LASENTEC® PVM User Manual - Mettler Toledo · Computer Service Policy ... Safety and Compliance...

L A S E N T E C ®

PVM User Manual

Copyright May 2002 by Lasentec® 15224 NE 95th Street, Redmond, WA 98052 USA

Phone 425.881.7117 (1-800-LASENTEC) • Fax 425.881.8964 • www.lasentec.com

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

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Table of Contents

General Information ....................................................5

Software Upgrades ......................................................5 Service and Technical Assistance ...............................6 Repair Policy...............................................................6 Computer Service Policy.............................................7 ISO 9001 .....................................................................7 Safety and Compliance Information............................7

Laser Classifications ................................................7 European EMC and CE Compliance........................7 Pressure Vessel Regulations.....................................8 Pressure and Temperature Ratings ...........................8

The PVM System ........................................................8 Unpacking the System..............................................8 System Description ................................................10

Fixed Beaker Stand ...................................................12

PVM Probe..................................................................15

Probe Dimensions .....................................................16 Probe Grounding Precautions....................................16 Choosing a Probe Location .......................................17

Flow Patterns at Various Probe Locations .............17 How Probe Location Relates to the Particle System...............................................................................18 Locating the Probe in a Pipeline ............................19 Mounting the Probe in a Mixed Vessel ..................21

Mounting the Probe...................................................22 Probe Installation in Vessels ..................................22 Standard Flange Mount ..........................................22 Tri-Clamp Flanges and Adapters ...........................24 Compression Fittings .............................................25 Ingold Fittings ........................................................26

Closed-Chamber Ball Valve Insertion and Removal Assembly............................................................... 26

Inserting the Probe into the Closed-Chamber Ball Valve Insertion and Removal Assembly........................................... 28 Removing the Probe from the Closed-Chamber Ball Valve Insertion and Removal Assembly........................................... 28

Flow-Through Fittings .......................................... 29 Other Fittings ........................................................ 30

PVM Field Unit.......................................................... 31

Field Unit Construction ............................................ 31 Field Unit Location .................................................. 32

General Information .............................................. 32 Hazardous Area Location...................................... 33

Mounting the Field Unit ........................................... 33 Probe-to-Field-Unit Connection............................... 33 Field-Unit-to-Computer Connection ........................ 34

Configuring COM Ports in Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 2000 .................................................. 34

Field Unit Installation............................................... 34 General Installation Notes ..................................... 34 Main Power Supply Connections .......................... 35 Fuses...................................................................... 35 Purge System Alarm.............................................. 35

PVM Control Computer ........................................... 37

Computer Setup........................................................ 37 Verify Voltage Setting .......................................... 37

Hardware Connections ............................................. 38 Connecting the PVM Probe to Computer (PVM700)............................................................................... 38 Connecting the PVM Field Unit to Computer (PVM800/900) ...................................................... 40 Optional Instrument Cooling/Moisture-Reduction Line ....................................................................... 41


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ANSI/AISA Recommendations for Instrument Air ............... 42 Bottled Gas Supplies ............................................................. 42

Software Installation ..................................................43

Installing the PVM Control Software........................43 Standard Installation...............................................43 Installation with the Image-Analysis Option..........54

System Startup ..........................................................66

Software Operation ....................................................69

System Test: Image Quality ......................................70 Verification of PVM Calibration...............................71 Viewing Images ........................................................71

Enlarge/Reduce Image Window Size.....................72 Zoom Options ........................................................72 Displaying the Measurement Grid .........................73 Adjusting the Screen Size ......................................73

Acquisition Control ...................................................74 Start/Stop Continuous Image Acquisition..............74 Set Image Update Rate...........................................75 Single Image Acquisition.......................................76 Image Buffer ..........................................................76

Hardware Control Settings ........................................77 Methodology .............................................................77

Adjusting Laser Intensity .......................................77 Adjusting Brightness and Contrast.........................78 Auto-Adjust Instrument Setting .............................79 Intensity Filter (for 1.72 x 1.29 mm Field of View Only) ......................................................................79

Image Display Enhancements ...................................81 Adjusting White and Black Reference Levels........82 Inverting the Image ................................................82 Adding False Color ................................................83

Image Sequences .......................................................83 AutoSave to Image Sequence.................................83

Continuous Mode .................................................................. 84 Time Interval Mode............................................................... 85 Starting the AutoSave to Image Sequence Function .............. 86 Stopping the AutoSave to Image Sequence Function ............ 86

Manual Save to Image Sequence ...........................86 Adding Images to the Image Sequence.................................. 87 Annotating Images................................................................. 87

Playback of Sequence Files....................................88 Editing Image Sequences .......................................91

Single Images with or without Axes .........................92 Recalling a Single Image .......................................92 Saving a Single Image............................................93

Saving a Single Image with Axes.......................... 94 Advanced Image Acquisition ................................... 95

Acceptance Criteria ............................................... 95 Activating Acceptance Criteria .............................................. 96 Threshold-Based Acceptance Criteria.................................... 97 Edge-Based Acceptance Criteria............................................ 98 Information-Based Acceptance Criteria ............................... 100 Applying Acceptance Criteria.............................................. 100

Measure Tool ...................................................... 101 New Line ............................................................................. 102 New Circle ........................................................................... 102

Image Analysis (Optional Package) ....................... 103

Menus ....................................................................... 105

File Menu ............................................................... 105 Recall Single Image ............................................ 105 Recall Image Sequence ....................................... 105 Save an Image Sequence ..................................... 105

Setup Auto Sequence Save................................................... 105 Setup Manual Sequence Save .............................................. 106

Exit ...................................................................... 106 Imaging Menu ........................................................ 106

Start Imaging....................................................... 106 Stop Imaging ....................................................... 106 Get Single Image................................................. 106 Copy Image to Buffer.......................................... 106 Manual Save to Sequence.................................... 107 Start AutoSave to Sequence ................................ 107 Stop AutoSave to Sequence ................................ 107

Settings Menu......................................................... 107 Autoadjust Instrument Settings ........................... 107 Autoadjust every Time Interval........................... 108 Instrument Settings.............................................. 108 Image Update Rate .............................................. 108 Image Source....................................................... 108 Acceptance Criteria ............................................. 108 Enable Intensity Filter ......................................... 109 Create New Intensity Filter ................................. 109

Views Menu ........................................................... 109 Toolbar ................................................................ 109 Status Bar ............................................................ 109 Acquired Images ................................................. 109 Image Buffer ....................................................... 109 AutoSave to:........................................................ 109 Manual Save To: ................................................. 109 Sequence Annotation........................................... 110 Accepted Images ................................................. 110

Window Menu........................................................ 110 Image Analysis Menu............................................. 110

Analysis Window ................................................ 110


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Accepted Images Only .........................................110 Algorithms ...........................................................110

No Algorithm ...................................................................... 110 Measure Tool .......................................................110

Help Menu...............................................................110 Help Index............................................................110 About....................................................................110

Index ..........................................................................111


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G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N

Lasentec® PVM User Manual 5 003-0802 Sec 1 Rev E (May.02)

General Information General information including: Service, repair, and safety information for the Lasentec PVM, as well as a system description and instructions on unpacking the system and assembling the fixed beaker stand.

Differences between the PVM model types are shown in the following table:

PVM Model

CE Compliant

Separate Field Unit Enabling Extended

Cable Lengths

Pressurization System for Hazardous Environments

Software Version as of

June 1, 2001

700 Version 5.0

800 √ √ Version 6.0

900 √ √ √ Version 6.0

Software Upgrades PVM users with existing systems may be able to upgrade their software package to take advantage of a more robust program and some added features. The table below explains which PVM Control Software version corresponds with each PVM model and serial number.

Versions 5.0 and 6.0 of the PVM control software can utilize an image-analysis package. Contact your Lasentec Application Manager to see if this optional package may apply to your particle system.

PVM Model Serial No. 001 to 604 Serial No. 605 to 732 Serial No. 733 or later

700 No version number Version 3.0 Version 5.0



Section

1



Upgrades are available for all PVM users running version 3.0 or 4.0 software, and for many users with even earlier versions. Contact [email protected] if you are using PVM software prior to version 5.0 and wish to upgrade.

Note If your PVM has been factory-calibrated with a reference scale and you upgrade your software, you must recalibrate using the Verification of PVM Calibration procedure (document no. 002-3020 included as an appendix to this manual).

Service and Technical Assistance If technical support or service is needed in a country not listed below, contact Lasentec’s corporate headquarters. For specific application assistance, the Lasentec Chemical Engineering team, contacted through the corporate headquarters, is available to assist you at any time.

North America Lasentec Corporate Headquarters

Tel: 425-881-7117 (1-800-LASENTEC) Fax: 425-881-8964 E-mail: [email protected]

United Kingdom Lasentec Tel: 44-1789-471114 (0-800-96-5182) E-mail: [email protected]

Japan Lasentec MT Tokyo Office Tel: +03-5762-0743 Fax: +03-5762-0758 E-mail: [email protected]

Repair Policy While there are limited service/repair procedures to the PVM that can be performed in the field, most problems can be corrected in the field. For assistance, please contact your distributor, e-mail [email protected], or view the troubleshooting section of the Lasentec Users Site (http://users.lasentec.com/troubleshooting.html).

It is recommended that you retain all original packing materials in the event you need to return the PVM for service. If factory service is required, your Lasentec service engineer will issue you a Return Material Authorization (RMA) form.

mailto:[email protected]


http://users.lasentec.com/troubleshooting.html



Computer Service Policy A computer is always included as part of your PVM system. This computer will be from a major manufacturer (e.g., Dell, Micron, or Compaq). In the U.S. and some European countries, the manufacturer will provide warranty service if required. Windows NT and Windows 2000® are the only operating systems Lasentec recommends for use with the PVM.

Lasentec can assist in diagnosing problems with computers, but the computer manufacturer will provide parts and labor for repairs under the service contract.

ISO 9001 Lasentec has a registered ISO 9001 quality system. All products built since January 2001 have been manufactured according to this system.

Safety and Compliance Information In addition to the ISO9001 procedures followed at Lasentec, the PVM also conforms to the following laser classification and European EMC and CE compliance standards. While these standards have worldwide recognition, they may not apply to all locations or applications. Requirements for compliance with local regulations may be different. The equipment’s end user is responsible for compliance with all local, corporate, or other applicable regulations.

Laser Classifications All standard-model Lasentec PVM instruments are certified as Class 1 laser devices in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Radiation Performance Standards set forth in 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11. This means no hazardous laser radiation is emitted by the standard PVM instrument. However, looking directly into the probe window of any laser-emitting device is not advised. The use of other optical instruments with the PVM increases eye hazard.

European EMC and CE Compliance The CE mark is required for all products sold in European Union member countries. PVM800 and PVM900 systems bear the CE mark. These systems have been tested and comply, as required, with the harmonized standards European EMC Directive and Low Voltage Directive (LVD). Lasentec testing may not cover local regulations that are not in accordance with the harmonized standards set forth by the European EMC Directive or LVD.



Note The CE mark applies only to unmodified PVM800 and PVM900 instruments supplied by Lasentec. Modifications to PVM800 and PVM900 instruments may require on-site testing for compliance verification.

Pressure Vessel Regulations Installation of the PVM may require modifications to pressure vessels or piping systems. Any modifications made should be approved by the professional engineer responsible for the installation. Responsibility lies with the end user to ensure that all safety standards, construction codes, and pressure-vessel regulations are complied with and observed.

Note Lasentec is not liable for damages or other consequences resulting from improper installation of the FBRM.

Pressure and Temperature Ratings Standard PVM probes are rated for operating pressures from vacuum to 150 psi (10 bar) over the operating temperatures of −20°C to +100°C with the window purge option (both very low and very high temperatures require purge).

Note Optional systems to –90ºC are available.

These are conservative ratings, but they should not be exceeded unless specific exceptions are made for a given installation. While the probe is designed to withstand pressures far greater than 150 psi, each application has other factors that must be considered (e.g., temperature, corrosive effects of the process, abrasion, vibration, and mechanical forces on the probe).

The PVM System Unpacking the System Lasentec PVM systems are shipped in one or more cartons. Foam-in-place inserts cushion the contents of each carton. A packing list itemizing all system parts is included with the shipment. When unpacking the system, check for damage, verify the contents against the packing list, and immediately report any damaged or missing items.



A typical PVM shipment will include the following:

• Control computer with monitor, keyboard, and mouse (computer monitors are not shipped internationally)

• PVM Data CD

• PVM Control software on CD

• Computer manuals and additional software on CD-ROM and disks as supplied by the computer manufacturer

• Lasentec fixed beaker stand (FBS)

• Beakers, 500 ml

• Mixer for FBS

PVM700 systems will also contain the following components:

• PVM probe with probe cable

• Jumper cable (control/serial)

PVM800 and PVM900 systems include:

• PVM probe with probe cable permanently attached to the PVM field unit

• Two fiber optic cables for video and control signal transmission (attached to the PVM field unit)

• Jumper cable (fiber optic video interface to video input device)

• Optical data link interface

The PVM900 is equipped with an over/under pressurization system attached to the field unit. Documentation for the pressurization system is supplied by the manufacturer.

In addition to the PVM system parts noted above, large accessories may be shipped in additional cartons. Computer monitors are always shipped in the original manufacturer’s packing materials.



Important! All packing materials should be saved in the event you need to ship the unit for service, repair, or upgrade. Shipping an improperly packaged Lasentec system may cause damage to the unit and void the warranty.

Caution! On a PVM800 or PVM900, do not disconnect the probe conduit from the field unit. This will damage the system and void the warranty. The use of other optical instruments with the PVM increases eye hazard.

System Description The PVM probe provides laser illumination of the material under investigation, captures up to 10 images per second, and converts the images of the observed area to a video signal.

In a PVM700 system (Figure 1-1) the probe cable connects the PVM probe to the control computer. The PVM control board and video board are in the computer. The control computer is used to acquire, process, display, and store images and image sequences.

Note It is recommended that the PVM boards not be moved to a different computer. Internal computer noise can significantly reduce the quality of the images.

Figure 1-1 – PVM700 System



In a PVM800 or PVM900 system (Figure 1-2) the probe cable connects the PVM probe to the field unit. The field unit consists of a main enclosure and, in the case of a PVM900 only, an over/under pressure system. The field unit houses the power supply for the PVM probe and the PVM control board.

Figure 1-2 – PVM800/PVM900 System (shown with over/under pressure controller attached to field unit)

Two fiber optic cables connect the field unit to the control computer. At distances up to 1 km, the fiber transmits the video signal from the field unit to the PVM video interface inside the computer. The interface transforms the optical signal into an electrical signal and a jumper cable connects the fiber optic video interface to the PVM video input device in the computer. The duplex fiber cable transmits the control signals to and from the PVM field unit. The duplex fiber cable is connected to the optical data link, a small interface unit attached to the serial port (see COM 1 in Figure 1-3) of the control computer.

The over/under controller (PVM900 only) ensures that operation of the PVM probe is only possible after safe operating conditions are achieved (i.e., the system has been pressurized with inert gas).



PVM900 users will receive a manufacturer’s manual that they can refer to for setup and operation of the over/under pressure controller.

Figure 1-3 – PVM800/PVM900 System Layout

Fixed Beaker Stand All PVM systems include a fixed beaker stand (FBS) and mixer for system calibration and off-line sample testing. The FBS allows for repeatable material presentation to the probe window from sample to sample.

To assemble the FBS (refer to Figure 1-4):

1. Set the support rod into the socket in the base and tighten thumb screw #3.

2. Connect the mixer support rod to the mixer.

3. Insert the mixer support rod through the hole in the mixer support.

4. Insert the flexible end of the mixer’s drive shaft into the chuck.

5. With thumb screw #1 and thumb screw #2 still loose, adjust the mixer position so the flexible tube on the drive shaft makes a single, smooth bend.

AC Power

Parallel Port

Serial Port COM2

PVM Fiber OpticVideo Interface

PVM VideoInput Device

Monitor

KeyboardKeyboard

Bus Mouse

DB

-9R

S232 POR

T

TO M

OU

SEO

R KEY

BOAR

D

POR

T

RX

TX

PROBECABLE

PVMPROBE

PURGE GAS

FIELD UNITPURGE CONTROLLER

ELECTRICALSUPPLY

DUPLEX FIBER CABLE

SIMPLEX FIBER CABLE



6. Tighten thumb screw #1 and thumb screw #2 to fix the position.

7. Tighten the chuck on the mixer blade drive shaft so that when rotated, the mixer blade does not bind.

8. Remove the protective cap from the front end of the PVM probe and insert the probe through the probe insertion hole located on the probe support. The probe head should rest against the support bar.

9. Important! Confirm that the gap between the probe tip and impeller is 2.5 mm.

MIXER

CHUCK

FLEXIBLE TUBE

PROBE INSERTION HOLE

BASE

ALLEN SCREWS IMPELLER

THUMB SCREW #3

THUMB SCREW #1

MIXER SUPPORT

THUMB SCREW #2

SUPPORT ROD

MIXER SUPPORT ROD

SUPPORT BAR

DRIVE SHAFT

PROBE SUPPORT

Figure 1-4 – Fixed Beaker Stand



Figure 1-5 – PVM700 in a Fixed Beaker Stand

P V M P R O B E


PVM Probe A description of the PVM probe and information about installing the probe in process – includes probe dimensions, ideal and non-ideal locations for the probe in a process, mounting options, and special considerations for mounting the probe in reactors or other large vessels.

The user is responsible for providing all necessary engineering and compliance services for installing the Lasentec PVM system. Recommendations made in this manual are based on observations and experiences of Lasentec Application Managers who have installed hundreds of probes in a variety of industrial and lab processes. Requirements for different installations will vary depending on specific applications, company policies, and local regulations.

Lasentec is not licensed to provide certification of mechanical, structural, or piping designs that may be required for installation of the PVM into specific applications. Such designs must be prepared and supervised by a certified and registered professional engineer.

Note Installation of the PVM equipment is the user’s responsibility. Structural installation details, particularly for installations in hazardous environments, should be prepared and supervised by a certified and registered professional engineer who is properly qualified to certify the installation as safe.

Before deciding on a probe-insertion location, make sure:

• Enough clearance behind the probe mounting location is available to remove and insert the probe as necessary.

• The wetted materials of the probe construction (i.e., metal and o-ring if applicable) are chemically compatible with the chemical process under investigation.

Section

2

P V M P R O B E


Caution! On a PVM800 or PVM900, do not disconnect the probe conduit from the field unit. This will damage the system and void the warranty. The use of other optical instruments with the PVM increases eye hazard.

Probe Dimensions The standard PVM probe tip is 25 mm in diameter and can fit through 1-inch (25mm) fittings. The larger end of the probe (probe housing) is 3.25 inches (83 mm) in diameter and houses electrical components. The shoulder at the transition from the small to large section is made so that flanges or other fixtures may be attached, allowing various types of mounting to be used.

Several mounting methods are shown later in this section. Dimensions of the standard PVM probe are shown in Figure 2-1.

Figure 2-1 – PVM Probe Dimensions

Probe Grounding Precautions On PVM800 and PVM900 models the probe is directly connected to the chassis of the field unit and may have a different electrical potential than the tank, pipe, or process vessel. To prevent a spark when inserting the probe into the process, a grounding wire or strap should be clamped to the probe, preferably at the conduit entry seal at the rear.

833.25

602.38

24.7.974

31812.5

57322.6

W INDOW

PROBE BODY

HOUSING

MICROMETER COVER

CABLE ASSEMBLY

P V M P R O B E


If the tank vessel is plastic, the probe should be grounded to the local ground used for motors or other electrical devices. A conductive antistatic strap may also be used between the probe and the tank to prevent a buildup of static charge.

Choosing a Probe Location The most important factor to obtaining a representative measurement is location and orientation of the PVM probe window in the flow of material.

Flow Patterns at Various Probe Locations Figure 2-2 shows how careful consideration must be given to probe location in order to provide the best material presentation to the probe window.

Figure 2-2 – Flow Patterns for Various Probe Locations

In illustration A, the probe window is mounted flush with the pipeline or vessel wall. Because friction at the wall causes the velocity of the stream to be slower here than near the center of the flow stream,

P V M P R O B E


particles or droplets being carried by the higher flow velocities do not readily enter the slow layer and are thus prevented from getting close to the window.

Illustration B shows the probe inserted further into the stream, but with the probe window still parallel to the flow. This location creates an obstruction at right angles to the flow, causing a shockwave that deflects the flow away from the window and creating a dead zone in front of the window. Particles are carried by the deflected stream and do not come near the probe window.

In illustration C, the probe window is a flat obstruction. The pressure against the obstruction forms a shockwave around which most of the material flows. Once again, there is a dead zone in front of the window. The dead zones in both illustrations B and C prevent representative measurement of particles in the flow stream and allow deposits to form on the probe window.

Illustration D is the only probe orientation that allows a smooth and continuous flow impinging against and across the window surface. The flow carries particles close to the window for the best measurement presentation. The friction of the particles against the window prevents buildup of scale on the window. The best orientation is achieved when the angle of the probe window is between 30o and 60o to the flow. A 45° angle is optimal.

While it is not always possible to mount the probe at a perfect orientation to the flow, probe location is important for the best possible presentation of material to the probe window.

Note If you intend to use the PVM probe to make comparative measurements (either at a later date or with a different plant site), be sure to use the same probe location and orientation – even if it is not ideal – in order to optimize comparisons between measurements.

How Probe Location Relates to the Particle System In general, PVM probe location becomes more important with:

• Extremes in individual particle density (i.e., very low or very high) vs. the carrying solution.

• Lower solids concentration.

• Lower carrying-solution viscosity.

• Larger median particle size.

• Wider particle size distribution.

• Greater particle shape deviation from a sphere.

P V M P R O B E


Similarly, more flexibility in probe location will be allowed by:

• Smaller difference between particle density and carrying solution density.

• Higher solids concentrations (or higher dispersed phase in liquids).

• Smaller median particle size.

• Narrower particle size distribution.

• Smaller difference between average particle shape and a sphere.

Locating the Probe in a Pipeline For best results, the PVM probe should be mounted in an upward-flowing slurry, with three to five pipe diameters between the probe and the last upstream disturbance (elbow, valve, etc.).

Figure 2-3 shows both ideal and non-ideal locations for probes in pipelines. If the probe must be installed in a non-ideal location, the effect on material presentation to the probe should be taken into consideration. Non-ideal probe location will affect data handling and analysis.

Note If you intend to use the PVM probe to make comparative measurements (either at a later date or with a different plant site), be sure to use the same probe location and orientation – even if it is not ideal – in order to optimize comparisons between measurements.

Figure 2-3 – Possible Probe Locations in a Pipeline

P V M P R O B E


Location 1 is ideal. The probe is installed in a vertical, up-flow pipe, three to five pipe diameters from the top of the last elbow. The flow is impinging on the probe window at a 30° to 60° angle (45° is optimal) and the suspended material is well mixed. This location provides an ideal length of obstruction-free pipe upstream of the probe. It also ensures uniformly random and fully representative presentation of the dispersed phase (i.e., suspended solids or liquid) to the measurement zone. The solids impacting on the window also assist in keeping the probe window clean.

Location 2 is non-ideal. The probe is located in the top of a horizontal pipe where changes in flow speed, slurry solids loading, and particle dimension, shape, and density can all change the way the suspended material is presented to the measurement zone. With these variables affecting presentation of the suspended material to the measurement zone, changes in the measurement will not necessarily be representative of change in particle dimension, shape, or count.

While probe location 2 is not recommended in most cases, it can provide reasonable data under the following circumstances:

• If the slurry under investigation has a high solids/dispersed liquid loading (greater than 35% dispersed phase), the median particle dimension is less than 30 microns, and solids above 30 microns do not need to be identified.

• If the majority of the flow is presented to the measurement zone (small pipe vs. size of measurement zone).

• If the dispersed-phase material is well mixed and suspended in a highly viscous carrying solution (e.g., honey or toothpaste).

Location 3 is also non-ideal. The probe is installed inside of a horizontal pipe, making it non-ideal for the same reasons probe location 2 is non-ideal. However, location 3 can provide reasonable data under the same circumstances noted for location 2.

Location 4 is not acceptable. The probe is located at a pipe elbow, which is unacceptable under any conditions. The flow directly against the probe window creates a dead zone (limited flow zone), which could cover the entire measurement zone. This probe location also promotes fouling of the material and is highly susceptible to bias by the conditions noted for probe location 2.

Location 5 is non-ideal. The probe is located in the bottom of a horizontal pipe, making it non-ideal for the same reasons probe location 2 is non-ideal. Location 5 can provide reasonable data under the same circumstances noted for location 2.

Location 6 is non-ideal. The probe is located in the top of a horizontal pipe at the highest point in the pipeline. Besides being non-ideal for the same reasons noted for location 2, this probe location is also discouraged because any gas bubbles trapped in the pipeline will accumulate here. Location 6 can provide reasonable data under the same circumstances noted for location 2.

P V M P R O B E


Location 7 is non-ideal. The probe is located in a down-flow pipe where particle segregation is almost certain. Voids and particle segregation by size around the pipe elbow are common, fouling of the probe can occur, and susceptibility to bias by the conditions noted for location 2 is high.

If it is absolutely necessary to locate the PVM probe in a down-flow or horizontal pipe, it is best to position it near the outlet of a pump (but no closer than five pipe diameters) or install a static mixer upstream of the probe location. Mount the probe on the side of a horizontal pipe, not at the top or bottom. If the pipe is inclined from the horizontal, locate the probe at the lowest end to ensure the pipeline is full during operation.

Mounting the Probe in a Mixed Vessel Flow in reactors or other mixed vessels can be more chaotic and random than in a pipe. This is good as long as it means the material at the probe window is well mixed and representative of the particle populations of interest. Frequently, there are areas in mixed vessels that are not completely homogeneous. These areas should be avoided when locating the PVM probe.

Many mixed reactors have baffles that help create vertical motion and turbulence. In many cases, upward flow is located in the area of the leading side of the baffle. If, as is most common, the probe is inserted from the top of the reactor, the probe tip should be located near the leading side of the baffle. The trailing side should be avoided, as there are dead areas and eddies on the trailing side where particles may settle or segregate.

Figure 2-4 shows the top view of mixed reactor.

Leading Side of Baffle MixerRotation

Trailing Side of Baffle

Figure 2-4 – Mixed Reactor (from above)

Often, special mounting hardware for mixed vessels must be made to maximize the angle of the probe window to the general flow direction. Examples of several mountings recommended by Lasentec are discussed below.

P V M P R O B E


Note Before you proceed with any PVM installation, Lasentec would be happy to review your installation design. Please contact us at [email protected]. We are pleased to put our vast experience to work for you.

Mounting the Probe Following are some standard methods for mounting the PVM probe into in-line applications. Customized variations can be made for specific applications. Lasentec can also configure the PVM probe for other types of fittings and piping systems.

Probe Installation in Vessels Because thermal jackets or vitreous linings may make it restrictive to install a PVM probe through the side of a reactor or other vessel, the probe must often be installed through an existing port located on top of the vessel. As vessel size, shape, and the position of available ports are different for every application, each reactor installation requires a custom-designed probe mounting.

The object of any probe installation is to place the probe tip in the best possible location to the flow. As existing ports and flanges in reactor tops are not normally mounted at a convenient angle, the mating adapter flange on the probe will be at an angle to the probe.

Because the maximum angle that can be made is often not great enough to orient the probe window at 30° to 60° to the flow (particles should impinge on the probe window, optimally at a 45° angle), the probe tip should be located such that the action of the mixer and baffles will direct the flow to the window. Where a greater length is needed, the probe housing can be extended.

Note To ensure the probe installation will be strong enough when installing a PVM probe into a reactor, the velocity and viscosity of the slurry must also be taken into consideration.

Standard Flange Mount In a standard flange mount, the PVM probe is fitted with an ANSI flange, which is bolted to a flanged pipe stub. The flanged pipe stub is then welded into the pipeline or vessel. For high-pressure applications, the flanged installation may be customized with heavier flanges.

The pipe stub flange is precisely machined to accept the probe and an o-ring seal (rather than a conventional flat-ring gasket). The customer determines the length of the pipe stub (“L” in Figure 2-5) for appropriate insertion depth of the PVM probe.


P V M P R O B E


L

Gasket

Flange Gasket Adapter

O-Ring

Probe Cable

Probe BodyPipe Stub

Figure 2-5 – PVM in a Standard Flange Mount

As shown in Figure 2-6, the pipe stub is carefully welded to the vessel or pipeline so the nozzle tube remains straight and is not warped.

45° Adapter Flange

Pipe Stub to be Trimmed tothe Contour of the InsidePipe Wall

2" SCH 40Pipe Shown

Flow

Figure 2-6 – Standard Flange Mount Pipe Stub

P V M P R O B E


Tri-Clamp Flanges and Adapters The Tri-Clamp flange is commonly used for sanitary applications such as food processing. Both clamp-on (which comes in five pieces and can be removed and reassembled if necessary) or welded-on (suitable for certified sanitary applications – weld must be done at time of production) Tri-Clamp flange adapters are available for PVM probes. Other flange sizes can be used as necessary and the probe length can be made to suit the application.

Cable Assembly

PVM Probe

Y - Fitting with Tri - Clamp Flanges

Clamp (# 13MHP - 1 1/2)

Clamp-on Tri-ClampAdapter Assembly

Figure 2-7 – PVM Probe in a Clamp-On Tri-Clamp Adapter

Figure 2-8 shows a PVM probe with Tri-Clamp fitting inserted into a 1.5–inch pipeline, with the probe window facing into the flow at the recommended 30° to 60° angle (optimally 45°).

The length of the fitting is made so the probe causes the least restriction, while still ensuring the probe tip is completely inserted into the stream.

P V M P R O B E


45°

5.6

Probe Tip

PVM Probe

Flow

Figure 2-8 – PVM Probe and Tri-Clamp Fitting in a Pipeline

Compression Fittings A compression fitting may be used in applications where pressure is low (less than 40 psi) and safety is not the primary concern. Examples of compression fittings are Parker or SwageLok thermocouple fittings, which are bored to the tube diameter through the complete fitting body.

In a compression fitting, the fitting or similar gland seal is fixed to the pipe/vessel wall, the probe is inserted to the desired depth, and the fitting is tightened.

Note Because a metal ferrule could crush the probe tube and damage the probe, a nylon or Teflon sealing ferrule is used. Figure 2-9 shows a standard compression fitting.

P V M P R O B E


FITTING

NYLONFERRULE

NUT

COMPRESSION FITTING

Figure 2-9 – Compression Fitting

Ingold Fittings Fittings based on the Ingold design are widely used in fermentation and other biological process vessels. Ingold fittings are compatible for use with the PVM. Welded-on, screwed-on, and o-ring-sealed versions are available. Contact a Lasentec Application Manager or [email protected] for more information.

Closed-Chamber Ball Valve Insertion and Removal Assembly When the PVM probe is mounted in a pipeline or single-walled vessel, the Lasentec closed-chamber ball valve insertion and removal assembly allows the probe to be removed without shutting down the process or draining the pipe.

PVM Probe

Probe Tip

Shield Flush With Pipe Wall

Figure 2-10 – PVM Probe in a Closed-Chamber Ball Valve Insertion and Removal Assembly


P V M P R O B E


The assembly is mounted to a flanged nozzle, fabricated using a 1.5–inch, 150-lb. flange and 1.5-inch, schedule 40 pipe. The flanged nozzle is welded to the pipeline wall so the probe window faces the flow at a 30° to 60° angle. The nozzle should be cut and contoured flush with the inside wall of the pipe.

The Lasentec closed-chamber ball valve insertion assembly also contains a shield that protects the probe from excessive wear in abrasive flows. Where conditions allow in small pipelines, the shield may be cut flush with the pipe wall to minimize flow restriction.

The Lasentec ball valve insertion and removal assembly is not recommended for use in applications where the process pressure is greater than 150 psi.

All materials are stainless steel 316. Other materials are optional. Safety precautions should be observed when operating, and gloves and face shield should always be warn. The user is responsible for attachment to the vessel or pipe wall. Before use, the installation must be inspected and approved by a certified engineer for compliance with applicable codes and pressure vessel regulations. Lasentec is not liable for damage caused by improper use or installation.

Flow

Process Pipe

Flanged Pipe Stub

Ball Valve/Insertion Assembly

NOTES:

1. CUSTOMER PROVIDES FLANGE GASKET AND BOLTS (NOT SHOWN).2. ALLOWANCE FOR FLANGE GASKET THICKNESS IS 2 mm.

Required to Remove Probe131 cm Distance From Flange

Figure 2-11 – Installing/Removing the Closed-Chamber Ball Valve Assembly

Refer to Figures 2-11 and 2-12 and the instructions below for inserting and removing the probe from the closed-chamber ball valve insertion and removal assembly.

Toggle Bolts

P V M P R O B E


Caution! The closed-chamber ball valve insertion and removal assembly provides a temporary seal during probe insertion or extraction. There may be some leakage while removing the probe through the seal. Always wear appropriate face shield, gloves, and clothing while operating this device.

The process pressure exerts force against the probe (up to 118 pounds at the maximum rated pressure of 150 psi). When releasing the locking collar, grip the probe handles tightly to control probe movement. Do not stand directly behind the probe while operating the insertion assembly.

Inserting the Probe into the Closed-Chamber Ball Valve Insertion and Removal Assembly To insert the PVM probe into the ball valve insertion and removal assembly:

1. Loosen the toggle bolts and straighten them, allowing the locking collar to slide over the guide bars. Be sure the interlock rod is properly engaged to prevent the probe window from hitting against the ball valve.

2. Insert the tip of the probe into the gland seal, making sure the locking collar is properly aligned so it will slide onto the guide bars. Slide the probe forward until the collar hits the interlock rod.

3. Tighten the toggle bolts so they form a “T,” preventing the collar from sliding back. Open the ball valve. Note that the interlock rod is lifted out of the way when the ball valve is all the way open. There may be a small amount of leakage around the probe as the process pressure energizes the seal.

4. Slide the probe all the way forward until the collar can be engaged onto the notches in the guide bars. Rotate the collar clockwise to the stop. Insert the locking pins in the side of the collar.

Removing the Probe from the Closed-Chamber Ball Valve Insertion and Removal Assembly To extract the probe from the ball valve insertion and removal assembly:

1. Be sure the toggle bolts are tight. Remove the locking pins from the locking collar. Keeping a firm grip on the handles, rotate the probe counterclockwise to disengage the collar.

2. Carefully slide the probe back against the toggle bolts. Close the ball valve completely.

3. Loosen the toggle bolts and straighten them. Slide the probe back until it is clear of the guide bars and ball valve.

P V M P R O B E


Figure 2-12 – Cross Section of Closed-Chamber Ball Valve Assembly

Figure 2-13 – Lasentec Closed-Chamber Ball Valve Insertion and Removal Assembly

Flow-Through Fittings There are a variety of flow-through fitting options available for the PVM. Below is a flexible version recommended only for R&D use. For a model that fits your specific application needs, contact a Lasentec Application Manager or [email protected].

The flow-through fitting provides a flexible, general-use fixture for laboratory use. Custom designs are available to meet specific process requirements. Flow-through fittings can be used with PVM probes in both production environments and lab settings.

The flow-through fitting provides an excellent sampling configuration for small lines or anywhere it is impractical to put the probe directly in the process stream (make sure to have the pump downstream from the probe).


P V M P R O B E


Figure 2-14 – Flow-Through Fitting Installed on a Probe

Note When the PVM probe is fully inserted in the flow-through fitting, the gap equals zero. Each full turn of the gap adjustment piece (increasing or reducing the gap) equals 1.27 mm of gap space. Lasentec recommends a gap twice the size of your largest particle or particle structure.

Other Fittings There may be other custom fittings that are suitable for inserting the PVM probe into pipelines or vessels. Lasentec can design an installation for almost any type of flowing material. Contact [email protected] for additional information about custom probe mountings for the PVM.


P V M F I E L D U N I T


PVM Field Unit Information on locating and installing the PVM field unit (PVM800 and PVM900 models only).

Field Unit Construction PVM800 and PVM900 models contain a field unit that houses the power supply for the PVM probe, PVM control board, and fiber-optic modem that connects the probe to the computer by means of fiber optic cables. The PVM field unit enclosure is designed to NEMA 4X (IP66) specifications and is made of AISI 304 stainless steel.

Figure 3-1 – PVM800 Field Unit

Section

3

30512.0

30512.0

26710.5

34513.6

10.40

FIELD UNIT

CONDUIT CONNECTIONPROVIDED FOR FIBEROPTIC LINK TO COMPUTER.MAXIMUM DISTANCE 2000 METERS.

CONDUIT CONNECTIONPROVIDED FOR EXTERNALAC POWER SOURCE. FIELDUNIT POWER SHUTOFFSHOULD BE ON THIS LINEFOR PURGE SYSTEM.PROBE CABLE

PERMANENTLYCONNECTED



58423.0

38115.0

38115.0

81332.0

PVM 900FIELD UNIT

BEBCO PURGECONTROLLER

5 METERS LENGTHPROBE CONDUIT

1/2" CONDUIT

POWER CONNECTION HUB100-230 VAC

PURGE GASINLET1/4" TUBEFITTING

1/2" NPT CONDUIT

1/2 (12.5) x6

SWITCH

31712.5

71928.3

CONNECTION FORPOWER WIRES

CONNECTION FORDATA COMM FIBERS

Figure 3-2 – PVM900 Field Unit (with Bebco Purge Controller)

The field unit contains sensitive electronic components and should be protected from severe environmental conditions (see Field Unit Location below). There are no user-adjustable controls inside the field unit. The field unit door is secured by a quarter-turn latch, which is operated by a coin or screwdriver.

Field Unit Location General Information The PVM field unit should be located in an area that is sheltered from severe environmental conditions at a location that is:

• Convenient for access at eye level.

• Readily accessible for service.

Direct, intense sunlight can raise the internal temperatures above operating specifications (i.e., a maximum ambient temperature of 45ºC and maximum internal temperature of 55ºC). For installation in areas where the temperature will reach or exceed 45ºC, an air conditioner or pneumatic cooler must be added to the field unit. Consult a Lasentec Application Manager for assistance in these situations.



Hazardous Area Location Because the PVM field unit contains electrical components, it must be located in a safe area. If a safe area cannot be found, the PVM900 is recommended. The PVM900 uses an over/under pressure system with flow interlocks to purge the field unit with nitrogen or other nonflammable gas. Purge systems installed on a PVM900 will be by Gönnheimer (Europe) or Bebco Industries (North America).

In the event a PVM field unit must be installed in a hazardous area location, compliance with local government and corporate regulations covering such installations is the responsibility of the customer or contractor in charge of the installation. Lasentec does not have the license or certification to make specific recommendations as to how a particular installation should be designed, and is not in a position to judge a particular installation as safe.

Important! Installation of the PVM is the user’s responsibility. If all or part of the system is to be installed in a hazardous area, the installation should be designed and/or approved by a certified professional engineer and approved by safety/fire-prevention authorities. It is the user’s responsibility to comply with all national, local, and corporate regulations concerning equipment in hazardous areas. Because regulations vary by location and company, check with your safety or fire-prevention authorities before designing a hazardous-area installation. The selected location must have all utilities required by the Lasentec system.

Mounting the Field Unit At the back corners of the field unit are four mounting feet. These feet should be bolted to a wall or other structure that is not subject to excessive vibration. (See General Installation Notes on page 34.)

Probe-to-Field-Unit Connection The PVM probe is permanently connected to the field unit with conduit that contains electrical leads and, in the case of a PVM900, a purge gas tube. Standard probe cable length is 30 feet (9 meters). A minimum of 8 inches (20 cm) below the field unit enclosure is required for the probe conduit to bend.

Caution! Do not disconnect the probe conduit from the field unit. This will damage the system and void the warranty. The use of other optical instruments with the PVM increases eye hazard.



Field-Unit-to-Computer Connection All PVM800 and PVM900 field units must communicate with a computer to operate. The PVM uses a fiber communication system (referred to as an “optical data link” or “ODL”) for communication purposes. Optical fiber, which is used in distances up to 0.8 miles (1 km), is a non-electrical connection that offers the highest level of immunity to electrical interference. Optical fiber communication is standard on all current PVM800 and PVM900 models.

With an ODL, there are two fibers for the communication channel. One fiber carries data from the control computer to the field unit; the other carries data from the field unit to the computer. An external ODL adapter (see Figure 1-3 on page 12) may be used. The external ODL plugs into a standard 9-pin COM port and into the mouse/keyboard port of the computer.

For field-unit-to-computer connection information, see Connecting the PVM Field Unit to Computer on page 40.

Configuring COM Ports in Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 2000 An available COM port is required for the PVM field unit to communicate with the computer running the PVM Control software. If the external ODL adapter is connected to a 9-pin COM port on the computer, the port is probably already configured. You need only select the correct port (usually COM1) when the PVM Control software is installed.

Important! To ensure PVM settings do not conflict with other hardware installed in your computer (e.g., network adapters), a technical specialist familiar with your system should make any necessary COM port changes.

Field Unit Installation General Installation Notes

• Before fixing the PVM field unit into position, make sure there is clearance for the probe conduit and other connections. To allow the probe conduit to bend, a minimum of 8 inches (20 cm) is required below the field unit enclosure.

• Bolt the four mounting feet to a wall or other structure using 5/16-in. (8-mm) bolts. Be sure the mounting surface is flat so the enclosure is not racked when the mounting bolts are tightened.

• If the field unit is outdoors in warmer climates, be sure it is shaded from direct sunlight so the internal temperature does not exceed 55°C. Even if the outside air is less than the specified ambient temperature limit, direct sun can raise the internal temperature much higher.



• Allow access to the inside of the field unit only to persons trained to connect, commission, or service the system. The field unit door is secured by a quarter-turn latch, which is operated by a coin or screwdriver. There are no user-adjustable controls inside the field unit.

Caution! Do not do not disconnect the probe conduit from the field unit. This will damage the system and void the warranty. The use of other optical instruments with the PVM increases eye hazard.

Main Power Supply Connections Electrical power (from 100V to 240V, 50 or 60 Hz) must be supplied to the field unit. Because supply voltage is automatically detected and switched on the PVM, the field unit does not have a voltage selector switch.

The following table shows terminals and wires for both North American and European/international PVM systems:

Terminal North America (115V) Europe/international (230V)

Green/yellow Ground (green wire) Earth (green/yellow wire)

Center Neutral (white wire) L2 (blue wire)

Right Live (black wire) L1 (brown wire)

Note Many North American locations have adopted the international method of designating power wiring – for 115V wiring, the brown wire is live and the blue wire is neutral.

Fuses PVM units are fused with 1.5-amp, time-lag (slow-blow) fuses rated for 250V. Units shipped outside of North America have a 5-mm-x-20-mm fuse, while North American units have a ¼-in.-x-1-in. (3 ag) fuse.

Purge System Alarm For PVM900 systems there is a relay contact in the over/under purge system that can be wired to an alarm. See the purge system manual (included with PVM900 units) for information on wiring this switch.

P V M C O N T R O L C O M P U T E R


PVM Control Computer Information on computer setup and establishing hardware connections between the computer and PVM probe or field unit.

Computer Setup Unpack the computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse and assemble according to instructions in the accompanying manual from the computer manufacturer. Make sure all connections are secured before plugging the computer and monitor into an AC outlet.

Caution! Be sure that the computer is set for the proper line voltage (i.e., 115V or 230V) before connecting to the AC power.

Verify Voltage Setting

Important! To ensure that additional hardware (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) does not interfere with the PVM components, wait until the PVM system has been installed and tested before you install any additional hardware to the PVM control computer. Contact [email protected] if you have questions about additional hardware compatibility.

The PVM software will not function properly prior to completion of computer system setup, so it is important to verify that the system operates normally. The operating system installed on the computer is Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 2000. For questions regarding system operation, refer to the manual from the computer manufacturer.

Section

4




Important! Quality of the computer monitor will have a significant influence on quality of the displayed images. Contact [email protected] for a list of recommended monitors.

After testing the computer, log off or restart before continuing.

Hardware Connections Version 5 or later of the PVM Control software can only be operated with a software protection key (sometimes called a “dongle”). The software protection key is attached to the computer parallel (printer) port. The location of the parallel port may vary slightly for different models of the computer.

Connecting the PVM Probe to Computer (PVM700) On a PVM700, one end of the probe cable is permanently connected to the PVM probe. At the other end of the cable is the junction box with two connectors and a short, permanently attached cable. One junction box connector is a 25-pin-SubD-Connector labeled PVM Control; the other is a 9-pin-SubD-Connector labeled To Com 1. A separate jumper cable connects the junction box to the computer. The attached cable is labeled PVM Video and is terminated with a 64-pin SCSI-style connector.

Figure 4-1 shows the back of a typical PVM700 control computer.

To connect the PVM probe to the computer:

1. Make sure power to the computer is turned off.

2. Connect and secure the 25-pin PVM Control Cable to the port labeled PVM Control on the back of the computer.

3. Connect and secure the 9-pin cable labeled To Com 1 to serial port COM1 on the back of the computer.

4. Connect and secure the connector labeled PVM Video into the computer socket labeled PVM Video on the back of the computer.

Note The image analysis (IA) software requires a different software protection key than the non-IA software.




Figure 4-1 – Current-Model PVM700 Computer

Older versions of the PVM700 have a jumper cable between COM2 and the PVM control board. Do not remove this cable. Two different configurations for older models are shown in Figures 4-2 and 4-3.

Figure 4-2 – Older-Model PVM700 Computer (COM2 Located Beneath COM1)



Figure 4-3 – Older-Model PVM700 Computer (COM2 Located Just Above PVM Control Board)

Connecting the PVM Field Unit to Computer (PVM800/900) On a PVM800 or PVM900, the PVM probe cable, which contains electrical leads, connects the PVM probe to the field unit. This cable is permanently attached to both the probe and field unit. On a PVM900, a purge gas tube is also contained in the probe cable.

Refer to existing safety regulations in your lab or production environment for information on connecting the field unit to an electrical supply and purge gas supply (PVM900). The PVM system will not operate until the purge controller establishes safe operating conditions.

Figure 4-4 shows the back of a typical PVM800/900 control computer with the optical data link connected.

To connect the PVM800/900 field unit to the computer:

1. Make sure power to the computer is turned off.

2. Connect the Simplex Fiber Cable from the field unit to the PVM Fiber Optic Video Interface on the back of the control computer.

3. Attach the Jumper Cable to the PVM Fiber Optic Video Interface and connect the other end to the PVM Video Input device on the back of the control computer.

4. Connect the Optical Data Link interface to serial port COM1 on the back of the control computer and secure it with the provided screws.



5. Disconnect the mouse from the computer and plug it into the Mouse Receptacle on the Optical Data Link.

6. Connect the Optical Data Link to the Mouse Port on the back of the control computer.

7. Connect the Duplex Fiber Cable from the field unit to the receptacles labeled RX and TX on the Optical Data Link interface.

8. For a PVM900, connect the purge gas supply and switch on the purge controller to start the initial purge phase. The PVM field unit and probe are ready for operation when the purge controller display shows ON.

Figure 4-4 – PVM800 Computer

Optional Instrument Cooling/Moisture-Reduction Line To avoid damage to the PVM probe, the internal probe temperature must be kept below 45ºC during operation of the PVM system. When operating in systems near or above this temperature, clean oil-free instrument air should be supplied to the PVM probe through the optional purge adapter located on top of the probe. This is not required for the PVM900.

The amount of air supply necessary will depend on the ambient room temperature. For example, in room temperatures under 30ºC, an air pressure of 30 psi will result in a flow of approximately 0.28 m3/hr, which is sufficient to keep the probe at a safe operating temperature. The probe temperature can be monitored in the bottom right corner of the PVM control program.



The purge line is also required for the PVM700 and PVM800 at temperatures below 5ºC. This clean dry air will eliminate moisture buildup on the inside window and optics of the probe.

ANSI/AISA Recommendations for Instrument Air To meet air quality standards, ANSI/AISA-S7.3 Quality Standard for Instrument Air recommends the following:

• Filter out harmful particulate. Proper particle filtration is easily established by a simple dust filtration element located before other treatment options. A quality, general-purpose prefilter removes particles down to 1 micron. High-efficiency afterfilters can remove particles down to 0.01 micron.

• Get all of the oil out. Oil-lubricated compressors can have an oil carryover of 5 ppm or more. If lubricated compressors are used, a coalescing filter and activated carbon filter should be installed after particulate prefilter. A clean, activated carbon filter with appropriate prefiltration removes oil vapor down to a concentration of 0.003 ppm at 70ºC.

• Consider going oil-free if replacing an air compressor. Compressed air is sometimes described as oil-free because filters are used. But filters have limitations. An oil-free compressor is the only way to guarantee compressed air delivery with oil content as close to zero as possible. Oil-free compressors use oil to lubricate bearings and gears, but mechanical seals isolate the compression chamber from any oil. Compressors below the 25- to 30-hp range, termed “oil-less,” have no lubricating oil of any kind. They use sealed bearings and PTFE-coated mating parts.

Bottled Gas Supplies

Caution! As gas is released from its pressurized bottle, the temperature of the gas can drop quite low. If this gas is directly fed into a PVM system, it can significantly reduce the temperature of the probe tip. If the probe is in a temperature-driven process, the cold probe can upset the process and/or cause material to coat the probe, making the measurement unreliable.

While this is typically not an issue with standard air supplies, in some cases plant air is quite cold due to the method of moisture extraction and gas temperature becomes a concern. If necessary, methods to heat the air are available. In most cases (other than bottled gas supplies), as long as the probe is heated up when the reactor is heated up (not inserted afterward), the cooling effect of the probe is not significant.

When it is necessary to heat the air supply, a small correction will usually do. It is typically not necessary to heat the air to the process temperature.

S O F T W A R E I N S T A L L A T I O N


Software Installation Information on installing the PVM Control software.

Installing the PVM Control Software PVM Control software is available on the program CD shipped with your PVM. To install the PVM Control software, you are required to log into Windows NT or Windows 2000 with a user account that has administrative privileges to the local machine. Consult your network administrator for more information on logging into the local machine with an administrator-level account.

The installation routine varies slightly depending on whether or not your PVM system includes the image-analysis option. For the standard PVM Control software installation, see the instructions below. For software installation with the image-analysis option, see Installation with the Image-Analysis Option on page 54.

Standard Installation To install the standard PVM Control software (software without the image-analysis

option):

1. Insert the program CD shipped with the PVM into your CD drive.

2. The installation should begin automatically, but if it does not, go to your CD drive and double-click the install.exe file, or click Run from the Start menu and indicate the drive containing the program disk. For example, if your program disk is in drive D, type D:\install.exe.

Note The file path name will depend on the software version and build. The example above is for version 5, build 8 of the PVM Control software.

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5



3. In the Lasentec Software Installation dialog box, a message will appear indicating that the PVM Control software will be installed on your hard disk. Click Next.

4. Next, the file path where the PVM Control software is to be installed will be displayed. The path name may look different depending on the Control software version and build. To accept the default drive and path, click Next. To use a different folder, enter the drive, path, and folder name, then click Next.



Note At any time up to step 9, you can return to the previous installation screen by clicking Back or abandon the installation by choosing Cancel.

5. To use the default Lasentec group name, click Next. To use a different group (e.g., if you want to replace an existing program group), enter a name, then click Next.



Note If entering or modifying the group name, be sure you do not use any spaces in the group name (e.g., Lasentec-PVM, not Lasentec PVM).

6. You will be asked if you want to install the PVM Manual (approximately 6MB), the user manual that accompanies all PVM software and hardware. Choose Yes or No.

Note The manual that installs is a *.htm file. If you wish, you can also download a *.pdf file of the PVM User Manual from the Install directory.

7. Select the installation option you wish to use, then click Next. On-line Image Acquisition requires that the PVM probe be connected to the control computer. Re-Play Viewer allows you to use previously stored image sequences as the image source.



8. Select the communication port (serial port located on the back of the control computer) for the PVM camera. On the PVM700, the camera is connected to the control computer via the COM 1 connection (always Comport1). On the PVM800 or PVM900, the camera is controlled through the port where the optical line driver for the field unit is connected (usually Comport1). After selecting the appropriate COM port, click Next.

9. Your PVM probe is designed for a specific field of view (either 860 x 645 µm or 1.72 x 1.29 mm), which is noted on the label next to the micrometer screw. Select the field of view for your probe and click Next.



10. For the PVM700, the next dialog box indicates that the installation program will try to detect PCI control boards. If none are detected, the installation will default to the installation for ISA controlboards. Click Next to acknowledge. If you are using a PVM800 or PVM900, skip to step 14 now to finish the installation.



Note All control boards must be either PCI or ISA. Mixing PCI and ISA control boards will cause the ISA cards to be ignored in favor of the PCI cards. If you are unsure which type of control board is in your system, call your Application Manager or Lasentec Tech Support for assistance.

11. If one or more PCI control boards are detected, the program will install the corresponding drivers and indicate the number of control boards detected (one board was detected in the example below). If a screen similar to the one below appears, click Finish and proceed to step 14 to complete the installation.

If the installation program does not detect any PCI control boards, it assumes the computer contains only ISA control boards. If the screen below appears, click Next to continue.



12. If ISA control boards are used, you will need to either accept the default board address or choose an alternate address. Look at the board address label on the PVM control computer. If the label shows 0x280 or if no board is present, select Default Address, click Next, and then skip to step 14. If the label shows an address different from 0x280, select Alternate Address and click Next.

13. If you selected Alternate Address in step 12, you will now need to enter a new board address. Enter the address exactly as shown on the PVM control computer label and click Next.



14. The PVM Control software installation is now complete. Click OK to acknowledge.

15. You will then be prompted to reboot your system. Click Yes to reboot.



16. If you are using Windows NT, skip to step 19 now to see the desktop icons. If you are using Windows 2000 and this is the first software installation after the image capture card was installed, Windows 2000 will try to install the driver for it. Select Yes if the box below displays.

17. After the Found New Hardware Wizard completes, click Finish.



18. Reboot one more time to start the drivers fro the image-capture board.

19. Once the software installation files have been properly installed, the PVM icons will display on your desktop. You will have one icon for the PVM Control software (PVM On-line Image Acquisition in the example below), plus an icon for the PVM user manual if you opted to install it.



Important! It is recommended that PVM700 users installing version 5, build 8 or later of the PVM Control software verify that the drivers and control boards are up and running properly. To do so, see the PCI/ISA card validation instructions for PVM software that are available in the troubleshooting section of the Lasentec Users’ Site (http://users.lasentec.com/troubleshooting.html). Please note that a password to the Users’ Site is required to access the troubleshooting section. Visit the main Lasentec web site (http://www.lasentec.com/password_request.html) to request a Users’ Site password.

Installation with the Image-Analysis Option To install the PVM Control software with the image-analysis option:

1. Insert the program CD shipped with the PVM into your CD drive.

2. The installation should begin automatically, but if it does not, go to your CD drive and double-click the install.exe file, or click Run from the Start menu and indicate the drive containing the program disk. For example, if your program disk is in drive D, type D:\install.exe. Then click OK.

Note The file path name will depend on the software version and build. The example above is for version 5, build 8 of the PVM Control software with the image-analysis option.

3. In the Lasentec Software Installation dialog box, a message will appear indicating that the PVM Control software will be installed on your hard disk. Click Next.


http://www.lasentec.com/password_request.html



4. Next, the file path where the PVM Control software is to be installed will be displayed. The path name may look different depending on the Control software version and build. To accept the default drive and path, click Next. To use a different folder, enter the drive, path, and folder name, then click Next.

Note At any time up to step 13, you can return to the previous installation screen by clicking Back or abandon the installation by choosing Cancel.



5. To use the default Lasentec group name, click Next. To use a different group (e.g., if you want to replace an existing program group), enter a name, then click Next.

Note If entering or modifying the group name, be sure you do not use any spaces in the group name (e.g., Lasentec-PVM-IA, not Lasentec PVM IA).

6. Select the installation option you wish to use, then click Next. On-line Image Acquisition requires that the PVM probe be connected to the control computer. Re-Play Viewer allows you to use previously stored image sequences as the image source.



7. Select the communication port (serial port located on the back of the control computer) for the PVM camera. On the PVM700, the camera is connected to the control computer via the COM 1 connection (always Comport1). On the PVM800 or PVM900, the camera is controlled through the port where the optical line driver for the field unit is connected (usually Comport1). After selecting the appropriate COM port, click Next.

8. Your PVM probe is designed for a specific field of view (either 860 x 645 µm or 1.72 x 1.29 mm), which is noted on the label next to the micrometer screw. Select the field of view for your probe and click Next.



9. You will be asked if you want to install the PVM Manual (approximately 6MB), the user manual that accompanies all PVM software and hardware. Choose Yes or No.

Note The manual that installs is a *.htm file. If you wish, you can also download a *.pdf file of the PVM User Manual from the Install directory.



10. Because your PVM system includes the image-analysis software option, you also will be asked if you want to install the manual for the PVM Stat Acquisition, Review, and Trend. This file (approximately 9MB) provides on-line access to the latest FBRM Control Interface users manual, which may be useful if you are planning to use the image-analysis algorithms (see page 103). Answer Yes or No.

11. With the image-analysis software option, information gathered from up to 12 external devices (e.g., mixer RPM, temperature, etc.) can be used in conjunction with data from the PVM software. Select No Hardware available if you do not have an external analog-input device. Select Keithley Adc16 Board available if a Keithley board will be used with your system. For more information about hardware requirements and operation of the analog input feature, see Analog Inputs in the FBRM Control Interface users manual (optionally installed in step 10 above).



12. The image-analysis software option also allows you to output information from up to 8 statistics, either from the PVM or other analog input data. Select No Hardware available if you do not have an external analog-output device. Select Keithley Dda0816 Board available if a Keithley board will be used with your system. Select CyberResearch PciDac08a Board available if you will use a CyberResearch board. For more information about operation analog output software see Analog Outputs in the FBRM Control Interface users manual (optionally installed in step 10 above).



Note With the image-analysis option, serial data inputs and outputs are also available for complementary systems such as Argonaut, HEL, Mettler, and Systag. See the Serial Inputs or Serial Output section of the FBRM Control Interface manual (optionally installed in step 10) for more information on these systems.

13. For the PVM700, the next dialog box indicates that the installation program will try to detect PCI control boards. If none are detected, the installation will default to the installation for ISA control boards. Click Next to acknowledge. If you are using a PVM800 or PVM900, skip to step 17 now to finish the installation.

Note All control boards must be either PCI or ISA. Mixing PCI and ISA control boards will cause the ISA cards to be ignored in favor of the PCI cards. If you are unsure which type of control board is in your system, call your Application Manager or Lasentec Tech Support for assistance.

14. If one or more PCI control boards are detected, the program will install the corresponding drivers and indicate the number of control boards detected (one board was detected in the example below). You should have one PCI control board for each probe in your PVM system. If a screen similar to the one below appears, click Finish and proceed to step 17 to complete the installation.



If the installation program does not detect any PCI control boards, it assumes the computer contains only ISA control boards. If the screen below appears, click Next to continue.

15. If ISA control boards are used, you will need to either accept the default board address or choose an alternate address. Look at the board address label on the PVM control computer. If the label shows 0x280 or if no board is present, select Default Address, click Next, and then skip to step 17. If the label shows an address different from 0x280, select Alternate Address and click Next.



16. If you selected Alternate Address in step 15, you will now need to enter a new board address. Enter the address exactly as shown on the PVM control computer label and click Next.

17. The PVM Control software installation is now complete. Click OK to acknowledge.



18. You will then be prompted to reboot your system. Click Yes to reboot.

19. If you are using Windows NT, skip to step 22 now to see the desktop icons. If you are using Windows 2000 and this is the first software installation after the image capture card was installed, Windows 2000 will try to install the driver for it. Select Yes if the box below displays.



20. After the Found New Hardware Wizard completes, click Finish.

21. Reboot one more time to start the drivers for the image-capture board.



22. Once the software installation files have been properly installed, the PVM icons will display on your desktop. With the image-analysis option, you will have one icon for the PVM Control software (PVM On-line Image Acquisition in the example below), as well as three icons for the statistics acquisition, review, and trend (Lasentec PVM Stat Acquisition, Lasentec PVM Stat Review, and Lasnetec PVM Stat Trend). If you opted to install the on-line user manuals, icons for the PVM Control software user manual (PVM User Manual) and/or the FBRM Control Interface user manual (PVM Stat Acquisition Manual) will also be included.

Important! It is recommended that PVM700 users installing version 5, build 8 or later of the PVM Control software verify that the drivers and control boards are up and running properly. To do so, see the PCI/ISA card validation instructions for PVM software that are available in the troubleshooting section of the Lasentec Users’ Site (http://users.lasentec.com/troubleshooting.html). Please note that a password to the Users’ Site is required to access the troubleshooting section. Visit the main Lasentec web site (http://www.lasentec.com/password_request.html) to request a Users’ Site password. For additional information on statistics acquisition and image analysis, see the PVM Statistics Acquisition and Image Analysis Manual. This manual is included with all systems that have the image-analysis option.

System Startup To begin using the PVM software:

1. Start or reboot the control computer.





2. Start the PVM Control software by double-clicking the PVM On-line Image Acquisition or the PVM Re-Play Viewer icon on the desktop, or by selecting either option from the group Programs/Lasentec in the Start menu.

3. The PVM Control software will perform an initial system check. Progress is shown in the status bar. Upon completion of the initial system check, the PVM system is ready to use.

4. If the control software displays an error message or the status bar shows No Video!!!, shut down the PVM Control software and the control computer, verify that all cables are correctly connected, restart both the control computer and the PVM Control software, and repeat from step 2 above.

For additional help with software installation problems, see the troubleshooting section of the Lasentec Users’ Site (http://users.lasentec.com/troubleshooting.html).

Please note that a password to the Users’ Site is required to access the troubleshooting section. Visit the main Lasentec web site (http://www.lasentec.com/password_request.html) to request a Users’ Site password.

Important! When the PVM Control software is started, laser light may be emitted from the probe tip. Under no conditions should you look directly into the probe tip while the control software is running.



S O F T W A R E O P E R A T I O N


Software Operation Information on all aspects of PVM Control software operation including: Performing the system test, verifying PVM calibration, viewing images, acquisition control, hardware control settings, image display enhancements, image sequences, single images, and advanced image acquisition.

The PVM Control software processes, displays, and stores images and image sequences received through the PVM probe. The software can also process and display previously stored images and image sequences. Figure 5-1 shows a typical program desktop and defines several program terms used in this section.

Figure 5-1 – PVM Control Software Desktop

Section

6

Hardware Control Settings

Toolbar

Menus

Image Control Panel

Image Window

Scale

Status Bar



For the following sections, it is assumed that the PVM Control software has been accessed, installed, and started-up as described in the PVM Control Software section on page Error! Bookmark not defined..

System Test: Image Quality To test the system:

1. Remove the protective cap from the focus micrometer on the back of the PVM probe and adjust the micrometer to zero if necessary.

2. Insert the probe into sample material.

3. Click the green GO button on the toolbar. Once clicked, the button changes to a red STOP button.

4. The main Image Window will open and continuously show images of the material in front of the probe tip. The image title will display: Image Acquired from Probe.

5. Depending on the optical properties of the material, the image may appear either too bright or too dark. To adjust the image, select Autoadjust Instrument Settings from the Settings menu. It will take up to 10 seconds for the PVM Control software to find the auto-optimized settings for image acquisition.

6. If the image is out of focus, adjust the focus by slowly rotating the micrometer on the back of the probe until a sharp image is displayed. Rotate the micrometer clockwise to move the focal plane further into the slurry.

7. Run the Verification of PVM Calibration procedure (see Verification of PVM Calibration on page 71).

Important! It is recommended that the system test and calibration verification be performed every three months, or on a similar scheduler as lab or plant requirements allow. The calibration verification should also be run if the system is dropped or possibly damaged in some other way.

8. Once a clear image is achieved and the Verification of PVM Calibration procedure has been run, the system test is finished and the PVM system is ready for use.



Note If it is not possible to obtain a clear image from the probe, or if the red warning message No Video!!! appears in the Status Bar, shut down the PVM Control software and the control computer, verify that all cables are correctly connected, restart both the control computer and the PVM Control software, and repeat from step 1 above. If the problem persists, contact [email protected] for assistance.

Verification of PVM Calibration To ensure the instrument is still in calibration, the Verification of PVM Calibration procedure should be run every three months (or as lab or plant requirements allow), after the system test is performed, if the dimensions shown by the software seem questionable, or if there is a chance the PVM probe was damaged (e.g., it was dropped). The Verification of PVM Calibration procedure (document no. 002-3020) is included as an appendix to this manual. It can also be requested by contacting [email protected].

Viewing Images The PVM Control software offers various options to view, save, and review images. Multiple windows can be used to compare saved and currently acquired images. All images are displayed in an Image Window. The window title informs the user about the origin of the image displayed. For example, the standard window title (output from the PVM probe) is Image Acquired from Probe.

An Image Window is generally split into two sections: the Image on the right and the Image Control Panel on the left. Each Image Window can be scaled and placed on the desktop to allow more than one window to be visible at a time.

Note Image-analysis functions will be significantly slowed by open Image Windows or other open programs. The more windows open, the slower images will be acquired. While acquiring images, it is best to limit the number of open windows. All Image Windows can be closed during acquisition and saving. If an Image Window was closed during image acquisition, click the Start/Stop Imaging icon twice to bring it back to the desktop.





Figure 5-2 – Image Window (Image Control Panel on the Left; Image on the Right)

Enlarge/Reduce Image Window Size The divider line between the Image Control Panel and the Image can be moved to increase or reduce the size of each section.

Caution! Only use the Small, Standard, and Full Screen buttons in the Image Control Panel to adjust image size. Other methods will distort the image.

To move the Image Control Panel/Image Window divider line:

1. Position the cursor on the divider line.

2. Click and hold the left mouse button.

3. Drag the line to the desired position and release the mouse button.

Zoom Options To zoom in on the Image:

1. Position the cursor on the spot in the image you would like to enlarge.



2. Double-click the left mouse button.

3. The image area will zoom into the image, centering on the point where the cursor is placed.

4. To zoom in further, double click again. The ruler scale will change according to the zoom factor.

5. The Zoom Locator in the bottom-left corner of the Image Control Panel shows the position and size of the currently visible section with respect to the complete image. The visible section is shown as a red rectangle in a white outer rectangle. A crosshair indicates the current position of the cursor.

Note Zooming into the image does not change the image resolution. The display pixel size is simply changed to enlarge the image digitally.

To view other areas of the image with the same enlargement:

1. Position the cursor on the zoomed-in image.

2. Hold down the left mouse button and move the zoomed-in image over the complete image. The zoom factor will remain constant.

To zoom out:

1. Position the cursor on the image.

2. To zoom all the way, double-click the Zoom Out button in the Image Control Panel.

Displaying the Measurement Grid A measurement grid is provided for easier estimation of object size and distance in the Image Window.

To activate the measurement grid:

Click once in the Show Grid box on the Image Control Panel. A grid adjusted to the ruler tick marks will display in the Image Window.

Adjusting the Screen Size The top three buttons on the Image Control Panel (i.e., Small, Standard, and Full Screen) adjust the Image Window to three predetermined sizes. When a window is opened it will be displayed in Standard size. The image itself is a bitmap with 640 x 480 pixels.



Caution! Only use the Small, Standard, and Full Screen buttons in the Image Control Panel to adjust image size. Other methods will distort the image.

To reduce the image size to 320 x 240 pixels:

1. Click the Small button.

2. To return to the Standard view, press the Standard button.

To enlarge the image size to 1280 x 960 pixels:

1. Click the Full Screen button. For most computer systems, this will fill the screen. Rulers or other parts of the control software desktop will not be shown.

2. To return to the Standard view, press Enter.

Note To display the image with maximum resolution and sharpness, the Standard window size should be used. This is especially important during adjustment of the probe focus and setting of the acquisition properties (Illumination and Framegrabber settings). Image-analysis functions will be significantly slowed by open Image Windows or other open programs. The more windows open, the slower images will be acquired. While acquiring images, it is best to limit the number of open windows. All Image Windows can be closed during acquisition and saving. If an Image Window was closed during image acquisition, click the Start/Stop Imaging icon twice to bring it back to the desktop.

Acquisition Control Start/Stop Continuous Image Acquisition To start or stop continuous image acquisition, use the Start/Stop Imaging icon (green GO or red STOP button) on the toolbar.

To start image acquisition:

Click the green GO button on the toolbar, select Start Imaging from the Imaging menu, or press F6.



To stop image acquisition:

Click the red STOP button on the toolbar, select Stop Imaging from the Imaging menu, or press F6.

Note If the Image Window was closed during image acquisition, click the Start/Stop Imaging icon twice to bring the window back to the desktop.

Set Image Update Rate To change the rate at which images are acquired in the continuous acquisition mode, use the Image Update Rate button on the toolbar.

To change the image update rate:

1. Click the Image Update Rate button on the toolbar or select Image Update Rate from the Settings menu.

2. In the Image Update Rate dialog box that displays, move the sliding bar to adjust the update rate between 10 images per second (0.1-second time interval) and 0.2 images per second (5-second time interval). Both values, image update rate and time interval, are displayed.

3. To accept the new update rate, click OK.



Note The selected image update rate is a maximum rate. Depending on computer speed and available resources, the actual update rate may be slower. Closing any other open programs or Image Windows will increase the rate.

Single Image Acquisition To acquire a single image or images one at a time at a user-defined pace, use the Get Single Image icon on the toolbar.

To acquire a single image:

1. Click the Get Single Image icon on the toolbar or press F5.

2. Each click of the Get Single Image button will acquire an image from the probe and display it as Image Acquired from Probe in the Image Window.

Note The Get Single Image option is only available when the green GO button is visible.

Image Buffer If the PVM operates in the continuous image acquisition mode at a high acquisition rate, it is difficult to view or save just one image out of the stream of images. To grab a single image from the Image Acquired from Probe window and display it in a separate Image Buffer window, use the Copy Image to Buffer icon on the toolbar.

To copy the current image into a new Image Window:

1. Click the Copy Image to Buffer icon in the toolbar, select Copy Image to Buffer from the Imaging menu, or press F7.

2. The current image will be copied into a new Image Window titled: Image Buffer.



Hardware Control Settings Optical properties can vary greatly between different particle systems. To optimize the PVM images of particle systems with different concentration, reflectivity, or absorption, hardware control settings allow the user to adjust the illumination and acquisition properties of the PVM system over a wide range of values.

The PVM uses six laser diodes to illuminate the material in front of the probe window. These light sources are arranged in a hexagonal pattern around the field of view. The intensity of the laser diodes can be adjusted between 0% and 100%.

A very sensitive, high-resolution CCD-camera is built into the PVM probe to receive images of the particle system. The camera converts the image into a video signal that is sent to the PVM framegrabber inside the control computer. The video signal is digitized, processed, and then displayed in the Image Window. The user can adjust the way the video signal is processed by using the framegrabber to achieve optimal contrast and gray-scale resolution for a given particle system.

Methodology

Note Image-analysis functions will be significantly slowed by open Image Windows or other open programs. The more windows open, the slower images will be acquired. While acquiring images, it is best to limit the number of open windows. All Image Windows can be closed during acquisition and saving. If an Image Window was closed during image acquisition, click the Start/Stop Imaging icon twice to bring it back to the desktop.

See Advanced Image Acquisition on page 95.

Adjusting Laser Intensity To switch individual laser diodes on or off to reduce or increase laser intensity:

1. Click the Instrument Settings icon in the toolbar or choose Instrument Settings from the Settings menu.

2. Two dialog boxes: Illumination Settings and Framegrabber Settings will display.



3. In the Illumination Settings box, check or un-check each of the Laser On/Off Switches (1 through 6) to turn on or off each of the six laser diodes.

4. Use the sliding bar under Laser Intensity to control the intensity of all laser diodes from 0% (lasers off) to 100% (lasers operate at maximum intensity).

5. Click OK.

Adjusting Brightness and Contrast The PVM image is displayed using 256 gray levels between black and white. The Framegrabber Settings can be used to adjust levels of both black and white to obtain optimal image brightness and contrast.

To adjust levels of black and white for brightness and contrast:

1. Click the Instrument Settings icon in the toolbar or choose Instrument Settings from the Settings menu.

2. Two dialog boxes: Illumination Settings and Framegrabber Settings will display.



3. In the Framegrabber Settings box, use the sliding bars or enter values between 0 and 255 in the White Level Reference and Black Level Reference boxes to adjust brightness and contrast.

4. To adjust brightness and contrast to a predetermined setting, click Find Level References.

5. Click OK.

Auto-Adjust Instrument Setting The auto-adjust function can be used to get a starting point for the laser intensity and brightness, as well as the contrast settings.

Caution! Although these enhancements may improve the viewed image, any use of these settings reduces resolution of the image.

To set a starting point for laser intensity, brightness, and contrast:

1. From the Settings menu, select Autoadjust Instrument Settings.

2. If parts of the image are saturated, the software will adjust intensity in the Illumination Settings box for all lasers that are switched on. Otherwise, the lasers will operate at maximum intensity.

3. Next, the White Level Reference and Black Level Reference are automatically adjusted in the Framegrabber Settings box to achieve a high contrast image for most materials.

Note The sliding bars in both the Illumination Settings and Framegrabber Settings dialog boxes will move and the values for laser intensity and reference level will change during the auto-adjust procedure. This may take several seconds to complete. The auto-adjust provides a starting point only. From this initial setting the user should optimize the image quality by adjusting all values until a desired image is achieved.

Intensity Filter (for 1.72 x 1.29 mm Field of View Only) Under certain illumination conditions a decrease of image brightness from the center towards the edges of the image is noticeable. An intensity filter can be applied to improve visibility of objects in these images.

To apply an intensity filter:

1. Make sure images are continuously acquired and content is changing from image to image.



2. Adjust the Illumination Settings for optimum image quality (see Adjusting Laser Intensity on page 77).

3. From the Settings menu, select Create New Intensity Filter. The software will acquire a series of images and determine an average intensity distribution for them. This information will become the intensity filter. The following message will display when the intensity filter is complete:

4. Click OK.

5. From the Settings menu, select Enable Intensity Filter. This applies the image filter and images will now appear with uniform background intensity. Visibility of objects near the edges of the image is improved.

Each time imaging conditions change significantly (e.g., once an adjustment of illumination settings has become necessary) a new intensity filter must be generated. Only one intensity filter can be active at any time. If Create New Intensity Filter is selected while a previous intensity filter is enabled, the following message will appear:

If a new intensity filter is generated the user will be informed that the previous filter information will be overwritten and lost.

If the intensity filter was enabled while acquiring images, images saved individually or as part of an image sequence will be saved in their modified form.

While the intensity filter improves the visual appearance of the images under certain illumination conditions, it is advisable to not apply the filter if the images will undergo subsequent image processing steps.



Image Display Enhancements All acquired images are digitized and displayed using a palette with 256 gray levels. A visual enhancement of the displayed image is possible by checking the Enhance box in the Image Control Panel. This can be useful to emphasize features of particular interest in an image.

When the Enhance box is checked the white and black reference level slide bars on the Image Control Panel are active and a Negative or FalseColor mode can be selected.

Note Enhancement settings do not influence the way images are acquired by the system; they simply change the way they are displayed. Settings only affect images in the open Image Window.

All changes made to the enhancement settings are kept until the Defaults button is clicked to reset the default values. Un-checking the Enhance box will temporarily erase the effects of the enhancement settings; re-checking the Enhance box will reset the selections.



Adjusting White and Black Reference Levels You can adjust the white and black reference levels to change the overall brightness of the image contrast. If the white and black reference level slide bars are moved from their default position, the number of displayed gray levels will be reduced.

Caution! Although these enhancements may improve the viewed image, any use of these settings reduces resolution of the image.

To adjust the white reference level:

1. Check the Enhance box in the Image Control Panel.

2. Click and move the slide bar underneath the white reference circle. Moving the white reference level slide bar from its default value of 100 to a lower setting will cause the brightest pixels in the image to display as white. All other pixels will appear brighter than in the originally acquired image.

To adjust the black reference level:


2. Click and move the slide bar underneath the black reference circle. Moving the black reference level slide bar from its default value of 0 to a higher setting will cause the darkest pixels in the image to display as black. All other pixels will appear darker than in the originally acquired image.

Note The white reference level must always be larger than the black reference level. The slide bars will not allow the user to select other values. The smaller the difference between the two reference levels, the higher the image contrast will be. In the extreme case of a difference of 1 between the white and black reference levels, the image will only have black and white pixels.

Inverting the Image To invert the image (display dark portions as bright and bright portions as dark):


2. Check the Negative box. (The default for this option is off – or the box unchecked.)



Adding False Color The grayscale display can be changed to a false color display to make small differences in gray levels more visible. The grayscale is mapped to a color scale ranging from red for black pixels over yellow, green, and blue, to violet for white pixels.

To add false color:


2. Check the FalseColor box. (The default for this option is off – or the box unchecked).

Image Sequences The PVM Control software allows you to save and replay sequences of images. A sequence consists of a minimum of two separate images. The total length of a sequence is only limited by the available storage space on the hard disk. For post-acquisition file editing methods, see Editing Image Sequences on page 91.

Two different methods of saving image sequences are available: In the AutoSave mode images are automatically added to a sequence file at a user-defined rate and interval. With the Manual mode the user manually selects images to be added to the sequence file.

AutoSave to Image Sequence To create an image sequence using the AutoSave mode:

1. From the File menu, select Save an Image Sequence → Setup Auto Sequence Save to open the Configure Auto Sequence Save dialog box.



2. Enter a name for the sequence file in the Sequence File field or click the Browse button to view the PVM data directory. Each image sequence consists of a sequence control file (*.seq) and a directory that holds individual images of the sequence. The sequence file and directory are given the same name. If you choose a previously saved image sequence you will be asked if you want to append the new image or overwrite the previous sequence.

3. To add all images acquired by the probe to the sequence file, select all acquired images in the Use box. To add only images that pass certain previously configured acceptance criteria (see Acceptance Criteria on page 95), select only accepted images.

Continuous Mode Two different modes, Continuous Mode or Time Interval Mode, are available to automatically add images to the sequence. Continuous Mode allows the user to generate a sequence with a predetermined number of images or add a number of images to an existing sequence. If a new sequence file was started, the current sequence length will show 0. Otherwise, the current number of images in the sequence will be displayed.



To automatically add images to the sequence using Continuous Mode:

1. Select Continuous mode in the Configure Auto Sequence Save dialog box.

2. In the Add __ new images to sequence box, enter the number of images you wish to add.

3. In the Use box, choose to save every image or every _ th image.

Note When setting the total number of images for a sequence file, keep in mind that every image is approximately 300KB in size. Check your hard disk space to ensure you have enough room for the complete sequence. The PVM Control software will automatically stop prior to exceeding the operational limit of the hardware.

Time Interval Mode The second mode for automatically adding images is the Time Interval Mode. This mode can be used to add images to a sequence at predetermined points in time.

To automatically add images to the sequence using the Time Interval Mode:

1. Select time interval mode in the Configure Auto Sequence Save dialog box.

2. In the Add images every field, enter the time interval between added images. You can enter the interval in either the hh:mm:ss format or as seconds.

3. In the Save up to __ new images per interval field, enter the number of images you wish to add at the end of each time interval. If you choose to add more than one image per interval, only one image can be acquired at exactly the specified time. Larger numbers of images will be saved so that an equal number of images are acquired before and after the specified point in time.

4. To set the maximum time difference between the desired point in time and the actual time an accepted image is added to the sequence, enter a value in the Add images only within a time span of +/- field. The software will attempt to save up to the specified number of new images per interval within the +/- time span.

Note If Use only accepted images is chosen, it is possible that fewer images will be accepted and saved for a time interval than is set up in the Save up to _ new images per interval field. If no images pass the acceptance criteria, no images will be added to the sequence file for this time interval.



Starting the AutoSave to Image Sequence Function To start the AutoSave to Image Sequence:

1. In the Configure Auto Sequence Save dialog box, click OK to save your settings. A new Image Window titled: Auto Save to Sequence: *.seq will open. This window will show all images as they are added to the sequence.

2. To start the sequence acquisition, click the Start/Stop Auto-Save to sequence icon in the toolbar or select Start AutoSave to Sequence from the Imaging menu.

Every image that is added to the sequence will be date and time stamped. In addition, the Framegrabber Settings, Illumination Settings, Camera Settings, and sequence save mode (automatic or manual) will be saved with every image of the sequence. The auto-save process will run until the preset number of images is added to the sequence file or until the Start/Stop Auto-Save to sequence icon is clicked again.

While images are being added to a sequence, the status bar will show: AutoSeqSave. After completing the sequence, the Start/Stop Auto-Save to sequence button will again be grayed out and the status bar will show the message: AutoSeqSave: Finished saving requested # of images.

Stopping the AutoSave to Image Sequence Function To stop the AutoSave to Image Sequence:

Click the Start/Stop Auto-Save to sequence icon in the Toolbar or select Stop AutoSave to Sequence from the Imaging menu.

A green GO sign in the icon shows that the process has stopped and may be started again by clicking the button. During the auto-save process, the button will show a red STOP sign.

Manual Save to Image Sequence It is also possible to create an image sequence by manually adding images to a sequence file.

To create an image sequence using the Manual mode:

1. From the File menu, select Save an Image Sequence → Setup Manual Sequence Save. The Configure Manual Sequence Save dialog box will open.



2. Enter a name for the sequence file or click the Browse button to view the PVM data directory. Each image sequence consists of a sequence control file (*.seq) and a directory that holds individual images of the sequence. If you choose a previously saved image sequence, you will be asked if you want to append the new image or overwrite the previous sequence.

3. To add all images acquired by the probe to the sequence file, select all acquired images in the Use box. To add only images that pass certain previously configured acceptance criteria (see Acceptance Criteria on page 95), select only accepted images.

3. Click the OK button to save your settings. Two new windows will appear on the desktop. The new Image Window titled: Manual Save to Sequence: *.seq will show the images you selected to be added to the sequence file. The second window allows you to annotate images you add to the sequence.

Adding Images to the Image Sequence To manually add an image to the sequence:

Click the Manual save to Sequence icon on the toolbar, select Manual Save to Sequence from the Imaging menu, or press F8.

Every image added to a sequence will be date and time stamped. The Framegrabber Settings, Illumination Settings, and Camera Settings will be stored with the image, independent of any user-added comments. You can continue to add images to the selected image sequence file as long as the Manual save to Sequence icon is not grayed out.

Annotating Images When images are added manually, you can annotate them and store your comments together with each image in the sequence file.



To annotate images:

1. Enter a comment in the Annotate dialog box that displays when a manual sequence file is opened. You may enter one comment for each image that is displayed in the Manual Save to Sequence: *.seq Image Window.

2. Click the Save Annotation to current Image button.

If you do not wish to add annotation for an image, click the Close button. If you want to erase the annotation, click the Clear Annotation Field button.

Playback of Sequence Files The playback function allows you to review previously saved image sequences.

To load a previously saved image sequence:

1. Click the Recall Image Sequence icon from the toolbar or select Recall Image Sequence from the File menu.

2. In the Recall Image Sequence dialog box that opens, select the sequence you wish to recall (multiple sequences may be played back simultaneously) and click Open.



Two new windows will appear on the desktop. The Image Window is called Playback: *.seq and shows the images saved in the sequence. The second window is the Playback Control Box (shown below), with the sequence name shown in the title bar.

The Playback Control Box offers several features that allow you to review the saved image sequences. To open the rest of the Playback Control Box, click the Expand… button.



The Date and Time rows display the date and time at which the first, current, and last images of the sequence were saved. The image # boxes show the first image (first) displayed in the sequence, the currently displayed image (current), and the total number of images in the sequence (last).

Previously saved annotation for the current image is shown in the Annotation field. Additional annotation can be entered during playback.

The Settings field shows data about the file location, the mode the sequence was saved in, and the Illumination Settings, Framegrabber Settings, and Camera Settings for each individual image.

To move through the image sequence manually:

Click the slide bar next to File Position to scroll through the images or use the right and left arrows to move one image at a time. Note how the values in the image #, Date, and Time boxes change.



To playback the sequence file automatically (image after image):

1. Click the large right arrow under File Position to start the playback.

2. Click the red square in the center to stop the playback.

To playback the sequence file in reverse order:

1. Click the large left arrow under File Position.

2. Click the red square in the center to stop the playback.

To play the sequence file continuously:

1. Check Loop-Play.

2. Click the red square in the center to stop continuous playback.

To set the amount of time each image is displayed on your screen (in milliseconds):

Move the slide bar next to View Time.

To close the Playback Control Box, save annotation, and end the playback mode:

Click the Close Sequence box.

Editing Image Sequences To edit a previously saved image sequence:

1. From the Settings menu, select Image Source. The Set Image Source dialog box will open.

2. Select Image Sequence.

3. Click the Browse button to specify the sequence file.



4. Select a sequence file and click Open.

Once a sequence file is selected, the Sequence Image Window and Playback Control Box will open, allowing you to review the sequence (see Playback of Sequence Files on page 88). Acceptance criteria can also be used during playback of the sequence (see Acceptance Criteria on page 95) and a new sequence file can be saved. No change is made to the original file.

All menu items and toolbar buttons that relate to instrument settings or image acquisition will be disabled until the Playback Control Box is closed or Probe is selected in the Set Image Source dialog box. If the Start/Stop Imaging button is visible, the image source is set to Probe.

Single Images with or without Axes In addition to saving images in sequence files, it is also possible to save and recall single images.

Recalling a Single Image To recall a single image:

1. Click the Recall Single Image icon in the toolbar or choose Recall Single Image from the File menu.

2. In the Recall Single Image dialog box that displays, enter the filename of the image you wish to recall and click Open.



Single images can be saved from every Image Window. Two buttons located in the Image Control Panel, Save Image and Save with Axes, offer two different modes of saving single images.

If the image was saved while enhance functions were active, the Enhance box in the Image Control Panel will also be checked. If you wish, you can change the display enhancements or switch the enhancements off for each recalled single image.

Saving a Single Image This function allows the user to save the current image to hard disk. The file will be saved as a standard Windows bitmap file (*.bmp) with 640 x 480 pixels.

To save a single image to hard disk:

1. Click the Save Image button in the Image Control Panel.

2. In the Save Bitmap File dialog box that appears, enter a filename for the recalled image and click Save.



If the image is enhanced, information about enhancement settings will be stored with the original image.

Note It may be difficult to select desired images when using fast image update rates. See Image Buffer on page 76 for information on verifying the image before saving it.

Saving a Single Image with Axes This function saves the complete image panel, including axes, exactly as displayed on the screen. If the image was resized or enhanced, those modifications will be saved as well. The Save with Axes function is mainly designed to allow the user the ability to include images acquired and modified with the PVM Control software in reports or other documents. The image is saved as a standard Windows bitmap file (*.bmp).

To save a single image with axes:

1. Click the Save with Axes button in the Image Control Panel.

2. In the Save Bitmap File dialog box that appears, enter a filename for the recalled image and click Save.



If the image is enhanced, information about enhancement settings will be stored with the original image.

Note It may be difficult to select desired images when using fast image update rates. See Image Buffer on page 76 for information on verifying the image before saving it.

Advanced Image Acquisition In addition to the basic image acquisition procedures described in the previous sections, several advanced functions are available to reduce detail volume down to specific areas of interest.

Acceptance Criteria In many applications it is necessary to identify and select specific images that differ in content from the majority of acquired images. For example, in a liquid sample that contains a small number of particles, most of the acquired images will show the liquid without any particles. If the goal is to observe size, shape, or structure of the particles, you would have to acquire and save a large number of images to obtain just a few images with sufficient information content. Acceptance Criteria allow you to monitor all acquired images for images that contain particles. You can then view or save only those images with content of interest.

The application of Acceptance Criteria depends on the image content and goal of the application. You should first determine which of the three criteria (threshold-based, edge-based, or information-based) best applies to your specific acquisition needs, and then optimize the type of accepted images by using the settings for the chosen criteria.



Note Acceptance Criteria effectively filter your data. Prior to filtering, be sure you are not losing content of interest.

Acceptance Criteria are especially powerful when used in combination with the AutoSave to Image Sequence function (page 83). The AutoSave to Image Sequence mode can be configured to add only accepted images. For example, by setting Acceptance Criteria accordingly, you can acquire images at a high update rate but only save those that fulfill specific criteria. Many hours of image acquisition may only contain a few images with useful information. You can automatically generate a sequence of only those images and review them later without the need to monitor acquisition.

Note Changing Framegrabber Settings, Illumination Settings, or Camera Settings will change the acquisition conditions and therefore change the way acceptance criteria work. To ensure consistent results, these settings should not be changed after Acceptance Criteria are set up. Previously saved image sequences can be run through the Acceptance Criteria. A new filter can be saved with just the images that passed the criteria. The original file remains unchanged. See Editing Image Sequences on page 91. Assuming that particle size, shape, or solids content is changing, so will the effect of the Acceptance Criteria. For this reason, it is also recommended that the Auto-Adjust Instrument Setting (see page 79) be used in conjunction with the Acceptance Criteria.

Activating Acceptance Criteria To activate Acceptance Criteria:

From the Settings menu, select Acceptance Criteria. The Acceptance Criteria dialog box will open, allowing you to select Threshold-Based, Edge-Based, or Information-Based Acceptance Criteria.



Threshold-Based Acceptance Criteria Every image acquired by the PVM is displayed as a grayscale bitmap image. Every pixel in the image has a gray level between 0 and 255. Threshold-based acceptance criteria directly analyze the gray levels of pixels in the acquired images and determine the number of pixels in an image of which the gray level falls into a user-defined range (e.g., all pixels with gray levels between 200 and 255).

The relative area (% threshold area) these pixels occupy in the image is calculated to determine a quantitative value for the frequency of grayscales in the image. The images are accepted if this relative area falls into the range defined by the user in the Acceptance Criteria dialog box.

To apply threshold-based Acceptance Criteria:

1. Select Threshold-Based in the Acceptance Criteria dialog box.

2. Click the Set Threshold… button.

3. In the Threshold Settings window that displays, use the slide bars under Lower Threshold and Upper Threshold to determine the active range for the threshold area. Pixels with gray levels within the lower and upper threshold limits will display as red in the image panel.



4. To determine which images will be accepted, enter values for the lower and upper limits in the %Thresholded Area boxes of the Acceptance Criteria dialog box. The default values of 0 for the lower limit and 100 for the upper limit will accept all images.

In the Threshold Settings window, Pixels in Threshold displays the absolute number of red pixels in the image. %Thresholdeded Area is used to determine if a specific image passes the threshold-based acceptance criteria. This value is shown simultaneously as %Thresholded Area in the Acceptance Criteria dialog box and is updated for every acquired image.

It is helpful to have the acquisition turned on while adjusting these settings.

Note The Lower Threshold value must be lower or equal to the Upper Threshold for any pixels to be selected.

Edge-Based Acceptance Criteria Edge-based Acceptance Criteria apply a Sobel filter kernel to the grayscale image that carries out actual edge detection. The larger the difference in gray level between a pixel and its neighbors in the original image, the higher the gray level assigned to that pixel in the filtered image. Bright areas represent pronounced or strong edges, while dark areas correspond to portions of the image without visibly strong edges.



Applying edge-based Acceptance Criteria makes particle edges easier to see and allows the software to determine a quantitative value for frequency and strength of particle edges in the image. If the edge-based Acceptance Criteria value falls into the range defined by the user in the Acceptance Criteria dialog box, the images are accepted.

To apply edge-based Acceptance Criteria:

1. Select Edge-Based in the Acceptance Criteria dialog box and click the Edge Settings… button.

2. In the Edge Settings window that displays, use the slide bars under Lower Threshold and Upper Threshold to set the range of gray levels for pixels to be accepted by the criteria. Pixels with gray levels that fall within this range are marked green. The green areas correspond to a range of certain edge strength in the original image.

3. Use the slide bar under Decimation Factor to determine how many pixels in the image are actually analyzed. For example, if the decimation factor is set to 10, only every 10th pixel in every 10th row will be used for subsequent calculations. The effect of the decimation factor is visible in the image. As the decimation factor increases, the image appears more rastered or coarse.



Note Calculations involved in the edge-based Acceptance Criteria can take a significant amount of time for each image. Reducing the number of analyzed pixels by increasing the decimation factor may significantly speed up the operation, but important detail may be lost.

4. To determine which images will be accepted, enter values for the lower and upper limits in the %Thresholded Edge Area boxes of the Acceptance Criteria dialog box. The default values of 0 for the lower limit and 100 for the upper limit will accept all images.

In the Threshold Settings window, Pixels in Threshold displays the absolute number of green pixels in the image. %Thresholdeded Area is used to determine if a specific image passes the edge-based acceptance criteria. This value is shown simultaneously as %Thresholded Edge Area in the Acceptance Criteria dialog box and is updated for every acquired image.

Note The Lower Threshold value must be lower or equal to the Upper Threshold for any pixels to be selected.

Information-Based Acceptance Criteria Information-based Acceptance Criteria analyze the frequency distribution of pixels per gray level in each image. If very few gray levels are present (e.g., because no objects are visible in an otherwise homogeneous medium), the information content of that image is considered low. On the other hand, if all gray levels appear in the image with approximately equal probability, it is likely the image contains many objects with pronounced surface features. Therefore, the information content is considered high.

Information-based Acceptance Criteria are well suited for filtering out very bright images (e.g., due to saturation of camera pixels by a bright particle) and very dark images (e.g., due to absence of particles on an otherwise black background).

To apply information-based Acceptance Criteria:

1. Select Information-Based in the Acceptance Criteria dialog box.

2. Enter values for the lower and upper limits in the %Information Content boxes of the Acceptance Criteria dialog box. The information content for each image is displayed as a value between 0 (nor information content) and 100 (highest-possible information content).

Applying Acceptance Criteria Because application of Acceptance Criteria uses a significant amount of computer resources and can reduce image-acquisition rate, make sure that criteria are only applied when needed for the application.



To view images that pass the Acceptance Criteria:

Click View accepted Images in the Acceptance Criteria dialog box. (This should be done immediately after setting up acceptance criteria to verify that the desired type of image is actually accepted.) A new Image Window, called Accepted Images, will appear.

To disable Acceptance Criteria:

Select None in the Acceptance Criteria dialog box.

Note In the Acceptance Criteria dialog box, Close Dialog only closes the box; it does not disable the Acceptance Criteria. The status bar shows ACrit when Acceptance Criteria are active.

Measure Tool The measure tool is only available if a recalled Image Window is open.



New Line The New Line selection on the Measure Tool option is only available when an Image Window is open. This feature allows the user to add a new line to measure linear dimensions to the image. When New Line is selected, the cursor changes to a crosshair.

To place the new line in the image:

Click once in the image.

To move the line:

Click and drag the line to its new position.

To change the length and orientation of the line:

Click on one of the blue squares at either endpoint of the line and drag the endpoint to its new position. The box next to the line shows the line length in microns.

To activate an existing line:

Right-click anywhere on the line. An active line has a blue square at each endpoint.

To remove an active line from the image:

Press the Delete key.

New Circle The New Circle selection on the Measure Tool option is only available when an Image Window is open. This feature allows the user to add a new circle to measure dimensions to the image. When New Circle is selected the cursor changes to a crosshair.

To place the new circle in the image:

Click once in the image.

To move the circle:

Click and drag the circle to its new position.

To change the diameter of the circle:

Click on one of the two blue squares on the circle and drag the square to its new position. The box next to the line shows the circle diameter in microns.



To activate an existing line:

Right-click anywhere on the circle. An active circle has two blue squares on its perimeter.

To remove an active circle from the image:

Press the Delete key.

Image Analysis (Optional Package) Image analysis is aimed at extracting particle size, shape, and count information from PVM images and quantitatively reviewing this information using the PVM Statistics Acquisition software. With this package, you can use the image-analysis algorithms built into the PVM Control software to measure each individual particle as a whole entity, plus immediately have visual feedback on whether or not the measurement agrees with your visual perception of the particle shape.

Depending on the image-analysis algorithm chosen, data such as area, volume, aspect ratio, chord length, etc., may be produced and sent to the PVM Statistics Acquisition software for trending and other data handling.

See the PVM Statistics Acquisition and Image Analysis Manual for more details.

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Menus This section lists all entries available from each of the PVM Control software menu selections (File, Imaging, Settings, Views, Image Analysis, and Help) and gives a short summary of their function. If a button or keyboard shortcut is available it is shown as well.

File Menu Recall Single Image

Opens a dialog box to load a previously stored image and displays it in a new Image Window. The standard file extension for image files is *.bmp. The path and filename of the image file are shown in the Image Window title. If the image was stored in enhanced mode, it will be displayed in the enhanced view first. De-select the Enhance box in the Image Control Panel

to turn off enhancements. Enhancement tools can be applied again to display the image in a different way.

See Recalling a Single Image on page 92.

Recall Image Sequence Opens a dialog box to load a previously stored image sequence. The standard extension for a sequence control file is *.seq. The sequence will be displayed in a new Image Window with the title Playback: followed by the path and filename of the sequence. A Playback Control Window is opened for every recalled sequence file.

See Playback of Sequence Files on page 88.

Save an Image Sequence Setup Auto Sequence Save Opens a dialog box to specify parameters for automatically saving sequences. The sequence name and storage mode (continuous or time interval) are entered here.

Section

7

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See AutoSave to Image Sequence on page 83.

Setup Manual Sequence Save Opens a dialog box to specify parameters for manually saving a sequence. The sequence name is entered here. The user can choose to add all images acquired by the probe to the sequence or only those that pass certain acceptance criteria.

See Manual Save to Image Sequence on page 86.

Exit Stops the image acquisition and shuts off illumination. Quits the PVM controls software and returns to the desktop.

Imaging Menu Start Imaging

Also accessed by pressing F6 on the keyboard. Starts the continuous acquisition of images from the probe. If necessary, opens a new Image Window to display the image. Works as a toggle with Stop Imaging.

See Start/Stop Continuous Image Acquisition on page 74.

Stop Imaging Also accessed by pressing F6 on the keyboard. Stops the continuous acquisition of images from the probe. The last acquired image is displayed in the Image Window. Works as a toggle with Start Imaging.

See Start/Stop Continuous Image Acquisition on page 74.

Get Single Image Also accessed by pressing F5 on the keyboard. Only available when continuous image acquisition is stopped. Acquires a single image from the probe and displays it in the Image Window.

See Single Image Acquisition on page 76.

Copy Image to Buffer Also accessed by pressing F7 on the keyboard. Copies the image currently displayed in the Image Acquired from Probe Image Window to a new Image Window titled: Image

M E N U S


Buffer. Allows the user to investigate a specific image more closely without stopping continuous acquisition of images.

See Image Buffer on page 76.

Manual Save to Sequence Also accessed by pressing F8 on the keyboard. Only available if an image sequence file for a manual sequence was previously configured. Depending on configuration of the manual sequence file, the image currently displayed in the Image Acquired from Probe Image Window or Accepted Images Image Window is added to the manual sequence file. The image is also displayed in a new Image Window titled: Manual Save to Sequence: *.seq. A

separate window allows the user to enter annotation for every saved image.

See Manual Save to Image Sequence on page 86.

Start AutoSave to Sequence Only available if an image sequence file for an auto sequence was previously configured. Starts adding images to the auto sequence file. The type, number, and rate of images depend on the parameters set in Setup Auto Sequence Save. Continues to add images to the sequence file until interrupted by the Stop AutoSave to Sequence button.

See Starting the AutoSave to Image Sequence Function on page 86.

Stop AutoSave to Sequence Only available if an image sequence file for an auto sequence was previously configured and the autosave function was started. Interrupts the addition of images to the auto sequence file.

See Stopping the AutoSave to Image Sequence Function on page 86.

Settings Menu Autoadjust Instrument Settings This function changes the Illumination Settings and Framegrabber Settings to acquire images of medium brightness and high contrast. To find a starting point for adjustments of laser intensity and black and white reference levels, the Autoadjust Instrument Settings function should be used whenever the probe is inserted into a new material. This function does not change the number and position of lasers used to illuminate the material, though this may be required to obtain an optimum image.

The Autoadjust Instrument Settings function may take several seconds to complete. During operation, the slide bars in the Illumination Settings and Framegrabber Settings dialog boxes move automatically.

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Autoadjust every Time Interval This function allows the user to specify a time interval so that once every time interval the software does the equivalent of an Adjust Instrument Settings operation. During this operation the laser, gain, and offset are automatically adjusted so the instrument can keep up with possible changes in the particle system that warrant re-adjustment of laser power and gain.

This can go both ways: If the particles appear so bright that saturation sets in, the laser power can be reduced. If the image is too dark, laser power and gain can be increased.

Instrument Settings Opens the Illumination Settings and Framegrabber Settings dialog boxes. The Illumination Settings dialog box allows the user to set the number and position of the active laser diodes as well as the overall laser intensity. The Framegrabber Settings dialog box provides slide bars for white and black reference levels, which optimizes image quality for a given illumination.

See Hardware Control Settings on page 77.

Image Update Rate Opens a dialog box to set the rate at which images are acquired from the probe during continuous image acquisition. The value displayed in the Image Update Rate dialog box is a maximum rate. The actual acquisition rate can be slower if many Image Windows must be updated, acceptance criteria are active, or computer resources are otherwise occupied.

See Set Image Update Rate on page 75.

Image Source Opens the Set Image Source dialog box. The user can specify if images are acquired from the PVM probe (default) or if playback of a previously saved sequence file should simulate the acquisition. If a previously saved sequence is selected as the image source, the Playback Control Box is open, as is an Image Window titled: Images Acquired from *.seq. If desired, acceptance criteria can be applied to the sequence.

See Editing Image Sequences on page91.

Acceptance Criteria Opens the Acceptance Criteria dialog box. The user can choose to apply threshold-based, edge-based, or information-based Acceptance Criteria and set the corresponding acceptance values. The radio buttons on the left of the dialog box show which Acceptance Criteria are chosen. The View accepted Images button opens a new Image Window titled: Accepted Images. Only images that pass the chosen Acceptance Criteria will be displayed in this window.

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The application of Acceptance Criteria can involve complex calculation and may significantly slow down the image acquisition rate. The status bar shows ACrit as a reminder that Acceptance Criteria are active.

See Acceptance Criteria on page 95.

Enable Intensity Filter Applies the current intensity filter to all acquired images.

See Intensity Filter on page 79.

Create New Intensity Filter Acquires a series of images to determine average intensity distribution. This information is saved as the intensity filter.

See Intensity Filter on page 79.

Views Menu Toolbar Switches the toolbar on and off.

Status Bar Switches the status bar on and off.

Acquired Images Allows the user to view all acquired images by opening any available Image acquired from *.seq Image Windows.

Image Buffer Allows the user to view all images placed in the image buffer by opening any Image Buffer Image Windows.

AutoSave to: Allows the user to view any auto-saved image sequences by opening any available Auto Save to Sequence: *.seq Image Windows.

Manual Save To: Allows the user to view any manually saved sequences by opening any available Manual Save to Sequence: *.seq Image Windows.

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Sequence Annotation Allows the user to view any annotation made by opening any available Annotate: *.seq Image Windows.

Accepted Images Allows the user to view only images that pass selected acceptance criteria by opening any available Accepted Images Image Windows.

Window Menu Only available when an Image Window is open. Allows the user to Tile the windows or arrange them in a Cascade (when Cascade is selected, double-click the title bar of a window to put that window on top).

Image Analysis Menu Analysis Window Opens the most recent Image Analysis Window.

Accepted Images Only If checked, only images that pass Acceptance Criteria (see page 95) will be displayed. Uncheck to display all images.

Algorithms No Algorithm Allows you to view the displayed image with no algorithm applied.

Measure Tool Only available if a recalled Image Window is open.

See Measure Tool on page 101.

Help Menu Help Index Opens the on-line help file.

About Displays information about the program version and copyright.

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Lasentec® PVM User Manual 111 003-0802 Index Rev E (May.02)

Index

Acceptance Criteria .................................95, 108 Activating......................................................96 Applying ......................................................100 Disabling .....................................................101 Edge-Based ...................................................98 Information-Based ......................................100 Threshold-Based...........................................97

Accepted Images ...........................................110 Accepted Images Only ...................................110 Acquired Images ............................................109 Acquisition Control...........................................74 Advanced Image Acquisition ...........................95 Alarm

Purge System................................................35 Algorithms ......................................................110 Analysis Window ............................................110 Annotating........................................................87 Autoadjust every Time Interval......................108 Autoadjust Instrument Settings...............79, 107 Autosave

Start/Stop......................................................86 Autosave to Image Sequence ..........................83 AutoSave to: ...................................................109 Ball Valve Insertion and Removal Assembly ...26 Ball Valve Insertion Assembly

Inserting the Probe.......................................28 Removing the Probe .....................................28

Bottled Gas.......................................................42 Brightness

Adjusting.......................................................78 Calibration

Verification of ...............................................71 COM Ports

Configuring....................................................34 Communications

Configuring COM Ports..................................34 Compression Fittings .......................................25 Computer

Connecting to Field Unit.........................34, 40 Connecting to PVM Probe.............................38 Setup.............................................................37

Continuous Mode..............................................84 Contrast

Adjusting .......................................................78 Copy Image to Buffer................................76, 106 Create New Intensity Filter............................109 Display Enhancements.....................................81 Edge-Based Acceptance Criteria .....................98 Enable Intensity Filter....................................109 Enhance ............................................................81 Exit ..........................................................106 False Color........................................................83 Field Unit

Connecting to Computer...............................34 Connecting to Probe .....................................33 Construction .................................................31 Fuses.............................................................35 in Hazardous Areas.......................................33 Installation....................................................34 Location ........................................................32 Mounting .......................................................33 Power Supply ................................................35

File Menu ........................................................105 Recall Image Sequence..............................105 Recall Single Image....................................105 Save an Image Sequence ...........................105

Fittings Compression .................................................25 Flow-Through ................................................29 Ingold ............................................................26

Index

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Other .............................................................30 Fixed Beaker Stand..........................................12 Flange Mount....................................................22 Flow-Through Fittings ......................................29 Framegrabber Settings ....................................78 Fuses ............................................................35 Get Single Image......................................76, 106 Hardware Connections.....................................38 Hardware Control Settings ..............................77 Help Index ......................................................110 Help Menu.......................................................110

About...........................................................110 Help Index...................................................110

Illumination Settings........................................77 Image Acquisition

Single Image .................................................76 Image Analysis ...............................................103 Image Analysis Menu .....................................110

Algorithms...................................................110 Analysis Window.........................................110 Measure Tool ......................................101, 110

Image Analysis Window Accepted Images Only................................110

Image Buffer.............................................76, 109 Image Source ...................................91, 101, 108 Image Update Rate ..................................75, 108 Image Window..................................................71

Enlarge/Reduce Panel Size...........................72 Zoom Options................................................72

Images Adding False Color........................................83 Annotating ....................................................87 Display Enhancements .................................81 Inverting........................................................82 Reference Levels..........................................82 Sequences ....................................................83 Single ............................................................92 Viewing .........................................................71

Imaging Menu.................................................106 Copy Image to Buffer..................................106 Get Single Image ........................................106 Manual Save to Sequence ..........................107 Start AutoSave to Sequence ......................107 Start Imaging ..............................................106 Stop AutoSave to Sequence.......................107 Stop Imaging...............................................106

Information-Based Acceptance Criteria ........100 Instrument Air ..................................................42 Instrument Cooling Line...................................41 Instrument Settings .......................................108 Intensity Filter..................................................79

Inverting Images...............................................82 Laser Intensity

Adjusting .......................................................77 Manual Save to Sequence..............................107 Manual Save To: .............................................109 Measure Tool ..........................................101, 110 Measurement Grid ............................................73 Menus

File ..............................................................105 Help.............................................................110 Image Analysis............................................110 Imaging .......................................................106 Settings.......................................................107 Views ..........................................................109 Window........................................................110

Methodology .....................................................77 Moisture Reduction ..........................................41 Mounting

Ball Valve Insertion and Removal Assembly26 Compression Fittings....................................25 Field Unit.......................................................33 Flange Mount ................................................22 Flow-Through Fittings...................................29 Tri-Clamp Flanges and Adapters ..................24

New Circle ......................................................102 New Line.........................................................102 Power Supply....................................................35 Probe

Connecting to Field Unit...............................33 Dimensions....................................................16 Flow Patterns at ...........................................17 Grounding......................................................16 in Large Vessels ...........................................22 in Mixed Vessels...........................................21 in Pipelines....................................................19 Location ........................................................17 Location in Relation to Particle System.......18 Mounting .......................................................22

Product Support .................................................6 Purge System Alarm.........................................35 PVM700

System Description.......................................10 PVM800

System Description.......................................11 PVM900

System Description.......................................11 Recall Image Sequence............................88, 105 Recall Single Image..................................92, 105 Reference Levels

Adjusting Black and White Levels ................82 Repair

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Computer ........................................................7 Instrument ......................................................6

Safety ..............................................................7 EMC/LVD Compliance .....................................7 Laser Classification........................................7 Pressure Ratings ............................................8 Pressure Vessel Regulations..........................8

Save an Image Sequence...............................105 Save Image.......................................................93 Save with Axes.................................................94 Screen Size

Adjusting.......................................................73 Sequences........................................................83

Adding Images ..............................................87 Annotation ..................................................110 Autosave .......................................................83 Continuous Mode ..........................................84 Editing...........................................................91 Manual Save..................................................86 Playback of ...................................................88 Time Interval Mode.......................................85

Settings Menu ................................................107 Acceptance Criteria ...................................108 Autoadjust every Time Interval ..................108 Autoadjust Instrument Settings .................107 Create New Intensity Filter ........................109 Enable Intensity Filter ................................109 Image Source..............................................108 Image Update Rate.....................................108 Instrument Settings....................................108

Setup Auto Sequence Save............................105 Setup Manual Sequence Save..................86, 106 Single Image

Acquisition....................................................76 Saving ...........................................................93

Saving with Axes ..........................................94 Software

Image-Analysis Installation ..........................54 Installing .......................................................43 Operation ................................................43, 69 Standard Installation ....................................43 System Startup .............................................66 System Test ..................................................70 Upgrades.........................................................5

Start AutoSave to Sequence..........................107 Start Imaging..................................................106 Start/Stop Continuous Image Acquisition........74 Status Bar.......................................................109 Stop AutoSave to Sequence...........................107 Stop Imaging ..................................................106 Threshold-Based Acceptance Criteria.............97 Time Interval Mode...........................................85 Tri-Clamp Flanges and Adapters......................24 Troubleshooting

PCI/ISA Cards................................................66 Software Installation ....................................67

Views Menu ....................................................109 Accepted Images........................................110 Acquired Images.........................................109 AutoSave to:................................................109 Image Buffer ...............................................109 Manual Save To:..........................................109 Sequence Annotation .................................110 Status Bar ...................................................109 Toolbar ........................................................109

Voltage Setting Verifying........................................................37

Window Menu .................................................110 Zoom Options ...................................................72

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LASENTEC® PVM User Manual - Mettler Toledo · Computer Service Policy ... Safety and Compliance...

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Transcript of LASENTEC® PVM User Manual - Mettler Toledo · Computer Service Policy ... Safety and Compliance...