aboni HydroTracer HT3 User manual

aboni
HydroTracer HT3
Operation Manual
Version HT3 STD
12/11/2019
aboni GmbH für Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik
Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 27
D-14548 Schwielowsee- Caputh
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.aboni.de
www.hydrotracer.com

Table of Contents
1. Initial Operation.......................................................................................................3
1.1 Installation of the Control Software HT3 STD.......................................................3
1.2 Connecting the HydroTracer...............................................................................6
1.3 Measuring Principle ...........................................................................................7
1.4 The Reagent .....................................................................................................8
2. Performing a Test ....................................................................................................9
2.1 The procedure step by step................................................................................9
2.2 Selection of Temperature.................................................................................13
2.3 Selection of Sample Weight..............................................................................13
2.4 Using the serial balance ................................................................................... 15
2.5 Operation menu with manual input: Loading the HydroTracer.............................16
2.6 Operation menu with automatic weight input: Loading the HydroTracer............... 20
2.7 Influence of the filling procedure on the accuracy of the test ..............................22
2.8 Measuring period ............................................................................................ 23
2.9 End of the test ................................................................................................24
3. Output of the results and storage............................................................................ 25
3.1 HTML-Report ..................................................................................................26
3.2 PDF-Report..................................................................................................... 27
4. Selection Menus & Status Display............................................................................28
4.1 Menu: Settings & Company logo.......................................................................28
4.2 Menu: Operator List.........................................................................................29
4.3 Menu: List of materials .................................................................................... 30
4.4 Status Display & Information field.....................................................................31
5. Cleaning the reactor interior ...................................................................................32
6. Dry Run ................................................................................................................33
7. Errors ...................................................................................................................34
8. Remarks concerning calcium hydride .......................................................................35
Appendix
Declaration of Conformity
Safety Data Sheet Calcium Hydride

Initial Operation
3
1. Initial Operation
The HydroTracer is controlled by a PC and the signals from the instrument are analysed by
the PC software. The data transmission occurs via USB-Port. Before first operation, the control
program and the driver must be installed .
1.1 Installation of the Control Software HT3 STD
Insert the DVD or plug in the USB-storage at a free USB port of your computer and start the
installation by running the setup.exe within the directory [CD/DVD/USB]: \HydroTracer
HT3 STD Installer\Volume
Please follow the instructions on the screen.
This mask appears and the
installation program is initialized

Initial Operation
4
This mask appears. It is
recommended not to change the
settings. Click "Next >>"
Now click on the field "I accept the
license agreements", then on the
field "Next >>"
This mask appears. Click "Next >>"

Initial Operation
5
This mask appears. Click "Next >>"
Then the USB driver has to be
installed. This mask opens. Click on
"Extract" and follow the instructions
At the end of the installation of the
USB driver, this mask appears. Click
Finish"

Initial Operation
6
1.2 Connecting the HydroTracer
Switch on your PC (if not done already).
Connect the power supply cable on the rear side of the HydroTracer. Connect the HydroTracer
with the data cable (USB) to your PC. Switch on the power. If the HydroTracer is properly
connected to the power supply, the system fan runs and the blue LED glows.
The HydroTracer is now ready for operation.
In the Windows© Device Manager, a
new entry "USB serial port" appears
under the "Ports (COM & LPT)"
section when the HydroTracer is
connected to the computer via USB
cable.

Initial Operation
7
1.3 Measuring Principle
The patented method of the HydroTracer determines the absolute water content. The mass of
the water is measured within the reactor. The percentage of moisture of the sample is
calculated by division with the sample weight.
1 The test material is heated in the
sample tray; water evaporates
2 The hot humid gas ascends
3 The Reagent exchanges water by
hydrogen
4 The sensor measures the
concentration of hydrogen
5 The cooled gas descends and can
absorb water again
The sample is weighed and filled into the sample tray. The sample tray is shifted into the
HydroTracer, being a part of the reactor. A heater warms the sample to a temperature chosen
by the operator. The water within the sample material evaporates. The volatile water rises to
the upper part of the reactor. Two pipes connecting the heated sample tray with the cooled
upper part where the reagent is placed. The reagent tray is a small flat tray filled with
approximately 0.1 g calcium hydride. When the humid air flows over the reagent, gaseous
water reacts with calcium hydride according the following equation:
   󰇛󰇜 
So water vapor is exchanged against hydrogen and calcium hydride converts to calcium
hydroxide (chalk lime).
The cooled, dried gas enters again the lower part of the reactor. The gas circulation is
supported by natural convection, created by a special configuration of the vertical pipes. By
this method even hygroscopic materials are completely dried. The final concentration of
hydrogen in the reactor is proportional to the water content of the sample before the
measurement.
The ambient air also contributes water to the reactor atmosphere. To achieve accurate results
it is necessary to determine the air humidity and the air density. Integrated sensors measure
the humidity of the ambient air, the temperature and the air pressure. With this data the
software determines the water of the air humidity which is deduced off the final result.
The concentration of hydrogen is measured by a sensor detecting the thermal conductivity of
the gas.

Initial Operation
8
Note: The air-hydrogen atmosphere does not react chemically, because the temperature is
much lower than needed to supply the activation energy of the oxyhydrogen gas reaction.
Even if it would react, the theoretic maximum of the reaction enthalpy (the amount of energy
which would be set free by the reaction of hydrogen with the oxygen of the air) is about 0.1
kJ and therefore harmless.
1.4 The Reagent
Calcium hydride reacts with water to calcium hydroxide (hydrated lime, agricultural hydrate),
which is a weak base and quite harmless. Nonetheless, take care calcium hydride does not get
into contact directly with (liquid) water. The reaction heat together with the oxygen of the air
could ignite the developing gas. The small amount of reagent which is needed per
measurement averts this danger. Always close the reagent bottle directly after use. Because
the reagent is always added in surplus, it will be still reactive after the measurement. Avoid
the contact with inflammable, especially wet materials and leave the used reagent exposed to
the air, where it can react slowly with the air humidity. An ideal container is an open tin can.
After a few hours calcium hydride is completely transformed to calcium hydroxide. If left even
longer exposed to the air, calcium hydroxide reacts to calcium carbonate (CaCO3, chalk) with
the carbon dioxide of the air and can be disposed without any problems.