98RK, Rackmount Chassis for Intelligent Pressure Scanners

The enhanced Model 98RK-1 rack utilizes a high performance switch enabling the 9816 scanners to communicate with the host computer via an auto-negotiating 10/100/1G Base T Ethernet interface. The rack also provides power and pneumatic connections for up to eight internally-housed 9816 scanners. Additionally, the 98RK-1 can provide power and communication for up to three external NetScanner System components such as PSI’s Model 9022 for all-media pressure measurements or Model 9032 for high-accuracy barometric or reference pressure measurements.

Model 9816 scanners integrate 16 silicon piezoresistive pressure sensors of any pressure range with a microprocessor. Each field-replaceable pressure sensor incorporates a temperature sensor and an integral EEPROM for storage of personalized calibration data as well as sensor information such as serial number, pressure range, factory calibration date, and user-managed last or next calibration date. Integrating the EEPROM within the sensor enables simplified field replacement of sensors with automatic uploading of sensor data during power up.

The microprocessor uses the sensor data to correct for zero, span, linearity and thermal errors. It also performs digital temperature compensation to reduce sensor thermal errors by a factor of ten or more over conventional compensation. The microprocessor also controls the actuation of an integral manifold to execute on-line zero calibrations upon request. This capability virtually eliminates sensor zero drift error and provides guaranteed system accuracy of up to ±0.05% FS (Full Scale) after rezero.

Each 9816 can sample using up to three concurrent scan lists at continuous rates up to 100 measurements per channel per second in engineering units. Pressure data is output over the Ethernet interface supporting both TCP and UDP protocols. The rack is supplied with comprehensive Visual Basic-based software called NUSS for PC compatible computers. Firmware upgrades are made available at no charge via our website and can be downloaded to the 9816 scanners using NUSS.

The NetScanner System is an array of system components measuring a variety of parameters and sharing the same command set that can be networked to form a comprehensive distributed intelligent data acquisition system.