Picarro G2301m
The G2310m 'Flight Ready' gas analyser installed on the ECO-Dimona provides very high precision in-situ carbon dioxide and methane measurements, as well as a supplementary humidity measurement.
The G2301m Analyser is a 'flight ready' Cavity-Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) based analyser measuring CO2, CH4 and H2O.
Additional environmental control is required to maintain the analyser within its specified operating range of +10C to +35C throughout flight.
The environmental control system comprises a lightweight enclosure and thermostat controlled heaters and ventilation fans. In bench tests the system has demonstrated success in maintaining the system at operating temperatures at ambient temperatures between approximately -10C and +30C.
Note that outside of its specified range the analyser will harmlessly shut down or refuse to boot.
Time synchronisation is achieved via Network Time Protocol to GPS time.
The Picarro analyser runs the Windows XP operating system and does not provide built in GNSS position logging.
To synchronise the analyser's internal logs to GPS time, and hence to navigation data in post processing, the system clock is synchronised to the Central Services Module's network time sveerr via Network Time Protocol (NTP). This runs automatically in the background and requires no crew input, except to check for correct function before flight.
Accuracy of the NTP synchronisation should be in the order of +/- 16 ms.
Data is logged internally, on the MET System DLU computer and on the MET system CR3000 data-logger.
The principle data log is on the analyser itself. For additional monitoring and data redundancy the analyser also streams data over its COM port and this stream is logged on the MET-DLU computer as well as the MET-CR3 CR3000 datalogger. All logs are GPS time synchronised.
The analyser is monitored and controlled via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) through the Central Services Module's CDC computer and the main multi-function display.
Very little control is required as the analyser boots and starts logging automatically on power application. It is useful however to monitor the function and status of the analyser, and this is achieved by remote desktop from the Central Services Module's CDC computer and the main mutli-function display.
Pre-filled Tedlar bags are provided to allow up to approximately 12 minutes of calibration gas flow as standard.
Calibration gases may be drawn from two locations - the local pod, and the rear cabin. The local pod bags have capacity for approximately 12 minutes of run time; there is much more space in the rear cabin, so these can optionally be used for longer flights.
Calibrations can be configured to run only on crew command, or on a pre-programmed schedule. The state of the valves controlling the calibration sources (and intakes) are logged internally on the analyser.
The Picarro system is fully integrated in the ECO-Dimona's EF19B sensor package and not currently available for wider use.
It is a heavy system (~40kg all up) and not suitable for UAS use.
We have one G2301m analyser available.