Ref. No. [UMCES]CBL 2013-015
ACT VS12-02
hydrocarbons, Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) (emission 455 +/- 27.5 nm), and
Tryptophan (a surrogate marker for Biological Oxygen Demand and bacterial contamination in
waste, recycled and natural water supplies). The UviLux can be deployed in a wide range of
coastal, oceanographic and fresh water applications.
The UviLux has an acetal C resin housing (70mm diameter x 149mm), rated to 600
meters, suitable for deploying independently as well as from submersible vehicles, moored or
profiling systems. It utilizes a novel UV LED light source (excitation 255 nm) and a miniature 8-
stage photomultiplier coupled to a low noise preamp, which combined with phase sensitive
detection, provides highly sensitive measurement capabilities. The sophisticated electronic signal
processing, combined with cowl design enables the UviLux to operate successfully in high levels
of ambient light. There is no requirement to pump sample through a dark measurement chamber,
thus obviating the need for water flow corrections or the cost, inconvenience and power drain of
a pump.
The UviLux can be supplied with either recessed or flush windows depending upon the
required application and a flow through manifold is available for deck and laboratory use. Ease
of use and installation is further enhanced by the provision of galvanic isolation between the
power and signal 0V rails, thereby avoiding the possibility of ‘ground loops’. The highly
efficient, proprietary, d.c. converter can also handle an unusually wide supply voltage range of
9V to 36V without significant change to the power consumption of 1.3W.
Two signals can be obtained from the standard UviLux: the first is a digital RS232 output
in engineering units, the second a 0V to 5V volt calibrated analogue output derived from the
digital signal. Single RS422 and SDI-12 outputs are also available as options. This flexibility
makes the UviLux suitable for integrating into many different systems and platforms. The
standard measuring range is 0 to 10 µg/l with a resolution of 0.02 µg/l. The UviLux-HC is
supplied with a calibration against Carbazole and the UviLux-CDOM with a calibration against
Perylene.
A Windows based Graphical User Interface (GUI) is provided that allows the user to both
plot and record time stamped data when operating the UviLux directly from a PC and gives
control over many instrument parameters, including: sampling rate, detector sensitivity, and
calibration factors.
SUMMARY of VERIFICATION PROTOCOLS
The protocols used for this performance verification were developed in conference with
ACT personnel, the participating instrument manufacturers and a technical advisory committee.
The protocols were refined through direct discussions between all parties during a Hydrocarbon
Sensor Performance Verification Protocol Workshop held on 2-4 February, 2011 in Moss
Landing, CA. All ACT personnel involved in this Verification were trained on use of
instruments by manufacturer representatives and on standardized water sampling, storage,
analysis and shipping methods during a training workshop held on 18-20 May 2011 in Moss
Landing, CA. The manufacturer representative and the ACT Chief Scientist verified that all staff
were trained in both instrument and sample collection protocols.
This performance verification report presents instrument output voltage, relative
florescence units or derived hydrocarbon values reported over time, position, or depth as directly
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