The following information applies to the : CAL3K-A , CAL3K-F.

Traditionally, the apparatus is called a ‘BOMB CALORIMETER’ because the combustion cylinder looks like a ‘bomb’. The name ‘BOMB’ has stuck, but it is not popular around airports and in shipping. So – we try to use the word ‘VESSEL’ as much as possible.

To load the vessel with a new sample we assume the vessel has been cooled in the air cooler (3K-2).

1. Deflate the vessel pressure with the supplied defiler cap
2. Open lid and check that the firing wire is OK. If not, or if prompted by the CAL3K (at the time before the lid opened), replace it.
3. Wipe the inner walls of the vessel clean with a paper towel or soft rag. This removes any moisture. If the cleaning paper shows any stains then the previous sample may have ‘splattered’ and the result was low.
4. Remove the crucible from the holder
5. Attach a cotton thread to the wire. This is done best with tweezers (supplied in the 3K-1-KT) and a ‘pull ends through the loop’ method.
6. Depending on the samples you burn the crucible must be cleaned either with a wire brush or in an oven at 400°C
7. Use a new or cleaned crucible. Put it in to the balance and tare the balance.
8. Put approx. 0.5gr of sample material into the crucible. Take care not to spill any onto the balance table. Note the weight, or transfer it to the CAL3K.
9. Remove crucible with sample and insert it in to the crucible holder. Move the cotton fuse into the crucible so that it touches the sample. In case of BA tablets: move the tablet on top of the cotton fuse.
10. Close the lid gently (with two fingers). Do not over tighten it.
11. Put the weight into the CAL3K ( F1, Enter, weight, Enter) if not transferred from balance already.
12. Change the Sample Identification (SID).
13. Put the vessel in the filling station and fill it with oxygen. Wait until the target pressure is reached. Remove vessel from filling station .
14. Put the vessel in to the CAL3K well
15. Close the Lid
16. Observe that the CAL3K changes to the INITIAL mode.