Thermal Profile and Gas Sniffer Combo Probe
This product is exempt from flat-rate shipping. Please call for pricing
Your windrow profiling probe allows you to measure the
temperature profile of a compost windrow, as well as pull a sample of gas from
the tip of the probe. A small diameter brass tube runs coaxially between a
brass plug in the tip area and the hose connection at the top end. The
thermistors are embedded in thermally conductive silicone resin in the brass
buttons which have been press fit into the stainless steel thick wall tube at
10 “ intervals. The internal wiring of the thermistors is thus isolated from
the compost pile vapors. This probe is designed to be used with a
multi-channel, or multi-channel logging printing thermometer. Please read the
operating instructions for the meter.
Procedure for Using the Probe:
Carefully
insert the probe into the compost windrow so that the tip is at the bottom
center of the pile. Please use the probe shaft to push the probe into the
windrow and avoid pushing, or pulling, on the box that houses the channel
outputs. Do not bend or force the probe when inserting it into a pile. For a
large pile, you will be able to ensure that all of the probe’s thermistors
(brass buttons) are within the pile. However a small pile where the distance
from the bottom center to the upper portion of the pile is less than 35” will
require that you carefully plan where you will insert the probe. While waiting
for the temperature to come to equilibrium a sample of the gas from the base of
the compost pile may be aspirated into a CO2 or O2 gas analysis device.. Please
pay special attention to how the individual channel inputs are arranged so that
the probe and the meter will match. The probe outputs are numbered 1 through
4 in ascending order from the pointed
tip end (Figure 1). Use the four color RCA plug connector cable to attach
the thermometer readout unit to the probe.
Attach
the input tube of your gas analysis device to the nipple end of the probe.
Since the internal tube has a very low volume only 3 pumps of the CO2 or O2
Fyrite Aspirator pump is required to displace all the gas in the tube, filter
and bulb assembly. For reference the Fyrite aspirator assembly plus brass tube
have an internal volume of 108 ml; the aspirator bulb will displace ~50 ml per
squeeze. Therefore 3 or 4 pumps is more than sufficient. Determine the CO2 or
O2 by following the printed Fyrite Instruction Booklet.
At
this point sufficient time has elapsed so that the temperature of the 4
locations may be printed. Push “print” on the thermometer instrument. Wait for
all 4 points to be printed. Write the Pile identification number and the CO2
percentage on the paper tape and proceed to the next pile test area to repeat
the measurements.
It
is helpful to wear a two pocketed apron to hold the Fyrite tester and the
printing thermometer while performing the tests.
Caring For Your Probe:
Keep
probe connection box dry and clean when not in use. Make sure that none of the
sampled materials accumulate in the holes of the probe tip.
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