Ohio Lumex RA-915+ User manual

RA-915+ MERCURY ANALYZER
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted, recorded or
transferred in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical,
photographic, recording, or other, without prior written permission from
OhioLumex Co., Inc.
Neither OhioLumex Co. Inc.,nor its branches shall be liable to the buyer of this
product for damages or losses, which the buyer might suffer as a result of force-
majeure circumstances, abuse of the product, alteration or modification of its
design, which are not provided in the operation and service manuals issued by
OhioLumex Co., Inc.
OhioLumex Co. Inc. shall not be liable for damages or defects, which may arise from
use of additional devices and consumables, which are not mentioned in this
manual.
Information given in this document is subject to change without prior notice.
Distributed by: Air-Met Scientic Pty Ltd
Work with Confidence
Adelaide | Brisbane | Gladstone | Mackay | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney
Air-Met Sales/Service
P: 1800 000 744
F: 1800 000 774
E: [email protected]
Air-Met Rental
P: 1300 137 067
E: [email protected]
W: www.airmet.com.au

About this manual
This manual is designed to familiarize you with the principle of operation and
structure of the RA-915+ analyzer (hereinafter referred to as the «analyzer»),
its design, performance characteristics and operating conditions. It contains
information that will provide proper operation and comprehensive utilization of
the analyzer’s capabilities. Please take time to read the manual in order to
attain the best results in operation and to gain the greatest benefit from your
analyzer.
This manual contains:
• List of important safety measures, warnings and precautions, which you
should follow when operating with the analyzer.
• The purpose of the analyzer, its basic performance and analytical char-
acteristics, and operating conditions.
• Brief description of the physical foundations and the principle of opera-
tion of the analyzer, and of its design.
• Functional controls of the analyzer, their purpose and operation.
• Procedures for preparation of the analyzer for operation in different con-
figurations using appropriate operation modes.
• Procedures for handling the analyzer in all of the operation modes using
the display and control unit.
• Brief description of procedures for analyzer operation using a PC.
• Procedures for analyzer maintenance.
• Reference data for correction of results obtained during operation in dif-
ferent modes, as well as instructions for troubleshooting.
i

Safety guidelines
Important safety precautions
Read these rules completely before starting operation with analyzer.
• Carefully study all the sections of this operation manual, analyzer de-
sign and control functions.
• To avoid electrical shock, never work with the analyzer covers taken off.
• Charge the battery on a timely basis. Store the unit with the battery fully
charged.
• Do not put extraneous objects inside the analyzer through its ports.
• Do not allow the ingress of liquids on the case or inside the analyzer.
• Use only the power supply which is provided.
• Never use a defective power supply cable, do not put any objects on the
power supply cable, and locate it in a manner to avoid a trip hazard.
• Do not try to repair the analyzer or adjust its optical units and electronic
boards by yourself, except for cases stipulated in troubleshooting sec-
tion (Appendix 1).
• Call an authorized agent or certified service engineer in the following
cases:
• If the analyzer does not operate properly or its parameters have
noticeably deteriorated.
• If the analyzer has fallen down or if its case is damaged.
• If a liquid has gotten inside the analyzer.
• If you hear unusual sounds or sense unusual smell coming from
the analyzer.
• Keep the analyzer at a minimum distance of 1 meter from heating de-
vices and heat sources. Do not transport analyzer in the trunk of your
car.
• Do not forget to switch the analyzer off when the working day is over and
to disconnect the power supply unit from the mains if the analyzer is not
used for more than 6 hours.
• Never work without absorption and dust filters.
• The analyzer should be switched off before any maintenance operations.
• When measuring mercury concentration, it is necessary to follow in-
structions and documents stating safety regulations for operation in chemi-
cal laboratories and safety rules for operation with electric appliances.
ii

• Observe the following rules during any transportation of the device, as
well as when performing measurements from a moving vehicle (car, heli-
copter, etc.):
• To avoid strong vibration effects, do not place the device on a hard
surface (baggage compartment, floor of a vehicle, etc.).
• Place the device on shock-insulated surfaces (a seat, damping
support, etc.).
• Secure the device on a working surface to prevent its fall or inci-
dental contact with other objects.
• Observe the following safety precautions during outdoor operation:
• Do not work in rainy or foggy weather and avoid precipitation in-
gress inside the analyzer.
• Do not work in dusty ambient air.
Operating personnel should participate in training at OhioLumex Co., Inc. premises
or at a regional service center.
Note symbols
Cautions. Pay attention to these in order to avoid damage of equip-
ment.
Notes. They contain useful information, which will make the opera-
tion with the device easier.
iii

User`s manual RA-915+
Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................... 2
Application ........................................................................................................ 4
Design and operation of the analyzer .............................................................. 6
Physical foundation and principle of operation ...................................... 6
Design of analyzer ................................................................................. 7
Appearance and functional controls ................................................................. 8
Front panel view ..................................................................................... 8
Back panel view ................................................................................... 10
Right panel view .................................................................................... 11
Left panel view ....................................................................................... 11
Upper panel view .................................................................................. 12
Pre-operational procedures ............................................................................ 12
Operation with the display unit ....................................................................... 15
Description of the MAIN MENU ........................................................... 15
SETTINGS ................................................................................. 15
TEST .......................................................................................... 17
ON STREAM ............................................................................. 19
ON-TIME .................................................................................... 21
HIGH CONCENTRATIONS ........................................................ 24
Operation with a PC ....................................................................................... 24
Serviceability check-up ........................................................................ 25
Measuring procedure ........................................................................... 25
Maintenance ................................................................................................... 25
Charging the battery ............................................................................ 26
Changing of the dust filter .................................................................... 26
Changing of the absorption filter .......................................................... 26
Changing the Pre-filter ......................................................................... 27
Preventive maintenance ....................................................................... 27
Appendix 1 ...................................................................................................... 28
Troubleshooting .................................................................................... 28
Appendix 2 ...................................................................................................... 29
Values of the test number Sk as a function of the temperature of the
test cell ................................................................................................ 29

User`s manual RA-915+
Introduction
Our compliments on the acquisition of the RA-915+ mercury analyzer.
The advanced technologies implemented in the analyzer's production ensure
their extraordinary reliability. The RA-915+ mercury analyzer provides high se-
lectivity of analysis, wide dynamic measurement range, ultra-low mercury de-
tection limits for water and air and, in most cases, enables determination of
mercury content in samples with a complex composition without preliminary
sample preparation. It can be used in the field and in a laboratory as a stand-
alone unit and as part of a computerized analytical system.
The RA-915+ mercury analyzer is a sophisticated high-precision device,
therefore, it should be handled in compliance with operation conditions at all
times to ensure its reliable operation.
2

User`s manual RA-915+
3
2
1
Ent
Esc
5
7,9
8
10
4
3
After taking the device out of the package, make sure that you have
everything necessary for its operation. The complete delivery set includes the
following items:
1 Base unit 1 pc.
2 Display and control unit 1 pc.
3 Power supply unit (for operation from an a.c. mains) 1 pc.
4 Operation manual 1 pc.
5 Kit of spare parts and accessories
(absorption and dust filters) 1 pc. each
6 Canvas shoulder bag (not pictured) 1 pc.
7 Display-unit-connection cable 1 pc.
8 Air intake hose with pre-filter 1 pc.
9 Analyzer-PC interface cable (RS-232 standard) 1 pc.
10 Software for RA-915+ (4 disks) 1 pc.
Options:
• RP-91C attachment for determination of mercury content in solid sam-
ples.
• RP-91 attachment for determination of mercury content in liquid sam-
ples.
• Cable for connection with an external d.c. power supply .
• Cable for analog signal input from a peripheral device.

User`s manual RA-915+
Application
The RA-915+ analyzer (base unit) is intended for measuring mercury
vapor concentration in ambient air and in the air of residential quarters and
production areas, as well as in natural gas and in factory smokestack emis-
sions.
The analyzer can be used for on stream measuring of mercury vapor
concentration in the air both in a stationary mode and in continouous mode
from vehicles (car, helicopter, boat).
The analyzer is used for tackling environmental problems, oil and ore
deposit prospecting, technological processes monitoring, and for industrial sani-
tary and scientific research.
The RA-915+ analyzer is a part of a mercury analytical system, which
enables determination of mercury content in gas, liquid, and solid samples.
The analytical system consists of the RA-915+ analyzer itself, the RP-91 at-
tachment for determination of mercury content in aqueous solutions using the
''cold vapor'' technique, and the RP-91C attachment for measuring mercury con-
centration in liquid and solid samples with a complex composition using the
pyrolysis technique. Basic analytical characteristics of the system are given in
the table below:
Subject Detection
limit
Sample
parameters (flow
rate, volume,
weight)
Detection
technique
Complete
set
Ambient air 2 ng/m320 l/min
Direct RA-915+
Natural and industrial gases 2 - 500 ng/m31 - 20 l/min
Water 0.5 ng/l 20 ml "Cold vapor"
technique
RA-915+
RP-91
Urine 5 ng/l 1 ml
Solid samples (soils, rocks) 0.5 mg/kg 0.2 g
Pyrolysis
technique
RP-91C
RA-915+
Biological samples
(tissues, liver, etc.) 5 mg/kg 0.02 g
Hair 20 mg/kg 0.01 g
Oil and oil products 50 mg/kg 0.01 g
Plants 2 mg/kg 0.05g
Foodstuff 2 - 10 mg/kg 0.005 - 0.05 g
4

User`s manual RA-915+
Detection limit for mercury vapor concentration in air (ng/m3), with the
use of:
Multi-path cell 2
Single-path cell * 500
Maximum mercury vapor concentration under analysis (ng/m3), with the
use of:
Multi-path cell 20 000
Single-path cell * 200 000
(*) in the “High concentration” mode
Accuracy, % ± 20
Main technical data and specifications
Built-it battery 6.3 V
External direct current source 10 – 14 V
A.C. power source, through
external unit 220/110 V, 50/60 Hz
Power consumption 20 W
Dimensions (mm) 460 * 210 * 110
Weight (kg) 7.5
Operating conditions
Ambient air temperature from +1 to 40 0C
Atmospheric pressure 84.0 – 106.7 kPa
Relative humidity under 95 %, at 35 0C
5