*Adapted from ‘Guaranteeing Yields’ from Delphin Technology.

Delphin Technology provided The Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (LIVO) with a custom data acquisition system for use in agricultural soil testing and mapping soil conditions in agricultural fields. The measurement system has been developed as part of the institute’s research aimed at establishing a scientific basis for efficient horticulture methods in sustainable farming.

Seventy-five years ago, Germany divided its agricultural land into 50 × 50-meter plots. Then soil samples were taken, analyzed and the data mapped. Today, farmers rely on this information to help guide their activities. However, modern measurement techniques now exist to deliver more accurate information which enables farmers to treat the land in a way that ensures a more ecologically friendly and efficient agriculture according to Dr. Jörg Rühlmann, of the institute.

Dr. Rühlmann explains: “Truly efficient farming needs to not only match local conditions but also has to take into account the variable properties within the soil across each section of land. This allows us to optimize the use of fertilizers, irrigation systems, sowing methods, and tillage depths.”

Seeing Beneath the Soil

Test fields are surrounded by a lush expanse of meadows, crops, and woodlands just south of Berlin where a mobile, rolling system of electrodes patrols beneath the soil to measure conductivity. This innovative measurement system is named “Geophilus Electricus” after a species of centipede, like its namesake the system is shaped similarly and is able to ‘see’ into the soil.

The Geophilus Electricus sensor array is designed to measure bulk resistivity in the soil where variations in texture, water content, grain size, salt content, temperature, and stratification determine electrical characteristics such as amplitude and phase.  This is a joint project between the Leibniz Institute, Potsdam University, and Delphin Technology.

“Geophilus enables us to map soil variations over small areas and to optimize the use of fertilizers, water, seeds, and fuel,” says Dr. Rühlmann. Six pairs of rolling metal electrodes mounted in a row are electrically isolated from one another to form the sensor. The first pair feeds current into the soil and the remaining five measure potential voltages in the soil at five different depths. The greater the distance between the feed and the potential electrode, the deeper the view into the soil. Currently, the system can be deployed to a depth of 2 meters.

The team needed hardware and software for agricultural soil measurements and 3D maps. They chose Delphin Technology for data logging because they are a leading supplier in Germany and offer flexible development services. Dr. Rühlmann explained that their systems are based on standard equipment, not specialized components. The Delphin Expert Logger device and ProfiSignal Software were chosen for use in this application. “The hardware, firmware, and software interfaces can be varied according to our needs and therefore adapted to exactly what we want, including personalized documentation of data and results,” said the project leader. Ongoing technical developments can be integrated including those to the Geophilus sensor array, “A major benefit of the system is it’s expandable because additional sensors are easy to integrate into the measurement system.”

The system must be robust and resistant to weather, and shocks, capable of independent operation, and able to transmit data via WLAN. Furthermore, the system must be able to acquire and record GPS data and other measurement data from the specific measuring points. All while being as compact as possible.

Another important factor was measurement speed. Results need to be observable while recording is taking place, and fast mapping is also necessary. The Delphin system also provides an export function to Google Earth, enabling a convenient way for users to visualize the data.

Single Mapping for Multiple Gains

Agricultural soil mapping only needs to take place once to improve yields. Farmers then benefit year after year because they no longer have to farm a field as one unit but are working the land according to management zones. Zones are individually farmed by loading the maps into the on-board computers in farming equipment where GPS connectivity is established. Dr. Rühlmann sums up the premise; “Precision farming means achieving an optimal compromise between high quality and quantity yields, minimal environmental contamination, sustainability, and profit.”

The project has already successfully completed an initial test phase as 1000 hectares of arable land in Trebbin, Germany have undergone detailed mapping. The farmer who owns the land is now using the data to optimize fertilization and irrigation of the fields. Agricultural advisory boards can also benefit from these developments as maps from Geophilus Electricus can be used to generate models that calculate recommended fertilizing quantities.

Potential Uses

Agriculture is the most obvious area to benefit from mapping soil variations so optimized fertilizing, sowing, tilling, and irrigation standards are then achievable. Agricultural research institutions can use the mappings when evaluating field trials, re-cultivation of former slag heaps from open-cast mining, construction site surveys, and landfill sealing to name a few.

Dr. Rühlmann notes: “To do the kind of high-resolution mapping needed here just requires miniaturized rolling electrodes and a slow-moving vehicle – the Delphin TopMessage system can remain virtually as is.” Mapping can also benefit golf and sports field management by optimizing its fertilizing, irrigation, and drainage systems.

For more information on Delphin Data Acquisition Systems, agricultural soil testing or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS Data Logger Applications Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or request more information.

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CAS DataLoggers Engineer Terry Nagy worked on a uniquely challenging data acquisition application a few years ago which highlights the usefulness of Delphin data loggers, in this case it performs a fault diagnosis test on a CT scanner. A medical equipment manufacturer had a customer in a hospital that was experiencing problems with a CT scan machine. The machine would reset in the middle of the procedure, which cost significant time as patients often had to be scanned again. The hospital’s other models from the same source were all functioning properly so the staff wanted to return this faulty scanner to the manufacturer. The manufacturer suspected nothing was actually wrong with it. Terry explains, “A given manufacturer can build a hundred of these and one will act weird for seemingly no reason–that’s just how it is. The cause isn’t always clear since there are multiple processors and interconnected systems on this single piece of equipment.”

Installation

CAS DataLoggers supplied the manufacturer with a Delphin LogMessage 5000 Data Acquisition System which was mounted onto the machine’s rotating scanner.
Delphin LogMessage devices are specifically designed as universal data loggers, performing data acquisition using 8 differential analog inputs recording mV, mA, and thermocouple signals, with galvanic isolation of up to 100 VDC to minimize signal noise. The data logger also utilizes 28 high-precision digital inputs with 2 counters for frequency measurements. The Delphin LogMessage system works completely independently as a data logger for acquiring, monitoring, computing and storing
measurement data, performing scaling immediately according to the required measurement unit.

Usage

After connecting the Delphin to various circuit boards, Terry began recording the machine’s power supply voltage. The LogMessage captured this data at 10,000 points per second for each of the connected inputs. The system enables users to send their data online to a PC using the LogMessage LAN interface which is galvanically isolated up to 100VDC along with its power supply and all other interfaces. As with all models in the LogMessage series, the LM5000 system includes serial interfaces, an Ethernet interface, and up to 16 GB of local memory.

After connecting the Delphin to various circuit boards, Terry began recording the machine’s power supply voltage. The LogMessage captured this data at 10,000 points per second for each of the connected inputs. The system enables users to send their data online to a PC using the LogMessage LAN interface which is galvanically isolated up to 100VDC along with its power supply and all other interfaces. As with all models in the LogMessage series, the LM5000 system includes serial interfaces, an Ethernet interface, and up to 16 GB of local memory.

Professional ProfiSignal Go PC software is used with the LogMessage for measurement analysis of any type of data and online/ offline monitoring and analysis. Only three steps are required to display measurement data as trends/diagrams, to analyze the data, and to evaluate offline data. Data organization and accessibility is simple by exporting as a CSV-file.

After recording data from the fault diagnosis test for about a week, Terry and the manufacturer looked at the collected data and found that one of the connectors on the power supply had a bad crimp on one of the pins. The connection was normally stable but when the machine was in operation, vibration caused the connection to break for a fraction of a second, which reset the machine. In other words, good news–it was an easy fix.

Benefits

The data logger helped the manufacturer to identify the equipment’s fault quickly and cost-effectively, avoiding the need to scrap a very expensive piece of equipment. In similar fashion, our Delphin DAQ systems are often used in a wide variety of industrial applications such as tests and test stand automation, capturing pressure spikes and other high-speed sampling tasks, PC-independent machine monitoring, fault detection and isolation and temperature data acquisition. Using the software, these advanced systems can be configured to function with any type of sensor. For example, the system’s 8 analog inputs are separately configurable and usable with all thermocouple types for precise temperature measurements. Users can also use a 4-wire connection to connect Pt100 and Pt1000 sensors directly to the LogMessage device for extremely accurate temperature monitoring.

For further information on the Delphin LogMessage 5000 Data Acquisition System, fault diagnosis tests, or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS Data Logger Application Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or request more information.

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Measurement Data Acquisition Used in Developing New Laundry Detergent

In 1907 German manufacturer Henkel developed Persil, the first automatic washing powder, which made clothes washing much easier. Clothes washing went on to become even simpler and environmentally friendlier. Households began to wash with machines rather than by hand, and enzymes and tensides became common ingredients in modern washing powders. In this apps note, learn how a Delphin system streamlines their detergent quality test to ensure product quality.

Henkel continues to develop its detergents, with brands including Persil, Spee, Weißer Riese, Perwoll, Sil, Dato and Terra. Every new product that Henkel develops requires extensive testing, whether for powder or liquid detergent. To perform these tests and ensure product quality, the company has now replaced its old data recorders with Delphin measurement data acquisition systems. These systems continuously record water temperatures and washing machine consumption.

Quality Assurance Trials

Henkel uses two different types of trials to test new detergents: Greying trials and Wear & Wash trials. In fact, Henkel’s own employees are actively involved in the wear & wash trials: they take home socks, shirts and towels to wear around the house and then bring them back to work to be washed. Finally, they complete a short questionnaire to document the type of stains the clothing contains. Trials generally run for a period of 15 to 25 weeks. Henkel values this type of trial because it shows how clothes become stained and soiled in the household.

To compare these trials, Henkel’s product development teams perform washing procedures under conditions held constant with minimal deviations. Using this data they can then produce meaningful and precise statistical analyses. To maintain these consistent washing conditions, Henkel has equipped its machines with water meters and PT100 temperature sensors. This sensor array enables the team to monitor and record both temperature and water consumption. Water levels in the machines can also be adjusted when required.

From Basic Recorders to Fully-Functioning Systems

Before April 2011, Henkel had relied on simple multi-channel recorders to acquire data and monitor its detergent quality test. However, these often failed and proved to be highly unreliable. The company therefore decided to look at alternatives. Henkel was already using Delphin products to test dishwasher detergents and had been entirely satisfied with the way they performed. At the time, Wolfgang Wick and Mario Zeibig, technicians at Henkel, were attending a training course at Delphin–a specialist in the field of measurement technology. It occurred to them that their tests could benefit from a compact computer system to digitally acquire and store test data.

Henkel decided that the ideal device for this was the Delphin Expert Key Data Acquisition System. This model seemed perfect for Henkel’s needs – it was flexible and could be implemented very quickly. The benefits of a PC-supported acquisition system include continuous data recording and the ability to both visualize and analyze the data. Previously, technicians and developers had to use paper recordings of temperature and consumption–now they have a system giving them an immediate overview of the data.

Continual Test Monitoring

In the test area, seven washing machines are placed in a row, with another seven backings onto them. The 14 machines are then taken as one unit and referred to as a bridge. Each bridge uses 2 Expert Key devices which share a pivoting monitor. This test application uses the 200 L version of the Delphin Expert Key. L-model
systems are ideal for laboratory applications because of their universal design. The Type 200 has 28 universal inputs and is intended primarily for analog data acquisition. The Type 100 has a combination of analog and digital inputs and outputs.

For the washing detergent trials, the Delphin devices are equipped with Pt100 RTD sensors and water meters that monitor consumption via a voltage signal. Each washing machine requires one temperature sensor and one water meter, i.e. each Expert Key device is connected to 14 sensors. If required, the devices can also accommodate mA and mV signals or thermocouples as input signals. The signals are easily attached to the sides of the device via plug-in screw terminals that have space for up to 2.5 mm, 2- diameter signal cables. The devices also have full potential isolation.

Data Acquisition Software

Since lab workers load the machines and start the tests, they first needed to become familiar with the new system. Henkel needed to have a device that is easy to operate, with a clear and simple layout that employees could quickly learn to use themselves. All these requirements were met by Delphin ProfiSignal measurement and automation software. Delphin Expert Key devices are delivered with the ProfiSignal Go version of the software which enables channels to be configured, analysis of measurement data and the production of offline trends. However, Henkel opted for an upgraded version of the software: ProfiSignal Klicks, which also enables users to input test parameters. Delphin programmed the entire test system. Björn Kassner, Sales Manager at Delphin, designed the code to be easily adaptable to the other bridges.

The first detergent quality testing runs revealed the benefits of a PC-supported data acquisition system using ProfiSignal Klicks. Tests can now be performed on individual machines, and up to four tests can run in parallel. Water temperatures and consumption rates are continuously monitored and recorded. When the lab carries out rotational tests (i.e. first washing with Persil Gold, then with Persil Sensitive, and so on), a single trend report can be generated even when the same washing has been washed in different machines. Test results are stored locally and can be exported if required.

Lab personnel quickly saw the functionality and flexibility of the new system for themselves. For example, they wanted color coding and they quickly got it: in ProfiSignal, machines in operation are now colored red, green, blue or yellow depending on the type of test run, while machines currently not in operation are colored gray.

Successful Implementation

To date, Henkel has installed ten Delphin Expert Key systems in its development department. Lab personnel and developers alike are impressed with the software’s user-friendly interface, and the software is easily adaptable to other bridge systems. Test evaluation is carried out with digitalized data in report form. With this test setup, Henkel can now concentrate on the ongoing development of their detergents, which include products with Re-New effects to regenerate clothing fibers.

For more information on the Delphin Expert Key System, monitoring a detergent quality test or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS DataLogger Application Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or request more information.

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Gas turbine efficiency is critical to a facility’s productivity. A global manufacturer of gas turbines uses Delphin Expert Vibro Data Acquisition & Control Systems for machine vibration analysis of data collected within turbine combustion chambers. Continual monitoring is required not only of conventional vibration data from bearings and shafts but also of dynamic pressure vibrations.

The burning of gas, oil or fuel produces dynamic pressure vibration within combustion chambers and exhaust systems, which is called ‘humming.’ The vibration frequency depends on the particular machine geometry and process parameters. Humming is measured by high-temperature pressure sensors. The pressure vibration data contains information that is relevant to machine performance and parts wear, often indicating problems such as damage or erosion which could eventually lead to a process shutdown.

Installation

The Expert Vibro is easy to integrate with distributed control systems (DCS) by using ProfiBus or Modbus communication standards. Its compact size allows users to easily install the device in a control cabinet or enclosure, and features 8 or 16 synchronous analog inputs for connection to various sensors such as Eddy current, Acceleration, Velocity or mV/mA signals (pressure, etc).

The Expert Vibro samples at high speed (rates of up to 50kHz per channel) and all channels have galvanic isolation.

The Expert Vibro also features 4 analog and 8 digital outputs for control functionality as well as 4 digital inputs. Delphin has integrated comparators for Keyphasor® sensors enabling flexible triggering, and 24-bit ADC converters allow for high-precision measurements. For added convenience, users can check measurement data and configuration on the touchscreen display.
In this application, three high-temperature-resistant pressure sensors are installed within the turbine combustion chamber and connected to the Expert Vibro which is in a protective cabinet near the test area. These sensors provide dynamic pressure vibrations which are then recorded by the Delphin Expert Vibro device onto its internal 32 GB/1 billion point memory.

Vibration Monitoring Benefits

Now, due to the machine vibration analysis by the Expert Vibro, the turbine manufacturer receives alarm indications whenever their gas turbine bearings and shafts are at risk of damage. Without needing a host PC, the independent Delphin Expert Vibro system also monitors, measures and records the combustion chamber vibration data in real time. Vibration and process data can be viewed in this single system with fully-compatible hardware and software, unlike many other vibration monitoring systems at a higher cost.

The ProfiSignal Vibro software option lets users monitor and analyze the turbine vibration data and visualize the data using FFT (TRMS), cascade, time-signal and orbit diagrams. The Delphin can also be integrated into control systems via Profibus-DP or digital outputs.

Compact and cost-effective, the Delphin system is ideal for many different vibration monitoring applications including turbine shaft vibration, electric motor bearing vibration, and many more. As North American master distributor for Delphin, CAS DataLoggers can supply you with these types of cutting-edge data acquisition systems for any application.

Advanced Software for Visualization Calculations

Delphin’s advanced Profisignal Software is available in three performance levels and is suitable for simple real-time viewing of data or much more advanced, real-time calculations necessary for condition monitoring applications. While it features sophisticated processing and calculations, it is user-friendly and easy to configure. With built in MODbus and Profibus communication protocols, there also exists options for OPC client and server connections to simplify integration with existing distributed control systems.

For further information on the Delphin Expert Vibro, machine vibration analysis or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS DataLogger Application Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or request more information.

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