Description
Microstructure probe MSS 90L
The MSS 90 Profiler is an instrument for microstructure and precision measurements of physical parameters in marine and limnic waters. It is designed for vertical profiling within the upper 500 m (optional 1000 m).
Microstructure investigation requires an undisturbed measuring procedure of the profiling instrument. Effects caused by cable tension (vibrations) and the ship’s movement have to be excluded by buoyancy driven free sinking of the MSS Profiler. This requires a slack in the cable near to the profiler. The loop in the cable is generated and kept during the profiling by immersing sufficient cable into the water.
For vertical sinking measurements, the profiler has to be balanced with a slightly negative buoyancy which gives it a sinking velocity in the range between 0.3 to 0.7 m/sec.
The profiler can be handled and recovered manually. For more convenient operation, special portable winches are available. The serial data is transmitted via electrical cable to an on board unit and further to a data acquisition PC. The on board unit generates the power supply for the profiler and the receiver of the data link. Raw data is stored online on the hard disc of the acquisition PC during the measuring process.
The basic hardware system for microstructure field measurements consists of several parts:
1. Microstructure profiler
2. Interface for power supply and data link to PC
3. Sea cable connection between interface and profiler
4. PC, Laptop or Notebook with USB-Interface
5. Winch (*) manual or electrical
(*) A winch is not necessarily required for system operation but makes the handling of the system during operation easier and more comfortable.
The measuring system can be powered either by mains (230VAC or 115VAC, standard version) or battery (12 VDC, option).
For data acquisition the high speed Micro-Structure Data Acquisition program MSDA is used. MSDA displays the received data and stores it on hard disk. Graphical functions enable a convenient operation of the system.
Standard sensor equipment:
- Pressure transducer
- Temperature (PT100)
- Conductivity
- 2 x Shear
- Fast temperature sensor (NTC)
- Acceleration (vibrations) – intern
Additional sensors:
- Turbidity
- Oxygen
- pH
- Redox
- Fluorometer
- Tilt sensor (2axis)
Main features:
- up to 9 sensors + internal sensors
- non-corrosive titanium housing
- depth range up to 500 m (optional 1000 m)
- adjustable sinking or rising velocity
- 16 channels
- 1024 scans/s
- resolution 16 bit
- baudrate 614 kbit
- easy data acquisition and evaluation software