Ref. No. [UMCES] CBL 2015-014
ACT VS15-07
15
RESULTS of LABORATORY TEST
Instruments were tested in an extensive 10 week long laboratory tests under tightly controlled
temperature and salinity conditions to examine measurement accuracy, precision, and reliability.
Temperature and salinity conditions were maintained within large 4.5 m
3
storage tanks and the
water was constantly circulating into the instrument test tank (0.75 m
3
) except during sampling
timepoints (Photo 1).
Photo 1.
A. The two main source water tanks ( 4.5 m
3
) used to maintain specific salinity and
temperature conditions for each trial of the laboratory test. Water was continuously circulated between
the source tank and the instrument testing tank in between sampling timepoints. B. Test instruments
being deployed in the test tank (750 L). Water was continuously circulated internally within the tank
during sampling events. The shown PVC pipe served as the sampling stream inlet and was diverted
directly into the laboratory for reference sample withdrawal. Water returns to the test tank at a bottom
opening below the sensors. C. Fully instrumented test tank with all company instruments, reference
thermistors, and reference pH electrodes. Foam blocks were floated on the surface to minimize
evaporation and help maintain temperature set points. D. Laboratory set-up for the dye-based
spectrophotometric analysis of pH. The diversion tube coming through the wall from the test tank was
used to draw off reference samples. A water bath was used to keep the cuvette cells at the test tank
temperature during filling.
A
B
C
D