Sequoia LISST-100X User manual

User’s Manual
Version 5.0
2700 Richards Road, Suite 107
Bellevue, WA 98005-4200
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
LISST-100X
Particle Size Analyzer

This document is copyrighted by SEQUOIA SCIENTFIC, INC.

Welcome to the LISST-100X Particle Size Analyzer
Using this manual
This manual is divided into two sections.
Section One contains an introduction to the LISST- 100X
instrument and the principles of its operation.
Section Two provides a detailed set of instructions for using
and caring for the instrument.
Instrument specifications
For a listing of instrument-specific constants, as used in the
software for data processing, refer to Appendix A.
Technical assistance
For technical assistance please contact your local Distributor or
Sequoia. Please be sure to include the instrument serial
number with any correspondence.
IMPORTANT: Please read APPENDIX H:
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BEFORE you call or
email.
Sequoia Scientific, Inc. contact information:
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: The LISST-100 particle size
analyzer (discontinued in 2004) will not
communicate with the software version 5.0
described in this manual. If you have a LISST-100
you can use version 5.0 to PROCESS your data,
but you must use version 4.65 (Windows XP
compatible only) in order to program and offload
data from your LISST-100.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Smaltimento di apparecchiature elettriche ed elettroniche da rottamare

TableofContents
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE LISST-100X..............................................................................1
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION...............................................................................................................................4
SECTION 2: OPERATION..........................................................................................................................9
GETTING STARTED ....................................................................................................................................10
STEP BY STEP PROCEDURES .......................................................................................................................33
Step by Step Procedure: Record and Store Background Scatterfile....................................................35
Step by Step Procedure: Offloading Data Files..................................................................................37
Step by Step Procedure: Deleting Files From Memory ......................................................................39
Step by Step Procedure: Processing a single raw data file.................................................................40
Step by Step Procedure: Batch Processing Multiple raw data files....................................................46
Step by Step Procedure: Batch Processing Multiple raw data files from the command line..............52
Step by Step Procedure: View processed data file..............................................................................54
Step by Step Procedure: Data Quality Control...................................................................................57
Step by Step Procedure: Simple Real-time data processing................................................................60
Step by Step Procedure: Advanced Real-time data processing...........................................................64
Step by Step Procedure: Configuring data collection.........................................................................69
INSTRUMENT COMMUNICATION ................................................................................................................75
LISST-100X COMMAND SUMMARY..........................................................................................................79
LISST-100X COMMAND DETAILS.............................................................................................................81
PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION ..................................................................................................................90
INSTRUMENT MOUNTING,STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE .........................................................................93
Step by Step Procedure: Changing the Battery...................................................................................96
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS .....................................................................................................................99
APPENDIX A: INSTRUMENT SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION.........................................................100
APPENDIX B: SIZE RANGES, OBSERVATION ANGLES, DATA STORAGE FORMAT................101
APPENDIX C: CONNECTOR PINOUTS FOR LISST-100X ................................................................108
APPENDIX D: LISST-SOP SOFTWARE BUTTON DESCRIPTION...................................................111
APPENDIX E: SOFTWARE UPGRADE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE.........................................113
APPENDIX F: ZSCAT CHAMBER INSTALLATION PROCEDURE..................................................114
APPENDIX G: BIOBLOCK USE.............................................................................................................116
BIOBLOCK INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE LISST-100X ...........................................................117
CONFIGURING AND OPERATING THE BIOBLOCK ON THE LISST-100X....................................................120
BIOBLOCK BATTERY REPLACEMENT.......................................................................................................122
APPENDIX H: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & TROUBLESHOOTING.............................................123
APPENDIX I: LISST ACCESSORIES....................................................................................................126
WARRANTY.............................................................................................................................................129
INDEX........................................................................................................................................................131

LISST-100X User’s Guide 1
Section 1: Introduction to the LISST-100X
Introduction
Principle of
Operation The product name LISST is derived from the term that describes its
operation: Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissometry. LISST is
a Trademark of Sequoia Scientific, Inc.
The LISST-100X instrument uses the technique of laser diffraction
to obtain particle size-distribution (PSD), also called volume
distribution in this manual. This section describes the principle of
operation of your instrument.
The laser diffraction method for sizing particles was invented in the
1970’s and rapidly became the most widely used optical method for
determining size distribution for the simple reason that for laser
diffraction, the composition or refractive index of the particles is not
important. This method determines size distribution of an ensemble
of particles, as opposed to counting type devices that size one
particle at a time.
The reason that laser diffraction is unaffected by composition of
particles is that the scattering of laser light is observed at multiple,
small forward angles. At these small angles, light scattering is
determined almost entirely by light diffracted by the particle. The
light transmitted through the particle makes only a weak
contribution to the measured scattering. Since only the light
transmitted through the particle would experience the composition
of the particle, i.e. its refractive index, and since it makes only a
weak contribution to the observed scattering, the method of laser
diffraction is mostly independent of particle composition.
In the aquatic sciences, particle refractive index is poorly known
because particles are often a mixture of mineral grains and living
and dead particles of biological origin. Thus, except for shape
effects, laser diffraction offers an excellent method for size-
distribution estimation.
By calibrating for concentration with ISO standard natural particles,
shape effects are empirically included for the determination of the
volume concentration of the suspended particles. The user can
convert to mass concentration by multiplying with an appropriate
density. If the density of the particles is not knows it is not possible
to convert the volume concentration to mass concentration.

2 LISST-100X User’s Guide
The LISST-100X records the scattering intensity over a range of
small angles using a specially constructed multi-ring detector
shown in the graphic below. This measurement is also known to
optical scientists as the volume scattering function and can be
used as such for studies of underwater image propagation and
beam spread. A growing number of publications of measurements
using the LISST-100X instrument is available on our website:
http://www.sequoiasci.com/library/technical.aspx?SectionName=lib
rary
A collimated laser
beam enters
water, light is
scattered by
particles and
sensed by a multi-
ring detector
behind a receiving
lens. A
photodiode placed
behind a centered
hole measures
optical
transmission
The conversion of the multi-angle scattering to size distribution
involves a mathematical inversion. In this step, a size-distribution
is found that would produce multi-angle scattering that fits the
observation. There exists a vast literature on the subject of this
inversion. For the stout-hearted user interested in learning all
about it, we recommend the most germane study of the subject:
"Optimal scaling of the inverse Fraunhofer diffraction
particle sizing problem: The linear system produced by
quadrature," by E. D. Hirleman, Particle Characterization,
4, 128-133, 1987.
The main conclusions are that the information content of the data is
most stably retrieved by use of ring-type detectors, with each ring
measuring the scattering over a sub-range of angles, and that the
resolution is limited to relatively few size classes depending on the
noise in the data. For example, for the dynamic range in scattering
angles of 200:1 that is built into the LISST systems, typically only
12-14 truly independent size classes can be resolved.

LISST-100X User’s Guide 3
Simpler descriptions of principles and practice are offered in a
separate study by Agrawal et al., 19911. A more up to date
description of the technology and its application is provided by
Agrawal & Pottsmith, 20002.
We explain the inversion process as follows: Let E be the 32-
element data vector that contains the angular scattering energy
sensed by the 32 silicon rings. It is related to the volume
distribution3via
E = K NV
where K is the scattering property kernel matrix and NVis the
volume distribution.
The volume distribution is obtained by inverting the above
equation. Included with the LISST-100X instrument, we have
provided software that obtains the inverted volume distribution NV
1Agrawal, Y.C., I.N. McCave, and J.B. Riley, 1991: "Laser diffraction size analysis," in Principles, methods and applications
of particle size analysis, J.P.M. Syvitski, editor, Cambridge University Press, pp. 119-128.
2Agrawal, Y. C. and H. C. Pottsmith, 2000: Instruments for Particle Size and Settling Velocity Observations in Sediment
Transport, Marine Geology, 168, pp 89-114.
3The volume distribution is related to the number distribution via NV= a3n(a). It represents the volume concentration of
particles in the size range ato a+ da. The results from the LISST instruments provide the volume concentration of
particles in each of 32 size classes. The size classes are log-spaced from the range 1.25-250 microns (Type-B
instruments) or 2.5-500 (Type-C). See Appendix B for further details.

4 LISST-100X User’s Guide
General Description
The LISST-100X instrument is a laser diffraction device. It consists
of optics for producing a collimated laser beam, a specially
constructed detector array, electronics for signal pre-amplification
and processing, data storage and scheduling computer, and a
battery system.
The instrument is capable of autonomous operation. Windows
software (XP and W7 32- and 64-bit compatible) is provided to
program the instrument for a specific sampling schedule. The
primary measurements delivered by the LISST-100X are the small-
angle scattering properties of particles in water, the laser optical
transmission, depth, and temperature. An auxiliary Analog port is
available for recording data from an external device such as an
OBS 3+, a Sea-Bird MicroCat CTD or a Turner Designs Cyclops-7
fluorometer4.
After recovery of the instrument, small-angle scattering data are
off-loaded from the instrument and subsequently inverted
mathematically on a PC to produce the particle size distribution.
The inversion function is included in the Windows software. For
MATLAB users, inversion scripts are available for download from
Sequoia’s website: www.SequoiaSci.com.
The principal measurement—angular scattering distribution— is
obtained over 32 ring-detectors whose radii increase logarithmically
from 102 to 20,000 microns. The detector is placed in the focal
plane of the receiving lens. The rings cover an angular range from
0.0017 to 0.34 radians (Type B) or 0.00085-0.17 radians (Type C).
This angular range corresponds, respectively, to size ranges from
1.25 to 250 µm (Type B) or 2.5 to 500 µm (Type C).
See Appendix B: Size Ranges, Observation Angles, Data Storage
Format on page 101 for more information.
General layout The LISST-100X consists of the following parts: a solid-state diode
laser operating at 670 nm wavelength and fiber-optically connected
to a laser beam collimating system, a beam manipulation and
orienting system, a scattered-light receiving lens, the custom
designed 32-ring detector, preamplifier electronics, a ring-selecting
multiplexer circuitry, and a data logger. All these components are
inside the black-anodized pressure housing and the user has no
access to any of these.
4The LISST-100X must be configured for one of these options at the factory prior to shipping.

LISST-100X User’s Guide 5
Depth and
Temperature In addition to measuring the particle size and concentration, the
LISST-100X also has built-in Depth and Temperature sensors.
The Depth sensor is a 500 psi strain gauge sensor5. The stainless
steel fitting on the Connector endcap is used for testing this sensor.
It is not required for normal operation. However, when not used for
testing, this fitting helps keep contamination such as salt and
sediment out of the pressure sensor. The temperature is
measured using a high precision thermistor imbedded into the
Connector end cap. Both values are stored automatically in the
standard-format LISST-100X data file.
Note that because the temperature sensor is embedded in the
endcap, it has a significant lag as the entire connector endcap
must respond to the changing temperature. The temperature
sensor will work well if the rate of change is slow, e.g. a front
moving past the instrument, but it will show a significant lag if the
rate of change is large, such as typically happens during profiling
applications.
External I/O
Ports The LISST-100X is also equipped with an external ANALOG IN
port for recording the output of one other analog instrument.
Additionally, 2 DIGITAL I/O ports are provided for communicating
with up to two instruments. The I/O ports can be used for
synchronization of the LISST-100X with two other instruments; e.g.,
the LISST-100X may provide a timing pulse to a CTD, or it may
provide a 'start sample' pulse to another LISST-100X. The same
ports can be used to receive similar commands. Contact Sequoia
Scientific for more information on interfacing the LISST-100X with
other instruments. These ports are available on the 6-pin
underwater connector on the Connector end cap; see Appendix C:
Connector Pinouts for LISST-100X for the connector pin outs. The
instrument can be configured to use the Digital I/O ports as a
trigger to start and stop sampling.
5A gauge pressure sensor is calibrated to measure the pressure relative to a given atmospheric pressure, as opposed to
an absolute pressure sensor, which measures pressure relative to a vacuum. The pressure sensor on the LISST-100X
will read 0 at atmospheric pressure.

6 LISST-100X User’s Guide
Battery Life
The primary power source for the LISST-100X is a custom alkaline
D-cell battery-pack. The battery pack in NON-rechargeable and
outputs +9 V. It has a room-temperature capacity of 42 A-hr. When
the instrument is in stand-by mode the current drain is 8.5 mA. In
Low Power Sleep mode the current drain drops to 120 µA. For
profiling applications, where the instrument is sampling
continuously, the battery pack has about 60 hours of “On” time.
Powering down the instrument between samples can greatly
extend the deployment times. An EXCEL spreadsheet that can
estimate the battery consumption is included with the software on
the Ship Disk you received with your instrument. The spreadsheet
can also be downloaded from Sequoia’s website:
www.SequoiaSci.com, click Library, then Downloads, then LISST-
100X.
For laboratory or tethered usage, a connector is provided on the
endcap to draw power from an external source. The voltages
required from the external power supply are +12 VDC and should
not exceed +15VDC. NOTE: LISST-100X units shipped after 1
March 2012 will accept up to +24 VDC external power. Cables up
to 50 meters can be provided to supply external power and
communication with the instrument. This can allow real-time
observation of the size distributions.
When not using the LISST-100X, put the instrument into Low
Power Sleep mode to reduce battery drain to about 10 µA. This
is done from the provided software. Make sure the endcap
switch is in the “1” position when in low power sleep.
Auxiliary
Equipment The instrument is shipped pre-aligned and tested. A small
chamber is provided for obtaining measurements of background
scattered light from optical surfaces. This background is
subtracted from actual particle scattering measurements to obtain
the true particulate scattering. Additionally, small tools used to
open endcaps, spare batteries, and communication cable is
supplied so that a user need only provide a PC running Windows.
Software is provided to communicate with the instrument, schedule
an experiment, offload the data, and invert the measurements to
obtain particle size distribution and volume concentration. For
laboratory use or for monitoring the progress of an experiment, the
software can be used for real-time processing.
Accessories For extended laboratory applications various chambers are
available, see Appendix I: LISST Accessories on page 126.

LISST-100X User’s Guide 7

8 LISST-100X User’s Guide