OxySense 300446-501 User manual
OxySense
Flow Meter
Users Guide
© Industrial Physics Product Integrity
OxySense
An Industrial Physics Product Integrity Brand
68 Branum Road, Devens, MA 01434. USA
Phone: (978) 772-0970
Website: www.oxysense.com
Email: [email protected]
Document Revised: July, 2020
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Any reference to a company or
data used as examples herein is ctitious unless otherwise noted. No part of this document may
be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means for any purpose without express
written permission.
All other company and product names are the trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective companies.
All Rights Reserved
Flow Meter User’s Guide
Page i
Copyright © Industrial Physics Product Integrity 2020
Document Revised: July, 2020
Copyright © Industrial Physics Product Integrity 2020
All Rights Reserved.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Any reference to a
company or data used as examples in this document may not be used for any purpose
without express written permission is prohibited. All other company and product
names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Always follow all local and national safety guidelines and any additional safety
guidelines specific to your organization. Consult with your organization’s safety officer
prior to performing work.
Any descriptions of standards, protocols, practices, or procedures are given as
guidance and may not fully align with the standards, protocols, practices, or
procedures of your organization’s quality assurance program. Consult with your
organization’s quality assurance officer prior to beginning work.
Flow Meter User’s Guide
Page ii
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction ................................................................................... 1
2.0 Flow Meter Assembly ...................................................................... 2
2.1 Assembly Components........................................................................2
2.2 Flow Meter..........................................................................................2
2.3 Tube Fittings ......................................................................................3
3.0 Instructions.................................................................................... 4
4.0 Considerations................................................................................ 8
4.1 Flow Rate............................................................................................8
4.2 Using Pure Oxygen .............................................................................8
5.0 Technical Support........................................................................... 9
List of Figures
Figure 2-1: Flow Meter Assembly (Side View).............................................................. 2
Figure 2-2: Flow Meter (Front View) ........................................................................... 2
Figure 2-3: Tube Compression Fittings ...................................................................... 3
Copyright © Industrial Physics Product Integrity 2020
Flow Meter User’s Guide
Page 1 of 9
1.0 Introduction
A flow meter is used to control the flow rate of gas. We typically express the flow rate
as a volume:time ratio (e.g. standard cubic feet per hour or SCFH), meaning that over
a certain period of time, a certain amount of gas will have flowed.
Industrial Physics Product Integrity provides a flow meter for use with the
OxySense® Permeation Chamber, an accessory designed for polymer film oxygen
transmission rate (OTR) analysis. The reason being: polymer films are flexible.
When using the permeation chamber, the chamber is purged with an inert gas. If
the gas flows in to the chamber too quickly, the chamber will become pressurized,
and, subsequently, the film inside may flex, bow, distort or rupture. The use of a
flow meter is needed to prevent such things from happening.
This guide will discuss the following topics:
•Connecting the flow meter to the permeation chamber
•Purging the permeation chamber
•Suggested flow rates
•Using pure oxygen
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Flow Meter User’s Guide
Page 2 of 9
2.0 Flow Meter Assembly
2.1 Assembly Components
The flow meter assembly
(OxySense P/N: 300446-
501) is composed of a flow
meter, a wooden base,
gas-tight tube
compression fittings, and
a brass check valve. The
flow meter inlet is
connected to a gas source
(e.g. a compressed
nitrogen cylinder). The
outlet is connected to the
permeation chamber. The
flow of gas is regulated by
the adjustment knob on
the flow meter.
Gas Out
Flow Meter
Check Valve
Adjustment
Knob
Gas In
Figure 2-1: Flow Meter Assembly (Side View)
2.2 Flow Meter
1.0
.8
.6
.4
.2
.1
Adjustment
Knob
Flow Level
Indicator
Figure 2-2: Flow Meter (Front View)
The flow meter (rotameter) contains a floating level
indicator that tells you the current gas flow rate.
The flow rate reading is read from the level
indicator’s metallic, horizontal line. To increase or
decrease the flow rate, turn the adjustment knob
anti-clockwise or clockwise, respectively.
It is important to note that the markings on the
flow meter are printed in increments of tenths of
standard cubic feet per hour (SCFH). The highest
marking is 1.0 SCFH and the lowest marking is 0.1
SCFH. You may convert this reading to liters per
minute (LPM) by multiplying the SCFH value by
0.5 as 1 SCFH ≈0.5 LPM.
LPM = SCFH × 0.5
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Flow Meter User’s Guide
Page 3 of 9
2.3 Tube Fittings
Outlet Compression Nut
The flow meter assembly is shipped with gas-
tight compression fittings located at the inlet
and outlet. The fittings accommodate 1/4
inch (6 mm) outer diameter (O.D.) tubing.
Tubing should be composed of a non-reactive
material such as stainless steel or nylon.
1
⁄2”
Inlet Compression Nut & Ferrule
Note that the provided compression nuts are
different in design. The 9/16 in. (14.5 mm)
nut at the inlet includes a front ferrule and
back bushing. The 1/2 in. (13 mm) nut at the
outlet includes a joined ferrule.
9
⁄16”
Figure 2-3: Tube Compression Fittings
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Flow Meter User’s Guide
Page 4 of 9
3.0 Instructions
Step 1: Connect tubing to the flow meter’s inlet and outlet with the provided
gas-tight compression fittings. Insert tubing through nuts and ferrules
(tubing is not provided). Firmly tighten fittings by turning clockwise
using the appropriate size wrenches.
Check Valve
Outlet
Inlet
Outlet
Compression
Nut
Inlet
Compression
Nut & Ferrule
Gas Tubin
g
Step 2: Ensure that the main valve on the gas cylinder is closed at this time and
that the appropriate 2-stage gas regulator is firmly attached to the tank.
Connect tubing from the flow meter inlet to the regulator. Use gas-tight
compression fittings (tubing and fittings for regulator connection are not
included).
2-Stage Regulator
Gas Tubing
Gas-Tight Fittings
Inlet
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Flow Meter User’s Guide
Page 5 of 9
Step 3: Open the check valve on the
flow meter by turning
clockwise.
Step 4: Open the main valve on the
gas cylinder to begin the flow
of gas. Set the regulator
pressure to 20 psig (140
kpag).
Step 6: Close the check valve on the
flow meter by turning anti-
clockwise.
Step 5: Set the flow rate to 0.1 SCFH
(0.05 LPM) by rotating the
adjustment knob either
clockwise or anti-clockwise.
1.0
.8
.6
.4
.2
.1
0.1 SCFH
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Flow Meter User’s Guide
Page 6 of 9
Step 7: Connect the flow meter outlet to the desired inlet on the permeation
chamber. If purging the top of the chamber with pure nitrogen, connect
to the top inlet. If purging the bottom of the chamber with pure oxygen,
connect to the bottom inlet (See Section 4.2 Using Pure Oxygen).
Flow Meter
Out
l
et
Permeation Chamber
T
op Inlet
Step 8: Fully open both the inlet and
outlet valves on the
permeation chamber by
turning the valves anti-
clockwise.
Step 9: To begin the flow of gas
through the permeation
chamber, open the check
valve on the flow meter by
turning clockwise.
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Flow Meter User’s Guide
Page 7 of 9
Step 10: If purging the top of the
chamber, allow the gas to
flow for at least 60 seconds.
If purging the bottom of the
chamber, allow the gas to
flow for at least 4 minutes.
Step 11: After purging is complete,
close the permeation
chamber inlet and then the
outlet valve by turning
clockwise. You must close
the inlet first, otherwise you
will pressurize the chamber
and cause damage to the
film.
Top:
60 secs.
Close First
Close Second
Bottom:
4 mins.
Step 12: Close the check valve on the
flow meter by turning anti-
clockwise.
Step 13: Close the main valve on the
gas cylinder.
Copyright © Industrial Physics Product Integrity 2020
Flow Meter User’s Guide
Page 8 of 9
4.0 Considerations
4.1 Flow Rate
It is necessary to purge the permeation chamber at a low flow rate. Because the
chamber has a relatively small internal volume, flow rates exceeding 0.2 SCFH (0.1
LPM) will pressurize the chamber causing the film to bulge, stretch, distort, and
possibly rupture. It is recommended that the flow be set to 0.1 SCFH (0.05 LPM) to
avoid accidental damage to the film. However, flow rates between 0.1 and 0.2 SCFH
may be maintained without causing harm to the film or affecting the outcome of the
test.
4.2 Using Pure Oxygen
When following the dynamic accumulation method for OTR determination, the limiting
factor to obtaining a result is time. Low barrier films (50 cc/m2/day or less) can take
several days to several weeks to analyze when the concentration of oxygen in the
bottom of the chamber is at atmospheric levels (≈20.8% v/v). In cases where time is a
concern, the bottom half of the chamber may be purged with pure oxygen in order to
accelerate the test. The same rules for purging the top part of the chamber apply
when purging the bottom part of the chamber.
The final OTR result obtained from a test using either atmospheric oxygen (i.e. air) or
pure oxygen will be identical. This is because the algorithm employed by OxySense to
calculate OTR yields a result that is normalized to the oxygen concentration in the
bottom of the chamber. In other words, the amount of oxygen that accumulates in the
top of the chamber over a given length of time using pure oxygen will be greater than
the amount of oxygen that accumulates using air over the same length of time, and
the equation used to calculate OTR takes this in to account. The final calculated OTR
value will always be the same regardless of the oxygen concentration in the bottom of
the chamber.
!
WARNING: There is a safety hazard associated with pure oxygen
gas. Always follow all local and national safety guidelines and any
additional safety guidelines specific to your organization. Consult
with your organization’s safety officer prior to performing work.
Copyright © Industrial Physics Product Integrity 2020
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