the
gradient of concentration over time: ppm/second.
This aspect allows us to simplify the control of the response of the gas sensors
utilised.
Each time a measurement campaign is initiated the instrumental response of
the gas sensors must be verified and, if necessary, their calibration fine tuned.
To simplify the explanation see the following example:

Calibration control example:

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Before verifying the calibration turn on the instrument and leave it on for a
minimum of 20 minutes to stabilise the temperature of the detectors.

Step1: Verifying the zero:

Inject a flow of nitrogen, or synthetic air, into the instrument and on the palmtop
screen read the concentration. Obviously, it is important that the injected
mixture do not contain methane. In the absence of a standard mixture with
these characteristics you can intake atmospheric air, as long as it is outside the
area of abnormal emissions, and taking into consideration that you can have
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

few ppm of methane in air.
The method for injecting standard gas mixtures is explained in detail in the
following pages.

The WS/HC requires a frequent set of base line, then before to proceed is
necessary to start the measurement in order to turn on the pump, then wait that
the reading is stable and then set the base line by selecting Tools Set zero menu
voice of fluxmanager. As shown in the previous chapter the WS-HC base line is
very stable and after the Set Zero procedure the methane reading will be zero.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Step2: Verification of the span:
Inject a standard mixture containing approximately methane in the range from
7000 up to 10000 ppm and check the response of the instrument.
Let's suppose that the check performed gave the following results:
Injecting a mixture at zero concentration of CH4 the detector returns a reading
of 0 ppm.
Injecting a mixture containing a 10,000 ppm concentration of CH4 detector
returns a reading of 9930 ppm.
At a variation of concentration set at 10,000 ppm the instrument has a slightly
different response: 9930 ppm . The evaluation error is of about 70 ppm, which
in percentage points over the span corresponds to 0.6% less

The error in evaluating the increment in concentration manifests as a

systematic error in the evaluation of flux and, therefore, must be corrected
by calibrating the instruments when it is too high (> 5%).
 M.6 WS-HC Methane Detector
Calibration of the methane detector
PAGE

To calibrate the detector you need :

!A cylinder with nitrogen or methane free air UPP;
!A cylinder with 7500 / 10000 ppm of methane in nitrogen or UPP air;
!A 5 liters TEDLAR bag;
!Warm up the instrument for a 30 minutes period before to start calibration.
[Link]

[Link]
Open the calibration software supplied with the instrument: Calibra

Calibra reads the instrument configuration made by FluxManager, then before to run
Calibra be sure that FluxManager reconnized the correct configuration of instrument.

Calibra
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

2 devices found

Comm port. COM6: Bluetooth serial

Check that the communication port is the correct
one: 11:05
Select sensor. COM6: Bluetooth for the wireless connection
COM1: Serial for the wired connection.

Start calibration The port information is taken from the

Restore configuration
FluxManager configuration file, then if
FluxManager was working also Calibra has to work.
Exit
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Calibra

Actual reading : 5.00 ppm Select the methane detector: CH4

Comm port. COM6: Bluetooth serial
11:05
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Select sensor. CH4

Start calibration

Restore configuration

Exit
 WS-HC Methane Detector M.7

Calibration of the methane detector

PAGE
Here following the pneumatic connections while calibrating.

RS485
[Link]

[Link]
WS-HC Detector

OUT

[Link]

Gas outlet
CE
IN
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

>
>

Pump Gas inlet

Filter

5 liters TEDLAR bag

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Calibra Once selected the sensor you want to calibrate you
2 devices found can see the actual reading.
Actual reading : 5.00 ppm

Comm port. COM6: Bluetooth serial

11:05
Select sensor. CH4

Start calibration

Restore configuration

Exit
 M.8 WS-HC Methane Detector
Calibration of the methane detector
PAGE

Calibra
2 devices found
[Link]

[Link]
Actual reading : 5.00 ppm

Comm port. COM6: Bluetooth serial Fill the TEDLAR bag with the methane free gas
11:05
Select sensor. CH4 West
mixture and connect it to the inlet port of the
instrument.

Start calibration

Restore configuration
By pressing Start Calibration the detector
Exit configuration is reset to default value and the pump
is switched on.

By pressing Start Calibration Calibra asks the current calibration values to the detector
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

and store it in a file. These saved values can be used to restore the current calibration if
something worog will happen.

Now the gas mixture is injected into the detector and the concentration readings
are shown in the botton part of the screen.
The goal is to wait the stabilization of reading and then to select an interval where
the readings are stable.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Next> Cancel
Current value : 33.400 ppm
Average : 28.00 ppm
CH4 actual reading
Drift : 0.200 ppm/sec
40.0
CH4 Drift and average

CH4 zero curve

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Left and right limits marker
20.3

Once selected an interval you can read the average value and the drift in the
interval. The average value of the selected interval will be used to calibrate the
detector. The drift value will give you an idea of "readings stabilization". The drift
value must be close to zero as possible.

Once ready press the "NEXT>" button to proceed with calibration.

 WS-HC Methane Detector M.9

Calibration of the methane detector

PAGE
Now connect the TEDLAR bag filled with the standard gas mixture (8000 ppm of
CH4 , in the example) to the instrument.
Also here the goal is to wait the stabilization of reading and then to select an
interval where the readings are stable.
[Link]

[Link]
Set Span Calibrate Cancel
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Set Span 8000 Calibrate Cancel

Then you've to enter the exact concentration of

methane in the gas mixture you'd like to use for the
calibration: for instance 8000 ppm.
Click on the "SetSpan" label and, using the virtual
keyboard, enter the value , expressed in ppm :
8000, once finished click again "SetSpan" to hide
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

the keyboard.

Set Span 8000 Calibrate Cancel

Current value : 7500 ppm
Average : 7520.00 ppm
CH4 detector actual reading.
Drift : 0.200 ppm/sec
8500.0
Drift/Average
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
CH4 at span curve

Left and right limits marker

7000.0

Once selected an interval you can read the average value and the drift in the
interval. The average value of the selected interval will be used to calibrate the
detector. The drift value will give you an idea of "readings stabilization". The drift
value must be close to zero as possible.
 M.10 WS-HC Methane Detector
Calibration of the methane detector
PAGE
[Link]

[Link]
Now, if you press calibrate the detector will be calibrated with the new
parameters.

If you want to abort the operation press the Cancel button:

Set Span 8000 Calibrate Cancel

If you want to cancel the current calibration,
Current value : 7500 ppm
Average : 7520.00 ppm
because troubles during the procedure or.., press
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

drift : 0.200 ppm/sec the button "cancel", the main calibra screen will
8500.0
appear.

7000.0
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Calibra
2 devices found

Actual reading : 5.00 ppm

Comm port. COM6: Bluetooth serial

Select sensor. CH4 West

Then press the Restore configuration to reset the

Start calibration previuos calibration.
Restore configuration
If you press Exit you'll use the "standard calibration"
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Exit that could be not so accurate.
 WS-CH4-TLD Methane Detector N.1

PAGE
WS-CH4-TLD Methane Flux measurement:
The detector is based on a TLD (tunable laser diode) coupled with a
multipass cell. The Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy
detection method is based on the principle of absorption of the light by
a medium which is described by the Beer Lambert law.
The operational wavelength of the laser diode is 1650nm. The signal is
then optimized by adding a multipass optical cell, which allows
increasing the pathlength in the gas.
[Link]

[Link]
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The IN and OUT gas fittings can be used with rilsan 6x4 mm tubes or
silicon 5x3.2 tubes. Please respect inlet and outlet ports.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Always make sure that a filter (porosity 0.20 μm or less) is

!
applied between the inlet on the fluxmeter and the inlet of WS-
CH4-TLD detector. If water, dust, dirt or any other polluting
substance comes inside the cell, it will alter the behaviour of the
mirrors. In the best case, it will be necessary to send the
instrument to West Systems for a cleaning, which is a long and
expensive procedure.
Never open the protective case of the WS-CH4-TLD. Some
components like the optical fiber could be damaged if touched or
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
moved.

The RS485 cable provides both power supply and communication

RS485 Connector

Pin 1 Gnd
Pin 2 Gnd
Pin 3 +Power supply
Pin 4 +Power supply
Pin 5 Gnd
Pin 6 Gnd
Pin 7 RS485 B
Pin 8 RS485 B
Pin 9 RS485 A
Pin 10 Rs485 A
 N.2
PAGE WS-CH4-TLD Methane Detector

Detector specifications:
Resolution: 0.1 ppm
Concentration measurement range: from 0.1 ppm to 10% vol*
Accuracy: ±10%
Operating temperature: -10°C...+45°C
[Link]

[Link]
Selectivity to methane

Flux Measurement range: from 1 to 900,000 millimoles/m2 per day

Range Unit Precision

0-1000 mmoles/m2 per day ±25%
1000 – 150,000 mmoles/m2 per day ±10%
2
150,000 – 900,000 mmoles/m per day ±20%
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Start-up time
The methane detector is ready to measure in less than a minute.
During the warm-up time, the shown methane concentration is 0.

The following plot (ppm vs. seconds) shows a stability test while
injecting atmospheric air for about 1,000 seconds.
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems

*The detector is actually able to measure concentration up to 100% vol,

which is not purpose of soil emission measurement.
 WS-CH4-TLD Methane Detector N.3

PAGE
The plot (ppm vs. seconds) shows an accumulation curve while measuring
a flux of 1.7 mmoles/m2 per day
[Link]

[Link]
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

The plot (ppm vs. seconds) shows an accumulation curve while measuring
a flux of 18 mmoles/m2 per day
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 N.4
PAGE WS-CH4-TLD Methane Detector

In order to guarantee the measuring of CH4 concentration in a wide range

(0-100% vol),the sensor needs to apply different settings on the laser
[Link] adaptations produce a gap of a few seconds during which a valid
concentration value is not available.

Computing flux
The sensor presents a first change of scale around 140-150 ppm and a second
change around 2300-2400 ppm. During a change of scale, the value remains
[Link]

[Link]
constant for about 10 seconds.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

1st change
of scale
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

If you cross that threshold during the accumulation curve, please apply the
interpolation on the second part of the curve. Do not include the ten-seconds
gap into the linear regression in order to prevent measure errors. Extend the
duration of the accumulation curve if necessary.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems

Change
of scale

Regression on
the second part
 WS-CH4-TLD Methane Detector N.5

Calibration of the methane detector

PAGE
General discussion
The subjects regarding calibration of your portable instrument for the
measurement of diffuse flux will be discussed in this chapter.
As explained previously in Chapter 4 the flux measurement is proportional to
the slope of the concentration curve versus time. The proportionality factor
depends on the volume/surface ratio of the accumulation chamber used for the
measurement, as well as the barometric pressure and air temperature at the
[Link]

[Link]
moment of the measurement.
The most important aspect to understand is that the flux is proportional to the
gradient of concentration over time: ppm/second.
This aspect allows us to simplify the control of the response of the used gas
sensors.
Each time a measurement campaign is initiated the instrumental response of
the gas sensors must be verified. If the error is not acceptable, the instrument
has to be sent to West Systems for calibration.
To simplify the explanation see the following example:

Calibration control example:

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Before verifying the calibration turn on the instrument and leave it on for a
minimum of 5 minutes to stabilise the temperature of the detectors.
In order to injext a mixture into the detector, we suggest filling a gas sampling
bag (e.g. Tedlar bag) from the cylinder and then let the pump of the fluxmeter
flow the gas inside the detectors. In this way, it's possible to recreate a scenario
as mush as possible similar to the on field measurement.
Step1: Verifying the zero:
Inject a flow of nitrogen, or synthetic air, into the instrument and read the
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

concentration on the palmtop screen. Obviously, it is important that the injected
mixture doesn't contain methane.
The method for injecting standard gas mixtures is explained in detail in the
following pages.
Step2: Verification of the span:
Inject a standard mixture containing methane in a concentration possibly close
to the values you reach when measurering maximum fluxes (example 10,000
ppm).
Let's suppose that the performed test gave the following results:
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Injecting a mixture at zero concentration of CH the detector returns a reading of
0 ppm.
Injecting a mixture containing a 10,000 ppm concentration of CH detector
returns a reading of 9930 ppm.
At a variation of concentration set at 10,000 ppm the instrument has a slightly
different response: 9930 ppm. The evaluation error is of about 70 ppm, which in
percentage points over the span corresponds to -0.6%

The error in evaluating the increment in concentration manifests as a

systematic error in the evaluation of flux and, therefore, must be corrected
by calibrating the instruments when it is too high (> 5%).
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
N.6
WEST Systems WS-CH4-TLD Methane Detector

Page intentionally left blank

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 4.2 P.1
The palmtop
PAGE

PAGE
West Systems provides the station with a palmtop. To know the model of the
palmtop please see the list of the package’s components in chapter 1. For more
information about the palmtop please read the palmtop’s handbook equipped.

West Systems also provides a memory card with a preinstalled copy of

FluxManager. We advise using this card as a backup copy of FluxManager and
[Link]

[Link]
buy another card to store and transfer the data.

The PDA has a memory card slot, so West Systems provides an SD adapter thus
you can plug the memory card into the adapter and then the adapter into the
card reader of a PC and copy the FluxManager files.

If the battery of the PDA is down, you can recharge it with the fluxmeter battery.
West Systems furnishes a cable for connecting the RS485 port on the fluxmeter
external panel to the male USB A-type connector of the PDA USB cable (see
page 5.10 for the cable’s specification). When this cable is connected you can
continue your field work while the PDA is recharging.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 P.2
FluxManager installation
PAGE

The FluxManager software is furnished by West Systems on two different

supports:
- On the West Systems software CD.
- On the SD memory card.

PC based installation

1- Connect the PDA to your computer using the USB cable. If Microsoft
[Link]

[Link]
Activesync is installed, its window will appear:
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

2- Pressing the Explore button, Activesync will allow to navigate into the
PDA directories.
3- Navigate to the path \Windows\Start Menu and copy here the two files
[Link] and [Link] from the software CD. From now on the
executables files you just copied will appear when pressing the Start
Menu of the PDA. The PDA furnished by West Systems has already the
two files installed.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 P.3
FluxManager installation

PAGE
Storage card based installation

1- Insert the SD card into the SD slot of the palmtop.

2- On the PDA: press the Start button and then Programs. Run File Explorer.
[Link]

[Link]
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

3- Navigate to Storage card.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
P.4
WEST Systems
FluxManager installation

5- Navigate to My Device, then to the path \Windows\Start Menu

4- Copy [Link] by holding the stylus on the file for few seconds.

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 P.5
FluxManager installation

PAGE
6- Hold the stylus in the white area and as the popup appears press Paste.
From now on the executables files you just copied will appear when
pressing the Start Menu of the PDA.
[Link]

[Link]
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 P.6
Bluetooth communication
PAGE

The Bluetooth connection system allows the wireless management of the

portable fluxmeter. A Bluetooth RS232 adapter is embedded into the fluxmeter
and connected to the palmtop via radio. The operating range is up to 10 meters.
To setup the communication between the PDA and the fluxmeter:
1- Switch on the fluxmeter.
2- Switch on the palmtop. Once the Windows Mobile main page displays,
press Start and select Settings. Go to Connections tab and select
[Link]

[Link]
Bluetooth.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Make sure Bluetooth is active.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 P.7
Bluetooth communication

PAGE
3- Go to Devices tab and check if there is an item with the serial number
of your fluxmeter (e.g. WS0001).

If it's displayed, go forward to point 4. If it's not (like in the picture), click
Add new device… to start a Bluetooth search.
[Link]

[Link]
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Click on the serial number of the instrument you want to add and click
Next.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
P.8
WEST Systems

Now the instrument is in the list.

Bluetooth communication

Enter the passkey “1234” and click Next, then Finish.

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Bluetooth communication

4- Go to the COM Ports tab and click New Outgoing Port.

Select the device by comparing the serial number and click Next.

PAGE
P.9

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 P.10
Bluetooth communication
PAGE

Uncheck Secure Connection and select a port (e.g. COM1). Click Finish.
[Link]

[Link]
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

5- Now you can start FluxManager. Click Tools and then Settings and select
the port you entered in the previous point (e.g. COM1).
Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 P.11
Bluetooth communication

PAGE
Now you're ready to perform a measurement. The PDA has an integrated
GPS that you won't have to configure, FluxManager will recognize it.

West Systems provides a SD with a preinstalled copy of FluxManager. We

advise using this card as a backup copy of FluxManager and buy another
card to store and transfer the data.
[Link]

[Link]
The PDA has a memory card slot, so West Systems provides an SD adapter
thus you can plug the memory card into the adapter and then the adapter
into the card reader of a PC and copy the FluxManager files.

For more information about the palmtop please read the palmtop’s
handbook equipped.
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
P.12
WEST Systems
Bluetooth communication

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Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 S.1
Soil Box
PAGE

PAGE
General description
The [Link] is an hardware/software interface that convert the signal of Soil
Temperature and of the Soil Water Content TDR CS616 sensor to a digital format
compatible with the DF1A soilflux station.

The output of the [Link] is a RS485 with the standard WEST Systems pin out.
Since the SoilBox is designed to be the last device in the bus the RS485 line is
terminated with a 120 Ohm embedded resistor.
[Link]

[Link]
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
2011
September2012

Connections:
! RS485 --> IN A
8.2--September

CS616 --> IN-B

Flux Station

!
! Pt100 --> OUT

Addresses
Release8.2
FluxMonitoring

Description LCD Conf Unit LS FS ID0 ID1 ID2 ID3

Water Content % TDR A0 % 0 100 1 5 9 0D

Portable Flux Meter

Handbook--Release
Meter

Water C. Pulse TDR RAW A1 uSec 15 35 2 6 0A 0E

Soil temperature 6B13 22 °C 0 200 3 7 0B 0F
PT100 Resistance 6B13 R. A2 Ohm 4 8 0C 10
Continuous

Where:
Handbook

LCD is the caption that the station display when the channel is selected.
Portable

Conf. Is the channel type

Unit is the measure unit.
LS is the minimum reading
FS is the maximum reading

The RED highlighted is the default set.

WEST Systems

WEST Systems
ID0 .. ID3 are the base RS485 address of the device that you can set following the
next table:

DIP SW SW5 SW6 SW7 Addr 0

ID0 0 0 0 01
ID1 0 0 1 05
ID2 0 1 0 09
ID3 0 1 1 13

Dip SW 8 :Reserved for calibration / no actual function.

Please note that the soilbox is designed to works only with the CS616 CS water
content TDR probe. The obsolete CS615 can not be used.

Please follow the instructions on the RS485 Expansion chapter of the station
Handbook to configure the station.
 S.2
SoilBox
PAGE

PAGE
Connectors pinout

Soil Temperature Pt100 Connections

Panel 3+T female connector
Pin 1: Red 1
[Link]

[Link]
Pin 2: Red 2
Pin 3: White 1
Pin T: White 2

!
If you’re using a old Pt100 probe , supplied with the Rs485 HUB check that the
pin T is connected to the White 2 wire of the Pt100 probe. If NOT please modify
the Pt100 connection. A simple bridge between pin 3 and pin T can be enough ,
also if this simple solution can reduce the temperature measurement accuracy.

CS616 Connections

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Panel 6+T female connector

Pin 1: Orange (Ignition)
Pin 2: Red (Power supply)
Pin 3: Green (Signal)
Pin 4: Black + Screen (Ground)

RS485 Connections

Portable Flux Meter

Panel 6+T male connector
Portable Flux Meter

Pin 1: Gnd Black

Pin 2: A Yellow
Pin 3: B Green
Pin 6: +V12 Red

DIP switch settings

DIP SW Enable/Disable Factory Default
SW1 TDR 1
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
SW2 TDR RAW 1
SW3 6B13 1
SW4 6B13 R. 1

DIP SW Enable/Disable Factory Default

SW5 ID Set 0 0
SW6 ID Set 1 0 See page S.1
SW7 ID Set 2 0

SW8 Calibration 0
 Portable Flux Meter
[Link] PAGE
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

J5
JTAG

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
RST

VCC
VCC
SoilBox

100n 100n
Schematic

C9 C34

64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
VCC
U6

16
100n S2
C35 U5 C36 51 1 16

VCC
(AD0) PA0

GND
GND
2 1 100n 1 50 2 15

AVCC
AREF
V+ C1+ 3 PEN (AD1) PA1 49 3 14

VCC
C1- (AD2) PA2
6 V- C2+ 4 2 PE0 RXD0/(PDI) (AD3) PA3 48 4 13

PF0 (ADC0)
PF1 (ADC1)
PF2 (ADC2)
PF3 (ADC3)
C2- 5 3 PE1 TXD0/(PDO) (AD4) PA4 47 5 12
J1 100n 4 46 6 11
PE2 (XCK0/AIN0) (AD5) PA5

PF7 (ADC7/TDI)
1 14 11 C37 5 45 7 10

PF4 (ADC4/TCK)
PF5 (ADC5/TMS)
PF6 (ADC6/TDO)
6 7 T1OUT T1IN 10 6 PE3 (OC3A/AIN1) (AD6) PA6 44 8 9 R19
T2OUT T2IN PE4 (OC3B/INT4) (AD7) PA7 D10 VCC
2 TD 7 43 1K
PE5 (OC3C/INT5) (ALE) PG2
7 13 R1IN R1OUT 12 8 PE6 (T3/INT6) (A15) PC7 42 SW DIP-8
3 RD 8 9 9 41 R20 L4 D11

GND
R2IN R2OUT PE7 (IC3/INT7) (A14) PC6
8 10 40 AD7714_CS 1K
4 ST232CD SCK 11 PB0 (SS) (A13) PC5 39 AD7714_RST
9 MOSI 12 PB1 (SCK) (A12) PC4 38 R21 L3 D12

15
5 MISO 13 PB2 (MOSI) (A11) PC3 37
PB3 (MISO) (A10) PC2 1K
CS616EN 14 36
PB4 (OC0) (A9) PC1 R25 L2
DB9 Female 15 PB5 (OC1A) (A8) PC0 35 D13
16 PB6 (OC1B) 1K
L4 PS_CHK 17 34
R18 18 PB7 (OC2/OC1C) PG1 (RD) 33 L1
TOSC2/PG3 PG0 (WR)
1K
V12 Switched
VCC 19
R32 TOSC1/PG4

RESET
VCC
GND
XTAL2
XTAL1
PD0 (SCL/INT0)
(SDA/INT1) PD1
(RXD1/INT2) PD2
(TXD1/INT2) PD3
(IC1) PD4
(XCK1) PD5
(T1) PD6
(T2) PD7
10R R31
R34 R29 ATMEGA128/64 1M
1M XTAL
J8 F1 D16 10K

20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
U9 RST XT2 C42
6

TZB12V
22p

T1
5 DE 3
1A 6 2 CRES2
4 A RE
B 7 100n R30
3 B
A 4 1M CRYSTAL
2 D17 D U11
1 R 1 Y2
R35 VCC 23 2
RS485 10K 5 ST485AD 8 VCC VCC C39 C40 DVDD MCKIN 3
10R GND VCC MCKOUT

TZB12V
22p 22p MOSI 22 C41
R33 C22 DIN 22p
C23 SCK 1 7
100n SCK AIN1
100n AIN2 8
4 C26 400uA REF
AD7714_CS 19 POL 9 100n C30
20 CS AIN3 10 100n C25
DRDY AIN4 100nRED2
D14 7805 VR2 MISO 21 17 R40
DOUT AIN6
V12 Vp VCC 400uA REF 5VR
VIN OUT VCC 5 13 GND R39 J9
6K19 0.1%
1N4007 C10 C11 D18 SYNC BUFF 15 RED1
6K19 0.1%

GND
D15 100n EN 100n TZB5V AD7714_RST 6 VREF+ 14 RED2
4
TZB12V RESET VREF- 16 WHITE1
3
AIN5 WHITE2
2
R37 12 AVCC
1
10K R38 AVCC
24 DGND AGND 18 Pt100 Input

VCC
RST
0R 11 VCC
STBY
AD7714
U7 VCC
L5
VN820 VCC 5VR
100uH

CS616EN
VCC
AVCC

R36 + C44 C38

10K 74AC14M 10uF 100n

Output
Status
Vcc
Input
GND
Q2 U10A U10B U10C
BC817

1
1 2 3 4 5 6 T1 5VR
Vp
A Y
7 VCC
L6 AVCC AVCC
C31 VCC14
GND 74AC14M 74AC14M
VCC 100uH
R26 C32 C33
1K C43 100n 100n
J10 100n 100n
D1
1
2 TMMBAT46
3
4 U10D
5 74AC14M U10E U10F
6 9 8 11 1013 12
7
CS61x
74AC14M 74AC14M

PAGE
S.3

Portable Flux Meter

[Link]
WEST Systems Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012
 S.4
SoilBox
PAGE

PAGE
PCB Layout

C33
C32

100uH
100n

L6

R38
0 R
6K19 0.1%

100n

AD7714
C30

C25
6K19 0.1% 100n
R39
[Link] White2
White 2 Pin T

W2

PT100
R40
[Link]

[Link]
+
C44
10uF
SoliBox Rel 2.00

2
C
2

White 1 Pin 3
p

100uH

L5
C26
9

1 5
White1

W1
U11
2
2
p

100n

Red 2 Pin 2
C

Red2

R2
4

2
0

100n
S
T

XT2
A

XTAL
C38
L

Pt100 Input
Red1
Red 1 Pin 1

R1
J9
C43
100n

J10
Orange
Ignition Pin 1(Yellow)

CS616
+12VS
CS61x
10

U
6
K

Red
[Link] Pin 2(Red)
7
R25
3
L1

1K

VN820

Signal Pin 3(Green)

C31

Green
Green
A1
L2

R21

T
1K

U7
E
G
A

U10
12
L3

R20 R19

100n
J
1K

Q2

Gnd Pin 4(Blue)

8

T
/

Gnd
6

Gnd
G
4

74AC14M

BC817
L4

1K

J
5

CRES2
10K D1 1K
D13 8 1
D12
D11 1M 100n
S2 R36 R26
D10
SW DIP-8 100n TMMBAT46
D16
TZB12V

R30
Gnd

1M C23 R34
1 Gnd
Gnd Pin 1 (Blue)
Systems
WEST

C36
ST232CD
R29 10K

RS485-A Pin 2 (Green)

100n 100n 2 A
10R
U9

100n ST485AD

RS485
C35
R32
R33
C34

RS485-B Pin 3 (Yellow)

10R

3 B
B

100n 100n C22

100n 10K
C37
C9

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

U5
7805
Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

VR2

TZB12V

R35 D17
+12V

F1 1A

100n
D14

1N4007
J8 RS485
6 +12V
+12Volts Pin 6 (Red)
C11

DB9 Female
TZB12V
V12 Switched

J1
L4

100n 1K

D18
R18
TZB5V C10 D15

Testing temperature channel

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

Connect the dummy Pt100 probe , you can ask with no charge to WEST Systems, to the soil box
and check that the 6B13 channel reading is equal to the reading reported on the label attached to
the dummy probe. The Dummy probe resistance has a tolerance of 1/1000 of the value reported
on the label. The temperature reading error must be less than 0.5°C

WEST Systems provide a 100 Ohm (Zero degree Celsius) and a 154 Ohm (141.1°C ) dummy
probes.
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
Dummy Pt100
154 Ohm
141.1 °C

To check the soil pt100 probe use a calibrated termocouple or pt100 (better) portable gauge
and compare the reading with the station one. A 1.6°C tollerance must be acceptedt if you
use a K termocouple, a 0.5°C tollerance is normal if you use a Pt100 probe.
 S.5
SoilBox
PAGE

PAGE
Soil water

Manufatcurer : Campbell Scientific

Ordering code : CS616 / CS615 (Out of stock)
Water content
Range 5-50 %
Accuracy 3%
[Link]

[Link]
The CS616 (CS615) Water Content Reflectometer measures the volumetric water content of porous
media using time-domain measurement methods.
The Water Content Reflectometer consists of two stainless steel rods connected to a printed circuit
board. A shielded four-conductor cable is connected to the circuit board to supply power, enable the
probe, and monitor the pulse output. The circuit board is encapsulated in epoxy. The probe rods can
be inserted from the surface or the probe can be buried at any orientation to the surface.
The CS616 (CS615) response is dependent on the dielectric constant of the material surrounding
the probe rods. Water is the principal contributor to the dielectric constant value, but the solid
constituents such as quartz, clay and organic matter also affect the measurement. The same
calibration of volumetric water content to probe output signal period may not apply to all soils.
Accuracy can be optimized by using calibrations derived for a specific soil. Accuracy of ± 2.0% over
the entire water content range and for a wide range of soil types is routinely obtained in our
laboratory. Applying the general calibrations from the operating manual provides accuracy of ±
3.0%.

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
6+T Male cable connector (To the SoilBox)
Pin 1 : Red +12 Volt
Pin 2 : Orange Ignition
Pin 3 : Green Frequency signal out
Pin 4 : Black+Sh. Ground
Pin 5 : n.c.
Pin 6 : n.c.
Pin T : n.c.
 S.6
SoilBox
PAGE

PAGE
Soil temperature

Manufatcurer : RS
Ordering code :RS 321-6090
Type : Pt100 DIN IEC 751 Class B 4 wires
Range 0 to 200 °C
Max operating temperature 200°C
[Link]

[Link]
Accuracy 0.3°C
Probe length 300 mm
Probe diameter 6 mm
Cable length 3 Meter
Cable PTFE and silicon insulated

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

Handbook - Release 8.2 - September 2012

3+T Male connector (to the SoilBox)

Pin 1 : RED
Pin 2 : RED
Pin 3 : White
Pin T : White

Portable Flux Meter

Portable Flux Meter

300 mm
WEST Systems

WEST Systems
© [Link]
Portable flux meter handbook
Release 8.2 September 2012