Photon Systems Instruments FMT150 User manual

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CONTENTS
Contents.................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Instruction Manual.................................................................................................................................................. 4
Warnings and Safety Precautions ........................................................................................................................... 4
General Description ................................................................................................................................................ 5
Device Description .................................................................................................................................................. 6
List of different Photobioreactor FMT150 types ............................................................................................... 8
List of parameters measured and/or calculated by the Photobioreactor FMT150......................................... 10
Components of Photobioreactor FMT150....................................................................................................... 11
Description of the Photobioreactor Control Unit Front Panel ........................................................................ 20
Description of the PBR Rear Panel for version FMT150.1 ............................................................................... 21
Description of the PBR Rear Panel for version FMT150.2 ............................................................................... 23
Installation ............................................................................................................................................................ 26
Device Installation ........................................................................................................................................... 26
Accessories/optional components........................................................................................................................ 34
O2electrode installation.................................................................................................................................. 34
CO2electrode installation................................................................................................................................ 35
Magnetic stirrer installation ............................................................................................................................ 37
External light panel installation....................................................................................................................... 39
High-precission GAS Mixing system ................................................................................................................ 40
Peristaltic pump installation............................................................................................................................ 43
Gas analysis system GAS 150........................................................................................................................... 46
PWM Pump...................................................................................................................................................... 50
Photobioreactor software..................................................................................................................................... 51
Software Installation and Use ......................................................................................................................... 51
Graphical User Interface (GUI) ........................................................................................................................ 51
User´s Guide for cultivation of algae and cyanobacteria ...................................................................................... 62
Preparation and set up of the components .................................................................................................... 62
Preparation of the device and Setting up of the experiment.......................................................................... 62
Appendix 1 –Installation of the Operating System .............................................................................................. 64
Appendix 2 –Control Menu Tree.......................................................................................................................... 66
Explanation of Control Keys and Used Symbols .............................................................................................. 67
Graphical Presentation of the Operation Schematic....................................................................................... 68
Appendix 3 –Detailed Explanation of the Pulse Light Control ............................................................................. 74

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Appendix 4 –O2Electrode Calibration.................................................................................................................. 75
Appendix 5 –CO2Electrode Calibration................................................................................................................ 76
Appendix 6 –Conversion table for CO2calibration............................................................................................... 82
Appendix 7 –GAS 150 Technical specifications .................................................................................................... 83
Appendix 8 –QY measurement ............................................................................................................................ 84
Appendix 9 –Description and vessel assembly of 3000 ml vessel........................................................................ 85
Technical Specification Standard 400ml PBR ........................................................................................................ 86
Technical Specification Standard 1000ml PBR ...................................................................................................... 87
Technical Specification Standard 3000ml PBR ...................................................................................................... 88
WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS.................................................................................................................. 89
Alphabetical Index................................................................................................................................................. 90
List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................. 92
Troubleshooting and Customer support............................................................................................................... 93

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INSTRUCTION MANUAL
WARNINGS 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.
WARNING:
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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GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Photobioreactor FMT 150 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
Photobioreactor Software and a PC unit. Light, temperature, gas composition, and culture medium regime can
be programmed to oscillate with various amplitudes and frequencies with user-defined time steps from
milliseconds to hours via the software or via the control unit. Continuous-flow 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 or pH-stat 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 five versions differing in the volume of their cultivation
vessels: 400 ml, 1000 ml and 3000 ml, 25 L and 120 L.
All Photobioreactor models may be supplied with a number of optional accessories - sensors, stirrers, pumps,
etc. that can be all controlled via Photobioreactor Software. Control of the Photobioreactor is possible with
either computer and the software or via the control unit of the photobioreactor itself. However the data can
only be logged and collected with the software and the computer.

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DEVICE 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.
The cultivation vessel is flat and rectangular in shape with a volume capacity of 400 ml, 1000 ml or 3000 ml. 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.
Fig. 1 A) Photobioreactor body consists of a flat vessel holding the suspension and of a base box with electronics 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

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densitometer. F) Schematic representation of optional gas supply components and modules that can be used to stabilize
aeration and set CO2concentration level.
The array of high-power light emitting diodes (LEDs) is located behind the culture vessel. These LEDs generate a
highly uniform irradiance flux that can be controlled in the range 0-3000 mol (photons)/m-/s1PAR. The
irradiance can be dynamically modulated by the instrument control unit or by an external computer with
software. 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.
The Photobioreactor can be connected to an optional, external PC computer that runs photobioreactor
software. The photobioreactor software can define and control experimental settings (therefore overriding the
photobioreactor controller): duration of the experiment (typically days), data collection cycle (typically
minutes), temperature or temperature dynamics, LED irradiance, light/dark cycle or other irradiance dynamics.
The external computer with photobioreactor software is necessary for collection and logging of all the
measured parameters from both the photobioreactor and the auxiliary sensors. These parameters are
displayed in real time graphs. If the PC computer with photobioreactor software is hooked up to the internet,
the data, as well as control of the growth conditions can be accessed remotely online from anywhere. During
remote access data can be downloaded and growth conditions can be changed. One PC with photobioreactor
software can control up to 7 photobioreactors with additional software licence per additional photobioreactor.
Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of the Photobioreactor, its modules, and remote control.

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LIST OF DIFFERENT PHOTOBIOREACTOR FMT150 TYPES
The Photobioreactor is currently manufactured in three types enabling the customer to select the optimal
system with respect to volume. Various options for light quality, light intensity and thermoregulation are also
available. Numerous additional accessories such as various sensors can be supplied as described below on page
14.
Please note that this manual describes operation and use of two available PBR FMT150 versions (Fig. 3), PBR
FMT150.1 and new PBR FMT150.2 version released in June 2013.
CULTIVATION VESSEL CAPACITY:
400 ml (in FMT150/400)
1000 ml (in FMT150/1000)
3000 ml (in FMT150/3000)
LED LIGHTNING:
Two standard LED panel versions are available to select form, each colour is controlled independently:
- White-Red panel: maximum intensity 1,500 µmol(photon)/m2/s (white 750 / red 750 µmol(photon)/m2/s)
- Blue-Red panel: maximum intensity 1,500 µmol(photon)/m2/s (blue 750 / red 750 µmol(photon)/m2/s)
Two optional upgraded LED panel versions are available, each colour is controlled independently:
- White-Red panel: maximum intensity 3,000 µmol(photon)/m2/s (white 1500 / red 1500 µmol(photon)/m2/s)
- Blue-Red panel: maximum intensity 3,000 µmol(photon)/m2/s (blue 1500 / red 1500 µmol(photon)/m2/s)
Optional customized panel versions:
- White-Blue: maximum intensity 1,500 µmol(photon)/m2/s
- White-Blue with Light Upgrade: maximum intensity 3,000 µmol(photon)/m2.s
- Red: maximum intensity 750 µmol(photon)/m2/s (no light upgrade available)
- White: maximum intensity 1,500 µmol(photon)/m2/s
- White with Light Upgrade: maximum intensity 3,000 µmol(photon)/m2/s
- Blue: maximum intensity 1,500 µmol(photon)/m2/s
- Blue with Light Upgrade: maximum intensity 3,000 µmol(photon)/m2/s

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TEMPERATURE CONTROL:
Requires presence of the pH/Temperature probe.
- Standard range of 18 –50 °C (static or ramping).
In table below please find approximate estimation of time required for the given temperature equilibration.
Initial
temperature
Target
temperature
Light conditions
µmol/m2/s
Equilibration time
required
5 °C
50 °C
1500
2.5 hours
50 °C
5 °C
1500
3 hours
- Optional enhanced range 0-70 °C (static or ramping) (requires enhanced vessel made from nickel-plated brass
covered with ceramic layer).
VERSIONS:
FMT150.1 –PBR FMT150/400, PBR FMT150/1000
FMT150.2 - PBR FMT150/400, PBR FMT150/1000, PBR FMT150/3000
IMPORTANT: The standard version of FMT150 in both 400 and 1000 ml models has recently (June 2013) been
upgraded from FMT150.1 (Fig. 3A) to FMT150.2 (Fig. 3B). This manual provides instructions for operation of
both versions (original, now referred to FMT150.1 and the current versions FMT150.2. When following this
manual please ensure that you refer to the correct instructions.
Fig. 3 Two versions of the PBR FMT 150 available. A) FMT 150.1, B) FMT 150.2.

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LIST OF PARAMETERS MEASURED AND/OR CALCULATED BY THE PHOTOBIOREACTOR FMT150
Symbol
Name
Description
Ft (Dark)
Instantaneous fluorescence in
the dark
Instantaneous F-yield in dark equals F0
Ft = F0 (in dark-adapted sample)
Ft (Light)
Instantaneous fluorescence in
the light
Instantaneous F-yield in light that results
from a dynamic equilibrium of plastoquinone
reducing and re-oxidizing processes and from
non-photochemical quenching
Ft = Fs(in light-adapted sample)
FM (Dark)
Maximum fluorescence in
dark-adapted state
Maximum F-yield with QAreduced (qP=0) and
non-photochemical quenching relaxed
(NPQ=0)
FM (Light)
Maximum fluorescence in
light-adapted state
Maximum F-yield with QAreduced (qP=0) and
non-photochemical quenching active (NPQ≠0)
FV
Maximum variable
fluorescence
FV = FM - F0
QY(Dark)
Instantaneous PSII quantum
yield in the dark
Effective PSII quantum yield
QY= FV / FM(dark-adapted sample)
QY (Light)
Instantaneous PSII quantum
yield in the light
Effective PSII quantum yield relaxing in light
QY= FV’ / FM’(light-adapted sample)
OD680
Optical density at 680 nm
Optical density representing light scattering
and chlorophyll absorption.
OD720
Optical density at 720 nm
Optical density representing light scattering.
pH
pH
pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen
ion concentration in the medium.
[O2]
Oxygen concentration
Concentration of dissolved oxygen.
[CO2]
Carbon dioxide concentration
Concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide.
CO2partial pressure is calculated using the
measured pH and the temperature.