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Security of water assets is becoming an increasingly major issue that demands immediate and robust alarms for potential contamination. In addition to this, natural growth of algae is an increasingly common problem for water asset managers, the results of which can increase maintenance costs of water processing plants as well as directly effecting water taste.
Data obtained from the Chelsea Technologies Group FastGuard can address both these issues within the one sensor. By probing the efficiency of photosynthesis of the algae, signals can be obtained that directly relate to growth potential and also provide indications of damage to the algae by contaminants effecting the photosynthetic process. The Fast Repetition Rate fluorometry (FRRf) technique used allows accurate measurements to be made even whilst the sample is moving past the sensor head. Early warning of algae growth, potentially resulting in a bloom, allows the asset manager to assess options on how to minimise subsequent impact to a processing plant.
Parameters provided are listed below, which provide detailed information on the physiological state of algae within the water. This data is analysed in real time via the FastPro software which provides a single alarm for water contamination detected. Further alarms can be set for rapid increases of the following parameters, providing alarms in situations of rapid algae growth.
A full range of fluorescence parameters is calculated in real time, including:
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Fo
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('origin' of variable fluorescence in the dark-adapted state) |
Fm
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(maximum fluorescence in the dark-adapted state) |
Fv/Fm
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(maximum PS II photochemical efficiency) |
σPSII
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(absorption cross section of PS II photochemistry) |
p
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(connectivity parameter) |
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(chlorophyll concentration) |
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If an ST measurement includes a relaxation phase, the following additional parameters are calculated in real time: |
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tf
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(time constant for PS II centre re-opening) |
Fa
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(fluorescence at the asymptote of the relaxation phase) |
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| The FastGuard fluorometer enables users to interrogate different algal groups including diatoms, cyanbacteria and green algae. |
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