Discharge - tracer (Sommer MFT-2)
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Parameter to be measured:
tracer concentration (, discharge)
Method:
in-situ fluorometry
Equipment:
- main device (built-in battery and logger)
- 2 optical probes with 20-m-fibre cables
- precision pipette
- auxiliary bottles and ropes
- power supply
- data cable and software
Advantages:
- no water samples to take, complete data collection on-site
- convenient menu-guided in-situ calibration
- immediate computation of discharge
- can be equipped with alternative filters (not included) to allow detection of other tracers
- also available with two additional conductivity probes (MKT-2)
- sturdy metal transport cases
Disadvantages:
- bulky, minimum setup comprises two large cases
- incomplete manual (How can the clock be set? What exactly does "RAM for 10000 measurements" mean?)
- small internal memory
- awkward software in vintage look and feel
- needs RS 232 (COM-Port) for data download
What to watch out for:
- signal intensity over 2394 (corresponding to concentrations above 310,5 µg/L in de-ionized water) do not yield a linear response any more (oversaturation). Concentrations in de-ionized water above 333,5 µg/L are displayed and logged as 2464. However, these detection limits seem to be lower by factor 3 in natural water (J.B.)
- memory runs as ring buffer and overwrites without asking
- included pipette works with two "pressure points"
- when erasing of logger memory fails or logger readout takes hours, replacing the internal Li-battery and RAM chip may help (soldering skills required)
- avoid uninformed spectators when injecting the tracer, it usually looks quite nasty
Problems/Questions:
Price:
~ 24000 € (2009, Germany)
Links
Projects that used the above equipment:
Other related web sites:
Discharge - comparison of measurements (C2, Flowtracker, Flowsens, ADC, tracer, dipping rod)