VARIOS
Page 1: ...VARIOS...
Page 2: ...sturbed Soil Sample 9 2 4 2 Disturbed Soil Sample 12 2 5 Saturate Soil Sample 13 2 5 1 Undisturbed Soil Sample 13 2 5 2 Disturbed Soil Sample 16 2 6 Insert Sensor Needle Into Sample Material 18 2 6 1...
Page 3: ...OP Balance 42 3 2 4 Saturation Ring 42 3 2 5 Silicone Retaining Rings 42 3 2 6 USB A to USB B Adapter and Cable 42 3 2 7 Glycerin Verification Standard 42 3 2 8 Upper Adapter 42 3 2 9 Lower Adapter 42...
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Page 5: ...is option is most often used for the dryout process described in Section 2 3 1 The following items are included in the shipment VARIOS Thermal Properties Analyzer HYPROP Balance VARIOS ready with USB...
Page 6: ...ents listed below are available individually This allows for use of a custom soil sample container or measure thermal conductivity at specific water content points Contact Customer Support for more in...
Page 7: ...listed in Table 1 to set up the VARIOS standalone as well as VARIOS dryout Table 1 Installation Tools Needed Microsoft Windows computer Windows 10 or newer LABROS SoilView software LABROS SoilView An...
Page 8: ...more information regarding the lights and meanings 2 2 KEY FACTORS TO GET RELIABLE MEASUREMENTS Getting reliable results from VARIOS measurements is dependent upon the following factors Air gaps in t...
Page 9: ...on Set with an existing HYPROP Balance can be used for the VARIOS Thermal dryout configuration Follow the steps below to connect the VARIOS Complete Set Figure 2 1 Place the VARIOS ready HYPROP Balanc...
Page 10: ...t for thermal dryout configuration back view 2 3 1 2 CONNECT USING THE VARIOS EXTENSION SET When using an existing HYPROP Balance that is not VARIOS ready the Extension Set should be used The Extensio...
Page 11: ...measurement NOTE Make sure that the VARIOS connecting cable is not under any tension or touching anything that may influence the accurate weight data VARIOS VARIOS connecting cable HYPROP Balance HYPR...
Page 12: ...supply cable VARIOS VARIOS USB adapter VARIOS USB adapter USB cable Sensor Sensor cable Figure 4 VARIOS Standalone setup with USB adapter for taking thermal conductivity measurement 2 4 PREPARE SOIL...
Page 13: ...ngs but the limiting factor is the length of the sensor needle used as well as the maximum weight the Balance can weigh when using VARIOS thermal dryout set up The HYPROP Balance is able to weigh as m...
Page 14: ...ter available for 250 mL on the sample ring Figure 6 Soil Sample Ring Cutting Edge Soil Hammering Adapter Figure 6 METER soil hammering adapter placement 6 Pound on the METER hammering adapter using t...
Page 15: ...generously around the sample ring to avoid losing any sample material NOTE Always take additional replacement samples from the same site in case one is not suitable 9 Remove the soil around the sampl...
Page 16: ...e collected in order to completely fill the sample ring even when packing the soil into the sample ring The tools needed to collect a disturbed soil sample are listed below duct tape METER soil sample...
Page 17: ...ted below prior to saturating the soil sample Filter paper large Filter paper small LABROS Saturation plates 2 Weight Tray Tap water at room temperature 2 5 1 UNDISTURBED SOIL SAMPLE Follow the steps...
Page 18: ...in mL under the Information tab in the LABROS SoilView Analysis software Figure 10 This will affect the calculations that are based on the assumed 250 cm volume Figure 10 Volume correction in LABROS S...
Page 19: ...ay with about 3 cm of room temperature tap water 13 Tilt the LABROS saturation plate carefully to every side to remove air bubbles 14 It is important to let the sample saturate through capillary actio...
Page 20: ...aterial until the surface is flush planar with the top of the sample ring Cut a little bit at a time along the edge of the sample ring and be careful not to smudge the surface and close the pores Figu...
Page 21: ...ate and sample ring in a tray Figure 17 Saturation plate in water trough 10 Fill the tray with about 3 cm of room temperature tap water 11 Tilt the saturation plate carefully to every side to remove a...
Page 22: ...rt the sensor needle all the way into the sample material Figure 19 CAUTION Bending the needles can damage any sensor beyond repair If the needle becomes bent gently bend it back If a needle has been...
Page 23: ...rregular object such as a stone try to install it using the second drilling hole 8 Secure the sensor in place by positioning the retaining ring in the lower notch of the sensor hull Figure 19 Installa...
Page 24: ...luded for the TC S100 sensor 2 Clean the hole with a swab or compressed air 3 Put thermal grease into the hole before inserting the sensor needle 4 Ensure there are no air gaps around the sensor needl...
Page 25: ...LABROS SoilView and LABROS SoilView Analysis software respectively This method does not compare the thermal conductivity as it relates to water content 2 7 2 CONNECTING DEVICES TO A PC COMPUTER Connec...
Page 26: ...luded USB cable and turn the Balance on Figure 23 Bubble level VARIOS Weight calibration knob HYPROP Balance Legs with balance adjusters Figure 23 Balance leg adjusters and bubble level 2 7 3 2 CALIBR...
Page 27: ...pears on the display 9 Turn the blue calibration knob on the right side of the Balance to CAL VARIOS Weight calibration knob HYPROP Balance Figure 24 Weight calibration knob blue The internal weight w...
Page 28: ...n contains information that describes how to configure a soil sample measurement using the LABROS SoilView software Remove the measurement pan and place the VARIOS unit on the HYPROP Balance Place the...
Page 29: ...ware screen The LABROS SoilView software provides one example profile for each of the following VARIOS measurement types VARIOS continuous measurement mode Figure 26 VARIOS point by point measurement...
Page 30: ...26 Operation Figure 27 Example VARIOS point by point measurement profile Figure 28 Example VARIOS IEEE 442 2017 standard measurement profile...
Page 31: ...easurement profile follow the steps below 1 Press the New Profile button 2 Enter all necessary values 3 Press the Save Profile button to enter a profile name and store it Figure 30 The customized meas...
Page 32: ...needle 0 8 to 6 0 W m for a TC S100 needle in steps of 0 1 W m Number of Drift Samples Number of measurement phase samples recorded before the heating starts Temperature is sampled regularly based on...
Page 33: ...ing period During this time temperature gradients stabilize and are discarded for the thermal conductivity analysis because the temperature gradients and heater power at the beginning of the heating p...
Page 34: ...e automatically stops after the defined number of measurement readings are recorded and transferred to the software This measurement mode is recommended when single conductivity and weight values at d...
Page 35: ...w the Main menu toolbar 2 Trigger the Start Measurement Wizard in the drop down menu under the Extras menu in the Main menu Figure 35 Start measurement wizard Follow the progress of the measurement wh...
Page 36: ...n a measurement can be continued Section 2 7 6 Device VARIOS_PRO 000 The name of the VARIOS device used Measurement Profile Measurement profile used Section 2 7 4 1 Mode Measurement Interval Measure P...
Page 37: ...options and information listed in Table 6 and Table 7 Table 5 Measurement Tab Options First Row Heading Second Row Data Open in LABROS SoilView Analysis The measurement file can be opened in the evalu...
Page 38: ...ermal conductivity value Heating Power W m Specified heating power in W m Select a value between 1 3 to 10 3 W m for TC S70 and 0 8 to 6 0 W m for TC S100 in steps of 0 1 W m Temperature Drift mK s Te...
Page 39: ...and other logbook entries Show devices Shows when connecting more devices in a row to one computer LABROS SoilView software normally automatically shows all directly connected devices Offset recalibr...
Page 40: ...d when continuing a measurement as that will not adversely affect the data 2 7 7 POSTPROCESSING A MEASUREMENT The weight of the dry soil of the sample has to be determined after a VARIOS dryout measur...
Page 41: ...erates varios files These files can be opened using the LABROS SoilView Analysis software The LABROS SoilView Analysis software performs the following operations for VARIOS measurements Specify all re...
Page 42: ...e LABROS SoilView Analysis please read the LABROS SoilView Analysis User Manual 2 7 7 2 LED INDICATOR The status of the VARIOS is indicated by the LED light on the front of the VARIOS unit Table 10 Ta...
Page 43: ...curacy 5 Temperature Sensor Storage Drying Range 50 to 120 C Operation Range 40 to 85 C Resolution 0 01 C Accuracy 0 1 C Heater Current Range 20 200 mA Resolution 10 A Accuracy 0 05 Heater Power Range...
Page 44: ...h 19 4 mm 0 76 in Height 13 25 mm 0 52 in TC S100 Sensor Dimensions Length 144 0 mm 5 67 in Width 19 4 mm 0 76 in Height 13 25 mm 0 52 in HYPROP BALANCE SPECIFICATIONS Connection to Computer USB Weigh...
Page 45: ...hole that the needle fits snugly into using a drill bit or a pilot pin Section 2 6 2 The large diameter of the sensor needles makes them robust and less likely to be damaged in normal use in soil or...
Page 46: ...prevent movement during the duration of the test This prevents air gaps between the sensor and the soil 3 2 6 USB A TO USB B ADAPTER AND CABLE This cable will connect the VARIOS to a computer This com...
Page 47: ...oo small it is fragile and the contact resistance can be high in dry porous materials Large sensors require a long heating time altering the reading by driving water away from the sensor and causing f...
Page 48: ...s monitored for any user defined time to determine the temperature drift The start temperature and the drift are then subtracted from the measurements Current is then run through the heater for any us...
Page 49: ...l line heat source has no heat capacity while the real probe has significant heat capacity Another issue is the often significant thermal contact resistance between the probe and the medium in which i...
Page 50: ...d with the VARIOS sets is defined by 0 285 W m K at 25 C There are two verification adapters that must be used with the glycerin verification vial the lower adapter and the the upper adapter Glycerin...
Page 51: ...gure 45 Lower adapter on Glycerin vial 4 Place the upper adapter on top of the glycerin vial Figure 46 Glycerin vial Upper adapter Lower adapter Figure 46 Upper adapter on top of Glycerin vial 5 Inser...
Page 52: ...tely and no air bubbles are produced near the sensor Glycerin vial Upper adapter Lower adapter Sensor Figure 48 Glycerin file with sensor inserted 8 Open the LABROS SoilView software 9 Verify that the...
Page 53: ...NOTE After repeated use the septum may begin to leak To replace simply remove the cap press the old septum out and replace with a new one 4 2 CLEANING The stainless steel needles can be cleaned with...
Page 54: ...a verification test is performed Section 4 1 During the verification procedure look for signs that may indicate a problem with the sensor heating properly The following verification results may indica...
Page 55: ...ay 8 00 to 17 00 Central European time Email support europe metergroup com sales europe metergroup com Phone 49 89 12 66 52 0 Fax 49 89 12 66 52 20 Website metergroup de If contacting METER by email p...
Page 56: ...r analysis of the heat pulse method for measuring soil volumetric heat capacity Horwath W editor Soil Science 57 6 1444 1451 doi https doi org 10 2136 sssaj1993 03615995005700060008x Klute A 1986 Meth...
Page 57: ...iew software continuing measurement 36 Main menu toolbar 35 36 Manager tab 32 Measurement tab 33 measurement modes 29 measurement profile 25 LED indicator 38 light See LED Indicator M maintenance See...
Page 58: ...software See LABROS SoilView software See LABROS SoilView Analysis software software download 3 specifications 39 start a measurement See Measurement stop a measurement See Measurement support See Cu...
Page 59: ...s Court Pullman WA 99163 T 1 509 332 2756 F 1 509 332 5158 E info metergroup com W metergroup com METER Group AG Mettlacher Stra e 8 81379 M nchen T 49 89 1266520 F 49 89 12665220 E info europe meterg...
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