Subject: HIF Project Update No. 17
From: "Dorothy E Greenwood, Secretary (Steno), Bay St. Louis, MS" <[email-masked]>
To: "E - All WRD Employees"<[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 1996 13:49:04 -0600

Memorandum

To:       All WRD Employees

From:     Acting Chief, Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility

Subject:  OPM--Priority Instrumentation and Test Project Update:
	  Activity Status No. 17

Following is a summary of instrumentation projects assigned for responsibility 
and execution to the Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) by the 
Instrumentation Committee (ICOM).  Project sequence corresponds to the 
priorities recommended by the Instrumentation Technical Advisory Committee (ITAS) and approved by the ICOM.   Additional priority projects have been 
assigned to other Water Resources Division (WRD) offices and will be 
reported at a later date.  We welcome your comments, suggestions, questions, 
or interest in participation.

Any questions concerning the listed projects should be directed to Sammy 
Wilbourn, HIF Field Coordinator (WILBOURN) at 601-688-1555, Jim Jelinski 
(JELINSKI) at 601-688-1547, or Doreen Tai (DYTAI) at 601-688-1518. PLEASE 
NOTE: Due to personnel changes/retirements at the HIF, progress on all 
mechanical engineering projects has been delayed.

SOUNDING-LINE/TAG-LINE RELEASE OR SHEARING DEVICES -- A preliminary 
investigation indicates that the A-reel drag brake changes suggested by OSW 
are practical.  Work has begun to design a new version of the brake.

A preliminary engineering design and sketch has been made of an assembly to 
mount a commercial hammer-driven cable cutter to the boat outfit, to cut the 
boat tagline if needed in an emergency situtation.  We plan to review the 
preliminary design with OSW and to build an engineering model.

PYGMY CAT WHISKER REPLACEMENT -- HIF plans to present a proposal at the June 
ICOM meeting to study the feasibility of installing a magnetic switch 
closure in the Pygmy meter. If feasible, the magnetic switch will provide a 
cleaner electrical output signal from the pygmy meter, making it more suitable 
for use with electronic counters.

SAND POINT CABLECAR BRAKE -- Four aluminum-version Sand-Point-style cablecar 
brakes are undergoing field testing. Initial reports are that the brakes are 
working well. A contract to fabricate 25 brakes for initial warehouse stock 
has been awarded.  We expect to have the 25 initial stock available for sale 
by April, 1996.

ONE-STOP SHOPPING -- This is a project to create an on-line computerized 
ordering system, so that people could go to a single on-line location to order 
equipment from HIF, FISP, the Ocala lab, or the NWQL. (This project has been 
deferred to FY97).

PLASTIC BUCKET WHEELS -- This is a project to build a plastic bucket wheel for 
the Price AA meter that would closely conform to the performance of the 
present metal bucket wheel. Plans are to submit a proposal for a feasibility 
study to the ICOM at the June meeting.

ANALYSIS OF CABLECAR LOAD-BEARING CAPACITY -- No significant progress was made 
during the month.  A stress analysis of the USGS stand-up cablecar has shown a 
potential for compression failure of the upper struts due to excessive cable 
tension of the type that occurs when submerged equipment is snagged.  A 
preliminary design for stronger upper struts has been made, and arrangements 
have been made to test the redesigned struts.  We plan to fabricate a set of 
struts for testing.

IMPROVED CONOFLOW SYSTEMS -- Three models of conoflow systems have been 
selected for the laboratory test; 1) Dry Bubbler system, Model HS-23, 
Hydrological Services PTY.LTD; 2) Water-log Series Model H355, Design Analysis 
Associates, Inc.; 3) SafePurge Hydrologic Purge Gas-Controls, Fluid Data 
Systems. After initial laboratory evaluation, the units have been moved to the 
standpipe system facility for testing.  Preliminary test results indicated 
that the DAA 355 system could not hold a constant bubble rate due to the 
fluctuation of the reservoir tank pressure.  DAA was aware of this and a new 
system is being built.  Tests on the DAA 355 system have been temporarily 
suspended until the delivery of the new systems.  The Safe purge systems 
also had trouble in holding a constant bubble rate during water level 
changing.  More tests will be performed on these units.

CONTINUOUS QW MONITOR ALTERNATIVE -- Evaluation of an ion selective 
electrode on the Hydrolab H20, ammonium probe; the YSI 6000, ammonium and 
nitrate probes; the Solomat, ammonium and nitrate probes and the Orion 
laboratory nitrate and ammonium sensors has been initiated.  Initial test 
results indicate that the sensors are very unstable for the low 
concentration samples.  More tests will be performed.

SUBMERSIBLE PRESSURE SENSORS -- Standpipe testing of 5 units of the DAA 
H310, 2 units of the Sensotec LL-V/7304-01, 2 units of the T-Hydronics TH-LD 
and 2 units of the Rittmeyer MPSDIT.010 have been completed. A report has been 
published through Email and will be published in the WRD Instrument News.

Field test of the Hydrologic LPN8/3CD has been completed and data analysis 
is in progress.

Geogard submersible pressure sensors. These sensors have been tested in the 
standpipe system, data have been reviewed and preparation of the report is in 
progress.

Campbell Scientific DB1 - Tests of these units in the standpipe system have 
been delayed due to the urgency test of Conoflow systems.

ALTERNATIVES FOR MERCURY MANOMETER REPLACEMENT -- A number of projects are 
underway to provide replacements for the manometer. This is a general 
continuing report.

ACCUBAR PRESSURE SENSORS -- A lab test report of Accubar-3 has been 
completed and it is in the review process.  Field test data have been analyzed 
and a report preparation is in progress.  Field test data indicate that some 
drift occurs with the unit.  Accelerated aging tests for the Accubar-3 are 
underway to determine if the drift can be minimized by performing 
accelerated aging on the transducers.  Plans are to continue accelerated aging 
tests until drift characteristic can be determined.

DESIGN ANALYSIS ASSOCIATES (DAA)-- Field test of Four units of the DAA H350 
is in progress. The initial field test data indicate good results. Five 
units of the DAA H350 LITE have been received. However, the lab test has been 
delayed due to the urgency test of the Sutron 8400 and malfunction of the 
pressure standard equipment. The test of the H350 LITE will resume in late 
March. 

SETRA 470 HPS -- Three units have been sent out for field testing. 

RITTMEYER PRESSURE SENSOR -- Lab tests will be scheduled for the second time 
after the test of the DAA H350 LITE.

ELECTRONIC PROCESSING FOR DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS (EPDM) -- A functional 
requirements document for an instrument that supports electronic processing of 
discharge measurements is still in review. JBS Instruments is now updating the 
software to comply with the USGS requirements.  The work will be completed 
in late-March. HIF is planning to purchase 2 units for testing.

LEAD WEIGHT REPLACEMENT--WELL SOUNDING -- Information has been collected on 
various well-tape weight configurations as used by field personnel, as well as 
information on various materials which are used or have been proposed for use 
as well-tape weights. A draft technical information sheet was written and sent 
out for colleague review. At the direction of ICOM, this project was then 
turned over to the Office of Ground Water.

REGULATOR/CHARGER ALTERNATIVE -- A market search for a commercial regulator-
charger showed that no single unit met all of the USGS requirements. A circuit 
for the regulator-charger has been designed and parts are being purchased to 
build an engineering model.

GROUND FAULT INTERRUPTER RESET -- A feasibility model of a surge-protected 
ground-fault interrupter (GFI) system is being tested by the Ohio district. 
Results so far indicate a reduction in the number of false tripping of the 
GFI. Three engineering models have been fabricated and will be sent to field 
sites for evaluation.  Parts have been ordered to fabricate 6 additional units 
in a new enclosure.

NOTICE:  TEST SITES NEEDED.  We are looking for test sites for the surge-
protected ground-fault interrupter (GFI).  We are looking for people who are 
using 110V ac powered equipment (such as pumps) with GFI's that are 
experiencing nuisance trip-offs due to powerline transients such as those 
caused by lightning.  If you are interested in testing one of the units, 
contact Ed Parrozzo (PARROZZO) at (601)688-1540.

EVALUATION OF REPLACEMENT FOR JACK AND HEINTZ (J&H) POWER UNIT -- Due to other 
priorities, no significant progress was made this month.  A power unit, J&H 
model 445 from Rickly Hydrological Company has been selected for the 
possible replacement for HIF's present unit which is J&H model 950R. A 
comparison study of these motors has been planned on the efficiency and the 
power consumption with various loads. The field test has been scheduled in 
April.

SUTRON 8400 DIGITAL DATA RECORDER - Lab tests of 4 units have been completed 
and the report has been released through Email and the WRD Instrument News.  
The HIF has already rented 100 units and has over 750 backorders from the 
field.  The HIF has placed orders for  more than 300 units with the 
manufacturer and has plans to place additional orders to meet the demand.

LARC INTERFACE DEVICE (LID) -- One hundred ten (110) units have been delivered 
by the contractor and are being tested. We still estimate they will be 
available for use by April 1996.

				/s/ Frank S. Henry