mru NOVAplus biogas User manual

9472EN-BIO
NOVAplus biogas
USER MANUAL

USER MANUAL NOVAplus BIOGAS
MRU GmbH, D-74172 Neckarsulm 2 / 84
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Original user manual
© 2022 by MRU
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as such, are properties of the respective owners.
Edition: 2022-02-10-V1.20.EN

USER MANUAL NOVAplus BIOGAS
MRU GmbH, D-74172 Neckarsulm 3 / 84
Table of content
1Information for product and safety............................................... 7
1.1. Safety manual .................................................................................................7
1.2. Safety precautions.........................................................................................7
1.3. Ensure safety ...................................................................................................8
1.4. Important general information.............................................................. 10
1.5. User guideline for rechargeable batteries......................................... 11
2Introduction.................................................................................... 12
2.1. Intended use ................................................................................................ 12
2.2. About us ........................................................................................................ 14
2.3. Packaging...................................................................................................... 15
2.4. Return of hazardous materials .............................................................. 15
2.5. Return of electronic equipment............................................................ 15
3Description...................................................................................... 16
3.1. Gas flow diagram........................................................................................ 16
3.2. Remote control unit (RCU)...................................................................... 17
3.3. Base unit ........................................................................................................ 18
Connectors depending on the options (gas cooler) ............................. 19
3.4. Gas sampling probes ................................................................................ 20
4Operating ........................................................................................ 21
4.1. Display............................................................................................................ 21
4.2. Keypad............................................................................................................ 22
4.3. Connection Remote control unit (RCU) to base unit..................... 23
Declaration of symbols..................................................................................... 23
4.4. Reset and Blink codes............................................................................... 25
4.5. Menu structure............................................................................................ 25
5First usage ....................................................................................... 27
5.1. Preparatory steps ....................................................................................... 27
5.2. Analyzer settings ........................................................................................ 27
5.3. Measurement settings.............................................................................. 28
5.4. Switch-On protection................................................................................ 29
5.5. Print-out settings........................................................................................ 29
5.6. Bluetooth settings...................................................................................... 30
5.7. Setting date and time ............................................................................... 30
5.8. Configuring Measurement Programs ................................................. 31
5.9. Setting CO limit value............................................................................... 31
5.10. Select fuel types and O2 reference...................................................... 32
Adding fuels to Fuel type selection............................................................. 32

USER MANUAL NOVAplus BIOGAS
MRU GmbH, D-74172 Neckarsulm 4 / 84
Setting O2reference..........................................................................................32
5.11. Defining user fuels type ...........................................................................33
5.12. Defining measurement windows .......................................................... 34
5.13. Configuring zoom window......................................................................34
5.14. Changing measurement program names.......................................... 35
6Preparing measurement ................................................................36
6.1. Ensure power supply .................................................................................36
6.2. Automatic Auto off function...................................................................36
6.3. Measuring with grid power supply / Battery charging.................36
6.4. Battery charge condition .........................................................................36
6.5. Operating temperature ............................................................................37
6.6. Connections and tightness .....................................................................37
6.7. Automatic zero-point setting.................................................................38
6.8. Repeating the zeroing .............................................................................. 38
7Performing measurement .............................................................39
7.1. Select measuring program......................................................................39
7.2. Performing Biogas measurement.........................................................40
7.3. Flue gas measurement..............................................................................41
7.4. Setting CO-limit (only with optional flue gas measurement)..... 42
7.5. Storing measured values .........................................................................42
7.6. Terminate measurement..........................................................................42
7.7. Printing measurement results................................................................42
7.8. Last measurement values ........................................................................43
7.9. Pressure measurement.............................................................................44
7.10. Differential temperature measurement..............................................45
7.11. Performing measurements on CHP units (option) .........................46
7.12. Performing Auto-measurement (Option)..........................................47
Auto-measurement incl. data logger..........................................................47
Semi-continuous Auto-measurement incl. data logger.......................49
Selecting sites ......................................................................................................49
8Data Storage ...................................................................................50
8.1. Organizing data storage ..........................................................................50
8.2. Calling up information about data storage ......................................50
8.3. Site administration .....................................................................................51
Create new site....................................................................................................51
View sites...............................................................................................................52
Searching site.......................................................................................................52
Changing sites..................................................................................................... 53
Deleting sites ....................................................................................................... 54
Data transfer using SD card (option)...........................................................55
Importing sites ....................................................................................................55
Exporting sites .....................................................................................................57

USER MANUAL NOVAplus BIOGAS
MRU GmbH, D-74172 Neckarsulm 5 / 84
Exporting combustion measurements........................................................ 57
Exporting differential pressure measurements ....................................... 58
8.4. Measurements in Data storage ............................................................. 58
Viewing Measurements.................................................................................... 58
Deleting Measurements................................................................................... 59
Transferring measurements to SD-Card (Option) .................................. 60
9Extras / Adjustments...................................................................... 61
9.1. User definable Logo print out................................................................ 61
9.2. Service calibration menu ......................................................................... 63
9.3. Default settings ........................................................................................... 64
9.4. Service values RCU / Service values Base unit ................................. 65
9.5. Performing leak test .................................................................................. 66
9.6. Contents SD card........................................................................................ 67
9.7. Contents Analyzer info ............................................................................. 68
Options list remote control ............................................................................ 68
Options list base unit........................................................................................ 68
9.8. Self diagnostics ........................................................................................... 69
10 Maintenance and care ................................................................ 70
10.1. Cleaning......................................................................................................... 70
10.2. Maintenance................................................................................................. 70
10.3. Service messages........................................................................................ 70
10.4. Check/replace optional water stop filter ........................................... 71
11 Appendix...................................................................................... 72
11.1. Technical data.............................................................................................. 72
General Data ........................................................................................................ 72
Gas conditioning and sampling.................................................................... 73
Measured values................................................................................................. 73
Calculated values................................................................................................ 76
Data communication......................................................................................... 77
11.2. Analysis and calculations......................................................................... 78
11.3. Text input ...................................................................................................... 79
11.4. Asking user for decision........................................................................... 79
11.5. Firmware update......................................................................................... 80
11.6. Troubleshooting ......................................................................................... 82
Troubleshooting the analyzer........................................................................ 82
12 Declaration of conformity ......................................................... 83

USER MANUAL NOVAplus BIOGAS
MRU GmbH, D-74172 Neckarsulm 6 / 84

USER MANUAL NOVAplus BIOGAS
MRU GmbH, D-74172 Neckarsulm 7 / 84
1Information for product and safety
1.1. Safety manual
All general information and safety precautions of MRU products are
listed in the supplied separate safety manual.
Therefore, this manual must be read and observed before the first use
of the instrument.
Instrument-specific safety and warning requirements in this manual are
prefixed before dangerous actions.
1.2. Safety precautions
The used categories of safety precautions are here explained once more
DANGER
Identifies an immediate, impending hazard that, if
ignored, will result in severe bodily injuries or death.
WARNING
Identifies an immediate, impending hazard that, if
ignored, may result in severe bodily injuries, material
damage or death.
CAUTION
Identifies a possibly dangerous situation that, if
ignored, may result in minor injuries.
ATTENTION
Identifies a possibly harmful situation that, if ignored,
may result in damages to the device or its
surroundings.
NOTE
Identifies user tips and other especially important infor-
mation.
The explanation of safety notices:
CAUTION
HOT –danger of burns and fire hazards from gas
extraction probe.
Physical harm and property damage can be caused.
►Cool down the probe tube.

USER MANUAL NOVAplus BIOGAS
MRU GmbH, D-74172 Neckarsulm 8 / 84
1.3. Ensure safety
►Please read the user manual completely before the first use.
►Only use the analyzer for the intended use and within the parameters
specified in the technical data.
►Do not use any violence.
►Avoid falls.
►Do not put the analyzer into use, if the housing, power supply unit or
supply leads are damaged.
►Do not store the analyzer together with solvents. Do not use
desiccants.
►Only carry out maintenance and service work on this analyzer as de-
scribed in the User Manual. Observe the prescribed action steps.
►Operate the analyzer only in closed, dry rooms and protect it from
rain and moisture.
►When operating the analyzer on mains power, operate it only with
the mains adapter supplied
►The analyzer must not be located in the immediate vicinity of open
fire or great heat.
►Do not use the metal tube of the gas sampling probe or other metal-
lic parts / accessories as electrical conductors.
►Do not use the analyzer in or under water.
►The specified temperature range of the gas sampling probe must not
be exceeded, otherwise the probe tube and temperature sensor will
be destroyed.
►Moisture, being pumped out of the condensates trap can be slightly
acidic.In case of skin contact IMMEDIATELY: clean affected parts of
the body. Avoid getting liquid in eyes. Please carefully clean all parts
that come into contact with the condensates.
►After measurement, vent the analyzer with ambient air and allow the
probe to cool. A hot probe could cause burns or ignite flammable
material.
►Electrochemical sensors are by their operating principle not only sen-
sitive to the gas they are intended for, but for other gases as well.
This cross sensitivity is compensated by MRU for the typical applica-
tion of flue gas analysis. However, unusual high concentration levels
of single gas components might lead to a reduced measurement ac-
curacy of other gas components and to a temporary change of the
sensitivity of sensors, which may require several hours recovery time.
Especially concentration levels as high as several % for single gas
components may affect the measurement of other gas components
at ppm level. Those applications need to be discussed with MRU in
detail

USER MANUAL NOVAplus BIOGAS
MRU GmbH, D-74172 Neckarsulm 9 / 84
Biogas or other similar gases (landfill gas, bio-methane, coal seam gas etc) is
containing flammable component CH4 and toxic component as well (H2S and
CO2).
Analyzers sample a certain volume of the biogas, and vent it to the am-
bient air.
For this reason, there are two aspects which must be considered:
1.) toxicity danger of sample gas
2.) flammable (explosion) danger of sample gas
1) Inhaling toxic gases is harmful to health and can even cause death in
some cases.
•It is the responsibility of analyzer user to ensure that person is
skilled and trained in safety aspects of gases being analyzed
and procedures to follow while using this instrument.
•Local regulations for possible exposition to toxic gases have to
be known by the user and obeyed by the user of the analyzer
•Using a personal gas detector inside the biogas plant is highly
recommended since H2S in higher (very dangerous concentra-
tion) cannot be detected by human nose. Only small concen-
trations around few ppm can be detected by human nose
•CO2 gas is heavier than air and therefore operator shall avoid
using portable biogas analyzer at underground levels. Beside of
that CO2 is also odourless!
•It is not allowed using the portable biogas analyzer in confined
space or rooms without sufficient ventilation.
•Sample gas exiting the analyzer will flow in the ambient air and
only outdoor use or forced ventilation rooms are suitable for
using the portable biogas analyzer
2) Regarding flammable gases (e.g. CH4 methane) and hazardous area
of operating the instruments, user must also be able to recognize the
area classification and be aware of using the instrument there. This area
classification is country specific, please observe and notice it.
•MRU instruments may be operated in hazardous areas zone 2
by skilled users obeying local guidelines e.g. by using LEL gas
detectors.

USER MANUAL NOVAplus BIOGAS
MRU GmbH, D-74172 Neckarsulm 10 / 84
1.4. Important general information
This analyzer is not designed to be used for continuous measurements.
Before using the analyzer verify the condition of the various parts of the
analyzer, such as the probe, the ambient air conditions, the condensate
separator, star filter and the connectors for damage and/or blockages.
Depending on the state of the electrochemical sensors, the time taken
to reach the operating status after switching on is 1 to 3 minutes (zero-
ing) or 4 to 9 minutes with an installed 2-gas cuvette
When starting up the analyzer it will take between 1 –3 minutes to set
to zero depending on the condition of the sensors and of ambient.
The minimum zeroing time of the analyzer to achieve correct measure-
ment values can be expected by 1.5 minutes!
Caution: Exposure to acids; aggressive gases such as sulphur; vapours
such as thinners, gasoline, alcohol and paint, etc. can damage, reduce
the life of, or destroy the sensors.
The life of the sensors depends on how they are used, maintained and
treated. Typical average life expectations are: O2- 2 years; CO - 2 - 3
years and NO - 3 years.
The use of the analyzer for regulatory purposes is subject to special reg-
ulations (for example a periodical examination of the analyzer). Please
obtain the appropriate regulations from your local responsible author-
ity.