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CAL3K-F Oxygen Bomb Calorimeter System
A HIGHLY EXPANDABLE SYSTEM TO GROW AS YOUR LAB GROWS – The CAL3K-F is a flexible system for low to high throughput without compromising on accuracy and repeatability.
APPLICATION : A flexible system typically used in Food/Feed Analysis, Alternative Energy, Scientific Determinations, Coal and Oil Production, Research, Universities and Quality Assurance. In short : wherever the calorific value of a solid or liquid sample must be determined.
CAL3K-F OXYGEN BOMB CALORIMETER SYSTEM
The CAL3K-F conforms to ASTM D240-09, ASTM D5865-12, ASTM D4809-13, ASTM E711-87, ISO 1928-2009, ISO 18125-2017, GB/T213-2008 and DIN 51900-2 International standards. The CAL3K-F bomb calorimeter uses the Dynamic (Isoperibol) method to measure temperature and calculate the calorific value.
The heart of the system is the quick-locking and sealing bayonet vessel with built-in temperature sensors. This vessel is a dry type vessel, enabling it to be more accurate and faster. The vessel is completely removable for easy sample management, cooling, cleaning and maintenance.
The CAL3K interfaces with different devices, including PC (PC Software), Balance, Printer, LIMS and Bluetooth (Wireless). The unit also integrates fully with software based laboratory and information management systems (LIMS).
The CAL3K-F oxygen bomb calorimeter and CAL3K-2 Air cooler are operated together for effective routine sample determination, using 2 or more bomb vessels. It is recommended to use the air cooler for optimum results and faster throughput. The air cooler can adjusts its program to adapt to your laboratory conditions, allowing for consistent cooling speed.
CAL3K-F APPLICATION
A flexible system that can grow with your needs, upgrading your throughput without compromising on accuracy and repeatability. It is used in Food/Feed Analysis, Alternative Energy, Waste Analysis, Forest Waste, Sugar Mills, Pulp & Paper Mills, Scientific Determinations, Coal and Oil Production, Research, Universities and Quality Assurance. In short : wherever the calorific value of a solid or liquid sample that must be determined, the CAL3K-F will be perfectly suited for the job.
CAL3K-F PERFORMANCE
The CAL3K-F uses a combination of the Dynamic (Isoperibol) method while remaining dry i.e. it is waterless. The minimum determination repetitive cycle time is approximately 6 minutes for the CAL3K-F4 system (fully expanded). Regardless of the CAL3K-F system, once a sample has been loaded into the bomb vessel, a result can be expected within 5 – 10 minutes.
It uses the external oxygen filling station (PART NO : 3K-3).
The fastest performance of 8 – 10 determinations per hour was achieved with one CAL3K-F4 system with 3 bayonet oxygen bomb vessels, and 2 air coolers. This is a full occupation for a single operator.
SYSTEM EXPANSION
The following system components can be added to the CAL3K-F Oxygen Bomb Calorimeter (or purchased separately at a later stage) :
- CAL3K Air Cooler (3K-2)
- Bayonet Bomb Vessel (3K-5)
- The CAL3K-F calorimeter has Air Cooler recognition algorithm to ensure reliable cooling is achieved. Faster sampling times will be achieved once a cooler is used in the Calorimeter system.
COMPLETE CAL3K OXYGEN CALORIMETER SYSTEM
The CAL3K calorimeter requires a PC keyboard to enter commands. The lid design of the calorimeter has one shock which opens the lid automatically once the determination is finished. This is really a nifty new feature, enabling the chamber to ventilate once the determination is complete. The CAL3K-F Oxygen Calorimeter can be supplied in various systems depending on your workload.
The LCD display has 4 lines. The first line shows what the CAL3K is doing at present, e.g. what mode the calorimeter is in and in what stage of the determination it is presently in. A live result is displayed after 2 minutes giving the operator an indication of the final result.
LCD SCREEN
The second line shows the action the operator should take, e.g. “ENTER MASS, INSERT BOMB”, etc. The third line is reserved for keyboard command and data entry, e.g. Enter benzoic Acid Value in MJ. The fourth line gives additional information relating to faults and actions. If the subject help is activated then all 4 lines are used to display the help functions. The contents of the LCD Screen change automatically as and when various commands are entered. The CAL3K-F calorimeter provides feedback to the operator along the various stages of the determination, as well as if an error or warning is observed.
CALORIMETER WELL AND MANUAL FILLING
This is the CAL3K Oxygen Bomb Calorimeter with the lid open. The gas shock allow for automatic opening. The shocks open the lid to 45°, so that the bomb well can ventilate after each sample determination.
TOP CONTACT – Through the top contact the bomb is fired. This will make contact with the top of the center electrode of the bomb vessel when the LID is closed. The design of the bomb well provides insulation to the outside ambient conditions. Once the LID is closed, the bomb vessel is sealed in the bomb well, insulating it from the outside. This allows the bomb to stabilize in temperature before it is fired.
The electronics are located in the rear of the calorimeter. There you will find the firing circuit and the ECU card, which can easily be removed, making maintenance quick and easy.
OPERATOR ASSISTANCE
The CAL3K-F Calorimeter has some added features which will make the operation of the oxygen calorimeter a lot easier and user friendly. Every step in the preparation and determination sequence of a sample will be automatically displayed for the operator to follow. Additionally the operator has a help function related to the present screen (F10), which will assist the operator with step-by-step instructions to operate the calorimeter.
EVENT LOGGING – The CAL3K-F has 80 plus event classifications and can store a maximum of 6800 logged events. A short managerial daily summary is available on the D1 port with the statistical output enabled. The event logs record every step, process, function and operator interaction with the calorimeter.
DEFAULT PARAMETER FIELD – The default parameters can be invoked from a keyboard command. This feature assures the most important parameters are reset to factory standard, ensuring a fully functional calorimeter again.
FAULT AND FIELD TESTING CAPABILITY – The CAL3K-F and vessel each have a factory and a field test built in. The field test allows the operator/user to test the functionality without any instruments or special connections. The each factory test is time stamped and visible in the log file. Should the factory test or vessel test fail, it will stop at the highlight fault. Most of the faults can be easily repaired, others will require an agent.
MAX RECORDING
The vessel records the amount of firings, the max temperature and the date and time. The CAL3K-F records the max starting temperature, the max ambient temperature and date/time. It also records the amount of firings, mass firings, bomb aborts, manual fired and suspect result.
REAL TIME (RT) OUTPUT
The real time printer output is available for external data analysis/computation. This feature is used by universities. The RT printout is available with preceding header and important parameters.
LABORATORY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LIMS)
Various output formats are available, with optional result approval from the PC or the keyboard.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL No temperature control of room/lab required |
SEVEN CALIBRATION FIELDS For different mode and different calorimeters |
TEMPERATURE ACCURACY Temperature accuracy of 10ppm (parts per million)(0.00001°C) |
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STEP-BY-STEP HELP Screen prompts assist with step-by-step instructions to operate the calorimeter |
BAYONET BOMB VESSEL Self-Locking and Self-Sealing manual bayonet bomb vessel |
FAULT FINDING Extensive fault finding and testing |
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HIGH SPEED DETERMINATIONS Choose between faster or more accurate determinations |
RESULTS Results in MJ/Kg, BTU/Ib or Callg |
AIR COOLER No water required to cool the bomb vessel |
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EXTREMELY ACCURATE Extremely accurate (%RSD – 0.05%) determination eliminates multiple sample repeats |
COMPENSATION* Compensation for firing energy and sulphur |
BALANCE INTERFACE Balance interface with baud speed setting |
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MULTIPLE COMM CHANNELS 1 Wired (USB) and 2 optional wireless channels |
PRESET FIELDS One default setting per mode |
IMPROVED INITIAL TIMING Based on drift and time, or time after drift |
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USER FRIENDLY User Friendly Operation |
OPERATING PARAMETERS Operating parameters can be changed via USB interface in experimental mode |
FULL LIMS SUPPORT For the assignment, scheduling, and tracking of samples |
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10 CALIBRATION AVERAGE For variable amount of calibration average to suit your application |
RESTRICT ACCESS Operating parameter access is password restricted |
FILTER DATA ON EVENTS Extensive testing and detailed data viewing |
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ECO FRIENDLY Eco Friendly – small carbon footprint. No water, low power consumption |
LOW POWER CONSUMPTION Very low power consumption. No temperature controlling required |
LARGE STORAGE Up to 1024 results storage |
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TEMPERATURE RANGE Extensive temperature range from 0°C to 70°C |
LINEAR SENSORS Linear temperature sensing with platinum sensors |
INTELLIGENT VESSEL Intelligent vessel with built-in temperature sensing |
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EVENT LOGGING Built-in event logging for ~6000 events |
SAFETY Safety checks guarantee the safety of the operator |
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NO WATER REQUIRED No Water Bucket. No Spillage.No Measuring |
THREE OPERATING MODES Isothermal, Adiabatic and ISOBATIC (and experimental) |
MANUAL OXYGEN FILLING Makes use of an external oxygen filling station |
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| Specification | Information |
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| Working (Operating) Temperature | 15-70°C |
| Storage Temperature | 0-70°C |
| Temperature Resolution | 0.000001°C |
| Reproducibility/Repeatability | <0.01% RSD |
| Resolution | 0.0001 MJ/Kg |
| Results per hour | Up to 14 samples per hour using 3 bayonet bomb vessels |
| Measuring range max | 99MJ, 99000 |
| Working temperature min | 1°C |
| Working temperature max | 50°C |
| Temperature Measurement Resolution | 10ppm (parts per million) |
| Cooling Medium | Air |
| Type of Cooling | Airflow |
| Oxygen Operating Pressure Max | 40 bar |
| Balance/Scale Interface | RS232, 1200 to 38400 Baud (settable) |
| Printer Interface | RS232, 1.2Kb to 115.2Kb |
| PC Interface | UsB |
| Power Input | 2.4W |
| Interface External Keyboard | ps2 |
| Oxygen Filling | Manual |
| De gasification | Manual |
| Halogen (Decomposition) Vessel | Yes, optional |
| Analysis according to DIN 51900 | Yes |
| Analysis according to ASTM D240 | Yes |
| Analysis according to ASTM D4809 | Yes |
| Analysis according to ASTM D5865 | Yes |
| Analysis according to ASTM E711 | Yes |
| Analysis according to ISO 1928 | Yes |
| Dimensions | 350mm x 280mm x 240mm |
| Weight | ~12 kg |
| Permissible Ambient Temperature | 1-35°C |
| Permissible Relative Humidity | 80% |
| RS232 Interface | Yes |
| USB Interface | Yes |
| Voltage | 220-240/ 100-120V, 12VDC, 1Amp |
| Frequency | 50/60 Hz |
Animal Feed Research
Food calories are measured in KJ/g, the same as combustible calories. However, the process is different, although the outcome is the same : KJ/g or heat, or calories. Animal feed stock relies on the animal digestion (conversion). A calorimeter burns the lot and measures the released heat. Then a calorimeter can’t be used to measure feed stock?
Coal & Coke Analysis
The coal industry is the traditional application of calorimeters because coal has a variety of properties, apart from being black. If the coal is used for steam generation then the calorific value is of paramount importance. The calorific value, short CV, is a measure of how much heat can be extracted from it.
Explosives Analysis
Only explosives which can be ignited by heat from the calorimeter’s firing circuit can be tested in the oxygen calorimeter. Then very minute/small quantities are used for analysis. The calorific value of an explosive is not very high, but the burning speed is.
Fuel Analysis
As a general rule, volatile fuels are measured very seldom because they are very consistent. However, if the fuel absorbs water, then frequent analysis is called for. Volatile fuel such as alcohol must be prevented from evaporating during the handling process that is from weighing to ignition of the sample.
Food & Nutrition Analysis
Here is an example of food calories from www.scientificamerican.com. As the article says : “The method of using a combustion calorimeter to measure food calories is not frequently used today. However, after some considerations it can, and is, used today for checking the production quality of food.” Let’s look at the details.
Oil Analysis
Oils are a non-volatile substance. In general they are not measured frequently because they are very consistent and uniform. Other oil properties are more important than the calorific value, such as taste or viscosity. If an oil is measured in an oxygen calorimeter, then the procedure would be the same as a solid substance.
Universities
Simple, we at Digital Data Systems (DDS) have been making calorimeters for the last 40 years. We have a wealth of technical knowledge and calorimeter experience second to none. We are continuously improving our systems with the latest technology as it becomes available, allowing the students to work on a cost effective, easy to use…
Waste Product Analysis
Heating energy is being dumped on our municipal landfill sites. Our landfill sites are being clogged by plastic waste, which battle to bio-degrade over time. Alternative options for managing plastic waste has been identified as mechanical recycling, cement kilns, power station and energy recovery by incineration. Having plastic on landfill sties should be the last option.
CAL3K-F OXYGEN BOMB CALORIMETER – SYSTEM OPTIONS
ENTRY-LEVEL SYSTEM – F1
The entry level CAL3K-F Calorimeter System is the equivalent to the ECO Calorimeter and includes the following :
- 1 x 3K-F Calorimeter
- 1 x 3K-3 Manual Oxygen Filling Station
- 1 x 3K-5 Bayonet Bomb Vessel
This option DOES NOT include the air cooler.
SAMPLES PER HOUR : 2 samples per hour
DETERMINATION TIME : 10 minutes determination time per sample
BASIC SYSTEM – F2
The basic CAL3K-F Calorimeter System is the equivalent to the E2K Minimum System and includes the following :
- 1 x 3K-F Calorimeter
- 1 x 3K-2 Air Cooler
- 1 x 3K-3 Manual Oxygen Filling Station
- 1 x 3K-5 Bayonet Bomb Vessel
SAMPLES PER HOUR : 4 samples per hour
DETERMINATION TIME : 10 minutes determination time per sample
STANDARD SYSTEM – F3
The standard CAL3K-F Calorimeter System is the equivalent to the E2K Standard System and includes the following :
- 1 x 3K-F Calorimeter
- 1 x 3K-2 Air Cooler
- 1 x 3K-3 Manual Oxygen Filling Station
- 2 x 3K-5 Bayonet Bomb Vessel
SAMPLES PER HOUR : 7 samples per hour
DETERMINATION TIME : <10 minutes determination time per sample
ADVANCED SYSTEM – F4
The advanced CAL3K-F Calorimeter System is the equivalent to the CAL2K Calorimeter System (with water cooler) and includes the following :
- 1 x 3K-F Calorimeter
- 2 x 3K-2 Air Cooler
- 1 x 3K-3 Manual Oxygen Filling Station
- 3 x 3K-5 Bayonet Bomb Vessel
SAMPLES PER HOUR : 8 – 10 samples per hour
DETERMINATION TIME : 6 minutes determination time per sample
CAL3K-AP CALORIMETER
The CAL3K-AP is best suited for a clean and well-maintained laboratory with a requirement for very fast an accurate results. The CAL3K-AP Calorimeter uses a combination of the Isothermal and Adiabatic methods, while still using the dry method, i.e. it is waterless.
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CAL3K-U CALORIMETER
The CAL3K-U is the University Edition in the CAL3K range, mainly suited for universities and educational institutions. It is best suited for a production environment, which requires robust, fast, and accurate results. The CAL3K-U Calorimeter can be used in the following educational areas : Thermodynamics Teaching, Combustion Energy of non-gaseous substances, Safety, Research and Quality Control.
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CAL3K-A CALORIMETER
The CAL3K-A is best suited for a production environment with shared oxygen supply (to other users) and robust handling. One external oxygen filling station can service multiple CAL3K Calorimeter Systems. The DDS Calorimeters range can be used to determine the calorific value of solid and liquid combustibles including oil, coke, volatile fuels, biomass, plastic, coal, animal feeds and food stuffs.
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