pyroscience Piccolo2 User manual

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Piccolo2
FIBER-OPTIC OXYGEN METER
USER MANUAL

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Document Version 2.04
Refers to Pyro Oxygen Logger Software version >3.2
The Piccolo2 is manufactured by
Pyro Science GmbH
Hubertusstr. 35
52064 Aachen
Germany
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]
Email [e-mail]
Internet www.pyro-science.com
Registered: Aachen HRB 17329, Germany

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TABLE OF CONTENT
1OVERVIEW ..............................................................................5
2SAFETY GUIDELINES.............................................................. 6
3INTRODUCTION TO THE PICCOLO2......................................... 8
4SOFTWARE INSTALLATION.................................................... 9
5OXYGEN SENSOR TYPES.......................................................10
5.1 ROBUST PROBE ....................................................................... 10
5.2 DIPPING PROBE ....................................................................... 11
5.3 SENSOR SPOTS........................................................................ 11
5.4 FLOW-THROUGH CELLS ............................................................ 13
5.5 RESPIRATION VIALS.................................................................. 14
5.6 NANOPROBES ......................................................................... 16
5.7 CONNECTING THE SENSORS AND OPTICAL FIBERS ......................... 18
5.8 CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SENSORS........................... 20
6THE SOFTWARE "PYRO OXYGEN LOGGER" ...........................22
6.1 MAIN WINDOW........................................................................ 22
6.2 SETTINGS................................................................................ 30
6.2.1 Basic Settings.................................................................... 31
6.2.2 Advanced Settings............................................................. 32
6.2.3 Conditions in the Sample ................................................... 33
6.2.4 Options ............................................................................. 34
6.3 RAW DATA WINDOW ................................................................ 36
7CALIBRATION OF OXYGEN SENSORS ....................................38
7.1 CALIBRATION .......................................................................... 38
7.1.1 Calibration Mode: Factory.................................................. 39
7.1.2 Calibration Mode: 1-Point .................................................. 40
7.1.3 Calibration Mode: 2-Point .................................................. 42
7.1.4 Calibration Mode: Custom.................................................. 44
7.2 ADVANCED ADJUSTMENTS......................................................... 45
8CALIBRATION STANDARDS...................................................47
8.1 THE AIR CALIBRATION STANDARD .............................................. 47

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8.1.1 Ambient Air ....................................................................... 49
8.1.2 Water-Vapor Saturated Air ................................................ 49
8.1.3 Air Saturated Water........................................................... 50
8.2 THE 0% STANDARD.................................................................. 51
8.2.1 Water Mixed with a Strong Reductant ................................ 51
8.2.2 Water Flushed with Nitrogen Gas....................................... 51
8.2.3 Nitrogen Gas ..................................................................... 52
9CALIBRATION OF CONTACTLESS SENSORS .......................... 53
9.1 CALIBRATION PROCEDURE......................................................... 53
9.2 MANUAL BACKGROUND COMPENSATION .................................... 54
10 APPENDIX.............................................................................56
10.1 SPECIFICATIONS OF THE PICCOLO2.............................................. 56
10.2 TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................................. 57
10.3 MEASURING PRINCIPLE ............................................................. 58
10.4 OPERATING SEVERAL PICCOLO2IN PARALLEL................................60
10.5 DEFINITION OF OXYGEN UNITS................................................... 61
10.6 TABLE OF OXYGEN SOLUBILITY .................................................. 63
10.7 EXPLANATION OF THE SENSOR CODE .......................................... 65

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1Overview
The ultra-compact Piccolo2 is a fiber-optic oxygen meter
integrated in a small USB stick housing. Despite its small size, it
features the proven REDFLASH technology from Pyro Science (see
Appendix 10.3 for more details). The Piccolo2 can be used in
combination with a variety of optical oxygen sensors, like robust
probes, dipping probes or contactless sensors (sensor spots,
respiration vials, flow-through cells, nanoprobes). The optimized
optics of the Piccolo2 enable contactless oxygen measurements up
to a window thickness of 20 mm. The sensors can be used in water
samples (dissolved oxygen, DO), as well as in the gas phase
(gaseous oxygen, O2). Simply plug the Piccolo2 into a USB port of
your Windows PC or Windows tablet, connect the oxygen sensor of
your choice and start measuring with the comfortable logging
software "Pyro Oxygen Logger".
More information concerning our products can be found at
www.pyro-science.com
or contact us under [e-mail]
Your Pyro Science Team

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2Safety Guidelines
The Piccolo2 is a laboratory instrument to be used at constant
experimental temperatures with optical oxygen sensors (optodes)
from Pyro Science. In order to guarantee an optimal performance
of the Piccolo2, please follow these operation instructions and
safety guidelines.
Please note that opening the housing will void the warranty. There
are no serviceable parts inside the device.
The Piccolo2 and the sensors should be used in the laboratory by
qualified personnel only, following the operation instructions and
safety guidelines of this manual. They should be kept and stored
out of reach of children in a secure place under dry and clean
conditions at room temperature, avoiding moisture, dust,
corrosive conditions and heating of the instrument.
The Piccolo2 and the sensors are not intended for medical, military
or other safety-relevant areas. They must not be used for
applications in humans; not for in vivo examination on humans, not
for human-diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The sensors must
not be brought in direct contact with foods intended for
consumption by humans.
Please follow the appropriate laws and guidelines for safety like
EEC directives for protective labor legislation, national protective
labor legislation, safety regulations for accident prevention and
safety data-sheets from manufacturers of chemicals used during
the measurements.
When used in the field, extreme environmental conditions (like
high humidity, dust, and exposure to (salt) water or intense solar
radiation) can cause damage to the Piccolo2.

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Before using the Piccolo2 and the sensors, carefully read the
instructions and user manuals.
In case of problems or damage, disconnect the instrument and
mark it to prevent any further use! Consult Pyro Science for
advice! There are no serviceable parts inside the device. Please
note that opening the housing will void the warranty!
The Piccolo2 is not watertight, is sensitive to corrosive
conditions and to changes in temperature causing
condensation. Avoid temperatures above 50°C (122°F) or below
0°C (32°F). Avoid any elevated humidity causing condensing
conditions.
Handle the sensors with care, especially after removal of the
protective cap! Prevent mechanical stress to the fragile sensing
tip! Avoid strong bending of the fiber cable!
Calibration and application of the sensors are on the user’s
authority, as well as data acquisition, treatment and
publication!
The sensors and the oxygen meter Piccolo2 are not intended for
medical, diagnostic, therapeutic, or military purposes or any
other safety-critical applications. The sensors must not be used
for applications in humans and must not be brought in direct
contact with foods intended for consumption by humans.
The sensors should be used in the laboratory by qualified
personnel only, following the user instructions and the safety
guidelines of the manual, as well as the appropriate laws and
guidelines for safety in the laboratory!
Keep the sensors and the oxygen meter Piccolo2 out of reach of
children!

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3Introduction to the Piccolo2
The Piccolo2 is a miniature USB-driven fiber-optic oxygen meter
for usage in the laboratory. It is compatible to a variety of oxygen
sensors from Pyro Science, like robust probes, dipping probes and
contactless sensors, including sensor spots, respiration vials, flow-
through cells and nanoprobes.
These sensors are available in versions for the full range (0-
50% O2, max. range 0-100% O2), and selected sensor types are
additionally available for the trace range (0-10% O2). The Piccolo2
utilizes a measuring principle based on red light excitation and
lifetime detection in the near infrared using the proven REDFLASH
indicators (REDFLASH technology, see Appendix 10.3 for more
details).
The Piccolo2 can be connected directly to a Windows PC with the
USB plug, providing energy supply and data exchange with the PC.
If a greater distance between the PC and the Piccolo2 is needed,
the delivered USB extension cable can be used.
Comfortable calibration and logging functions are provided by the
logging software Pyro Oxygen Logger, available as free download.
IMPORTANT: The Piccolo2 is intended for oxygen measurements
at constant and defined temperatures! Do not submerse the
housing of the Piccolo2 into liquid samples! This destroys the
device. Protect the Piccolo2 against water spray!

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4Software Installation
IMPORTANT: Do not connect the Piccolo2 to your PC before the
Pyro Oxygen Logger software has been installed. The software will
install the appropriate USB-drivers automatically.
System requirements:
PC or tablet with Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10 (but not
Windows RT) and min. 200 MB free disk space
Installation steps:
•download the installer package for the newest version of the Pyro
Oxygen Logger software from the Pyro Science homepage:
www.pyro-science.com/downloads.html
•unzip, then start the installer and follow the instructions
•connect the Piccolo2 to a free USB port of the computer
After successful installation, a new program group "Pyro Oxygen
Logger" is added to the start menu, and a shortcut named "Oxygen
Logger" can be found on the desktop.

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5Oxygen Sensor Types
For the Piccolo2 meter, Pyro Science offers a range of optical
oxygen probes and contactless oxygen sensors, comprising sensor
spots, flow-through cells, respiration vials and nanoprobes. For an
overview of all available oxygen sensor types, please visit the Pyro
Science website.
5.1 Robust Probe
Characteristics: robust probe for Piccolo2 (item no. OPROB3) with
stainless steel tubing 3 mm in diameter and
30 mm in length
oxygen sensor with optical isolation located
in the 3 mm disc at the tip of the tubing
(sensor end, see chapter 5.7)
fiber cable 3 mm in diameter and 1 m in
length
Note: The fiber cable needs to be handled with care, as strong
bending can lead to breakage and damage of the robust probe.
Applications:
standard laboratory applications in gases and liquids
for aqueous liquids: permanent stirring is recommended, as
diffusion limitation of oxygen towards the 3 mm tip has a
measurable effect on the response time in liquid samples (this
diffusion limitation is negligible in gas samples)