Introduction:

The Bubble test software has been specifically designed for comparing inhibitors. Its is based on performing long term LPR tests to compare corrosion rates measured before and after an inhibitor is added. Cells can be split into groups of identical set-ups in order to duplicate tests so results can be checked for repeatability. Results are presented by the Bubble software as they are collected with hard copies being produced at the end of each experiment. Bubble test data is stored in a format also suitable for ACM Instruments DC analysis V3.x.

For users who are new to the software it is suggested that the Bubble Wizard is used to simplify setting up a series of tests. To use the Bubble Wizard select the Bubble Wizard option under the File menu. The Bubble Wizard is a simple way to start a test. Only the number of inhibitors/groups the number of cells per group and a file name need be entered all other options can be defaulted. Step by step instructions are displayed within the Wizard.

Check list:

When not using the Bubble Wizard the check list below can be used for setting up a new experiment. It may be helpful to follow the check list until you are comfortable with the software.

1 Remove any existing groups

2 Select the number of groups you require. Manually (Create new group option) or automatically (Auto group options)

3 If manually created groups then add the required channels to groups by dragging the cells from the Channel groups window into the respective groups.

4 Check that each cell is correctly set-up by right clicking on the respective cell icon and editing the parameters in the Corrosion factors window.

5 Check that the Graph set-up on each group is correctly set.

6 Check that the LPR set-up on each group contains the required parameters.

7 If a tafel test at the end of the experiment is required then check that the Tafel set-up on each group contains the required parameters.

8 Check the Note Book on each group for valid entries.

9 Enter the Inhibitor title and concentrate for each group.

10 Select a drive directory and file name for the data to be stored under (it is recommended that this be the same for all active groups).

11 Enter a Run length or Total runs and check that the required option is set for either the Run length or Total runs.

12 If a tafel test at the end of the experiment is required then check the Tafel at end option.

13 Check the Print LPR and/or Print Tafel options for hard copies at the end of the experiment.

14 Check that the options under the End Graph menu are correctly set for additional comparison graphs title and label font sizes colours etc.

15 Check the correct COM port is selected in the COM port menu and that the instrument is correctly connected and switched on.

16 To start the experiment logging select the Trigger all group option in the Channel groups window.

17 When the inhibitor is added don’t forget to press the (add inhibitor) button.

The Channel group window:

Create New Group produces a blank group window.

Remove all groups closes all the group windows as long as an experiment is not taking place on them.

Trigger all groups triggers the logging on all groups which have not already been triggered.

Cells / Channels available to the instrument are displayed here. These icons can be dragged into and out of the Channel groups windows and the Group windows when manually setting up groups. Right clicking on a cell will display the Electrode factors for that cell (see Electrode factors window later in the manual). The electrode title is displayed underneath the icon.

Auto Group this set of options automatically creates the requested number of groups and adds the required number of cells to each group. These options are based on a twelve channel instrument (Gill 12 DSP) for instruments with fewer channels the correct number of groups will be created but some groups will be short of cells.

Group windows:

Graph set-up displays the graph settings for the group (see Graph settings).

LPR set-up displays the parameters for the LPR measurements for this group (see LPR settings).

Tafel set-up displays the parameters for the end of experiment Tafel run for this group (see Tafel settings).

Note book displays the note book for this group (see Note book).

Trigger now starts the logging on this group.

Remove group closes this group and replaces cells back into the Channel groups window (only if the group is not currently logging).

Inhibitor / group title the name of the inhibitor or a group title can be entered here.

Inhibitor concentration (ppm) the concentration of the inhibitor to be used can be entered here in parts per million.

Cells / Channels selected for this group are displayed here. These icons can be dragged into and out of the Group windows and the Channel groups window when manually setting up groups. Right clicking on a cell will display the Electrode factors for that cell (see Electrode factors below). The electrode title is displayed underneath the icon.

 Drive directory and file name the path and file name for the groups data is selected here. For re-loading existing data into the bubble test software the file selected will be made up of the Drive:\WinSeqV3\Path\filename.EXX. When using the DC Analysis software the file selected will be made up of the Drive:\WinSeqV3\Path\filename_GnCn.SEQ where Gn is the group number and Cn is the channel number. This means that all of the active groups can use the same file name.

Tafel at end if checked a tafel sweep will be performed at the end of the experiment. Options in the Tafel settings decide which channels in this group will have a tafel sweep performed on them (also see Tafel settings).

Print LPR if checked will print the LPR/corrosion rate graph for this group at the end of the experiment (also see Graph settings and LPR settings).

Print tafel if checked will print the Tafel graph for this group at the end of the experiment (also see Graph settings and Tafel settings)

how long the test will run for is determined by the Run length or the Total runs.

Electrode Factors:

All values are channel specific.

Electrode title a name or title by which this cell can be identified (Bill’s default is Cell n where n is the channel number). # in the electrode title will be replaced by the channel number when using Seed all in group and the Bubble Wizard.

The settings below are used to calculate the corrosion rates:

Metal electrode metal used in the experiment may be selected from a list supplied by ACM instruments additional metals not on the list may be added by using the Metal editor V3.x (Bill’s default is Mild Steel).

Ba & Bc the tafel slopes (in mV) may be entered here (Bill’s default is 120).

Area the area of the working electrode in cm² (Bill’s default is 1).

Duplicates the settings for the first channel in this channels group.

Sets the values for all the channels in this channels group to the values displayed.

Sets the Bill’s default electrode factors for this channel.

OK closes the Electrode factors page.

Channel colours decide which colour is used for a channel on the final graphs. To change a colour just click on the channels button (1 to 12) and a colour dialogue box will appear. The colour used for the graphs Axis may also be selected in the same way.

Font the font used for the axis labels can be selected by clicking the font option.

Graph scaling there are three types of graph scaling Manual where the maximum and minimum values for the Y axis may be entered Auto Group where the software selects the best max and min Y axis values for each group individually and Auto all where the software scales the graph to the best max and min Y axis values for all the data collected in all the groups. The Y axis can also be set to display LPR in ohms/cm² or corrosion current in mA.cm² or corrosion rate in mm/year or mils/year.

Sets the Bill’s default graph colours font and axis settings for this group.

OK closes the graph settings window.

All settings are group specific.

The LPR sweep offsets the cell to the cells rest potential sweeps to the start potential and then to the stop potential at the rate set by the sweep rate. The step LPR holds the cell at the start potential for half the time and then polarises to the stop potential for the second half of the time. The time for the step is calculated from [start potential - stop potential] ÷ sweep rate. (Bill’s defaults are start potential -20mV stop potential 20mV sweep rate 20mV/min and logging rate 60 min).

End graph options include six lines of text three to be shown below the graph and three above. If Print group title as well is checked then the group title will be printed above the top three lines.

Bill’s Defaults sets the Bill’s default LPR parameters for this group.

OK closes the LPR set-up window.

Tafel Settings:

All settings are group specific.

The tafel sweep is performed by offsetting the cell to the rest potential then sweeping to the start potential and then to the stop potential at the entered sweep rate.

Active channels a list of channels where it can be decided which channels have a tafel test performed on them.

Toggle all toggles all of the channel options on or off.

Bill’s defaults sets the Bill’s defaults tafel parameters for this group.

OK closes the tafel settings window.

Note book entries are channel specific.

The note book contains information about the experiment which is stored along with the data. The note book information can be accessed by both the DC Analysis and the Bubble test software. Entries can be used for other information besides what they are labelled for.

The logging form:

The logging form is displayed when any group is logging. Options on the logging page relate to all groups that are logging.

Stops logging on all groups.

When selected and after the measurements on the current group are finished no other readings take place until the pause is de-selected.

Add the inhibitor button should be pressed when the inhibitor is added. The present time and date are stored for reference on graphs and result tables.

Tile graphs option closes all windows other than the graphs and tiles the windows so that all data is visible.

Re-draw option forces all the visible graphs to redraw.

The print option sends a copy of all the open graphs to the default printer.

Status this box display the current status of the software e.g. when the next reading will take place the measured values of current and voltage any errors etc.

The rest of the logging window is used for real time LPR and Tafel graphs.

The Graph windows:

Graph windows are available for all groups which are logging data have logged data or have had data loaded for them. A window is also available which can display all the data in memory for all groups on the same graph (see Windows menu later in the manual). All options on a graph window correspond to the group who’s number and inhibitor title are displayed in the graphs title bar.

Stops logging on this groups.

When selected and after the measurements on the group are finished no other readings take place for the group until the pause is de-selected.

Add the inhibitor button should be pressed when the inhibitor is added. The present time and date are stored for reference on graphs and result tables.

Re-draw option forces the graph to redraw.

The print option sends a copy of the graph to the default printer.

 Several graph types are available for display. Settings for these graphs can be adjusted in the Graph setting (earlier in the manual) and End Graph section (later in the manual). Below are brief descriptions of the graph types:

LPR graph showing LPR corrosion current or corrosion rate as set in the Graph settings section (earlier in the manual).

As above but with markers and labels showing the corrosion rate immediately before the inhibitor was added and the corrosion rate and % inhibition after 1 2 5 10 and 15 hours.

As above but with titles above and below the graph. The titles are set in the LPR settings section (earlier in the manual).

Corrosion rate bar graph displays the corrosion rate on each channel immediately before the inhibitor was added 2 hours after and 16 hours after. Parameters for this graph can be changed in the End Graph section (later in the manual)

% inhibition bar graph displays the % inhibition on each channel at 2 hours and 16 hours after the inhibitor was added. Parameters for this graph can be changed in the End Graph section (later in the manual)

Result table displays the results from the above two bar graphs in a table format with titles and extra information above and below the table. Parameters for this graph can be changed in the End Graph section (later in the manual).

Tafel graph shows any tafel data collected.

As above but with titles above and below the tafel graph. Titles can be set in the Tafel settings section (earlier in the manual).

These graph types are also referred to in the End Graph section later.

Bubble Wizard starts the Bubble wizard. The Bubble Wizard is a simpler way of starting an experiment. Only the number of inhibitors/groups the number of cells per group and a file name need be entered all other options can be defaulted. Step by step instructions are displayed within the Wizard.

Load previous test allows previously collected data to be re-loaded into memory so that graphs can be re-produced. Loading old data will overwrite the current settings and can not be done while logging is taking place. Use the Group Graphs options to display the data for individual groups or all groups (see Windows menu below).

About displays the about form showing the current version number and copyright information.

Exit quits the software. Any groups still logging will be stopped.

Displays a list of COM / serial ports where the one connected to the instrument may be selected.

Group graphs allows a graph window to be viewed for an individual group or all of the groups data in memory.

Tile vertically Tile horizontally Cascade Arrange Icons and Icon all allow open windows and icons to be re-arranged.

Just Main forms icons all but the main windows (Channels Group and Logging)

Just Groups icons all but the group windows and cascades them.

Just Graphs icons all but the graph windows and tiles them.

Window list a list of all active/visible windows.

End Graph:

End Graphs are a set of options for producing comparison graphs at the end of an experiment.

The end graph section decides which group comparison graph(s) will be automatically printed at the end of an experiment. For a more detailed description of the graph types see the Graph Windows section earlier in the manual.

Options for the two bar graphs can be changed here.

Title and additional information for the result table can be entered here.

The fonts used for the titles and labels can be selected here.

Notes:

It is possible to change test parameters while an experiment is taking place. If test parameters are to be changed then it is recommended that the logging be paused while the changes are being made.

If the axis on your graph or print outs contain no labels then it is likely that the font selected in the Graph Settings section no longer exists. Simply re-select a new font.

Please report any problems with the software or instrumentation to ACM Instruments as soon as they arise. At ACM Instruments we are always interested in customers comments on our software and instrumentation.

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