RAE Systems Systems AreaRAE Inert User Presentation October 2009 www.raesystems.com
AGENDA Overview & Features Basic Operation Turning the AreaRAE Inert monitor ON Warnings NORMAL & INERT Mode Displays Fault Alarms Daily Procedures Gas Alarms User Modes
Overview AreaRAE Inert can operate in two modes Standard AreaRAE (NORMAL Mode) AreaRAE Inert (INERT Mode) Specifically designed for use in low-oxygen (inert) environments Three major differences from the NORMAL mode LEL sensor is disabled PID sensor readings converted to % LEL Octane equivalents default Custom default sensor alarm settings
AreaRAE Inert Monitor Features 5 internal sensors Photoionization Detector (PID) O 2, LEL 2 Toxics Optional GPS Built-In 902-928 MHz RAELink modem Frequency hopping, spread spectrum Up to 2 miles / 3.2 kilometers
AreaRAE Inert Monitor Sensors Oxygen: 0-30% Combustibles: 0-100% of LEL Disabled in INERT mode Toxic sensors: CO, H 2 S, SO 2, NO, NO 2, Cl 2, HCN, NH 3, PH 3, HF, HCl VOC monitor: 0-2000 PPM in NORMAL mode 0.1%-19.9% LEL in INERT mode - (0.02%) resolution
AreaRAE Inert Monitor Features Large LED display and alarm light Loud 110dB buzzer (10cm) can be muted Strong 500 cc/min Sampling pump 4-Way power Li-Ion rechargeable battery Alkaline battery 120 / 240 VAC 12 VDC Intrinsically safe Class I, Division II, Groups A, B, C, D
AreaRAE Inert Monitor Features Long Run time: 18 hrs w/li-ion, 9 hrs with Alkaline *Continuous operation via AC power Rugged Housing: IP53 for water and dust resistant Withstands 1 meter drop Size: 9.25" L x 5.0" W x 9.25" D Weight: 8.5 lb. with battery pack Temperature Range -4oF to 113oF -20oC to 45oC *If the application hazardous area certification regulations allow it, the detector can run continuously using AC power
AreaRAE Inert Monitor Pump Makes remote sampling easy Sample draw up to 100 feet! Always use external filter for added protection Pump stall feature: When moisture is detected or when pump is blocked the pump will shut off ~300cc/min at Low flow, ~550cc/min at High flow Only use Teflon tubing
AreaRAE Inert Start-up: Turning On Hold MODE Key to turn on (alarm will beep once) Watch display screen for messages such as: Sensors installed & their warranty expiration Alarm limits Last calibration date User/Alarm/Datalog modes *Warm-up will take approximately 90 seconds
AreaRAE Inert Start-up: Warnings TOX1 VOC TOX2 Incorrect Year LEL Check Clock!!! OXY If this screen appears during the start-up just acknowledge it with the Y key and follow the procedure for setting the clock. The battery has gone dead and the AreaRAE has detected a mismatch between the date code on the sensors and its internal clock.
AreaRAE Inert Start-up: Warnings TOX1 VOC TOX2 O2 Installed LEL Warranty Expired OXY This is a warning screen. As long as the sensor calibrates properly it is valid to continue using it. Acknowledge by pressing the Y key to continue warm-up. For maximum AreaRAE availability, RAE Systems recommends replacing sensors at the end of their warranty period
Start-up NORMAL Mode After 90 seconds warm-up, the AreaRAE should display all sensors installed If there is no alarm, and the sensor readings are in the range shown above, then the AreaRAE is ready for use
Start-up INERT Mode If the detector was shut off in INERT mode, the unit will start up in INERT mode LEL display is replaced with INRT CO display is replaced with COH2 VOC display changed from ppm to %LEL Resolution of 3 decimal places instead of 1 NOTE: When the AreaRAE Inert is turned on while in INERT mode, and its alarm is sounding, it is likely that the normal oxygen level of 20.9% in fresh air is causing this.
Switching Operation Modes Menu options allow switching between NORMAL & INERT mode -Press MODE to scroll through menu options NOTE: Unit will always start up in the mode it was in when shut down
Wireless Mode Display A small radio antenna displayed in the left center of the AreaRAE screen indicates that the wireless link is established
GPS Mode Display A small satellite displayed in the left center of the AreaRAE screen indicates that the GPS is communicating. A minimum of 3 satellites is needed for good signal The display will show a max of 4 satellites GPS on but no satellite signal =
Datalog Mode Display A small L is displayed in the left center of the AreaRAE screen indicates datalogging Will datalog 20,000 points (64 hrs, 5 channels, 1 min interval) User can choose one of 4 datalog modes (Manual, Automatic, Periodic & Scheduled in ProRAE Suite)
AreaRAE Inert Start-up: Lamp Alarm Lamp display along with audible alarm indicates that PID lamp has failed to light Press Y/+ key to clear alarm, if it clears AreaRAE is ready for use If alarm does not clear, wait a few minutes and check again
AreaRAE Inert Start-up: Lamp Alarm If after a few minutes the Lamp message remains, turn off AreaRAE and restart If after restart Lamp message disappears, AreaRAE is ready for use If after restart Lamp message remains, the PID Lamp needs service
AreaRAE Alarms: Pump Pump display along with 3 beep audible alarm indicates that pump has stopped due to line clog Pump alarm is a latching alarm Clear line/filter and press Y/+ key to clear alarm and restart pump
AreaRAE Alarms: Low Battery A flashing Bat display along with a 1 beep alarm every 10 seconds indicates that the battery voltage has dropped below 6.2 V and it will shut down in 20-30 minutes Quickly complete confined space entry and charge AreaRAE or install alkaline battery
AreaRAE Inert Start-up: Pump Check Every time the AreaRAE Inert is used it is important to check pump flow: Block the filter on the pump inlet Reset pump alarm by pressing the Y key If pump does not go into alarm, check for loose/cracked filter or service pump
AreaRAE Inert Start-up: Bump Test Periodic functional testing of the sensors by doing a bump test is recommended Defined as a brief exposure of the monitor to the calibration gas and the sensors to show response and trigger the lowest alarm set point for each sensor The monitor should be calibrated if it does not pass a bump test, but no less than every 6 months, depending on use and exposure to gas and contamination Always operate monitor with external filter It is recommended to keep the units on charge when not in use
AreaRAE Inert Alarm Signals The AreaRAE will provide audible and visual alarms to alert users to unsafe states It is extremely important to note that during the following conditions the alarm signals are disabled: When entering the Communicate with PC? standby mode. When entering the Calibrate Monitor menu When viewing data in the View or Change Datalog? menu
AreaRAE Inert Alarms: High AreaRAE Inert unit operating in NORMAL mode with VOC High Alarm of 102 ppm High display along with 3 beat/second audible/visible alarm and flashing display backlight indicates that the high alarm has exceeded VOC sensor (PID) has high alarm setpoint of 100 ppm default in Normal mode Press Y/+ key to clear if latching alarm
AreaRAE Inert Alarms: Low Low display along with 2 beat/second audible/visual alarm and flashing display backlight indicates that Oxygen sensor has gone into low alarm All other sensors, Low alarm indicates the first warning Press Y/+ key to clear if latching alarm
AreaRAE Alarms: STEL & TWA Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) & Time Weighted Average (TWA) alarms are available for toxic sensors and for PID in NORMAL operation mode If either alarm is exceeded, STEL or TWA is indicated for sensor in alarm, along with a 1 beat/second audible/visual alarm STEL alarm will only clear after 15 minutes in clean air or the AreaRAE is turned off! TWA alarm will only clear after moving to clean air and then turning off the AreaRAE
INERT Mode Alarm Levels LOW HIGH STEL TWA CO 35 ppm 200 ppm 100 ppm 35 ppm H2S 10 ppm 25 ppm 15 ppm 10 ppm LEL NA NA NA NA O2 0.5 % 5 % NA NA PID* 1000 ppm = 10% LEL 1500 ppm = 15% LEL NA NA *Octane equivalents
NORMAL Mode Alarm Levels LOW HIGH STEL TWA CO 35 ppm 200 ppm 100 ppm 35 ppm H2S 10 ppm 25 ppm 15 ppm 10 ppm LEL 10 ppm 20 ppm NA NA O2 19.5 % 23.5 % NA NA PID 50 ppm 100 ppm 25 ppm 10 ppm
Alarms: LEL OFF When operating AreaRAE Inert in NORMAL mode: OFF display along with a 3 beat/second audible/visual alarm indicates that LEL sensor has been exposed to too much gas and has shut off to protect the sensor. Move the meter to clean air and press the Y key to reset.
Alarms: NEG NEG display along with a 1 beat/second audible/visual alarm indicates that a sensor has drifted negative (below zero) because the sensor was zeroed in an area containing gas. Perform Fresh Air Calibration in an area clear of all gases.
3 User Modes Normal Mode has different privilege levels or User Modes Program Mode: 11 screens for most advanced users Display Mode: 7 screens and has password to get into programming (default mode) Text Mode: 3 screens and has password to get into programming
Comparison of User Modes Program (11) Sensor ID Enter Inert Atmosphere? PEAK MIN STEL TWA Battery Time/Date/Temp Start Datalog* LEL Gas VOC Gas Disable GPS? PC Comm Display (7) Sensor ID Enter Inert Atmosphere? PEAK MIN STEL TWA Battery PC Comm Text (3) Sensor ID w/ok Enter Inert Atmosphere? Battery PC Comm * Will not show if no datalogging option or auto datalogging
Instantaneous Reading (Main Display) AreaRAE will return to this screen in 60 seconds if left in any subsequent screen This screen alternates between the instantaneous reading and the sensor name approximately every 3 seconds Tap MODE key to proceed to next screen
Switching Operation Modes Allow switching between NORMAL & INERT modes Press Y or N key to enter or skip option Tap MODE key to proceed to next screen NOTE: Unit will always start up in the mode it was in when shut down
Peak Reading Display This screen is deleted in Text Mode Holds Highest reading since AreaRAE was turned on Press Y key to clear peak/min Screen will prompt: Are you sure? Press Y to confirm peak clearing Tap MODE key to proceed to next screen
Minimum Reading Display This screen is deleted in Text Mode Holds Lowest reading since AreaRAE was turned on Tap MODE key to proceed to next screen
STEL Display This screen is deleted in Text Mode Short Term Exposure Limit (average for the past 15 minutes) Displays *** until AreaRAE has been on for 15 minutes STEL only is calculated for VOC (NORMAL mode only) Toxic sensors STEL alarm beeps once a second Tap MODE key to proceed
TWA Display This screen is deleted in Text Mode Time Weighted Average is the accumulated reading of gas concentration divided by 8 hours since the AreaRAE was turned on TWA only is calculated for VOC & toxics TWA alarm beeps once per second Tap MODE key to proceed to next screen
Battery Voltage Display This screen is deleted in Text Mode AreaRAE shuts down when battery voltage drops below 6.2 volts Normal Full Charge is over 7.6 volts Tap MODE key to proceed to next screen
Date/Time/Run Time/Temp. Display This screen is deleted in Display & Text Mode Date, Time of day Accumulated time in hours and minutes since the AreaRAE was turned on Temperature in Centigrade or Fahrenheit (operating range from -20-45oC, -4-113oF) Tap MODE key to proceed
Datalog Mode Display This screen is deleted in Display & Text Mode Manual: logs if Y/+ key is pushed now Automatic: this screen is deleted and it logs data when as soon as the AreaRAE on Scheduled: logs data at a preset time Will datalog 20,000 points (64 hrs of data) Entering programming pauses datalogging NOTE: this datalogging is independent of the data logged on host controller PC
LEL Units Display This screen is deleted in Display & Text Mode Target Gas for LEL displayed here (AreaRAE is currently measuring LEL in units of methane) Correction Factor can only be changed in programming mode Tap MODE key to proceed to next screen
VOC Units Display This screen is deleted in Display & Text Mode Target Gas VOC is displayed here (AreaRAE is currently measuring VOC in units of isobutylene) Correction Factor can only be changed in programming mode Tap MODE key to proceed to next screen
Communicate with PC Display If Y/+ key is pushed then AreaRAE will display Monitor will Pause. OK? If Y/+ key is pushed again the AreaRAE will display Ready... until it receives a signal from the computer or the MODE key is pressed. Tap MODE key to proceed
Communicate with PC Display When the AreaRAE is in this communication standby mode it stops monitoring gas concentrations and stops datalogging. Datalogging must be manually restarted when exiting unless automatic datalogging is in use.
AreaRAE: Power Off Hold Mode Key for full 5 seconds Audible alarm will beep and display will read Power-down in...5 seconds Plug 15V DC charger into AreaRAE charge port when not in use