Photon Systems Instruments FMT150 Guide

Photobioreactor
FMT150
Manual and User’s Guide
Please read this manual before operating this product
PSI, spol. s r. o., Drásov 470, 664 24 Drásov, Czech Republic
FAX: [phone], TEL: [phone], www.psi.cz

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©PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o. (hereinafter PSI), 2019
This document and its parts can be copied or provided to a third party only with the express permission of PSI.
The contents of this manual have been verified to correspond to the specifications of the device. However, deviations cannot
be ruled out. Therefore, a complete correspondence between the manual and the real device cannot be guaranteed. The
information in this manual is regularly checked, and corrections may be made in subsequent versions.
The visualizations shown in this manual are only illustrative.
This manual is an integral part of the purchase and delivery of equipment and its accessories and both Parties must abide
by it.

© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1Warnings and Safety Precautions ................................................................................................................................... 5
2General Description ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
3Device Description .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Configurations and Versions.................................................................................................................................. 9
3.2 Standard Components......................................................................................................................................... 14
3.3 Control Unit Front Panel...................................................................................................................................... 16
3.4 Rear Panel For Version FMT150.1 ....................................................................................................................... 18
3.5 Rear Panel For Version FMT150.2 ....................................................................................................................... 20
3.6 Connection Schema............................................................................................................................................. 22
4Device Installation......................................................................................................................................................... 23
4.1 Power Supply....................................................................................................................................................... 23
4.2 Cultivation Vessel ................................................................................................................................................ 24
4.3 pH/Temperature Sensor...................................................................................................................................... 28
4.4 Gas Supply ........................................................................................................................................................... 31
5Optional Accessories/Components............................................................................................................................... 33
5.1 PBR Software....................................................................................................................................................... 33
5.2 Air Pump With Bubble Interruption Valve........................................................................................................... 33
5.3 pH/Temperature Module .................................................................................................................................... 34
5.4 O2Module ........................................................................................................................................................... 34
5.5 CO2Module ......................................................................................................................................................... 36
5.6 Magnetic Stirrer................................................................................................................................................... 43
5.7 PWM Pump.......................................................................................................................................................... 46
5.8 Gas Mixing System GMS 150 ............................................................................................................................... 48
5.9 Gas Analysis System GAS 150.............................................................................................................................. 51
5.10 Peristaltic Pump PP600........................................................................................................................................ 54
5.11 External Light Panel............................................................................................................................................. 58
5.12 Additional Software Licence................................................................................................................................ 59
5.13 Light Upgrade ...................................................................................................................................................... 59
5.14 Supplementary/Replacement Components........................................................................................................ 59

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6Cultivation Guide .......................................................................................................................................................... 60
6.1 Set-Up the Components ...................................................................................................................................... 60
6.2 Set-Up the Experiment ........................................................................................................................................ 60
7Appendix ....................................................................................................................................................................... 62
7.1 FMT150 Control Menu Tree ................................................................................................................................ 62
7.2 QY Measurement ................................................................................................................................................ 70
7.3 Technical Specification Standards ....................................................................................................................... 71
8Warranty Terms and Conditions ................................................................................................................................... 75
9Troubleshooting and Customer Support....................................................................................................................... 76
10 List of Abreviations .................................................................................................................................................. 77

© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o.
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1WARNINGS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE TURNING THE PHOTOBIOREACTOR ON:
•Remove all packaging and transport protectors before connecting the Photobioreactor to the power supply.
•Use only cables supplied by the manufacturer.
•Keep the device dry outside and avoid working in high humidity environment!
•The manufacturer is not responsible for any damage due to improper operation!
•Water and other liquids should only be placed in vessels designed for the purpose and according to instructions
included in this manual.
GENERAL ELECTRICAL SAFETY GUIDELINES:
•Perform a routine check of the devices and their wiring.
•Replace worn or damaged cords immediately.
•Use appropriate electrical extension cords/power bars and do not overload them.
•Place the device on a flat and firm surface. Keep away from wet floors and counters.
•Avoid touching the device, socket outlets or switches if your hands are wet.
•Do not perform any alterations to the electrical parts of the device or its components.
The following table presents basic highlight symbols used in this manual:
Symbol
Description
Important information, read carefully.
Complementary and additional information.
Tab. 1 Used symbols.

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The Photobioreactor is considered Class 1M* LED Product. LED radiation may be harmful to eye.
Avoid direct and strongly reflected exposure. Use protective glasses.
*Class 1M: Laser and LED equipment that is safe for the naked eye under foreseeable conditions of operation.
Looking directly into the source of radiation by employing optics within the beam, such as magnifying glass,
telescope or microscope, can be potentially hazardous.

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2GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Photobioreactor FMT150 feature a unique combination of the cultivator and computer controlled monitoring device. The
Photobioreactor FMT150 combines a cultivation vessel with the built-in fluorometer and densitometer. It is primarily
designed for modular and precise phototrophic cultivation of algae, cyanobacteria and bacteria. Light power and spectral
composition as well as temperature and aeration gas composition can be set with high accuracy.
User defined cultivation conditions can be dynamically varied according to user defined protocol. Continuous online
monitoring of cultivation conditions and measured parameters is possible via the optional PBR software. Light,
temperature, gas composition, and culture medium regime can be programmed to oscillate with various amplitudes and
frequencies with user-defined time steps from seconds to hours via the software or via the control unit. Turbidostatic
cultivation can be used for the stabilization of the suspensions via optical density control. In addition, up to 8 peristaltic
pumps for different chemostat cultivation control can be linked to the Photobioreactor FMT150 for the highly precise
control of cultivation conditions.
The growth of the cultures is monitored by the integrated densitometer (OD 720, 680 nm). Relative chlorophyll content of
the culture can also be monitored continuously by the difference of optical densities at 680 and 720 nm. The instantaneous
physiological state of the culture is measured by the Photosystem II quantum yield Fv/Fm.
The Photobioreactor FMT150 has a flat-vessel design that enables uniform illumination over the whole culture.
Photobioreactors are currently manufactured in three cultivation vessel capacities: 400 ml, 1000 ml and 3000 ml.
All Photobioreactor models may be supplied with a number of optional accessories –sensors, stirrers, pumps, etc. Control
of the Photobioreactor is possible with either the control unit of the photobioreactor itself or the PBR software. However,
the PBR software provides much wider functionality to define, control, display and analyze the experimental conditions
and data.

© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o.
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3DEVICE DESCRIPTION
Standard version of the Photobioreactor FMT150 consists of a cultivation vessel with a sealable lid and a base box
containing electronics circuitry, LED light panel (Fig. 1A) and other components essential for the optimal operation of the
photobioreactor.
Fig. 1 A) Photobioreactor body consists of a flat vessel holding the suspension and of a base box with electronic circuitry. B) The block
scheme of the instrument shows the Control Processor Unit exchanging data and protocol with external computer (PC) and auxiliary
external modules. The Control Unit governs measurements of parameters such as OD and chlorophyll fluorescence plus parameters
measured by auxiliary sensors. It also controls the actinic light sources and temperature of the culture. C) Detail of the LED
configuration. D) Uncorrected optical density spectrum of cyanobacterial suspension. The lines with arrows indicate wavelengths of
various light sources that are integrated in the instrument. The detection range of the photodiode is also shown. E) Detail (rotated
top-to-bottom view) of the fluorometer and densitometer. F) Schematic representation of optional gas supply components and
modules that can be used to stabilize aeration and set CO2concentration level.

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The array of high-power light emitting diodes (LEDs) is located behind the cultivation vessel.
In the bottom corner of the front of the vessel is a semiconductor light sensor for measuring fluorescence emission and
suspension optical density by attenuation of light that was emitted from the LEDs (Fig. 1E)
The Photobioreactor can also control external modules such as peristaltic pumps and solenoid valves via the
photobioreactor control unit (shown schematically in Fig. 1F and Fig. 2). The solenoid valves are used to switch off the gas
supply to the culture (bubbling) during optical measurements. Peristaltic pumps are used in turbidostat and chemostat
modes to supply fresh medium or buffer.
Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of the Photobioreactor, its modules and remote control.
3.1 CONFIGURATIONS AND VERSIONS
FMT150 can be shipped with various configurations of vessel capacity, light quality, light intensity and thermoregulation.
Numerous additional accessories such as various sensors can be supplied as described in chapter 5 on page 33.
Please note that this manual describes operation of two FMT150 versions (Fig. 4) - older PBR FMT150.1 and new PBR
FMT150.2.
3.1.1 CULTIVATION VESSEL
The cultivation vessel is flat and rectangular in shape. Its front and back windows are made of glass plates. The base is
made out of stainless steel and contains a thermal bridge that facilitates heat transfer between a Peltier cell in the
instrument base and the culture suspension. The lid of the vessel is easily detachable during cleaning and contains Luer
connectors for gas or medium supply tubing, waste medium exhaust or sample collection. The three larger ports
accommodate the optional temperature/pH sensor and dissolved O2or CO2 probes.
The Photobioreactor FMT150 is manufactured in three vessel capacities enabling the customer to select optimal cultivation
conditions for his experiments.

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•400 ml (in FMT150/400)
•1000 ml (in FMT150/1000)
•3000 ml (in FMT150/3000)
3.1.2 LED LIGHTING
The high-power light emitting diodes generate a highly uniform irradiance flux that can be controlled in the range
0 –3,000 mol.m-2.s-1 PAR. The irradiance can be dynamically modulated by the FMT150 control unit or by the PBR
software. Spectra are shown in Fig. 3.
Two standard LED panel versions are available, each color is controlled independently:
•White-Red panel: maximum intensity 1,500 mol.m-2.s-1 (white 750 / red 750 mol.m-2.s-1)
•Blue-Red panel: maximum intensity 1,500 mol.m-2.s-1 (blue 750 / red 750 mol.m-2.s-1)
Two optional upgraded LED panel versions are available, each color is controlled independently:
•White-Red panel: maximum intensity 3,000 mol.m-2.s-1 (white 1,500 / red 1,500 mol.m-2.s-1)
•Blue-Red panel: maximum intensity 3,000 mol.m-2.s-1 (blue 1,500 / red 1,500 mol.m-2.s-1)
Optional customized panel versions:
•White-Blue: maximum intensity 1,500 mol.m-2.s-1
•White-Blue with Light Upgrade: maximum intensity 3,000 mol.m-2.s-1
•Red: maximum intensity 750 mol.m-2.s-1 (no light upgrade available)
•White: maximum intensity 1,500 mol.m-2.s-1
•White with Light Upgrade: maximum intensity 3,000 mol.m-2.s-1
•Blue: maximum intensity 1,500 mol.m-2.s-1
•Blue with Light Upgrade: maximum intensity 3,000 mol.m-2.s-1