Tga Manual 2011 10 14

Navas Instruments
MULTIPLE SAMPLE THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYZER (TGA) WITH

AUTOMATIC CRUCIBLE-COVERS PLACEMENT AND REMOVAL FOR
VOLATILES (PATENTED) AND OPERATIONAL SOFTWARE IN
WINDOWS
Navas Instruments TGA-2000 Series

Copyright(c) 2011 Navas Instruments. All rights reserved.
200 Earnhardt St.
Conway, SC 29526, United States
FAX : 843-347-2527
For information and quotations call 843-347-1379 or E-Mail to info@navas-instruments.com
WEB: www.navas-instruments.com
Last revision date 14 October 2011
Software version 2.0.3
Page N 1
TGA 3D DRAWINGS...................................................................................................................... 7
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
DUAL CAROUSEL GENERAL VIEW ....................................................................................................... 7

BALANCE PEDESTAL VIEW ................................................................................................................. 8
BALANCE VIEW ................................................................................................................................. 9
CAROUSEL DOWN AND COVERS UP VIEW .......................................................................................... 10
CAROUSEL DOWN AND COVERS DOWN VIEW ..................................................................................... 11
CAROUSEL UP AND COVERS DOWN VIEW .......................................................................................... 12
OUTSIDE GENERAL VIEW ................................................................................................................. 13
SCOPE OF DELIVERY ............................................................................................................... 14
TGA-2000A GENERAL DESCRIPTION ............................................................................... 15
EXAMPLES OF TGA RESULTS.............................................................................................. 16

4.1
4.2
EXAMPLE OF ONE COAL TYPE, 19 SAMPLES ...................................................................................... 16

EXAMPLE OF MOISTURE AND ASH RESULTS IN FLOUR ........................................................................ 17
INSTALLATION OF THE INSTRUMENT .......................................................................... 17

5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
5.10
5.11
BASIC CONCEPTS....................................................................................................................... 17
INSTALLATION OF THE MECHANICS..................................................................................... 20
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR THE TGA OPERATION .................................................................. 26
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR COAL ANALYSIS........................................................................... 26
IMPORTANT NOTES BEFORE USING THE PROGRAM .......................................................... 27
STEP LID OPENING ADJUSTMENT ...................................................................................................... 27
CONFIGURATION OF THE PC BIOS .................................................................................................. 27
INSTALLATION OF THE PCI INTERFACE BOARD DRIVERS ................................................................... 28
INSTALLATION OF THE RS-232 COMMUNICATIONS BOARD DRIVERS .................................................. 28
INSTALLATION OF THE TGA SOFTWARE ........................................................................................... 29
ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE INSTRUMENT ............................................................... 29
CONFIGURATION SETTINGS BACKUP ........................................................................... 30
TGA APPLICATION MAIN SCREEN ................................................................................... 31
SOFTWARE MENUS ................................................................................................................... 35

8.1
MAIN MENU ................................................................................................................................... 36
8.2
CONFIGURATION MENU................................................................................................................... 36
8.2.1
Furnaces configuration window ............................................................................................. 36
8.2.2
Change password window ...................................................................................................... 40
8.2.3
Configuration window ............................................................................................................ 40
8.2.3.1 Parameters folder............................................................................................................... 41
8.2.3.2 TGA Configuration folder................................................................................................... 45
8.2.3.3 Furnace lid opening folder ................................................................................................. 50
8.2.3.4 Combustion accelerators folder .......................................................................................... 53
8.2.4
Slope settings window............................................................................................................. 58
8.2.4.1 LOI Formulas folder........................................................................................................... 64
8.3
OPTIONS MENU ............................................................................................................................... 66
8.3.1
Diagnostics window................................................................................................................ 66
8.3.2
Temperature controller Auto Tuning window....................................................................... 72
8.3.3
Fast weighing configuration ................................................................................................... 75
8.3.4
Modify Samples window ......................................................................................................... 78
8.3.5
Sequential identifications window........................................................................................... 83
Page N 2
8.3.6
Programs menu options ..........................................................................................................88
8.3.7
AUTO-START analysis after weighing samples menu option...................................................89
8.4
CALIBRATION IMPORTANT NOTES ........................................................................................90
8.4.1
Detailed volatile calibration, step by step................................................................................90
8.4.1.1 Enter the certified standard values in the standards spreadsheets .......................................90
8.4.1.2 Analyze the standards .........................................................................................................90
8.4.1.3 Make non - linear regression curves fitting with the analyzed standards .............................91
8.4.1.4 Make an analysis of regular samples and correct the results automatically.........................92
8.4.1.5 Make an analysis of regular samples and correct the results manually................................92
8.5
PROCEDURES TO DO LINEARIZATION AND CURVES FITTING STEP BY STEP ...........................................93
8.5.1
Procedure step by step to do linearization...............................................................................93
8.5.2
Procedure step by step to do curves fitting ..............................................................................99
8.6
CALIBRATION MENU ......................................................................................................................107
8.6.1
Calibration &linearization factors spreadsheets window ......................................................107
8.6.2
Standards spreadsheets window............................................................................................110
8.6.2.1 Adding and removing standards on the spreadsheets.........................................................110
8.6.2.2 Modifying the usage of the standards ................................................................................110
8.6.2.3 Calculating the factors of the column calculated factors ...............................................111
8.6.2.4 Sorting the rows of the standards spreadsheets .................................................................111
8.6.3
Calibrate & Linearize by results window ..............................................................................111
8.6.4
Create linearization results file in next analysis batch...........................................................117
8.7
CURVES FITTING ............................................................................................................................117
8.7.1
Selecting the slope to calibrate..............................................................................................122
8.7.2
Formula for linear and non-linear regression .......................................................................122
8.7.3
Showing or hiding the point marks........................................................................................122
8.7.4
Selecting the curves colors ....................................................................................................122
8.7.5
Enabling and disabling the display of the curves...................................................................123
8.7.6
Auto scaling the X and the Y axis ..........................................................................................123
8.7.7
Selecting the X and the Y axis minimum and maximum values...............................................123
8.7.8
Zooming the graphics ...........................................................................................................123
8.7.9
Resizing the panels width and height.....................................................................................124
8.7.10 Making single point calibration ............................................................................................124
8.7.11 Making curves fitting ............................................................................................................125
8.7.11.1
Calculating the predictions ...........................................................................................125
8.7.11.2
Accepting the predictions to samples.............................................................................126
8.7.11.3
Restoring the original calibration factors......................................................................127
8.7.11.4
Accepting the calculated factors to standards spreadsheets ...........................................127
8.7.11.5
Accepting all the changes ..............................................................................................127
8.7.11.6
Opening and saving the curves fitting files ....................................................................129
8.8
EXPORTING MANUALLY TO THE LIMS FOLDER ...............................................................................129
8.9
CURVES FITTING FORMULAS ..........................................................................................................130
8.9.1
Linear interpolation formula.................................................................................................130
8.9.2
Linear least squares formula.................................................................................................132
8.9.3
Quadratic formula ................................................................................................................134
8.9.4
Cubic formula.......................................................................................................................135
8.9.5
Deviation errors formulas.....................................................................................................138
8.9.5.1 Least squares deviation errors formulas............................................................................138
8.9.5.2 Quadratic deviation errors formulas .................................................................................138
8.9.5.3 Cubic deviation errors formulas........................................................................................139
8.10 NETWORKING MENU ......................................................................................................................140
8.10.1 Network settings ...................................................................................................................140
8.10.2 Use network connection to a TGA weigh station server.........................................................140
FORMULAS ...................................................................................................................................141
Page N 3
9.1
9.2
10
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
11
FORMULAS ASSIGNMENTS ............................................................................................................. 141

FORMULAS DESIGNER .................................................................................................................... 144
DATABASE ................................................................................................................................ 164

DATABASES .................................................................................................................................. 164
OPEN DATABASE CONNECTIVITY STANDARD .................................................................................. 164
DATABASE REPORTS...................................................................................................................... 165
COLUMNS ORGANIZER ................................................................................................................... 174
DATABASE CLEANING ................................................................................................................... 177
ODBC SETTINGS .......................................................................................................................... 177
BAR CODE READER SETTINGS......................................................................................................... 178
DATE AND TIME FORMATS ............................................................................................................. 179
ASK DATA BASE FIELDS AFTER WEIGHING SAMPLES ........................................................................ 182
DATABASE STATISTICS .................................................................................................... 183
11.1 STATISTICS FORMULAS .................................................................................................................. 184

11.1.1 Average formula................................................................................................................... 184
11.1.2 Standard deviation formula .................................................................................................. 184
11.1.3 Standard deviation population formula................................................................................. 184
11.1.4 Relative standard deviation formula ..................................................................................... 184
11.2 STATISTICS OPERATIONAL BUTTONS .............................................................................................. 184
12
DATA OUTPUTS & LIMS CONNECTIONS MENU................................................... 188
12.1 EXECUTION OF EXTERNAL PROGRAM AT END OF ANALYSIS WINDOW ............................................... 189

12.2 FILES DATA OUTPUT MENU ............................................................................................................ 190
12.2.1 General description of ASCII file format............................................................................... 191
12.2.2 Destination folder window.................................................................................................... 191
12.2.3 Database records export settings window............................................................................. 192
12.2.4 Export automatically data base records menu option............................................................ 196
12.2.5 Graphics export settings window .......................................................................................... 198
12.2.6 Export automatically graphics menu option.......................................................................... 199
12.2.7 Export automatically first derivatives files menu option........................................................ 201
12.3 SERIAL PORT DATA OUTPUT MENU ................................................................................................. 202
12.3.1 RS - 232 Settings window...................................................................................................... 203
12.3.2 Output generation format window ........................................................................................ 203
12.3.2.1
Output configuration page ............................................................................................ 203
12.3.2.2
Literals insertion page .................................................................................................. 207
12.3.3 Use Serial port data output Menu option .............................................................................. 208
12.4 PRINTER DATA OUTPUT MENU ........................................................................................................ 208
12.4.1 Reports format window......................................................................................................... 209
12.4.2 Automatic printing menu options .......................................................................................... 211
13
OPERATIONAL BUTTONS ................................................................................................ 212
13.1
GRAPHICS:........................................................................................................................ 212
13.2
VIEW CAROUSEL:.............................................................................................................. 213
13.3
13.3.1
13.3.2
WEIGH: ............................................................................................................................ 214

Sequential Ids weighing method............................................................................................ 214
No sequential Ids weighing method....................................................................................... 220
Page N 4
13.4
REMOVE: ..........................................................................................................................231
13.5
13.5.1
13.5.2
13.5.3
13.5.4
VIEW SAMPLE: ..................................................................................................................232

Selection of multiple curves in the same graphic for printing ................................................238
ZOOM In Utility ...................................................................................................................239
View analysis data ................................................................................................................241
Export graphic......................................................................................................................242
13.6
EXECUTE: .........................................................................................................................244
13.7
STOP:................................................................................................................................245
14
TGA SPARE PARTS LISTING............................................................................................247
15
DIAGRAMS ................................................................................................................................250
15.1
15.2
15.3
15.4
16
16.1
17
COMMON DIAGRAMS TO ALL MODELS ............................................................................................250

TGA-2000A DIAGRAMS ...............................................................................................................256
TGA-2000G DIAGRAMS ...............................................................................................................258
TGA2000-3S DIAGRAMS ..............................................................................................................260
WIRED TGA ..............................................................................................................................262

MODELS TGA-2000A AND TGA2000G.........................................................................................262
RS-232 CABLES ........................................................................................................................263
18
PERIPHERALS PARAMETERS (BALANCE & TEMPERATURE
CONTROLLER) ...................................................................................................................................264
18.1 TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER CONFIGURATION ..............................................................264
18.1.1 Old model long temperature controller parameters...............................................................264
18.1.1.1
Full access mode
............................................................................................................264
18.1.1.2
Configuration access mode
.............................................................................................266
18.1.2 New model short temperature controller parameters.............................................................267
18.1.2.1
Full access mode
............................................................................................................267
18.1.2.2
.............................................................................................268
18.2 TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER RS-232 SERIAL PORT PARAMETERS ..............................269
18.3 BALANCES CONFIGURATION ................................................................................................270
18.3.1 Balance parameters for model S old .................................................................................270
18.3.2 Balance parameters for model S New ...............................................................................271
18.3.3 Balance parameters for model A.......................................................................................272
18.4 BALANCE RS-232 SERIAL PORT PARAMETERS ..................................................................273
18.4.1 Serial port parameters for balances models S ...................................................................273
18.4.2 Serial port parameters for balance model A......................................................................273
19
19.1
20
20.1
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ......................................................................................274

TGA-2000A .................................................................................................................................274
ERROR MESSAGES (ALARMS) AND SOLUTIONS .................................................275

TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER ALARMS ............................................................................................275
Page N 5
20.2
20.3
BALANCE ALARMS ........................................................................................................................ 276

OTHER ERRORS & ALARMS (CAROUSELS, PISTONS, GASES ETC ) ................................................. 277
21
INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................ 279
22
IMPORTANT NOTES ............................................................................................................ 279
Page N 6
TGA 3D drawings
Patented auto crucible-covers placement and removal mechanism

1.1
Dual carousel general view
Page N 7
1.2 Balance pedestal view
Page N 8
1.3
Balance view
Page N 9
1.4 Carousel down and covers up view
Page N 10
1.5
Carousel down and covers down view
Page N 11
1.6
Carousel up and covers down view
Page N 12
1.7
Outside general view
Page N 13
Scope of delivery
The delivery for each TGA consists of the following items:
One Navas Instruments TGA-1000, TGA-2000 or TGA-3000 series automatic thermo gravimetric
analyzer.
One (locally bought) PC with printer (A PC can control 1 or 2 TGA simultaneously)
20 steel crucibles in standard model (Depending on the furnace carousel crucible positions different
number of crucibles)
20 steel covers in standard model (Depending on the furnace carousel crucible positions different
number of covers)
One dual carrousel with wheels and synchronization collar (In TGA-2000 and/or TGA-3000 Series)
One signal cable
Two RS-232 cables
One balance turbulence eliminator
One pedestal with fiber insert
One motor belt
Gas fittings of 4mm
One set of boards and flat cables
One CD-ROM
One manual
Two ceramic lances
One fumes extractor
Page N 14
TGA-2000A GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The robust TGA-2000A Instruments are designed to be easy to operate, easy to repair and inexpensive to
use.
The TGA-2000A has a modular aluminum frame to hold all components or modules as follows:
Complete brand name precision balance with display and reproducibility of 0.1 mg.
Complete brand name temperature controller with display.
Heating elements.
Mechanics.
Back panel with all electrical components and pneumatic valves.
Cooling fans.
The TGA-2000A can easily be disassembled completely. All mechanical adjustments are extremely
simple. The technician only needs a set of metric Allen wrenches.
The electronics to control instrument operation are housed in the PC. It consists of 2 boards that
plug into existing ISA or PCI slots (only 1 slot needed). The use of a PC makes maintenance easy
and inexpensive. If the PC breaks one fixes it or simply replaces it. The TGA-2000A furnace is
designed to receive all control signals from the PC. The furnace will only do what is told to do.
This leaves the furnace with plenty of room inside for visual inspection in case of problem.
The components used are made by experts, i.e. Balances, temperature controllers, pneumatics
etc....
The TGA-2000A is totally programmable and software flexible. The PC is used instead of hardwired electronics to have the capacity to adapt the instrument to any FUTURE NEEDS or
applications in thermo gravimetric analysis. Two RS-232 cables send and receive signals to and
from balance and controller. One more cable carries all signals for sensors.
The furnace has only 5 sensors.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Gas pressure sensor

Carousel elevation sensor
Carousel rotation home position sensor
Furnace lid position sensor
Enter sample button that is on the instrument front panel
Only the pressure sensor and the Enter sample button has no light indicator. All others have a
light to indicate they are energized. All other 3 sensors are magnetic and thus not subject to dust or
wear.
Pneumatic valves are same type for easy replacement. 5 are needed:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Oxygen.
Nitrogen
Carousel altitude
Furnace lid opening
Automatic covers
Page N 15
The tubes to carry all gases are equipped with quick connections. Just push or pull to install and
remove them.
Examples of TGA results
4.1
Example of one coal type, 19 samples
The Instrument provides superior performance due to the automatic covers placement and removal with no
coal oxidation.
Pos
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
X
SD
CV%
Max
Min
Weight
Vol%
Factor
Corr.Vol%
Ash%
Fix-C%
1.2490
0.9716
1.0717
1.0630
1.0109
1.0267
1.1297
1.0538
1.2548
1.0447
1.0348
1.0342
1.0322
0.9383
1.2495
0.8361
0.9939
0.8800
0.8394
33.77
33.90
33.94
33.71
33.86
33.90
33.82
33.81
33.79
33.85
33.95
33.90
33.88
33.89
33.80
34.12
33.91
33.93
33.92
33.88
0.09
0.26
34.12
33.71
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
1.0127
34.20
34.33
34.37
34.14
34.29
34.33
34.25
34.24
34.22
34.28
34.38
34.33
34.31
34.32
34.23
34.56
34.34
34.36
34.35
34.31
0.09
0.26
34.56
34.14
13.21
13.17
13.23
13.12
13.15
13.17
13.21
13.21
13.23
13.25
13.15
13.16
13.11
13.18
13.25
13.19
13.21
13.16
13.14
13.18
0.04
0.32
13.25
13.11
52.60
52.50
52.40
52.74
52.56
52.49
52.55
52.56
52.55
52.47
52.47
52.51
52.58
52.50
52.52
52.26
52.45
52.48
52.51
52.51
0.09
0.18
52.74
52.26
Page N 16
4.2
Example of moisture and ash results in flour
Instrument Parameters
Moisture - 150 C, Plateu Deviation 0.051%

Ash - 600 C, Plateu Deviation 0.031% then hold for 35 mintues
Conclusions
Moisture and Ash analysis can be performed on the same sample in 4 - 5 hours depending
on sample size. Moisture within day standard deviation was consistently around 0.02.
Between day moisture standard deviation was artificially high due to moisture loss during
the three week testing period. Within day standard deviation for ash was consistently less
than 0.006 for both sample types and sizes. The 4.5g sample allows for ash values to have
a standard deviation of approximately 0.005 over time compared to 0.007 for the 3g.
Table 1. Summary of Results

Flour Type
Sample Weight (g)
n
Moisture Avg
Within Day Std (n=3)
Hard
3.0
Hard
4.5
3.0
Hard
4.5
3.0
Soft
4.5
3.0
Soft
4.5
3.0
4.5
27
26
26
26
26
25
27
27
27
26
13.98
0.02
13.96
0.03
13.86
0.02
13.85
0.02
13.89
0.02
13.88
0.02
11.31
0.02
11.33
0.01
12.95
0.02
12.94
0.02
Between Day Std (n=9)
0.08
0.08
0.16
0.16
0.10
0.10
0.02
0.01
0.06
0.06
Ash Avg
0.472
0.478
0.508
0.512
0.567
0.572
0.384
0.390
0.508
0.509
Within Day Std (n=3)
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.004
0.006
0.003
0.005
0.003
Between Day Std (n=9)
0.007
0.005
0.008
0.005
0.008
0.005
0.007
0.003
0.007
0.003
Mst Time (min)
60
77
60
77
60
77
60
77
60
77
Ash Time (min)
183
225
183
225
183
225
183
225
183
225
Total Time (min)
243
302
243
302
243
303
243
303
243
302
5
5.1
Installation of the instrument

BASIC CONCEPTS
The TGA is a high temperature furnace from 50 C up to 1000 C with electronic temperature control, a
precision balance of 4 decimal places with 0.1 mg precision and a carousel that rotates and is raised and
lowered by mechanical and pneumatic means to deposit the sample crucibles on the furnace balance pedestal
to weigh the samples.
The complete design has been made to be of the maximum simplicity, design made by people with 30 years
experience in service in the business of laboratory instruments, there is no other TGA in the market so easy to
install, repair and maintain.
The TGA has no electronics inside the furnace frame, it has only electric parts, only the KNOWN NAME
furnace temperature controller and the KNOWN NAME balance have their own electronics, the furnace
contains the heating elements, the instrument frame contains solid state relays, magnetic sensors not subject to
dust, pneumatic valves and pneumatic pistons.
Page N 17
The PC contains the only electronic boards needed to run the TGA, (one) Navas board and (one) I/O board,
the Navas board will drive all valves, detect signals from all sensors, etc , the I/O board passes all signals
from Navas board to the PC.
Navas board has a fuse to protect the board in some specific cases
The dual TGA or dual MMS (two simultaneous furnaces working) use Navas boards and one I/O board (All
fit inside 3 slots of the PC, it is only necessary one slot for the I/O board, The Navas boards have low power
supplied through the I/O board, The Navas boards do not specifically need a slot but only a space to be
attached.
The modern PC processors and advanced software in multitasking developed by Navas Instruments make it
possible to run 2 TGA furnaces with one single PC with no additional microprocessors but only the one inside
the PC.
For large sample throughput a external balance is added ( patented system), it allows to weight crucibles and
samples during furnace operation and allows to load new samples at temperatures up to 60-70 C without
affecting moisture results.
Monitor
Printer
Keyboard Mouse
RS-232
Connector
PC
TGA FURNACE
Balance
DB25 &15
Connectors
Las Navas Board
Back panel,
Motor,
switches &
valves
Interface Board
RS-232
Connector
Temperature
controller
Power
switch
Circuit
breaker
Mains
Mains
The precision digital balance and the temperature controller inside the furnace frame communicate with the
PC by two RS-232 cables, 2 cables are provided for this communication, both devices have their own
display with numbers that facilitates the trouble shooting by simply looking at the displays values.
The temperature controller has two displays, one for the present temperature and one for the set point (Final
temperature) to be reached, The controller also has buttons on its front panel for configuring the device.
The balance beside the display that shows the present weight also has buttons on its front panel to control the
device, Tare, Calibrate, Configure, etc
Page N 18
The balance, temperature controller and all other devices in the TGA can also be controlled using the
diagnostics window in the TGA software.
The diagnostics window also visualizes all the sensors, allows motor movement, allows to remove motor
current to check mechanical rotation with no friction, and displays weights and temperatures.
Anyone can perform maintenance in Navas TGA, no special abilities are required.
Diagnostics window
Page N 19
5.2
INSTALLATION OF THE MECHANICS
ONLY A SET OF ALLEN KEYS, A SCREW DRIVER AND A LEVEL ARE NECESSARY TO INSTALL
THE TGA
1 Vibration free environment and ambient:
Precision balances require to be properly leveled, also a vibration free environment needed or at least the
minimum vibration possible, the balance has a bubble that can be used to level the device.
2 Furnace, carousel and balance leveling:
The furnace, the carousel and the balance have to be leveled at installation, USE A GOOD SOLID BENCH,
start with the furnace, then check the carousel and then check the balance, THE FURNACE IS LEVELED
WITH THE 4 PLASTIC LEGS, THE CAROUSEL IS LEVELED AT THE FACTORY, the balance leveling
is most important and special care has to be taken, the balance leveling has to be done with no pedestal and
before operation.
3 Calibration of the furnace balance:
Calibration of the balance is recommended.
Remove the pedestal and press the button CA that is on the balance front panel, the balance can also be
calibrated using the button Calibrate in the diagnostics window.
The balance has internal weights that are deposited to calibrate according with the altitude.
If the balance does not calibrate supplement the aluminum part with an screw or coin to get it done, the reason
is that our pedestal is much heavier that the balance dish, our aluminum part attached to the balance cone is
less heavy than the dish, in that case a supplement is needed.
Only calibrate balance with furnace lid closed and no air turbulence to the pedestal.
Other balances may need external weight, see appropriate manual
Page N 20
4 Alignment of the balance pedestal and the lower furnace orifice:

After the balance has been leveled it is necessary to align the balance pedestal with the lower furnace orifice.
The pedestal must be aligned with the hole that is in the lower furnace ceramic, the pedestal axis must pass
through the drill, below the lower ceramic hole is the balance, the pedestal must be attached to the balance.
This is critical and has to be done very carefully not to damage the balance.
It is done by moving the balance (loose big screw on the bottom) first with no pedestal and looking from the
furnace top to see it is aligned, after the hole is aligned place the balance pedestal and see the pedestal will not
touch the furnace walls and has enough room for furnace expansion with heat, move gently pedestal north south - east - west, has to be no contact.
The distance from pedestal to crucible should be about 3 mm.
To move balance, loose big

screw on the bottom
The balance pedestal has to be in the centre of the furnace orifice and has to have clearance in all directions; to
obtain this the balance can be moved by just loosening the big screw under the balance and moving to obtain
this clearance, IT IS CRITICAL AND IMPROPER MANIPULATION CAN BRAKE THE BALANCE after
balance is aligned get big screw tight again and remove the pedestal.
5 - Install the furnace carousel:
Page N 21
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THE WHEEL
OUTSIDE THE FURNACE, PLACE THE CAROUSEL SHAFT IN THE WHEEL HOLE. ROTATE THE
SCREWS TO HAVE THE SCREWS DRIVEN TO TOUCH THE SHAFT , NOT THE ORIFICES BUT THE
OUTSIDE OF THE SHAFT, BACK SCREWS A BIT, JUST 1/8 OF TURN, NOW YOU KNOW YOU
HAVE TO DRIVE SCREWS SEVERAL TURNS WHEN YOU ARE IN FRONT OF THE HOLES. IF YOU
HAVE 1/8 OF TURN TO TOUCH THE SHAFT AND THE SCREWS WILL GO 2-3 TURNS INSIDE THE
SHAFT YOU KNOW YOU ARE INSIDE THE HOLES AND NOT OUTSIDE.
Place now the wheel with teeth and the drive belt into position and place the carousel.
Screw the 2 screws inside the holes shaft.
6 - Install the ring for the home position sensor
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7 - Install the upper carousel (carousel used for crucible - covers placement and removal) :
Use the synchronization pin for to find the correct position and fix the shaft to the rotational coupling.
8 - Install the pedestal
Distance from pedestal

to crucible = 3 mm
The distance from the pedestal to the crucible should be about 3 mm when the carousel is in the upper position
(In diagnostics window).
Larger distances between the balance pedestal and the crucible will make the crucible to touch the carousel
when the carousel is in the down position.
Shorter distances between the balance pedestal and the crucible may make the crucible to touch the pedestal
when the carousel is in the upper position.
In any of both cases the balance will not provide stable weight since the g character that the software reads
from the balance is not obtained.
In some cases to obtain the proper distance of 3 mm from the pedestal to the crucible a piece of metal has been
introduced inside the pedestal fibber.
If this metal supplement is lost the distance from the pedestal to the crucible is much larger, in that case get a 3
mm screw cut in one piece and introduce it inside the fibber to get proper distance from the pedestal to the
crucible.
9 Place the balance turbulences protector:
Install the wind shield that goes around the pedestal, this is used to avoid that the air from the internal cooling
fans affect the balance stability, the internal cooling fans will start automatically at 150 C or higher
temperatures and will stay activated until the furnace temperature is below 150 C.
10 - Install the belt
Place the belt and check the belt is not loose or too tight.
Remove current motor and turn carrousel by hand it has to move freely (in diagnostics REMOVE
CURRENT MOTOR)
Make to turn to home, hold the carrousel, it has to have force, not a lot but good force.
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The carousel rotates by the stepper motor controlled by the software and electronics, it should rotate freely by
removing the current in diagnostics and rotating by hand, when current is again applied the motor will hold
still and have certain resistance if forced to rotate, if resistance is too low (weak) (it can be verified by in
diagnostics sending carrousel home and holding the carrousel with one hand) then square chip in group C of
the Navas board has to replaced.
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11 - Adjusting the carousel home position
- First, adjust the home position by hand

- Remove motor current
- Place the carousel (by hand) in home position (synchronization pin in front of you)
- Rotate the ring up that the SWITCH (carousel home) is marked.
- Fix the ring to the shaft (with the 2 screws)
Final adjustment:
The user can adjust the home offset parameter to get a proper positioning of the carousel, to do this type a
number and click the home button.
When the carousel detects the home switch there will be added or subtracted the steps configured in the
Offset home edit box.
Positive values make a movement correction clockwise, negative values make the correction counter
clockwise.
The carousel rotates by the stepper motor controlled by the software and the electronics.
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In diagnostics window remove the motor current and rotate by hand the carousel, if there is not friction in the
movement and the carousel rotates freely the carousel is properly placed.
In diagnostics window place the carousel in any crucible position, after the carousel stops moving the current
applied to the carousel stepping motor will make the carousel to have certain resistance if forced to rotate.
If the carousel resistance is too low (week) the square chip in the group C in Navas board has to replaced.
5.3
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR THE TGA OPERATION
The TGA will provide excellent results if it is installed properly.

The balance will give bad results or no results if there exist any of the following conditions:
5.4
There is vibration in the building where is installed the TGA (The TGA can be placed in an antivibration table).
Bad instrument and balance leveling.
Incorrect plateau deviation values, use 0.035 % to 0.05 %, the lower the value the more demanding
accuracy.
Non-homogeneous samples.
Analyzing materials that corrode the metal crucibles, in that case use ceramic or quartz crucibles.
Explosive materials or materials that will send particles flying.
Not enough sample.
Too much sample.
Use the wrong purging gas.
Use the wrong furnace temperature.
Use crucible-covers when it has not to be used or do not use them for volatiles in coal.
Use the wrong calibration factors, by entering the wrong factor at the weight entry.
Analyze by hold time instead of by plateau deviation in the slopes moisture and ash.
The balance pedestal is touching the furnace walls or the pedestal is touching the crucibles or furnace
carousel.
There exist particles on the base of the balance pedestal.
The balance wind shield or turbulences protector is not placed around the pedestal.
A proper analysis is verified by looking at the analysis graphics, there must not exist peaks.
If there are peaks present it is because the balance pedestal is touching somewhere.
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR COAL ANALYSIS
Coal analysis is somehow special, moisture and ash are very simple since we only look for constant weight on
the balance (3 consecutive weights within the plateau deviation).
If all the moisture and the ash has gone from the sample the program will give the results, if there is
configured a high plateau deviation the coal will not release all moisture or ash and the results will be too low.
Volatiles are special since we are not looking for constant weight (you can not get it since the volatiles are
being released constantly, look at the curves) but it is analyzed by time, 7 minutes according with the
standards, we start taking weights as soon as the furnace reaches the final temperature (900 C, 950 C or 1000
C) and then after 7 minutes all values are extrapolated and calculated.
We have to use an extrapolation of the weights since there is no time to take 3 readings for all the samples,
each revolution takes around 3 minutes.
Page N 26
If the volatile contents are too high, like 40 - 50 % you may have to decrease the ramp rate to lower value, like
16 C / Minute to avoid the sample from splashing.
Never use not completely burn crucibles or the coal not totally burned in previous analysis because it will
affect next analysis.
Use calibration by results to create calibration factors for volatiles that will correct the original values, use
a close coal standard to the samples being analyzed, use only linearization only after you are experienced with
the process.
You must click on the calibration factor cell stored in the spreadsheet always during the weighing of the
samples and for each sample, this calibrated value was obtained when the volatiles calibration have been done.
5.5
IMPORTANT NOTES BEFORE USING THE PROGRAM
PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT NOTES AT THE END OF THE MANUAL.

5.6
Step lid opening adjustment
The furnace lid has the possibility to open in different positions therefore to allow cooling with partial opening
at different temperatures, example 700 600 - 500 degrees centigrade.
The lid will open at 700 C but only a small gap so the furnace will not crack with the thermal shock.
The furnace will open a larger gap at 600 C
The furnace will open a larger gap at 500 C
The furnace will fully open at 400 C
This partial openings are adjusted before the instruments is put into operation by modifying the milliseconds in
the windows for 700 600 500 C, check first with 1000 ms, the opening about 8 - 10 cm for 700 C, 15 cm
for 600 C and so on.
In diagnostics press position 1 2 - 3 to test opening distance then adjust.
From the factory is delivered at 400 C all positions to avoid mishandling and damaging of the furnace
by thermal shock
5.7
Configuration of the PC BIOS
The PC must have disabled the following configurations:

1 - HYPERTHREADING (Must be disabled).
2 - DUAL CORE (Must be disabled).
3 - OVERCLOCKING (Configure to the minimum or disable it).
These settings can be configured on the PC BIOS, to configure them do the following:
1 Start the PC.
2 During boot-up press DEL key or F2 key on the keyboard to access the BIOS settings.
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If the BIOS screen is not shown, re-start the PC and try again.
3 If Windows starts, reboot the PC after it finishes starting, if there appears a screen that allows set some
configurations it is the BIOS setup screen.
Navigate through the settings and when you find the above settings configure them.
4 Save the settings, exit the BIOS screen and re-boot the PC again.
The PC configuration, the PC motherboard and the BIOS screen varies from different PC
manufacturers, therefore there is not a fixed procedure for all PC manufacturers.
5.8
Installation of the PCI interface board drivers
1 - Shut-down the computer.

2 - Disconnect the power cable of the PC and wait for 3-4 seconds to stabilize the electronics of the PC.
3 - Plug the PCI board in a slot of the PC, ensure that the board is properly seated and is not slack.
4 - Turn ON the PC.
5 - When Windows starts it will show the Add New Hardware Wizard.
6 - The wizard will ask to select the best driver for the device, select the option not at this time, because the
driver will be installed from the CD.
7 - Select to search the driver in a location, select the folder
CD-ROM Drive:\Drivers\PCI_Board_Interface_Drivers\Drivers_XP_2000_NT.
8 - Click next in all windows.
9 - Click finish.
10 - Go to windows control panel.
11 - Double click the system icon.
12 - Click the Hardware page.
13 - Click the Device manager button.
14 - There must be an icon that says Multifunctional adapters
15 - Double click on Multifunctional adapters, if below this text is an icon that says DECISION WDM Drv
1.20 for PCI 8255 Card the PCI board driver is installed properly.
16 - To ensure that the drivers are installed properly there must not be any icon with an exclamation or
question symbol on it.
If you do not get the driver installed or if windows does not show the wizard "add new hardware" at start up,
the wizard "add new hardware " can be launched manually from the windows control panel.
5.9
Installation of the RS-232 communications board drivers
1 - Shut-down the computer.

2 - Disconnect the power cable of the PC and wait for 3-4 seconds to stabilize the electronics of the PC.
3 - Plug the PCI board in a slot of the PC, ensure that the board is properly seated and is not slack.
4 - Turn ON the PC.
5 - When Windows starts it will show the wizard Add New Hardware.
6 - The wizard will ask to select the best driver for the device, select the option not at this time, because the
driver will be installed from the CD.
7 - Select to search the driver in a location, select the folder
CD-ROM Drive:\Drivers\RS_232_Board_Drivers.
8 - Click next in all windows.
9 - Click finish.
10 - The driver is already installed on the PC, now you need to detect each port, if the board has 4 RS-232
ports it will launch the automatic detection 4 times, if the board has 2 RS-232 ports the automatic detection
will be launched twice.
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11 - To detect each port present on the RS-232 board now it is not necessary to search the drivers from the
CD-ROM because they are already installed on the PC, select to install the driver automatically
(Recommended option).
13 - Double click the system icon.
14 - Click the Hardware page.
15 - Click the Device manager button.
16 - There must be an icon that says Decision ports
17 - Double click on Decision ports, if below this text are 2 or 4 icons that say DECISION Port COM*, the
ports are installed properly.
18 - There must be also an icon that says Multiple ports serial adapter, below this text must be DECISION
PCCOM PCI 2 Port for the board with 2 ports or DECISION PCCOM PCI 4 Port for the board with 4
ports.
19 - To ensure that the drivers are installed properly there must not be any icon with an exclamation or
question symbol on it.
If you do not get the driver installed or if windows does not show the wizard "add new hardware " at start up,
the wizard "add new hardware" can be launched manually from the windows control panel.
5.10 Installation of the TGA software
Execute the setup program located in the CD-ROM drive: \TGA\Navas_Instruments_TGA_Setup.EXE.
If you will use the network TGA weights station server install also the following program:
CD-ROM:\TGA\Navas_Instruments_TGA_SVR_Setup.EXE.
Plug the USB key provided with the TGA in an USB port of the PC.
5.11 Establishing communications with the instrument
Establish the RS-232 communications with the balance and the temperature controller; configure the
RS-232 ports in the configuration menu.
Adjust the carousel home position by configuring the parameter Offset Home and positioning the
carousel in the home position from the diagnostics window.
If you will use the network option for the TGA weights station follow next steps:
1 Execute the TGA program.
2 Click the networking menu; click the network settings option.
3 If the weights station server will be used on the same PC where the TGA software is installed, copy the
value that is in the text box name of this PC to the text box that has the title Server name.
If the network server will be installed on a PC different from the one that has the TGA software installed, enter
the network name of the TGA server in the text box Server name.
4 Close the network configuration window by clicking the OK button.
5 - Click the option Use network connection to a TGA weigh station server that is on the Networking
menu
6 Execute the server program, the TGA program will connect to the server and will appear on the list of
accepted connections.
The connection may take some times a moment, 10 seconds approximately or less.
TO CONNECT THE TGA PROGRAM WITH THE SERVER PROGRAM PLEASE READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS THAT ARE ON THE SERVER MANUAL.
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Configuration settings backup
All the configurations and settings of the Configuration menu and all the programs and norms can be
saved to disk and restored later if there was a system crash.
The backup options can also be used to transfer the settings from one PC that has the TGA software
installed to other PC that also has the TGA program installed.
To backup configuration settings click Main menu, then click Backup pop up menu and then click
Backup configuration settings. The application will ask the location where will be saved the
configuration file.
To restore the configuration settings click Main menu, then click Backup pop up menu, and then click
Restore configuration settings. The application will ask the location where is the configuration file.
The configuration settings backup menu is like the following:
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TGA application main screen
The TGA main screen is similar to the following:
In this Windows application there are 4 panels:

GRAPHICS PANEL:
This panel shows the graphics of the present analysis, this window can show 2 types of graphics:
1 - Instrument monitoring mode with the carousel graphic.
2 - Samples monitoring mode with the selected sample graphics.
These graphics can be used in case of mechanical problem or for diagnosis, the instrument is fully
automatic and does not need attention.
o The carousel graphic: Is a drawing that shows a carousel and indicates with a different color
which positions have crucible with sample and the reference crucible.
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o The selected sample graphics: Shows a curve that indicates the weight loss or gain along the
time, and a curve with a different color that shows the temperatures given by the temperature
controller.
This graphic can also show the reference crucible stability curve.
The X axis represents the cycles or time.
The left Y axis represents the temperatures increasing from bottom to top.
The right Y axis represents the percentage weights loss, the bottom can be 100 % and the top
can be 0 %, this parameters are configurable.
If there is weight gain ( In the analysis of some applications it is possible ) the curve that
represents the weights will go up instead of down.
This graphic is updated each time the selected sample in the list of samples is weighed, when
the user clicks on a row on the list of samples or when the user selects the check box of the
reference crucible that is in the Samples and reference crucible data panel.
GENERAL ANALYSIS DATA PANEL:
This panel shows general data of the present analysis:
o Present selected program: Indicates the name of the set of configurations ( Final temperatures,
plateau deviations, gas types, hold times etc...) that is being used to analyze, this name is
selectable and configurable by the user.
It also displays the name of the furnace that is currently selected with the arrow of the
operational buttons panel ( This arrow is present only in dual furnace models ).
The name of the furnace is also configurable by the user.
The furnace name can be used in dual furnace models ( One PC that manages two instruments
at the same time ) to differentiate which furnace generates the results etc
In single instrument models the name of the furnace is also configurable.
o Present carousel position: It is the crucible position that is in front of the balance pedestal.
o Present furnace temperature: It is the temperature in degrees Celsius.
o Last reference crucible variation: The reference crucible is weighed before the analysis with
the furnace cool and during the analysis with the furnace hot, this crucible does not have
sample inside and is used to correct the possible variations in the weights of the samples due to
the balance drift.
It may be used for diagnosis in the case the weights are wrong or there are picks in the samples
graphics.
o Analysis cycles: Indicates the amount of revolutions done during the analysis.
o Analysis time: It is the elapsed time since the analysis started in hours and minutes format
HH:mm.
o Gas type: It is the gas name that is currently flowing inside the furnace.
o Last sample weight: It may be used to see if the balance is operating well.
o Last captured weight: It may be used to see if the balance is operating well.
o Present slope: It indicates the present slope, i.e. Moisture, volatile - matter, ash etc....
COMMONLY USED OPERATIONAL BUTTONS PANEL:
This panel has the most commonly used operational buttons:
o Graphics and view buttons:
Page N 32
There are 2 buttons that overlaps one over the other, these buttons are View graphics and View
carousel drawing.
When the user clicks any of these buttons the other button is shown on the operational buttons
panel and the clicked button disappears.
With one click the program shows the carousel graphic, other click shows the selected sample
graphic, the selected sample is the sample selected in the list of the samples and reference crucible
data panel.
The carousel graphics shows the positions that have crucible and the positions that do not have
crucible with a different color.
o Weigh button:
When the user clicks this button the program will get the initial weights of crucibles, samples
and/or covers and the reference crucible and/or the reference crucible cover before the analysis.
After the crucibles, samples and/or covers have been weighed the operator can start the analysis.
o Remove button:
The user can remove samples from the furnace.
This option may be used if there is a problem with a sample, normally it is not used.
o View result files button:
This button is used to open the result files of other analysis.
The user can see the graphics and the curves of the samples weights loss or gain and the curves of
the temperatures.
The user can print the graphics of the samples and export the graphics in ASCII text files in TXT,
CSV and Microsoft Excel .XLS formats.
The user can also export or print the database records.
The user can also access the graphics using the option Database reports that is in the database
menu, this place is better to see the graphics because from the database the records can be filtered
and sorted.
o Execute and stop buttons:
These two buttons overlaps one over the other and toggles the display of the button Execute and
the button Stop.
The button Execute is used to start the analysis.
The button Stop can be used to stop both the analysis and the weighing of crucibles, samples
and/or covers before the analysis.
o Arrows buttons:
There are two arrow buttons, one pointing to the left side and one pointing to the right side, they
toggle the display of one to the other when the user clicks on them.
These buttons are only visible in dual TGA models, in dual TGA models there can be controlled
simultaneously 2 instruments with only 1 PC.
The assignment of the left and right arrows can be configured using the option Furnaces
configuration that is in the Configuration menu.
Page N 33
They are used to change the screen of one furnace to the other.
When these buttons are clicked all the windows will be updated accordingly.
There will be shown on the screen the graphics, the list of samples, the operational buttons states
(Enabled or disabled), and the analysis general data of the selected furnace.
When the arrow buttons are clicked there will be shown the screen of the selected furnace,
but the unselected furnace can also be running at the same time.
SAMPLES AND REFERENCE CRUCIBLE DATA PANEL:
o List of samples:
This list shows the list of samples that are inside the furnace.
This list operates like a spreadsheet, it has rows and columns.
Each row in the list represents a sample, each column represents a data field of the sample, the
fields are the results of the slopes, the sample identification code, the initial sample weight, the
position of the sample in the furnace carousel, the calibration factors values for all the slopes and
the calibration factors indexes etc
The samples that have ****** asterisks in the results fields are samples that have not provided
results yet.
The operator can also select the reference crucible graphic using the check box titled Reference
crucible, If the user selects this check box the selected row in the list of samples will be
deselected.
If the user selects a row in the list of samples the graphics will be updated to show the graphic of
the selected sample and the check box Reference crucible will be cleared automatically.
o Remember columns order:
This option can be used to store on disk the last order of the columns headers in the list of samples.
The column headers of the list of samples can be arranged by dragging and dropping the column
titles.
o Show grid lines:
When this check box is selected there is shown the division lines of rows and columns with a grid
style.
o Slopes and temperatures:
There is shown the slopes names and the final temperatures of the slopes that are enabled to be
analyzed.
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The application main screen is shown like the following if it is selected the carousel graphic.
Software menus
Main menu allows saving and restoring configuration settings and exiting the
program.
Configuration menu has all the parameters for software operation that are
automatically saved to disk when changed.
Options menu have different functions for software operation.
Calibration menu allows to set the factors to obtain better results, these are numbers
that are multiplied by the original result to obtain other more precise.
Networking menu allows configuring the connection to the TGA weights station
server, it can be used for large amount of samples throughput.
Formulas menu allows defining custom calculations using constants and variable
analysis parameters like results, weights, temperatures, calibration factors, times, etc
, the user defined formulas values are also stored in the database and result files.
Database menu allows managing the data saved automatically to the database.
Page N 35
8.1
The user can print, export to files and make reports with the results in different
formats like ASCII text files, comma separated values files and Microsoft Excel files.
The results can be exported manually to LIMS ( Laboratory Information
Management Systems )
The user can also output the results to RS-232 serial ports.
This menu may be used for filtering and sorting the data and for manual data
exports.
Data Exports & LIMS connections menu is used to export automatically the data
of each batch to be used in a Laboratory Information Management System or in a
spreadsheet.
The results can be exported automatically to LIMS.
This menu may be used for automatic data exports after the analysis.
Main Menu
There are 2 options:

Backup configuration settings and restore them.
Exit the program.
8.2
Configuration Menu
8.2.1 Furnaces configuration window

This menu is titled Furnaces configuration in dual TGA models, in single TGA models it is called Furnace
configuration.
When the user clicks this option in a dual TGA model there is shown a window like the following:
Page N 36
In single furnace TGA models the furnace configuration screen is like the following:
Furnace names:
These are the names that will be shown in all the windows and warning messages, this is
used in the dual TGA models to identify which furnace generated the warning, for example,
when a furnace has finished weighing the crucibles and needs to weigh the samples before
Page N 37
starting an analysis, there will be shown a window asking for the samples, this window will
show the name of the furnace.
The name of the furnace is also stored in the records of the database to identify the furnace
that provided the results.
Interface board base address:
Dual TGA models use one interface I/O board and two Navas Instruments boards, this option
allows configuring which Navas board is assigned to left furnace and to the right furnace.
These parameters are used to assign the left arrow and the right arrow of the application main
screen to the left and to the right furnaces.
The interface board base address can be one of the following:
1 - CN1 crossed connection.
2 - CN2 direct connection.
The interface I/O board is connected to the two Navas boards through two flat cables.
Both the two Navas boards, the I/O board and the flat cables are inside the PC.
In dual TGA models one furnace will use the CN2 connection and the other furnace will use
the CN1 connection.
These two parameters are used by the program to direct the input and output signals to one
Navas board or to the other Navas board.
Both settings connects the interface I/O board to the 2 Navas boards.
The single TGA models use one interface I/O board and one Navas board.
In the single TGA models the Navas board is connected to the interface I/O board through
the CN2 port with a flat cable using a direct connection.
Each Navas board has 2 ports of type DB15 and DB25 and 2 cables connected to these ports
that goes out of the PC through the slot aperture and is connected to the instrument.
Both cables are joined into one cable.
The Software sends and receives the signals through the I/O board, the I/O board passes the
signals to the Navas board, and the Navas board re-directs the signals through the DB15 and
DB25 connectors.
The electronics is made very simple and reliable, the TGA does not use complex
electronics that could break or fail.
These parameters are only configurable in dual TGA models.
Type of interface board:
1 - Short board (Predefined and recommended).
2 - Long board.
Dual TGA models use all Short board.
Page N 38
The new single TGA models use also Short board.

The long boards are only used by previous versions of the single TGA models.
This configuration option may be configured to Long board only for old single TGA models; this
option is used for backward compatibility for old TGA models and for software upgrades.
Number of samples in the furnace carousel:
There are several TGA models with varying number of crucible positions:
1 - 12 crucibles TGA models (11 samples + 1 Reference crucible)
3 - 20 crucibles TGA models (19 samples + 1 Reference crucible) STANDARD MODEL
5 - 40 crucibles TGA models (38 samples + 2 Reference crucibles)
The TGA models with 12, 16, 20 and 24 crucibles use a carousel with 12, 16, 20 or 24 holes
in a polar matrix and use one 4 decimals precision balance with display and one pedestal.
The TGA models with 40 crucibles use a carousel with 2 concentric circles of holes (20
holes in each circle), and 2 weigh cells at left and right sides of the furnace and two
pedestals.
The dual TGA models with 40 crucibles like TGA-1000D-40 may analyze 76 (38 + 38)
samples simultaneously.
When this option is changed the carousel graphics that is on the application main screen will
change to reflect the number of crucibles.
When the carousel have less crucibles the size of the crucibles can be bigger and can analyze
samples with more weight but there will fit less amount of sample crucibles inside the
furnace.
The operator can change the available crucible positions in 5 minutes, it is only necessary to
do 3 things:
1 - Change this parameter.
2 - Remove the furnace removable carousel by hand and place the new carousel (The
carousel is only inserted, No screw driver is necessary).
3 - Adjust the parameter Offset home of the carousel in the diagnostics window.
Start - up checking:
If this check box is selected when the program starts there will be checked the
communications with the balance, with the temperature controller, the operation of the
carousel elevation, carousel rotation, gases, etc
If the check box is cleared there will not be checked the communications at start-up, disable
it if you want to speed up program start.
If the check box is cleared, the communications with the devices will be checked when the
user clicks the button Weigh that is on the operational buttons panel on the main screen.
Sort automatically ID Codes:
This option can be used when weighing the samples and entering the identification codes,
Page N 39
The user can select the check box if the operator wants the program to show the last entered
identification codes in alphabetical order, if this check box is cleared the last identification
codes will be shown on top of the lists.
The lists of identification codes can be used if the operator wants to repeat the identification
codes of some samples, the operator does not need to type again the same ID codes with the
keyboard, instead the operator can select the identifications of the samples from the dropdown list boxes.
The operator can also type the same or new identification codes if the operator wants.
8.2.2 Change password window
All the critical settings can be protected using a password to avoid access to people not authorized to change
the configurations.
If the password is forgotten or lost, contact:
info@navas-instruments.com.
This window will ask the previous password, the new password and the confirmation of the new password.
If the new password is empty the program will not ask the password when accessing the settings.
If the password is a valid password it will be asked when trying to access the configuration windows with the
following window.
8.2.3 Configuration window

Page N 40
The configuration window has 4 folders:
Parameters folder
TGA Configuration folder
Furnace lid opening folder
Combustion accelerators folder
The combustion accelerators folder is only visible in models without dual carousel ( Without automatic
crucible-covers placement and removal )
8.2.3.1 Parameters folder
Page N 41
RS-232 Communication ports:
These parameters are used by the program to know which RS-232 connectors in the PC are used to
communicate with the furnace balance and with the temperature controller, and to direct the
communications with the device to the configured port.
The port to which is connected the furnace balance must be different than the port to which is
connected the temperature controller.
Page N 42
The port to which is connected physically each device must coincide with the port that is configured in
the software.
Program names:
These are the names for the sets of configurations or norms (i.e. ASTM, ISO, DIN, UNE etc) used to
analyze, these names are configurable in this window.
If the user wants to select a program or set of configurations follow the next steps:
1 - Click the Options menu.
2 - Click on the Programs pop-up sub-menu that is in the Options menu.
3 - Select a program from the drop-down menu.
4 - When the user selects a program or norm there will be selected automatically a set of
configurations, if the user analyzes new samples there will be used the plateau deviations, hold times,
final temperatures, gases, etc of the selected norm.
When the user access the window Slopes settings that is in the Configuration menu, there will be
shown the parameters of the selected program.
The user can also change or edit the parameters of the selected program in the window Slopes
settings and the selected program will use the new parameters.
The selected program also affects the calibration factors that can be accessed using the option
Calibration & linearization spreadsheets that is in the Calibration menu and the formulas assigned
to the database table columns that can be accessed from the option Formulas assignments in the
Formulas menu.
The name of the selected program is also shown in the general data panel of the application main
screen.
Printer settings:
This option is used with some printers because some printers do not inform the PC when they have
finished printing, in this case it is necessary to wait for a few seconds to ensure the printer has finished
printing.
The user can configure the printing wait, normally 20-30 seconds, and the orientation in which will be
printed the pages which can be portrait (vertical), or landscape (horizontal).
Minimum and maximum samples weight:
This option is used to avoid the operator entering samples with less or more weight than the configured
in this window, if the operator enters less sample weight than the minimum allowed or more sample
weight than the maximum allowed the software will not allow continuing and will show a warning
message.
N of decimals for representing results:
This parameter indicates how many decimals will be used to represent the percentages % of the results
in all the windows, reports, data exports and printouts.
The weights will be represented always with 4 decimals as given by the balance.
This parameter does not affect the storage of the results, the results are always stored with many
decimals, it is only used for visualization.
Page N 43
If the operator changes this parameter after the results have been saved the program will reflect the
changes.
Carousel offset home:
This parameter indicates the additional steps the carousel moves when it passes over to the reference
crucible home position or zero position.
If the operator enters a positive number the carousel will make a correction clockwise.
If the user enters a negative number the carousel will make a correction counter-clockwise.
This parameter is used by the software every time the carousel is positioned in the position 0, where
the reference crucible is placed.
When the carousel finds the Home switch steps are added or subtracted to get the exact position.
This offset is not present in the positioning of the other crucibles.
When the carousel moves to other positions it moves counting the steps.
This parameter is used because the home switch of the carousel is not located exactly in the 0 position
instead it could be displaced some millimeters.
This parameter makes the instrument to position the carousel correctly.
This parameter can be adjusted dynamically using the diagnostics window.
Carousel pause:
This parameter is the pause between steps of the carousel.

The greater is the pause the slower is the carousel movement.
We do not recommend to change this parameter, leave this parameter as it is by default.
It is adjusted in rare situations.
Carousel vibration:
The program allows vibrating the carousel every 3 revolutions to homogenize the samples that are
inside the crucibles to provide better accuracy in the results.
The vibration is done by moving the carousel some steps forward and backward at high speed.
Type of balance:
The type of balance specifies the manufacturer type; it can be S or A.

Navas Instruments buys complete brand name balances from recognized manufacturers.
This parameter depends on the balance that is physically connected to the instrument.
Texts in printed reports:

o Title
This parameter can be used to customize the title of the reports that are printed
automatically after the analysis.
It may be useful in dual TGA models to differentiate the furnace that generated the results.
I.e. Left furnace may have the text: Furnace 1, and right furnace may have the text: Furnace
2, or other else etc
Page N 44
8.2.3.2 TGA Configuration folder
Furnace cooling:
Full lid opening temperature:
This parameter indicates at which temperature the furnace will open the lid completely when cooling at
the end of the analysis.
Page N 45
If this parameter is configured to a high value it may damage the furnace with many uses but the
furnace will cool faster.
The software will not allow configuring this parameter if the user enters a high temperature, in this
case the software will show a warning message and this window will not be closed if the user clicks the
button OK to accept the values.
Starting temperature:
This is the temperature below which is allowed starting a new analysis.

When the furnace temperature is below this value the software will do the following:
1 - Enable the button Weigh that is on the main screen to allow the user enter new crucibles, samples
and/or covers for new analysis.
2 - Allow the user opening and closing the furnace lid in the diagnostics window.
If the furnace is hot or the communications with the temperature controller are not established the
buttons that are used to open the furnace lid in the diagnostics window will be disabled to avoid
damaging the furnace.
Click ON for carousel moving up and down during cooling cycle for ceramic crucibles to get
lose on metal carousel (Unclick if using metal crucibles):
If this option is selected when cooling the furnace at the end of the analysis with the furnace fans
on the carousel will do a routine every 100 C to get lose the ceramic crucibles from the metal
carousel.
This routine consist of the following steps:
1 - The carousel is raised.
2 - The carousel rotates one crucible position.
3 - The carousel is lowered as if there will be weighed a sample (The software will not read any
weight from the balance, NO ANALYSIS, ONLY MECHANICALLY DEPOSIT CRUCIBLE ON
BALANCE PEDESTAL)
4 - Start repeating again from step 1 to 3, these steps are done with all crucible positions even if
they do not have a crucible.
MOST APPLICATIONS WITH NAVAS TGAs CAN USE METAL CRUCIBLES, IN THE
CASE OF ANALYSIS OF CORROSIVE MATERIALS THERE CAN ALSO BE USED
CERAMIC OR QUARTZ CRUCIBLES IN NAVAS TGAs.
WHEN THE FURNACE IS COOLING THE CERAMIC CRUCIBLES MAY GET JAMMED ON
THE METAL CAROUSEL DUE TO THE DIFFERENT EXPANSION COEFFIECIENTS OF
CERAMICS AND METAL, WITH THIS OPTON SELECTED THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED.
IF THE TGA MOVES THE CAROUSEL DURING THE COOLING CYCLE IT IS NOT
ANALYZING, IT IS ONLY AVOIDING JAMMING THE CERAMIC CRUCIBLES ON THE
METAL CAROUSEL.
Buzzer beeping configuration:
The sound of the buzzer can be disturbing for some people due to the noise.
Page N 46
The user can configure if the buzzer must beep when there are shown message boxes with warnings about
errors, alarms or asking for an operation that must be done.
For example: There is not pneumatic pressure, The balance is not connected, The crucibles have been
weighed now the samples need to be weighed etc
The user can also configure the square wave of the sound and the time the buzzer will be beeping if the
operator does not close the message box by clicking on the button OK that is on the message box when a
warning message is shown.
Show warning message asking the operator to start the analysis:

If the option AUTO-START analysis after weighing samples in Options menu is not checked
and this option is selected the program will show an alarm asking the operator to click the
Execute button on the operational buttons panel.
This alarm may be useful if the operator wants to revise the samples weights, ID codes, selected
calibration factors etc and make any change before starting the analysis.
If this option is cleared or the Auto-Start analysis option is selected there will not be shown any
warning message.
The warning message looks like the following:
This message appears with the buzzer beeping to warn the user.
This option may be disabled if it is disturbing to avoid the message to appear and click less buttons.
Show warning message asking the operator to regulate the gas flow:
If this option is selected the program will ask the operator to regulate the gas flow.
This option may be disabled if it is disturbing to avoid the message to appear and click less buttons.
Graphics scales & presentation on screen:

These parameters are used only for the graphics, they do not affect the temperatures used to make the
analysis.
In coal analysis the samples have normally weight loss but in some applications the samples may have
also weight gain, i.e. Cement analysis.
When there is weight loss the sample curve on the graphics goes down, when there is weight gain the
curve goes up.
Page N 47
o Maximum temperature.
This parameter is the maximum temperature of the graphics.
The left axis of the graphics is used for the temperatures, the temperatures increase from bottom to
top.
The right axis of the graphics is used for the weight loss or gain.
The top of the graphics is the minimum weight loss and the bottom of the graphics is the maximum
weight loss.
If a sample gains weight the graphics will go up instead of down.
For example: If the graphics is configured to use the interval of weight loss 0 % to 100 % the top of
the graphics will be 0 % and the bottom will be 100 %.
o Weight loss starting point
This parameter is used in some applications where it is necessary to see the samples weight gain.
In most applications there is only weight loss.
.
For example: If the maximum temperature is 200 C and the weight loss starting point is 100 C, the
weight loss or gain will start at 100 C not in the reality but in the graphics, bellow 100 C will be
weight loss until +50%, above 100 C will be weight gain until -50 %.
For example: If the maximum temperature is 200 C and the weight loss starting point is also 200 C,
the weight loss or gain will start at 200 C and all the graphics will be weight loss from 0 % until +100
%.
These parameters are not saved with the graphics results files, they are saved only in the
configuration file of the instrument.
These parameters are used only for visualization, if the user opens a file of a previous analysis to
view the results or print them the results will be displayed using the parameters configured in
this window.
These parameters can be changed after the analysis has been made and results will be displayed
accordingly.
Second balance RS-232 communications port

This parameter is only used in TGA models with 40 crucible positions (38 samples + 2 reference
crucibles).
Models with 40 crucibles have 2 concentric circles of orifices that holds the crucibles.
These models have 2 weigh cells and 2 pedestals.
Dual TGA models with 40 crucibles may analyze 76 (38 + 38) samples simultaneously.
Re-weigh the samples after obtaining the initial weights

The samples will be re-weighed with the lid down only if they have been weighed with the lid up to
obtain better accuracy in the initial sample weights.
Keep gas flow even in case of failure
Page N 48
The program cuts the gas flow if there is a mechanic failure during the analysis, the program will show
the alarm beeping and stop until the user clicks the OK button on the alarm message window and
then presses the Execute button again.
After pressing the Execute button the program will restore the gas flow.
This option must be selected if the gas flow must not be cut in case of failure.
I.e. it may be useful if the instrument is analyzing explosive materials.
Colors for standards and samples in the curves fitting and non linear regression lists
This option is only used to facilitate to the user distinguishing what samples are standards (certified
reference materials) and what samples are regular samples (non certified reference materials) in the
Curves fitting window.
The user can select a color for the standards and a color for the regular samples.
If the user does not want to use these options the user can change both colors to white.
These options affect the colors of the text rows in the list that is in the results panel of the Curves
fitting window.
The Curves fitting window also allows selecting the colors of the curves and lines of the graphics.
If any of these buttons is clicked a window like the following will be shown:
The user can select a color from the palette and then click the OK button.
Step lid opening:

o Instrument with step lid opening.
o Instrument without step lid opening.
These options are used for compatibility with previous TGA models that do not have step lid opening
and for software upgrades for the previous and new TGA models.
New TGA models use all step lid opening; the parameters for step lid opening can be configured in
Furnace lid opening page in the configuration menu.
Page N 49
Type of carousel motor pulley:

These options are only used in TGA models that have a furnace carousel with 24 crucible positions.
1 - Carousel motor pulley for this model is different than the pulley of 20 crucibles carousel.
2 - Carousel motor pulley is the same of the pulley of 20 crucibles carousel.
Navas Instruments have models with different number of crucibles.
Larger crucibles allow more amount of sample but allow less crucibles inside the furnace.
Smaller crucibles allow analyzing smaller sample sizes but allows a bigger number of samples.
There are models for the following amounts of samples:
1 - 12 Crucible positions ( 11 samples + 1 reference crucible )
3 - 20 Crucible positions ( 19 samples + 1 reference crucible ) THIS IS THE STANDARD MODEL
5 - 40 Crucible positions ( 38 samples + 2 reference crucibles )
These amounts are for single furnace models, dual furnace models ( 2 Furnaces controlled
simultaneously by one single PC ) double these capacities.
The TGAs use a stepping motor to rotate the carousel.
The spacing of the crucibles positions can be controlled by Software or by Hardware.
If controlled by Software all models use the same pulley of the 20 crucibles carousel only is different
the number of motor steps.
If controlled by Hardware the motor pulley is different in the 24 crucibles model, new models with 24
crucibles use also software control.
This parameter is only used for backward compatibility with previous customers and for
software upgrades, new customers do not need to configure this parameter, by default this parameter
is configured to be software control (Option 2) even with the new 24 crucibles models.
8.2.3.3 Furnace lid opening folder

The TGA has a technique for the furnace lid opening that allows opening the lid partially in different
positions; this is used in 3 circumstances:
1 - When cooling the furnace to avoid damaging the ceramics and to make the cooling faster.
2 - In model TGA-1000 the covers are placed and removed by hand, this model can also be used for coal and
coke, and is similar to model TGA-2000A, with the exception that the crucible-covers placement and removal
is not automatic.
The advantage of model TGA-2000A is the automatic crucible-covers placement and removal.
3 - When getting the initial weights of the samples the furnace lid can be configured to open and close every
time a sample is weighed.
When the user selects this page there is shown a window similar to the following:
Page N 50
Furnace cooling
o Number of positions:
The user can select from 1 to 4 positions.
When cooling the furnace at the end of the analysis the process is done using the following rules:
1 - When the furnace temperature is below the value in the temperature text box for the position
currently executing the software will apply the time that is in the time text box to the lid opening.
Page N 51
The greater is the time for the lid opening the greater is the lid opening.
Please be careful when adjusting these parameters not to open the lid much with a high temperature
because the furnace ceramic can be damaged.
The greater the temperatures the less must be the times to open the lid.
Position 1 must be more temperature than Position 2, Position 2 must be more temperature
than Position 3 etc
Time 1 must be less time than Time 2, Time 2 must be less time than Time 3 etc
2 - The lid opening is done in the following sequence:
-
The lid closes completely.

The lid opening is activated.
The software waits the time configured in milliseconds ( 1 ms = 1 / 1000 s).
The lid opening is deactivated.
3 - The lid positions can be configured more easily in the diagnostics window using the buttons that
are in the Lid level position group box.
To configure these parameters click the buttons Test lid partial opening and Configure .
Model TGA-1000 (Manual installation and removal of crucible-covers)

o Covers installation position:
o Covers removal position:
These are the positions with its times that will be used to open the lid before the user places the
covers by hand (Normally before volatiles analysis) and removes the covers (Normally before ash
analysis)
The temperatures have no effect, only the times are taken into consideration.
The temperatures used to open the lid are taken from the window Slopes settings.
Models TGA-2000 have a dual carousel inside the furnace for automatic placement and removal of
crucible-covers.
Lid Position to open the lid for samples weighing
This parameter can have one of the following values:

o
o
o
o
o
o
Disabled, no lid opening and closing.

Full lid opening
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3
Position 4
o Disabled, no lid opening and closing:

This is the fastest weighing method.
Page N 52
The lid will not open and close every time a sample is weighed, after a sample is weighed the
instrument will move the carousel to the next sample position and show the window that allows
weighing and entering the sample identification code.
The lid will remain open for the next sample.
If this option is used the operator can also configure the parameter Re-weigh samples that
is in the TGA configuration folder to be able to re-weigh the samples automatically with the
lid down and no air draft after all the samples in the furnace have been weighed.
o Full lid opening:
This is the slowest weighing method, the TGA will do the following:
-
When the user presses the Enter Sample button on the instrument or clicks the OK
button in the weighing window the program will raise the carousel, the furnace lid will
close, then the software will tare the balance, lower the carousel to deposit the crucible
on the pedestal and then read the weight from the balance.
If the amount of sample inside the crucible is in the range of the minimum and the
maximum sample weight allowed (Configurable in the TGA program) the TGA will
raise the carousel, raise the lid and move the carousel to the next sample position.
If the amount of sample is NOT inside the configurable minimum and maximum sample
weight or if the user did not entered a sample identification code, the software will
request the needed data or weight, will open the lid and will not continue with the next
sample until all the data or weight is correct.
If this option is used the samples will not be re-weighed with the lid down even if the program
is configured to do that because the sample weight is already stable as it was obtained with the
lid down.
This weighing method is used some times because if the room temperature at the laboratory is
high the samples can lose moisture after weighing the crucibles, although the samples can be
re-weighed later with the lid down some moisture could be released before getting the sample
initial weight, If this option is used the samples will not be re-weighed with the lid down.
In some applications use the weighing method Disabled, no lid opening and closing because
it is much faster.
o
o
o
o
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3
Position 4
These weighing methods are similar to method Full lid opening except that the furnace lid will
not open completely, instead the lid will open half way.
If the lid is opened with some degree but not totally the weighing process is faster because the lid
will last less time from position closed to position open and vice versa.
8.2.3.4 Combustion accelerators folder
Page N 53
The combustion accelerators folder is similar to the following:
There are some applications where there may be added substances to the samples to accelerate the combustion
time, i.e. determination of ash in flour.
When there is added a combustion accelerator the analysis time is reduced and the instrument can make more
analysis per day.
Some substances that can be used as combustion accelerators are Magnesium Acetate, Ethanol and others.
Use combustion accelerator instead of crucible-covers

Page N 54
If this check box is selected the window that allows configuring the slopes settings will show an option to
enable the user to add the combustion accelerator.
If the user selects the option Slopes settings in the configuration menu, the window that appears will look
like the following:
In this window there is a check box titled Add combustion accelerator that replaces the Place covers check
box.
If the option Use combustion accelerator instead of crucible-covers in the folder Combustion accelerators
of the configuration window is cleared the check box in the window Slopes settings will be titled Place
covers.
For more information please see the section Slopes settings window in this manual.
Page N 55
Cooling temperature (C)
If the option Use combustion accelerator instead of crucible-covers in this window is selected and the check
box Add combustion accelerator in the window Slopes settings is also selected the instrument will do the
following before starting the analysis of the configured slope:
1 - The instrument will open the lid and cool down the furnace until the temperature configured in the text box
Cooling temperature is reached.
2 - After the cooling temperature is reached the software will beep with the buzzer to call the operator and will
show a window similar to the following.
3 After the user closes this window the software will ask the operator to add the combustion accelerator
substance ( Magnesium acetate, ethanol etc ) to each sample.
The instrument will place the crucible in front of the operator for each sample one after the other and will
show several windows similar to the following, one for each sample:
4 After the user finishes adding the combustion accelerator to all the samples the software will ask the user
to fire the samples (The operator can user a lighter or other device) .
When the operator presses the Enter sample button on the instrument the carousel will rotate, when the
operator releases the Enter sample button the carousel will stop rotating.
This way the user can fire the samples without having to extend the hands far from the samples.
Page N 56
5 - The instrument will wait the time configured in the time control titled Wait time after burning samples
6 - The instrument will close the lid, and start the analysis for that slope
Cool down using fans
If this check box is marked the cooling made before asking the operator to add the combustion accelerator will
be done using the fans.
If this check box is cleared the cooling will be done without using the fans.
In both cases the temperature controller set point will be lowered and the furnace lid will open.
This option may be deactivated if the user is analyzing some materials that may fly from the crucibles
(Volatile or light materials, like powder)
Wait time after burning samples
This parameter is expressed in minutes and seconds.

This parameter indicates how much time to wait after the operator fires the samples and before starting to
analyze the slope.
NOTE: Adding combustion accelerator substances to the samples will introduce an error in the sample
weight, this error can be corrected using the formulas designer.
For more information please read the section Formulas designer in this manual.
Page N 57
8.2.4 Slope settings window

These parameters are related to the selected program, if the user selects other program using the Options
menu these parameters will be the parameters that belong to the selected program.
When the user selects this option there is shown a window like the following:
Analyze this slope:
When this option is checked the parameters that are in the selected page will be used to analyze a slope and the
panel that has the list of samples at the main screen will show the slope name configured in this window.
There will be shown also at the main screen the names of the slopes that are selected to be analyzed and the
final temperature of each slope that is enabled to be analyzed.
Page N 58
If this check box is cleared the lists of samples with columns for the results at the main screen will remove the
column that represents this slope.
Slope name:
This name will appear and will be used in the following circumstances:
1 - Shown in the panel that has the list of samples at the main screen for the present analysis.
2 - Shown in the column headers in the window Database reports, this window can be accessed from the
Database menu.
The names that appear in the database table column headers will be the names of the slopes of the program
currently selected.
If the user selects other program using the Options menu there could be used other names although the
columns represents the same slopes.
3 - Exported when exporting the data files in ASCII text files, comma separated values files or Microsoft
Excel files if the user configures to export the column titles.
4 - Printouts when the database records are printed in a printer.
5 - List of samples that is in the graphics results files, the graphics files can be accesses in two ways: from
the option Database reports or using the button View that is at the main screen.
If the user selects other program from the Options menu or changes this name later the identifier of the
column header in the database will be different but it refers to the same column.
Place covers
If this option is selected there will be used covers in this slope.

There are several TGA Models (With variants for dual furnace models, different crucible positions, weights
station server software, automatic placement and removal of crucible-covers, etc):
TGA-2000A:
TGA-1000:
TGA-2000G
Places and removes covers automatically during analysis by using a dual carousel.
The operator places and removes covers by hand; the furnace will open the lid.
The same as TGA-1000 model but has furnace power control.
PID:
This option is the Proportional Integral Derivative temperature control algorithm.

This parameter is used to get a more accurate temperature control.
Select a PID parameter that uses a calibration temperature near the final temperature that will be used for the
analysis of this slope.
Preferably the PID must be 2 or 3 C less than the final temperature parameter to avoid temperature overshoot.
If the user makes auto-tuning to a temperature much lower than the final temperature and use that PID
algorithm there will be a temperature undershoot, if the auto-tuning is made to a temperature much greater
than the final temperature there will be temperature overshoot.
We recommend to do auto-tuning at temperatures near the temperature that will be used.
Final temperature:
This parameter is the set point that has to be reached before starting to consider the weights to obtain the
results.
Page N 59
Slope (Ramp rate):
This parameter is the degrees C / minute that will heat up the furnace.
When analyzing explosive materials the ramp rate can be configured to a low value.
In some materials if the ramp rate is high the samples may get coquized and the samples will provide the
results much slower.
If the user wants to shorten the analysis time this parameter can be configured to a high value.
High power limit temperature:
This option is only available in the first slope, which is normally moisture.
During the analysis of the first slope the furnace relay will be activated to raise the temperature faster.
After the temperature in this edit box is reached the furnace relay will be deactivated to avoid temperature
overshoot.
The recommended value is the configured by default.
Automatic control
This option can only be used in the first slope that will be normally moisture, in all other pages this option is
disabled.
Moisture is normally determined at low temperatures, around 105 C.
This option must be always ON for automatic temperature control to prevent temperature over-shoot.
If this option is cleared the ramp rate for the first slope can be changed.
Furnace Power:
These options are only enabled in model TGA-2000G that has furnace power control; all other models have
these options disabled.
1 Series reduced power
2 Parallel bottom elements
3 Parallel all elements
:
:
:
Power level 1 (Minimum level).

Power level 2 (Medium level).
Power level 3 (Maximum level).
Analysis type:
Each slope can be analyzed in 5 different ways:

o
o
o
o
o
By constant weight
By hold time
By both plateau deviation or hold time.
By plateau deviation and then by hold time.
By plateau deviation and then by hold time or repetitive counts.
o By constant weight
In this method the sample provides result when the deviation of the sample weights in several readings
are below a percentage of the sample initial weight.
It happens when the sample stops losing or gaining weight in several consecutive readings.
Normally is used in the analysis of moisture or ash.
o By hold time
Page N 60
In this method the sample provides result when there has been elapsed a time since the furnace has
reached the final temperature (Set-point temperature).
Normally is used in the analysis of volatile-matter.
o By both plateau deviation or hold time
In this method the sample provides result when any of the two methods Constant weight or Hold
time has been reached, the sample provides result with the first rule that has been reached.
o By plateau deviation and then by hold time.
In this method the program waits until the sample has reached the Constant weight condition and
then the sample is weighed during the analysis, when there has been elapsed a time since the Constant
weight condition the sample provides result.
o By plateau deviation and then by hold time or repetitive counts.
In this method the program waits until the sample has reached the Constant weight condition and
then the sample is weighed during the analysis, when there has been elapsed a time since the Constant
weight condition or there are a number of cycles in which the weight has not vary the sample provides
result.
In all the analysis type cases the software will wait until the final temperature (Set-point temperature) is
reached before trying to provide the results.
Plateau deviation:
This parameter is the deviation below which the sample will provide result because it has constant weight.
It starts counting when the final temperature has been reached.
Hold time:
This parameter is the time in days, hours, minutes and seconds necessary since the final temperature has been
reached before providing the slope result.
Minimum analysis time:
The program allows configuring the minimum analysis time.

If this option is configured the program will not provide results even if the samples weights are stable.
This option can be used to analyze some materials that have constant weight at the wrong time because the
samples starts losing weight later.
Reference crucible weighed every rev.:
This option has to be selected always except for volatile-matter determination in coal and coke and when
analyzing the slope 2 by hold time during 7 minutes or less.
When this option is cleared the reference crucible is not weighed after the final temperature has been reached
to have more time to weigh the samples more times and to be able to do extrapolation calculations with the
samples weights to provide the results, i.e. determination of volatile-matter in coal and coke.
Page N 61
This option has to be marked for normal operation, if unmarked more points per graph :
When this option is cleared the samples are weighed constantly with no wait times from one sample to other.
In normal situations the same sample cannot be weighed in two consecutive readings if there has not been
elapsed at least 2 minutes from one reading to the next, to avoid that there exist the constant weight condition
at the wrong time and provide a bad result.
In some applications the TGA is not used to provide results, but instead the TGA is used to see the weight loss
or gain along the time and the behavior of the material.
I.e. first derivatives.
Slower results increased precision:
When this option is selected the samples weighing time is longer but the precision can be incremented.
The program allows exporting the revolution numbers, times in HH:MM:SS format, temperatures,
weights and first derivatives in Microsoft Excel files and other files formats.
IF THIS OPTION IS SELECTED THE TIMES MAY DIFFER IN THE DIFFERENT SAMPLES.
Crucibles weighed even when results are present:
This option can be cleared to extend the life of the balance and the mechanical parts.
If this option is selected the samples are weighed even if they have provided the result.
This option can be used if you want to analyze the behavior of the material beside the results, i.e. First
derivatives.
If this option is cleared the samples weights that are shown when opening a TGA file using the View button
on the screen or from the database will be the same as the one that provided the result for the slope.
The samples weights will not be updated until the next slope starts the analysis.
The program allows exporting the revolution numbers, times in HH:MM:SS format, temperatures,
weights and first derivatives in Microsoft Excel files and other files formats.
IF THIS OPTION IS CLEARED THE TIMES MAY DIFFER IN THE DIFFERENT SAMPLES.
Results are presented only with zero or positive sign:
If this option is selected the samples that gain weight will not show the results with negative sign, instead the
samples that gain weight will show the results as zero 0.0.
The samples that loss weight will always show the results with positive sign with this option selected or not.
Gas type:
Using this parameter the user can select whether to have gas flow inside the furnace while analyzing and the
type of gas.
This option can be one of the following:
1 - Nitrogen
2 - Oxygen.
Page N 62
3 - Other gas (In special models, i.e. for research).

4 - No gas.
Start cycles before analysis and end cycles after analysis
The software allows configuring whether to execute a wait cycle before and after the analysis of the slope.
A wait cycle consist of the following steps:
1- The TGA is weighing samples until the temperature configured is reached.
2- After the temperature is reached the software will be still weighing samples but not providing results and
wait the time configured.
Wait cycles are not used to provide results.
For example there can be used a wait cycle at end of volatiles determination in coal to avoid the coal to
coquize.
In this case configure the final temperature for volatiles to be 900 C, 950 C or 1000 C.
Select the check box that allows analyzing the end cycle, and then configure 600 as the temperature for the end
cycle and 10 minutes.
In the ash slope configure 800 as final temperature.
After providing the results for the volatiles slope at 900, 950 or 1000 C the software will lower the furnace
temperature to 600, when 600 degrees are reached it will wait 10 minutes, then it will raise the temperature to
analyze ash at 800 C.
There can be configured 5 settings:
o
o
o
o
o
Enable or disable the start and / or end cycle.

Final temperature.
Final temperature ramp rate in C / Minute.
Time to wait since the final temperature is reached in HH:MM:SS format.
Gas type for the start and end cycle.
Type of result
Results can be calculated using the weight lost or the weight that is in the crucible at the end of the slope.
For example: in moisture or volatiles the result is provided normally using the weight lost.
In the determination of ash content normally is used the weight remaining that is still in the crucible and was
not lost.
If the option selected is result of this slope will be weight lost the formula to calculate the result will be the
following:
Result = (Previous slope weight Slope weight) * Calibration factor * 100 / Initial sample weight
If the option selected is result of this slope will be the remaining result the formula to calculate the result
will be the following:
Result = Slope weight * Calibration factor * 100 / Initial sample weight
Normally the weight loss is used for the first slopes and the weight remaining is used for the last slope.
This option is totally configurable to be generic for any application.
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Samples results modification:
Normally the analysis are stored as provided by the instrument, but there exist the possibility to multiply all
the results of any given slope by a number and add or subtract a value from the result.
This may be used in some applications.
The results can be modified as dry and as wet basis, a negative addition will be a subtraction.
The preferred methods to modify the results are the calibration factors, non-linear regression and formulas
designer.
Navas Instruments recommends using the formulas designer and curves fitting instead.
Using the calibration and curves fitting the user can make corrections to the results differently for each sample,
using the results modification options the modifications will be applied to all the samples equally.
8.2.4.1 LOI Formulas folder
LOI is a calculation made on ash or other slopes in some materials like cement, calcium carbonate, etc
The folder LOI formulas is like the following:
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Type of LOI formula
The LOI formula is configurable.

The user can select 7 formulas:
1 - LOI 1 = 100 ( Moisture + Ash ).
2 - LOI 2 = 100 Ash.
3 - LOI 3 = ( Initial weight Weight of ash ) * 100 / Initial weight.
4 - Fixed carbon = 100 (Moisture + Volatiles + Ash)
5 - VDAF = (Volatiles - Moisture) / (100 (Ash + Moisture))
6 - LOI 6 = Slope 1 + Slope 2 + Slope 3 + Slope 4
7 - LOI 7 = 100 (Slope 1 + Slope 2 + Slope 3 + Slope 4 + Slope 5 + Slope 6 + Slope 7 + Slope 8)
The result of this formula can be multiplied by a factor to obtain several more formulas.
For example in Calcium carbonate the formula is:
Page N 65
(LOI) Calcite = (100 Ash) * (100 / 43.965).

To obtain this formula do the following:
1 - Select the formula LOI2 = 100 - Ash.
2 - Select the option button Other factor and type in the edit box: 2.2745, which is equal to 100 / 43.965.
3 - Select the option button Other name and type in the edit box: Calcite.
The operator can configure the name of LOI depending on the application.
In Calcium carbonate the name is Calcite instead of LOI.
This name will be shown in the list of samples at the main screen as well as in all the screens, data exports,
reports and printouts.
There will be added the text dry to the field of LOI as dry basis.
For example if the name of LOI is Calcite the results as dry will be in the column Calcite dry.
8.3
Options menu
8.3.1 Diagnostics window
This option allows testing all the mechanical and electrical functions of the instrument and repairing any
possible mechanical problem.
If the user selects this option there will be shown a window similar to the following:
Page N 66
Adjusting the Home offset of the furnace carousel
The user can adjust the carousel home offset parameter to get a proper positioning of the carousel, to do this
type a number using the keyboard in the text box Offset home and then click the button Home position.
When the carousel detects the home switch there will be added or subtracted the steps configured in the
Offset home edit box.
Positive values make a movement correction clockwise, negative values make the correction counter
clockwise.
The offset home movement correction is made every time the carousel is moved to the zero position or passes
over the zero position.
For example if the carousel goes from position 1 to position 19 the carousel will not make a correction.
But if the carousel goes from position 19 to position 1, or for example from position 18 to 5 the carousel will
make the offset correction at the zero position and then continue moving until the carousel reaches the
destination position.
When the carousel moves from one position to other position that does not pass over the zero position it moves
the carousel counting a number steps of the stepping motor.
To adjust the parameter Offset home it is necessary to open the lid from the diagnostics window, the first
time try to position the carousel with an offset of zero, when the carousel finishes the movement if the carousel
hole that is nearest the balance pedestal is not centered on top of the pedestal type a number in the text box
Offset home and click again the button Home position.
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Try to move the carousel to zero position until the hole is centered on top of the balance pedestal.
o To verify that the carousel home position is good follow next steps:
1 - Click the button Home position.
2 - Place a crucible by hand on the carousel orifice that is nearest the furnace balance pedestal.
3 - Click the button Down that is in the Carousel level group box to lower the carousel.
4 - The numbers that show the furnace balance weight must be stable, not moving, if the balance gets stable
weight the display in diagnostics must show a g symbol beside the weight.
Carousel position
This drop-down list box can be used to move the carousel to the selected positions.
Removing the carousel motor current
When the motor current is removed the carousel can be moved by hand without friction.
This option may be used to adjust mechanically the carousel home switch by hand moving the screw of the
home switch.
Covers
This button is available only in TGA models that have automatic placement and removal of crucible-covers.
When the user clicks this button the upper carousel is separated from the lower carousel (Separating the covers
from the crucibles).
This is done automatically by the software when the slope is configured for not using covers in the window
Slopes settings. (i.e. Moisture and ash determination).
When this button is clicked again the upper carousel is joined to the lower carousel (Placing the covers on the
crucibles).
This is done automatically by the software when the slope is configured for using covers in the window
Slopes settings. (i.e. Volatile matter determination).
This button can be used to test the operation of the piston that places and removes the crucible-covers.
Tare furnace balance
The tare button zeroes the balance display with the weight there is on the balance pedestal at the time the tare
button is clicked.
If the weight on the balance is removed after the tare, the balance display will show the weight that was on the
balance when was tared but with negative sign.
If it is place more weight on the balance pedestal after the tare button is clicked there will be shown on the
balance display the difference between the new weight and the weight that was on the balance pedestal at the
time the balance was tared.
The tare button can be used to test the communications between the balance and the computer.
The TGA program tares the balance during the analysis automatically and periodically with the furnace
carousel in the upper position (there is no weight on the balance pedestal)
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Calibrate furnace balance
The button Calibrate is used when the instrument is installed the first time on the installation site.
This button is used to correct the possible deviations of the balance readings in relation with the earth gravity.
The furnace balance needs to be calibrated normally when it is changed from one geographic location to other.
The variations of the balance when changed from one geographic location to other are normally very small.
Lid level position
These options are used to test the lid opening and closing.
There are 3 level positions for the lid:
o Lid up.
o Lid down.
o Lid partial opening (With several positions).
The Up button is used for full lid opening.
The Down button is used to close the lid completely.
If the user clicks the Conf button there is shown a window where the user can configure the elapse times
that are used for the step lid opening positions.
By clicking the drop-down list box that is beside the button Test lid partial opening there can be selected the
position where will be opened the lid.
The TGA program will not allow opening the lid if the furnace temperature is above the parameter Starting
temperature or if the communications with the temperature controller are not established for any reason, to
configure this parameter do the following:
1 - Click Configuration menu in the application main screen.
2 - Click Configuration option.
3 - Select the page TGA configuration.
4 - There is a parameter that is titled Starting temperature.
The parameter Starting temperature is also used by the software when cooling the furnace after an analysis
to know below which temperature the program will enable the button Weigh that is on the operational
buttons panel at the main screen to allow the user entering a new batch of samples.
Carousel level
These options can be used to test the operation of the carousel level piston and the carousel level switch.
There are 2 level positions for the carousel:
o Carousel up.
o Carousel down.
To be able to rotate the carousel the carousel must be in the upper level position.
The program will not allow rotating the carousel if the carousel level is in the down position.
When the carousel is in the down position the crucible that is on the carousel is deposited on the furnace
balance pedestal.
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Gas type
There are 3 or 4 gases:

o
o
o
o
Nitrogen.
Oxygen.
No gas.
Other gas (Available only in special models i.e. TGA for Research).
When the user clicks one of these options there will be activated the solenoid that enters the selected gas inside
the furnace.
When the user clicks the option button No gas the gas flow will be disabled.
The gases are activated and deactivated by the program during the analysis automatically using the
parameters that can be configured in the window Slopes settings.
Furnace relay
The furnace relay must be activated if the user wants to heat the furnace to more than 200 C.
When the furnace relay is activated the furnace has more heating power.
The furnace relay must be deactivated if the operator wants to heat the furnace less than 100 or 200 C to avoid
temperature overshoot.
The TGA furnace allows heating up to 1000 C.
If the user wants to heat the furnace to a high temperature it will also be necessary to activate the Nitrogen
button that is in the Gas type group box to give more power to the furnace.
Buzzer
This button can be activated and deactivated to test the buzzer operation.
If the buzzer is not damaged and is working when the user clicks this button the buzzer will emit a constant
beep.
The beep can be disabled clicking the button again.
The program uses the buzzer to warn the operator when there is an error or to call the operator when the
instrument needs attention for any reason, i.e. when the program warns to weigh the samples after weighing
the crucibles before the analysis etc
When the buzzer is activated automatically there is always shown a window with a message for the user, in
this case when the user presses the ENTER key on the keyboard or clicks the button OK on the message
box the message box will be closed and the buzzer will stop beeping.
The settings for the beeping behavior can be configured using the parameters that are in the page TGA
configuration, to access these parameters follow next steps:
1 - Click the Configuration menu at the application main screen.
2 - Click the option Configuration
3 - Click the page TGA Configuration.
4 - There is a group of controls in a group titled Buzzer beeping configuration
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150 Internal and external fans
The program activates these fans automatically during the analysis when the furnace temperature is above 150
C to avoid heating the components that are inside the instrument chassis and outside the furnace.
There is not danger to damage the components of the instrument if the fans do not work, but the balance may
not get correct readings due to the heat.
This button can be used to test the fans.
Final cooling fans
The program activates these fans automatically at a certain temperature during the cooling after the end of the
analysis.
This button can be used to test the fans.
If the furnace temperature is above the parameter Starting temperature or the communications with the
temperature controller are not established the software will not allow activating or deactivating the fans to
avoid damaging the furnace refractory ceramics.
Send temperature
When the user clicks this button the program sends the temperature that is in the text box beside the button to
the temperature controller.
To be able to send a temperature to the temperature controller the furnace lid must be down.
If the lid is up the TGA program will not allow sending temperatures to the controller.
If the user wants to heat the furnace to a high temperature i.e. 800 C 1000 C it is necessary to activate 2
things:
1 - The furnace relay
2 - Nitrogen solenoid.
Current weight and current temperature
The present weight and the present temperature are shown in real time.
I.e. if the user places a mass on the balance pedestal the numbers in the diagnostics window will change
instantly.
Sensors switches
The states of the switches are displayed in real time as they are changing; it is not necessary to click any
button to update the states.
I.e. if the user presses the Enter sample button that is on the front panel of the instrument the switch state in
the diagnostics screen will change instantly.
There are 5 switches:
o Carousel home.
o Carousel elevation.
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o Lid.
o Gas pressure.
o Enter sample.
8.3.2 Temperature controller Auto Tuning window
The TGA uses advanced temperature control algorithms; the control used is called PID (Proportional
Integral Derivative Temperature Control).
The experts in process control make these control algorithms.
Navas Instruments buys complete temperature controllers from recognized manufacturers.
The software allows using up to 15 PID sets.
Each PID set has 5 parameters that are sent to the temperature controller every time the program sends a
temperature set point and a ramp rate to the controller.
These parameters besides the temperature and ramp rate are the following:
o
o
o
o
o
Proportional band-width
Integral Time
Derivative Time
Low-cutback
High cut-back
In this window it is shown a drop-down list box where the operator can choose the PID set.
When the user selects a PID in the list box the parameters related to that PID set are updated in this window.
The PID rows in the list box consist of 3 elements:
o The PID number.
o The temperature that was used to obtain the PID
o An asterisk character if any parameter was edited manually after doing Auto-Tuning.
For example: PID-1, 102 *
The operator can type a calibration temperature using the keyboard in the text box Calibration temperature
and then click the button Start Auto-Tuning, when this is done the program sends a message to the
temperature controller to do auto-tuning to the temperature that is in the edit box.
After the button Start Auto-Tuning is clicked the program shows a Stop button that the user can click if
the user wants to stop the process.
If the user wants to obtain the parameters for proportional control the operator must type zero 0 in the
Integral time and Derivative time edit boxes before clicking the button Start Auto-Tuning.
If the user wants to obtain the values for proportional integral control but not derivative control the user must
type zero 0 in the derivative edit box.
The recommended temperature control is Proportional integral derivative, to obtain these parameters type a
value different than zero 0 in the integral and derivative edit boxes.
When the auto-tuning process has finished the program will update all the values including the Integral time
and Derivative time edit boxes, but if this edit boxes are zero 0 they will remain zero and will not be
updated.
The auto-tuning must be made considering the ambient in which will be used during the analysis.
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If the analysis will use nitrogen or the furnace relay, the user needs to click the button Nitrogen and
activate the furnace relay, the furnace relay is necessary for volatiles and ash but it is not necessary for
moisture.
The furnace relay provides more heating power to the furnace.
Once the temperature controller has finished doing the auto-tuning the parameters are updated on screen.
The operator can also edit manually the parameters of the selected PID.
If any parameter of the present PID has been edited manually after doing Auto-Tuning there will be shown in
red color its description on the left and the list element at the top drop-down list box will have an asterisk
character to the right of the temperature.
For example the user may increase manually the Low cut-back parameter if there is a little temperature
over-shut, or increase the High cut-back parameter if there is temperature under-shut.
The manual editing may be used to obtain the better temperature control accuracy.
The last modification date of the present PID as well as the present temperature inside furnace is also shown in
this window.
The user can select the PID set for each slope using the parameters that are in the pages of the window Slopes
settings when configuring the slopes before analysis.
The auto-tuning window is like the following:
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In this window there are shown the original values obtained from the temperature controller as well as the
values changed or edited by the operator.
The Auto-tuning window with the drop-down list box visible is like the following:
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8.3.3 Fast weighing configuration

If the user selects this option there will be shown a window with spreadsheets.
If the user selects the standards spreadsheets pages the window is like the following:
Page N 75
If the user selects the calibration factors parameters pages the window will be like the following:
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This option can be used in two circumstances:

1 When using the Sequential IDS weighing method.
2 When using the weights station server to get the initial weights of crucibles, samples and / or covers
in an external balance during the analysis time.
When using the Sequential IDS weighing method:

This weighing method is faster because the operator does not need to weigh the samples one after
the other, the operator enters the samples in the crucibles, press OK, the furnace lid closes and
the furnace weighs automatically the samples with the lid down.
In this case there is not shown any window where the user can select the calibration factors or
standards for each sample.
The program will select the calibration factors and / or standards automatically for all the samples.
All the samples will have the same calibration factors selected.
If the user wants to change some samples to have other calibration factors, the user can click the
option Modify samples from the options menu.
When using the weights station server to get the initial weights of crucibles, samples and / or
covers in an external balance during the analysis time:
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When using the weights station server the TGA terminal will select automatically all the calibration
factors for all the samples.
All the samples will have the same calibration factors selected.
If the user wants to change some samples to have other calibration factors, the user can click the
option Modify samples from the options menu.
The weights station server is a program where the user can get the initial weights of crucibles,
samples and / or covers in an external balance during the analysis time without having to wait until
the furnace finishes the analysis and cools down.
The server can be used to improve the productivity of the TGA, to be able to analyze more runs or
batches per day.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEIGHTS STATION PLEASE READ THE TGA
SERVER MANUAL.
THE CELLS THAT HAVE BLACK BACKGROUND AND WHITE NUMBERS ARE THE
CALIBRATION FACTORS THAT WILL BE APPLIED AUTOMATICALLY TO ALL THE SAMPLES.
THE USER CAN HAVE A SELECTION FOR EACH SLOPE USING THE PAGES.
Use selected calibration factors or standards in all slopes for fast weighing:
If the user clicks this button there will be used one of the following for all the slopes:
o Calibration factors parameters.
o Linearization factors parameters.
o Standards spreadsheets.
If the user does not click this button the user can select different settings for each slope.
For example moisture slope may use a calibration factor while the volatiles slope use a standard
selected from the standards spreadsheet.
When the user clicks a cell the cell background gets black and the characters white color and this
cell becomes the active calibration factor.
Reset all selections:

If this button is clicked the cells that have black background will became white background and
will be deselected, the program will use all the factors set to 1.0.
The user can click this button to reset all the settings and then make the desired changes to each
slope by clicking on each cell of each page.
8.3.4 Modify Samples window
The operator can modify the samples inside the furnace if the user made a mistake when entering the samples.
The window that allows modifying the samples with the factors spreadsheets selected is like the following:
Page N 78
The window that allows modifying the samples with the non-linear regression standards spreadsheets selected
is like the following:
Page N 79
There are 2 spreadsheets:

1 - The samples spreadsheet, each row is a sample.
2 - The calibration, linearization factors and standards spreadsheets, each spreadsheet is inside a
folder, the name of the folder is the name of the slope, and all the calibration, linearization factors and
standards are inside the cells of the grid.
If the user selected the option Create Linearization results file in next analysis batch the program will
show the linearization percentages and the linearization factors in the spreadsheets.
If the user did not select this option there will be shown the calibration factor names, and the calibration
factor values.
If you want to modify one or more samples do the following:
1 - Click the button Stop that is in the operational buttons panel if the instrument if doing an operation.
2 - Click the option Modify samples in the options menu.
The samples can also be re-weighed to add or remove sample.
The user can change the identification codes, the database fields etc...
The ID codes, the database fields etc can be edited manually by entering the new values directly in the
spreadsheet.
The weights and the positions cannot be edited with the keyboard.
Page N 80
Changing and editing the identification codes of the samples:

If you want to edit or change the identification code of a sample do the following:
1 - Double click on the cell that is below the column ID Sample and in the row of the sample you want
to change.
2 - Type with the keyboard on the cell the new identification code, you can write text and numbers.
3 - When you have finished changing the identification code click anywhere on the screen to accept
temporarily the new identification code.
4 - When you have finished editing all the samples click the button OK and all the changes will be
accepted and will be shown in the list of samples at the main screen.
Selecting the calibration factors and the standards of the samples:

If you want to change the calibration, the linearization factors or the standards of a sample do the
following:
1 - Click on the row of the sample in the samples spreadsheet to select the sample.
2 - Click on the factors or non-linear regression tab to select the page.
3 - Click on a tab inside the page selected in the previous step that has the name of the slope.
4 Select a cell in the calibration factors spreadsheet or in the standards spreadsheet by clicking on the
grid.
5 - The indexes of the selected calibration factors or standards will be shown in the samples spreadsheet,
below the column with title Calibration factors indexes.
The calibration factors that have not been assigned will be shown with an index *-*.
Calibration factors are not assigned initially if the samples are weighed by the Sequential Ids method,
but they can be changed later using this window.
If the sample has been assigned a factor from the factors page the calibration factor index for that slope
will be like the following:
The first digit is the column; the second digit is the row.
For example if a sample has the calibration factor index as 3 - 4, it has the calibration factor of the third
column and fourth row.
If the sample has been assigned a factor from the non-linear regression page the calibration factor index
for that slope will be one of the following:
1 - NLR (Non-linear regression standard).
2 - SCF (Sample curve fit).
These 2 options can have several variants, i.e. NLR1, NLR3, SCF1, SCF5 etc
Depending if the samples have been assigned factor 1.0 or calculated automatically after the result has
been provided.
Apply the selected calibration factors or standards of the present sample to all the samples:
If this button is clicked the calibration factors indexes and values of the present sample are applied to all
the samples in the list.
The program will copy the factors of all the slopes of the present sample.
Page N 81
This option may be useful if the operator wants to change all the samples at once without having to select
each sample after the other and change one after the other.
The user can apply the changes to all the samples and then make the desired changes individually.
Apply the selected calibration factor or standard of the present sample and slope to all the samples:
If this button is clicked the calibration factor index and value of the present slope and sample are applied to
all the samples in the list.
The program will copy the factor of the slope actually selected on the factors or Non linear regression
page of the present sample.
Re-weigh selected sample:

To change the weight of a sample click the button Re-Weight selected sample.
If the crucible-cover has already been weighed the program will ask the operator to remove the cruciblecover.
There will be shown a window like the following:
Page N 82
The user can add or remove sample from the crucible and click the button OK.
If the crucible-cover has already been weighed before re-weighing this sample the program will ask the
operator to place again the cover on the crucible.
When the user has finished weighing the sample this window will disappear and there will be shown again the
window Modify samples.
If the user clicks the button OK all the data will be accepted, the text fields as well as the weights of
samples.
If the user clicks the button Cancel, only the weights of the samples will be accepted.
8.3.5 Sequential identifications window
The user can enter ID codes with sequential numbers.
There is a samples weighing method in which the user enters the identifications of the
samples and then enters the samples in the crucibles without having to weigh each sample
one after the other.
Page N 83
The furnace closes the lid and weighs automatically the samples with the lid down without
the operator attention.
This weighing method is much faster than the conventional method.
The sequential identifications window can also be shown after selecting this menu command.
The sequential identifications window is like the following:
Check box Number at end:
If this check box is selected the sequential numbers are calculated using the right part of the text that is in the
edit box Present ID.
I.e. If the user enters the text HQCT162KPL918 in the text box Present ID the next identification code
will be HQCT162KPL919 and the next will be HQCT162KPL920 etc
If this check box is cleared the sequential numbers are calculated using the left or the middle part of the text,
depending if the text that is in the edit box Present ID has numbers at the beginning or not.
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I.e. If the user enters the text HQCT162KPL917 in the text box Present ID the next identification code
will be HQCT163KPL917 and the next will be HQCT164KPL917 etc
This option can be used to calculate the sequential identification codes in 3 places:
1 At the end of the text.
2 At the beginning of the text.
3 At the middle of the text.
Recalculate sequential IDS:
If the user wants to change a range of identification codes at once, the user can do the following:
1 - Click with the mouse in the first row of the list that wants to be changed.
2 - Click with the mouse in the last row of the list that wants to be changed.
3 - Select the edit box Present ID and type with the keyboard the first identification code.
4 - Click the button Recalculate sequential IDS, and all the identification codes between the first selected
row and the last selected row, including both ends will be recalculated.
The user can have several sequential identifications codes following different patterns.
The identification codes does not need to use all the same pattern.
Next ID:
If the user clicks this button the selected row in the list of identification codes will advance to the next row and
the text that is in the text box Present ID will be updated.
This option may be used to change one identification at a time.
Import ID codes:
If the user clicks this button the program will show a window like the following:
Page N 85
In this window the user can import the Identification codes of the samples from an ASCII text file on the local
hard disk or from a LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) on the network.
Browse button:
By clicking this button there will be shown a window where the user can locate the file from where
the identification codes will be imported.
Page N 86
After the user clicks the button Open there will be shown the file path in the FILE PATH field.
Remove text lines after importing:
Select this check box if the LIMS program does not remove automatically the text lines, to avoid re-importing
the same identification codes in the next analysis.
Delete the file from disk when the file is empty:
If the LIMS does not re-create the file, if the LIMS only appends data at the end of the file clear this check
box.
If the LIMS re-creates the file, select this check box to delete the file when it is empty.
This option is enabled to be selected or cleared only if the user selected the check box Remove text lines after
importing.
If the option Remove text lines after importing is cleared this option will be dimmed.
ID codes delimiting:
There are two options:

o Import IDS using a delimiter character.
o Import IDS using fixed width.
Import IDS using a delimiter character:
The user can type with the keyboard the delimiter character, the identification codes in the file must be
delimited with the same character that the configured in this window.
Import IDS using fixed width:

Page N 87
The user can select the texts widths to delimit the identification codes.
Imports sequence:
There are two options:

o Import from top to bottom.
o Import from bottom to top.
o Import from top to bottom
The program will import the identification codes starting at the selected row in the list and will
scan the rows downward.
o Import from bottom to top
The program will import the identification codes starting at the selected row in the list and will
scan the rows upward.
THIS WINDOW MAY BE USED WHEN THE OPERATOR WANTS TO IMPORT THE
IDENTIFICATION CODES FOR ALL THE SAMPLES AT ONCE.
THIS METHOD HAVE THE ADVANTAGE THAT THE OPERATOR DOES NOT NEED TO IMPORT
ONE IDENTIFICATION AFTER THE OTHER, THIS METHOD IS FASTER BUT GIVES THE
OPERATOR LESS CONTROL THAT IF THE OPERATOR IMPORTS THE IDENTIFICATION CODES
INDIVIDUALLY.
IN THE WEIGHING WINDOW THERE IS ALSO THE POSIBILITY TO IMPORT THE
IDENTIFICATION CODES ONE AFTER THE OTHER, WITH MORE CONTROL BUT SLOWER THAN
THIS METHOD.
IN THE WEGHING WINDOW THERE IS A BUTTON WITH THE TITLE IMPORT ID CODE THAT IF
IS CLICKED THE USER CAN SELECT THE IDENTIFICATION CODE FOR EACH SAMPLE
INDIVIDUALLY.
8.3.6 Programs menu options
If the user selects this menu the following sub-menu is shown:
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When the user selects any option in this sub-menu the operator is selecting a set of configurations, for more
information look the window Slopes settings and the window Calibration & Linearization spreadsheets in
this manual.
The names in this menu are configurable; the selected name is also shown in the general data panel at the main
screen.
The user can change the names of the programs doing the following:
1 - Click the menu Configuration at the main screen.
2 - Select Configuration from the menu.
3 - In the first page titled Parameters there is a group box titled Program names with edit boxes that allows
configuring the names of the programs.
If the user selects other program there will be different parameters when accessing the window Slopes
settings or the window Calibration & linearization spreadsheets.
8.3.7 AUTO-START analysis after weighing samples menu option
If this option is selected the program will start the analysis automatically after getting the initial weights of
crucibles, samples and / or covers.
If this option is selected the operator does not need to click the button Execute that is on the operational
buttons panel in the main screen.
Uncheck this option if you need to revise the samples weights, identification codes, selected calibration factors
etc before starting the analysis.
If the user made a mistake during the samples weighing the user can modify the samples by clicking in the
option Modify samples in the options menu before starting the analysis.
This option can also be used when working with the weights station server program.
In this case the TGA will start the analysis automatically after receiving a batch of samples from the weights
station server without needing to click the button Execute.
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8.4
CALIBRATION IMPORTANT NOTES

TGA coal volatile and other materials calibration.
The most important part of a TGA is the balance, if the location is not vibration free, is too hot or the room
temperature is changing the balance cannot provide good results.
Correct volatile values cannot be obtained without calibration, as it can in the case of moisture and ash.
Moisture and ash results are linear in relation with the weight loss or gain, but volatile matter requires a
correction of the results as volatiles are not linear.
Moisture results are basically correct and need no calibration if the sample is heated for enough time at the
correct temperature, typically 105C - 107C and with plateau deviation of 0.03%, 0.035%.
Although the TGA software is generic and allows calibration in all the slopes, but normally it is not necessary
to calibrate the moisture and the ash.
Ash results are correct if the sample is totally burned and using plateau deviation of 0.03%, 0.035%, results are
provided as weight left from the original weight.
No correct volatile results will be obtained if the moisture is not totally removed from the sample at the
moisture step of the cycle.
Volatile values can be from 5% to 50% approximately with different coal mixes.
The TGA instrument will release the volatiles constantly during the volatiles cycle, the software uses the flat
part of the curve at 900 - 950C 1000 C during the 7 minutes to calculate the correct volatile values, reliable
and enough standards have to be provided to perform this task.
It is recommended to use curves fitting with cubic calculations and calibrate as dry basis to obtain the proper
factors, several curves with cubic calculations can be used in one single calibration spreadsheet.
The volatile values in the standards are normally provided as dry values.
8.4.1 Detailed volatile calibration, step by step
8.4.1.1 Enter the certified standard values in the standards spreadsheets
1 - Click the menu Calibration, then click Calibration & Linearization spreadsheets.
2 - Click the page Standards spreadsheets.
3 Click the button Add standard, enter the name of the standard and the volatile value as percent in the
percent column.
4 - Enter all the standards to be used.
5 Leave all the check boxes marks in the use column as they are, we recommend to analyze 3 samples for
each standard, so maximum of 6 standards to make 18 crucibles, one TGA batch, if the TGA model has 20
crucible positions or more if the TGA model has more crucibles positions.
8.4.1.2 Analyze the standards
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Start a cycle, you only need to analyze moisture and volatiles to make a quick cycle, and ash is not needed
here.
If the sample has been dried it will not be necessary to analyze moisture.
1 - Specify the number of samples to analyze, for example 18 samples for 6 standards, clear the check box
Sequential IDS in the window that ask the number of samples to analyze.
2 - At the samples weighing window select the check box This is a standard, click the non linear regression
page, inside the non linear regression page click the page volatiles, select Use factor 1.0 at the drop-down
list box.
3 - You should have the standards present in the weighing window if they were added to the standards
spreadsheets and you have selected the right program from the options menu.
4 Make sure that in automatic factors calculation is selected: use factor 1.0, to avoid that the software
calculates automatically factors for the standards.
The TGA application allows also calculating the factors for the regular samples and the standards
automatically during the analysis based on the factors of the standards already calculated.
THE OPTIONS TO CALCULATE THE FACTORS FOR THE STANDARDS AUTOMATICALLY ARE
USED ONLY IN SOME APPLICATIONS TO VERIFY THE QUALITY OF THE CALIBRATION
PROCESS ITSELF.
IN NORMAL SITUATIONS THE STANDARDS FACTORS ARE ONLY USED TO CORRECT THE
SAMPLES VALUES.
IF YOU WANT TO VERIFY THE QUALITY OF THE CALIBRATION YOU CAN ASSIGN AN
AUTOMATIC CALCULATION TO THE STANDARDS AND THEN CALIBRATE WITH THEM, BUT IT
IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU NOT USE THAT STANDARDS TO PROVIDE RESULTS, YOU CAN
REMOVE THE STANDARDS FROM THE SPREADSHEETS AFTER THE PROCESS CHECKING HAS
BEEN DONE OR ENSURE THAT THE USE CHECK BOX IS ALWAYS CLEARED.
5 - Now place standards in crucibles, 3 crucibles with same standard, weight as close as possible to 1 gram, tap
lightly on a hard surface to get sample on crucible flat.
6 In the weighing window select the cell that is below the column Original factor and that is in the row of
the standard that is being entered in the furnace for each of the samples entered Make sure the program is
configured for moisture plateau deviation of 0.03% to get all moisture out of the samples
After all standards have been weighed, start the analysis, at the end of volatiles slope it can the done the
calibration with non-linear regression.
8.4.1.3 Make non - linear regression curves fitting with the analyzed standards
Recommended settings for non-linear regression are: Cubic formula and calibrate as dry basis if the standard
values are given as dry.
Make sure that the check boxes Auto-scale X axis and Auto-scale Y axis are selected to be able to view
the entire graphics on the curves fitting window.
1 - Click the menu Calibration, then click Calibrate & linearize by results.
2 - Click the page Curves fitting, select the volatiles slope, click calibrate as dry, set formula to cubic.
3 - Click the buttons Check all standards and Check all samples in the window, uncheck any bad result or
standard to avoid using it.
4 - Click the button Apply changes on spreadsheets to predictions, In the graphics there can be seen the
points that are more or less deviated from the rest of points.
To obtain a good calibration you can clear the check boxes of the results or standards that are more deviated.
Click again the button Apply changes on spreadsheets to predictions.
The deviated results can be seen in 2 ways, the graphics and the relative and residual errors in the list.
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Work with the results and click the button Apply changes on spreadsheets to predictions as many times as
you want.
5 - After the curve and corrected results are satisfactory click the button Accept factors to standards to save
the calculated calibration factors on the standards spreadsheet.
If you also want to save the corrected analyzed standards click the button Accept predictions to samples to
transfer the values in the predictions column to the results column and them click the button Save result file
as , There will be shown a window were can be selected the folder and the file name.
6 - Now all the factors for this calibration are stored, you can verify in Calibration & linearization
spreadsheets that the factors that are below the Calculated factors column has changed.
Repeat the same procedure for additional cubic curves fitting if other set of standards is needed for other part
of the calibration curve, clear and select standards according to new calibration.
8.4.1.4 Make an analysis of regular samples and correct the results automatically
1 In the page Standards spreadsheets that is in the window Calibration & linearization spreadsheets
select the check boxes that are below the Use column of the standards that you want to use for the automatic
calculation.
2 Start a new batch of samples by clicking the Weigh button on the screen.
3 - In the samples weighing window make sure that automatic factors calculation have been selected for cubic
formula as dry.
Make sure also the check box This is a standard is not selected.
4 After weighing the samples before the analysis you can see in the list of samples on the screen that the
factors assigned to the samples are 1.0.
If the factors are not visible move the scroll box that is on the horizontal scroll bar of the list of samples by
using drag & drop with the mouse.
5 Make the analysis.
6 After the analysis has finished you can see that the factors that are in the list of samples on the screen have
change and the results have also changed.
These results and factors can also be seen on the saved results on disk by clicking the button View that is on
the screen and opening a results file and can be seen also clicking the button View graphic that is in the
window Database reports.
8.4.1.5 Make an analysis of regular samples and correct the results manually
1 - Start a new batch of samples by clicking the button Weigh on the screen.
2 - In the samples weighing window make sure that automatic factors calculation have been set to Use factor
1.0.
Enter standards and samples, the standards must have the check box This is a standard selected and the
samples must have the check box cleared.
3 - Make the analysis.
4 - Click the menu Calibration, then click Calibrate & linearize by results, click the page Curves fitting.
Make a curves fitting using the same procedure of a curves fitting of standards, but in this case do not save the
factors on the standards.
There can be selected a different color for the standards, the results and the predictions in the graphics.
There can also be selected a color for the rows in the list of samples that is in the Curves fitting page.
To change the colors of the rows click Configuration menu, then click Configuration, click the page
TGA configuration, there are 2 options that says Standards color and Results color.
5 After the results have been recalculated they can be saved to a file and they will also be updated in the
database.
To see the results changed in the database, click the menu Database at the main screen, then click Database
reports.
There is a check box titled Show calibrated results, when this check box is selected the results shown in the
table will be the corrected results, they are also differentiated by the words Recalibrated Calibrated and
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Linearized, the results can also be printed, exported to serial port or text file with the marks R, C or L
or without them.
If the check box Show calibrated results is cleared the results shown will be the original results given by the
analysis.
8.5
Procedures to do linearization and curves fitting step by step

8.5.1 Procedure step by step to do linearization
General description of the calibration

Thermo gravimetric analysis is a method that determines weight loss or gain; calibration is needed to adjust
the values of certain results based on other method or reasons. The calibration procedure is used to compensate
for the differences between the obtained results and the certified results.
The software allows two different types of calibration: single standard and multiple standard calibrations. The
calibration is saved for each program and each slope.
Standards and calibration are needed for some applications in which the weight loss or gain during an analysis
slope may not be directly related to the certified value. Standards or reference materials are needed for the
analysis of volatile matter in coal and coke.
Each calibration standard value must be entered, in order to calibrate a calibration analysis must be performed
and a calibration curve must be created.
1 Enter the calibration standard.
2 Analyze the calibration standard.
3 After all the standards have been analyzed, select the results that will be used in the spreadsheets.
Procedure to do linearization:
1 Change the names of the slopes in configuration menu, slopes settings to be moisture, volatiles, ash or
other names.
2 Now enter the standards values, to do this click the option Calibration and linearization spreadsheets,
that is in the Calibration menu.
3 - To enter the linearization standards click the page that is called Linearization factors parameters.
4 - To enter the standards values for volatiles, click the page that is called volatiles, this name is
configurable in slopes settings.
5 - Enter the values of the standards below the percentage column.
To change the value of a cell double click with left mouse button on a cell and type the new value.
Click anywhere on the screen to accept the value.
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For example the column 0 can have the following percentages:

Standard percents column Standard values %
Row 0
2
Row 1
4
Row 2
6
Row 3
15
Row 4
25
Row 5
35
Row 6
38
Row 7
50
Row 8
60
Row 9
70
We use for example 3 standards: 25 %, 35% and 38 %. The other numbers are used to fill the table.
6 These numbers will be used to calculate the linearization factors.

Click the OK button to store the values.
7 Now it is necessary to do a linearization analysis, Click the option Create linearization results file in
next analysis batch; this option is in the calibration menu.
When this option has the check mark the next analysis will be an analysis of standards.
If the option Create linearization results file is unchecked the next analysis will be a normal samples
analysis.
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8 Click the Weigh button on the screen to enter the standards to be analyzed.
When the program ask the number of samples to analyze select the desired amount of samples.
Unclick the button Sequential IDs.
9 Enter the crucibles and the instrument will close the lid and weight the empty crucibles.
10 Now the standard samples will be weighed.
The program will ask to enter the sample in the crucible and the ID codes for each sample.
When the weighing window is shown do the following:
A - Click the Factors page.
B - Click the volatiles page that is inside the Factors page.
C Click the white cell that is beside the standard percentage, this cell will contain the factor that will
be calculated in next steps.
When the cell is selected it will become a cell with blue color.
For example: Select the white cell that is beside the 25 % for a sample, then 35 % for other sample and then 38
% for the next sample.
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It is not necessary to execute all these steps for each sample; by default the next weighing windows will have
the selections of the previous entered sample.
11 When all samples have been weighed the program will ask to enter the covers if any slope is configured
to use covers.
If the program is not configured to start the analysis automatically after weighing the samples and/or covers
click the button Execute to start the analysis.
12 After the analysis finishes click the option Calibrate and linearize by results that is in the calibration
menu.
You can also calibrate and linearize clicking the button Calibrate / Linearize that is in the window Database
reports
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13 Click the page linearize by results.

14 By default the last linearization results file is opened when the window is shown.
15 Now it is necessary to select the standards whose calibration factors will be calculated.
The results of each sample are shown in a row.
Select the rows of the standards, the rows that are not selected will not be calculated.
To linearize is necessary that the rows have been assigned the same standard.
If you want to select non-adjacent cells do the following:
A - Press the CTRL key on the keyboard and hold down the key, them click on the rows with the
mouse.
After the rows have been selected leave the CTRL key.
B To select adjacent cells press the SHIFT key on the keyboard and hold down the key, click with
the mouse on the first row to select and them click on the last row.
Leave the SHIFT key of the keyboard; all the rows between the first and the last will be selected.
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16 When you are ready to calculate the new factors click the Volatiles button to calculate the factors for
volatiles.
The program will show a window to ask for confirmation.
17 Now the linearization factors have been calculated.

The new factors are placed in the linearization spreadsheet.
18 To use the linearization, unclick the option Create linearization results file in next analysis batch.
By default it is not necessary to unclick this option because the program clear it every time a new batch of
samples is entered.
Enter a new batch of samples; if the samples will use a known calibration factor select the factor from the
calibration spreadsheet.
If the samples factors needs to be calculated during the analysis click the check box Automatic calculation.
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8.5.2 Procedure step by step to do curves fitting
Non-linear regression procedure for experienced users:

The calibration by slopes may not be enough in cases where the user wants a fine adjustment of the volatiles;
in this case a new routine has been introduced to facilitate the fine adjustment of the volatiles.
1 - Use as many standards as possible.
2 - Enter the standards volatile values, to do this click the option Calibration and linearization
spreadsheets, that is in the Calibration menu.
Click the page Standards spreadsheets, Click the page Volatiles

Click the button Add Standard (If the list of the standards is large and does not keep in the spreadsheet
there will be shown a vertical scrollbar).
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Enter the name of the standard, and the certified value in the percent column.
To change the value of a cell double click the cell with left mouse button, type the new value with the
keyboard, to accept the value click anywhere on the screen.
By default the check box is selected, and the original factor is always 1.0, leave the check box as it is.
The rows of the spreadsheet can be sorted in ascending and descending order by clicking on the columns
headers, for example: If you want to sort the standards by certified value, click on the Percent column
header, and the certified values will be sorted in ascending order, click again to sort the certified values in
descending order.
All the columns can be sorted: Name, Percent, Factors etc
3 Now make a normal analysis, to do this click the button Weigh on the screen to enter the standards
and/or the samples to be analyzed.
When the program ask the number of samples to analyze select the desired amount of samples.
Unclick the button Sequential IDs.
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4 Enter the crucibles and the instrument will close the lid and weigh the empty crucibles.
5 Now the standards and/or the samples will be weighed.
The program will ask to enter the sample in the crucible and the ID codes for each sample.
The weighing window will be like the following:
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When the weighing window is shown do the following:

The automatic calculation method that can be selected in the drop-down list at the bottom of the
window will be only selectable when weighing the first sample, the next samples after the first sample
this list will be disabled, all the samples must have the same calculation method to make the results
consistent with one method.
If the user made a mistake and the operator selected a calculation method different from the desired
method, this method can be changed later before starting the analysis using the window MODIFY
SAMPLES that can be accessed in the OPTIONS menu.
THE FIRST ANALYSIS WITH STANDARDS (CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIALS) MUST NOT
USE AUTOMATIC CALCULATIONS, IT MUST USE THE OPTION USE FACTOR 1.0
NEXT ANALYSIS WITH STANDARDS AND/OR REGULAR SAMPLES MAY USE FACTOR 1.0 AND
ALSO AUTOMATIC CALCULATION METHODS TO TUNE THE ACCURACY OF THE
CALIBRATION FACTORS.
A - Click the Non Linear regression page.
B - Click the Volatiles page that is inside the Non Linear regression page.
C - If the sample is a certified standard do the following:
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1 - Select the check box THIS IS A STANDARD (non regular sample)

2 - Click the white cell that is beside the standard percentage, you must click the cell that has
the column title Original factor, these cells have always factor 1.0.
When the cell is selected it will become a cell with blue color.
3 Click the option Use factor 1.0
D If the sample is a regular sample (non certified standard) do the following:
1 Clear the check box THIS IS A STANDARD (non regular sample)
2 The cell that is selected on the spreadsheet will not be used, ignore the selected cell and
leave it as it is.
3 Click the option Use factor 1.0
If you want to calculate a factor for the samples and/or standards automatically you can also select an
automatic calculation method.
The first time the certified standards are analyzed the automatic calculation methods may not be used as all the
calculated factors are 1.0 and no automatic calculation will be done.
It is not necessary to execute all these steps for each sample; by default the next weighing windows will have
the selections of the previous entered sample.
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6 When all the samples have been weighed the program will ask to enter the covers if there is any slope
configured to use covers, i.e. volatiles.
If the program is not configured to start the analysis automatically after weighing the samples and/or covers
click the button Execute to start the analysis.
7 After the analysis finishes click the option Calibrate and linearize by results that is in the calibration
menu, the calibration, linearization and curves fittings can also be accessed from the window Database
reports, by selecting a row of a sample and then clicking the button Calibrate/Linearize.
8 Click the page Curves fitting.
9 Select Volatiles in the list that is titled Slope to calibrate and select the option Calibrate as dry if
the certified standard values are given as dry basis.
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Make sure the check boxes Auto-scale X axis and Auto-scale Y axis are selected to be able to see the
entire graphics.
10 Select the standards and/or samples to calibrate, to do this click the button Check all samples and the
button Check all standards, click with the mouse the check boxes of the samples and the standards that
must not be used to uncheck the check boxes.
The calibration of the standards may be used for 2 purposes:
A Calculate the calibration factors to be used in future next analysis to obtain results that will be more
accurate.
B Verify and check the goodness of fit and the quality of the accuracy.
The calibration of the regular samples may be used for 2 purposes.
A Calibrate the obtained sample result and adjust to the curves fitting to get more accuracy of the present
sample.
B - Verify and check the goodness of fit and the quality of the accuracy.
11 - Use different curve fittings methods to get best results, click the button Apply changes on spreadsheets
to predictions or select a formula in the formulas list (Linear interpolation, linear least squares,
Quadratic or Cubic).
There can be mixed standards (certified reference materials) and/or regular samples.
There is a column in the results panel of the window Curves fitting named Calibration factors indexes,
the standards have the text NLR and the regular samples have the text SCF.
NLR means Non linear regression.
SCF means sample curve fitting.
NLR and SCF marks are used for standards and samples that were not re-calculated during the analysis.
The texts may vary to NLR1, NLR2, NLR8, SCF1, SCF2, SCF8 and so on depending if the samples were
assigned an automatic calculation method or not.
The calibration factors of the standards and samples are also shown in the results panel of the Curves fitting
window.
The standards and the samples that located in the results panel may also be differentiated by the color of the
text rows, the colors of the standards and the regular samples can be configured in Configuration menu,
then Configuration option, TGA configuration page, there is an option named Colors for standards
and samples in the curves fitting and non linear regression lists.
12 If you want to store the new calculated factors click the button Accept factors to standards.
These factors may be used when making future analysis.
13 If you want to store the results file, click the button Accept predictions to samples and then click the
button Save results file as .
When the user clicks the button Accept predictions to samples the results panel of the Curves fitting
window will look like the following:
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If the operator clicks the button Accept predictions to samples the calculated results will be saved also in
the database, the window Database reports have a check box titled Show calibrated results that if is
selected there will be shown the re-calculated results instead of the original results, these results may also be
filtered and sorted.
14 After the new factors are calculated using a non linear or linear regression formula, the new factors will
be placed in the column that is called Calculated factor, that can be accessed in the Standards
spreadsheet.
15 The user can open a results file generated by an analysis and re-calibrate a file that was previously
calibrated or a file that was not calibrated.
The files generated originally by the instrument have extension .TGA; the files that were modified in the
Curves fitting window and saved have extension .RCL.
To open a file click the button Open results file and the following window will be shown:
The filter used to open .RCL files or .TGA files can be selected at the bottom list.
NOTES
Page N 106
Samples and standards can be mixed. If you want to enter a standard for calibration you must click the
original factor row and select the option THIS IS A STANDARD (non regular sample).
If you want to analyze a standard or regular sample and you do not want and automatic calculation of
the factor and instead you want the factor set as 1.0 click the option Use factor 1.0.
If an automatic calculation is selected the standard or sample will use a factor of 1.0 at the beginning
and then the factor will be calculated during the analysis after the result is obtained based on the
obtained result of the slope, the standard factors stored in the spreadsheet and the formula selected for
the calculation.
Before a standard can be analyzed it has to be entered in the list of standards, to access this list click
the option Calibration and linearization spreadsheets that is in the calibration menu, and them
click the page Standards spreadsheets.
8.6
Calibration menu
The calibration menu is the following:
8.6.1 Calibration &linearization factors spreadsheets window

These parameters are related to the selected program, if you select other program in the menu these parameters
will be different.
There are 3 sheets: The sheet for the calibration factors, the sheet for the linearization factors, and the sheet for
the standards.
The calibration factors sheet is like the following:
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There are shown the calibration factor names and the calibration factor values.
The linearization factors sheet is like the following:
Page N 108
There are shown the linearization factor percentages and the linearization factor values.
These sheets shows the calibration and linearization factors of all slopes of the program that is presently
selected.
There is a grid with cells for each slope.
Each page belongs to a slope.
The name of the page is the name of the slope.
The user can edit or change the calibration factors manually in this window if they have known values.
When the samples are weighed before starting an analysis, the user can select the calibration or linearization
factors for each slope.
The columns headings, the names of the calibration factors and the percentages of the linearization factors can
also be edited or changed.
The column headings are shown in blue color.
The names of the calibration factors and the percentages of the linearization factors are shown in yellow color.
The column headings and the names of the calibration factors are used for the operator own reference.
The calibration and linearization factor cells are shown in white color.
The column headings are common to all slopes of the program selected, but are different from one program to
other program.
If you want to edit or change a cell, double click on the cell, type the new value with the keyboard, then click
with the mouse anywhere on the screen, the new value will be accepted temporarily.
When you have finished changing the cells click the OK button and the values will be accepted.
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8.6.2 Standards spreadsheets window
The standards spreadsheets is like the following:
8.6.2.1 Adding and removing standards on the spreadsheets

In this window the user can add and remove standards, the program allows editing or changing the names of
the standards as well as the percents.
To add a standard to the spreadsheet do the following:
1 - Click the button Add Standard, and the new standard will be added to the end of the list.
2 - Change the values below the columns Name and Percent in the last row.
3 - Click on a column header to sort the list of standards.
To remove a standard from the spreadsheet do the following:
1 - Click below any column in the row of the standard you want to remove.
2 - Click the button Remove selected standard and the selected standard will disappear from the list.
8.6.2.2 Modifying the usage of the standards
When the user weights samples to start a new analysis, the operator can select the standards to be used for
each sample in the weighing window, the user can also select a formula to calculate automatically the factors
for the samples and the standards.
The formulas that can be selected in the weighing window are the following:
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1 Use factor 1.0

2 Calculate the factor using linear interpolation as wet.
3 Calculate the factor using least squares as wet.
4 Calculate the factor using quadratic formula as wet.
5 Calculate the factor using cubic formula as wet.
6 Calculate the factor using linear interpolation as dry.
7 Calculate the factor using least squares as dry.
8 Calculate the factor using quadratic formula as dry.
9 Calculate the factor using cubic formula as dry.
The check boxes of the spreadsheet can be used to mark the standards that will be used for automatic
calculation, the standards that does not have the check box selected will not be used for automatic calculation
of factors.
The user can click the Check all standards or the Uncheck all standards buttons and then make the
necessary changes.
8.6.2.3 Calculating the factors of the column calculated factors
When the user makes a curves fitting there are calculated some factors that are placed by the program on the
calculated factors column.
8.6.2.4 Sorting the rows of the standards spreadsheets
The program allows sorting the columns by clicking on the columns headers.
For example if the user wants to display the standards sorted by percent in ascending order, click the percent
column, if you want to sort the percents in descending order click again on the percents column.
The standards can also be sorted by name, use and calculated factors etc
8.6.3 Calibrate & Linearize by results window

The window that allows calibrating and linearizing by results is like the following:
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This window has 3 pages:

1 - The page that allows calibrating.
2 - The page that allows linearizing.
3 - The page that allows making curves fitting or non-linear regressions.
The name of the program, the file path and the furnace name are shown.
Calibration and curves fitting can be done as wet and as dry basis, linearization is made as dry basis.
Opening a file:
To open a file click the button Open results file and there will be shown a window like the following:
Page N 112
Navigate through the directories structure, select the file and click the button Open.
Opening a file in the Calibration page:
There are 2 file filters:

1 - TGA results files: These are files with .TGA extension, these files are the original files provided by the
instrument, and are normal analysis.
These files are saved in the TGA results folder inside the application folder on the hard disk.
2 - Calibrated results files: These are files with .CAL extension and are files that were previously calibrated
using this window and therefore have the results recalculated with the new calibration factors.
when the user clicks the button save as in this window the program will ask to save the file in the
Calibrated results folder and will add the .CAL extension to the file.
Opening a file in the Linearization page:
There is 1 file filter:

Linearization and Linearized results files: These are files with .LIN extension.
There are 2 circumstances that generates these files:
1 Linearization analysis: The instrument generates linearization files when performing a linearization
analysis, in this case the file is saved in the Linearization results folder.
2 Linearized results after linearization analysis: When the user clicks the button save as in this window
the program will ask to save the file in the Linearized results folder and will add the .LIN extension to the
file.
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Selecting multiple rows of samples for calibrating or linearizing the average result:
The Calibration and the linearization pages use an extended selection list box, in software terminology that
means that with one click on a row deselects the previous selected row and the user can make multiple
selections using also the keyboard.
To select several adjacent rows at once do the following:
1 - Press and hold down the SHIFT key on the keyboard.
2 - Click with the mouse on the first row you want to select.
3 - Maintain pressed the SHIFT key and then click on the last row you want to select.
4 - All the rows between the first and the last row will be selected including both ends.
To select several non-adjacent rows do the following:
1 - Press and hold down the CTRL key on the keyboard.
2 - Maintain pressed the CTRL key and then click on the rows you want to select one by one, if you make
mistake and you have selected one row that must not be selected select it again while you maintain the control
key pressed and it will be deselected.
Calibrating or linearizing:
Click the button that shows the slope name that you want to calibrate.
The program will check if any of the samples has a different calibration factor column-row index.
If any of the samples has a different column-row index for the selected slope the program will show a warning
message and will not allow calibrating that slope.
The calibration factors column-row indexes are shown in the last column of the list and have the column title
Calibration factor indexes, each field in this column has a format similar to the following:
0-0,1-2,3-4,8-7,6-3,2-6,0-2,4-8.
Each *-* pair belongs to a slope.
Where each *-* pair is the column-row index of the calibration factor.
There is also shown a column with the calibration factor values for each slope that has been analyzed.
The columns with the calibration factor values have the following naming convention: Factor Slope.
Where Factor is the literal word Factor and slope is the name of the slope.
If the slope is named Volatiles, the column with the calibration factor values for volatiles is Factor
Volatiles.
Calibration:
Results marked with automatic calculation cannot be calibrated.

If you click a button to calibrate a slope, the program will show a window like the following:
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This window shows initially in the edit box the average result of the selected samples.
Type the new value in the edit box with the keyboard and click the button OK.
The results will be recalculated and the new calculated calibration factor will be added to the calibration
factors spreadsheet and will be also added to all the samples in the present file with the same column-row
index although they were not selected to perform the averaging.
You can save if you want the recalculated results in a file with extension .CAL.
Linearization:
In the linearization page there are also shown the columns with the standard values.
These standards are keep from the linearization factors spreadsheets.
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If you click a button to linearize a slope, the program will average the results of the selected samples and will
ask the user for confirmation to linearize the results.
The window that ask the user for confirmation to linearize is like the following:
This window will show the average of the selected results as well as the percentage that is in the linearization
factors spreadsheet.
The program will keep the standard for the linearization from the linearization factors spreadsheet with the
same column-row index of the selected samples, If the user changes later the percentage of the linearization
factor used, the linearization will be done with the edited standard.
The results will be recalculated and the new calculated linearization factor will be added to the linearization
factors spreadsheet and will be added also to all the samples in the present file with the same column-row
index although they were not selected to perform the averaging.
If you want you can save the recalculated results in a file with extension .LIN
Switching between edited and saved factors
If the user selects the option Apply the linearization factors that are in the spreadsheet the program will
not use the factors that were assigned to the samples during the weighing and that are saved in the results file
instead it will use the factors that are presently on the linearization factors spreadsheet.
This option may be useful if the user wants to change the factors after the analysis has been made.
If the user selects this option the results will be re-calculated and displayed using the factors edited on the
spreadsheet.
Calibration & Linearization Formula
The new calibration is calculated using the following formula:

New Factor
Old Factor
Standard value
Average result
The formula is translated as:

New Factor
( Standard value * Old Factor )
Average result
If you want to save the results file with the newly corrected results click the button Save results file as
and the following window will be shown:
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The file will have by default the same name as the original file and different extension to avoid overwriting the
original analysis file, depending if the original results are calibration or a linearization, the file will be given a
extension .CAL or extension .LIN.
Navigate through the directories structure and type a new name for the file, then click the Save button.
This saved results file can be opened later using the button View that is on the main screen or from the
database by selecting a row and then clicking the button View.
8.6.4 Create linearization results file in next analysis batch
If this option is not selected when the samples are weighed to start a new analysis there will be made a normal
TGA analysis and the results will be saved in a file with .TGA extension in the TGA results folder inside
the application folder.
The results can be calibrated later and saved in files with .CAL extension.
If this option is selected when the samples are weighed to start a new analysis there will be made a
linearization analysis and the results will be saved in a file with .LIN extension in the Linearization results
folder inside the application folder.
The results can be linearized later and saved in files with .LIN extension.
8.7
Curves fitting
The curves fitting can be used for 3 purposes:

1 - Calculate new factors that can be used in future next analysis.
2 - Recalculate the results to obtain more precision; this is normally done in volatile matter determination.
3 - Verify and check the goodness of fit and the accuracy of the results.
The curves fitting window has the following elements:
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The graphics panel

The standards spreadsheet panel
The results panel
The operational buttons and options
The curves fitting can be done using 4 formulas:
Linear interpolation
Linear least squares
Quadratic
Cubic
The curves fitting can be done with 2 basis:
Curves fitting as wet basis

Curves fitting as dry basis
If the user selected to make the curves fitting using the linear interpolation formula the window will be like
the following:
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If the user selected to make the curves fitting using the linear least squares formula the window will be like
the following:
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If the user selected to make the curves fitting using the quadratic formula the window will be like the
following:
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If the user selected to make the curves fitting using the Cubic formula the window will be like the following:
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The results shown in these examples are not real; they have been exaggerated to show the visual effect of
the graphics.
8.7.1 Selecting the slope to calibrate
There can be selected the slope to calibrate, normally volatiles, but the program allows to calibrate up to 8
slopes.
To change the slope to calibrate select an option from the drop-down list box titled Slope to calibrate.
8.7.2 Formula for linear and non-linear regression
To change the formula select an option from the drop-down list box titled Formula.
The formulas can be Linear interpolation, Linear least squares, Quadratic or Cubic.
8.7.3 Showing or hiding the point marks
To show or hide the points marks click the check box Show point marks to select or clear this option.
If this option is selected the points of the results are shown with a circle.
If it is not selected the points are not marked with circles, there will be shown only the lines that connects the
points.
Disable this option if there are many points closed each other.
8.7.4
Selecting the curves colors
There can be selected the colors used for the following:

1 - Standards color (certified reference materials).
2 - Results color (regular samples).
3 - Predictions color (Curve that best fits through the standards curve) .
When the user clicks any of the buttons titled Select that are beside the texts Standards color, Results
color and Predictions color a window like the following is shown:
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In this window the user can select a color with the mouse from the colors palettes, and then click the button
OK.
8.7.5 Enabling and disabling the display of the curves
The program allows enabling or disabling the display of the standards, the results and the predictions curves.
To enable or disable the display of the curves click on the check boxes that are beside the texts Standards
color, Results color and Predictions color to select or clear the check boxes.
8.7.6 Auto scaling the X and the Y axis
When the X or Y Axis are auto-scaled the graphics minimum and maximum limits on the X and Y-axis are
adjusted to fit the values.
For example if the minimum result is 20 % and the maximum result is 90 %, the left side of the X axis will
have a value a little smaller than 20 and the right side of the axis will have a value a little greater than 90.
To auto-scale the X or the Y axis select the check boxes Auto-scale X axis or Auto-scale Y axis.
8.7.7 Selecting the X and the Y axis minimum and maximum values
There can be adjusted the minimum and maximum values of the X and the Y axis manually.
If the user does not want to display all the values of the graphics, and wants to display a portion of the
standards, results or predictions, there can be zoomed the graphics by adjusting the minimum and the
maximum values of the graphics.
To adjust the minimum and maximum values of the X-axis clear the check box Auto - scale X axis, type
with the keyboard the minimum and maximum values on the text boxes X minimum value and X
maximum value and then click the button Apply X axis min/Max values.
8.7.8 Zooming the graphics
The graphics can be zoomed dynamically.
To zoom the graphics do the following:
1 - Click with left mouse button on the graphics.
2 - Drag the mouse holding the left mouse button pressed.
3 - Leave the left mouse button.
4 - Double click the drawn square.
When zooming there is shown a window like the following:
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After zooming there is shown a window like the following:
8.7.9 Resizing the panels width and height

The size of the graphics, standards spreadsheet and results panels can be adjusted.
To adjust the size of the panels do the following:
1 - Click left mouse button on the border of the panel to be re-sized.
If you are adjusting the panel width the mouse cursor will be like the following:
If you are adjusting the panel height the mouse cursor will be like the following:
2 - Hold down the left mouse button while dragging the mouse.
3 - Leave left mouse button.
It can be useful to re-size the panels to see more space for the graphics or for the standards or the results.
8.7.10 Making single point calibration
To make single point calibrations do the following:
1 - Select the standards to be used for the calibration.
The program will not allow making single point calibration if the selected samples are not standards.
2 - A window like the following asking for confirmation is shown:
In this window is shown the average result of the selected standards and the certified result.
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3 - If the user clicks Yes the new factor will be calculated using the following formula:
Standard percentage / New factor = Average results percentage / Original factor.
The results are re-calculated the following way:
New result percentage = (Average results percentage / Original factor) * New factor.
8.7.11 Making curves fitting
The curves fitting is made in 2 steps:
1 - Calculate the predictions that best fits through the standards.
2 - When the predictions are satisfactory there can be done the following:
A - Apply the new calculated factors to the selected standards and/or regular samples to re-calculate
the results, save them to a file and update the records of the database (The database also retains the
original results).
B - Save the calibration factors that are in the Standards spreadsheet panel to be used in future next
analysis.
8.7.11.1 Calculating the predictions
1 - Select the weights basis for the calibration; it can be as wet or as dry basis.
2 - Mark the standards and/or samples to be recalculated, the standards that does not have the check
box selected will not be recalculated.
The user can click the Check all samples or the Uncheck all samples buttons and then click or
unclick the samples to be recalculated.
If the user wants to disable all the samples that were assigned a standard during the weighing of the
samples the user can also clear the standard on the standards spreadsheet panel.
The user can disable all the samples in this mode at once.
There can be selected or cleared all the standards by clicking the Check all standards or Uncheck
all standards buttons, and then make the changes on the standards panel.
3 Select the formula to recalculate the results.
The recalculated results will be shown in the results panel.
The original results are shown in a column with a heading name equal to the slope name used to do the
analysis.
The calculated results will be in a column with a heading name that uses the following naming
convention:
% NLR ***, Where:
% NLR is the literal phrase % NLR, and means Non linear regression.
*** Is replaced by the name of the slope.
For example % NLR Volatiles
For example if the slope has the name Volatiles, the original results will be shown in a column with
the name Volatiles, the volatiles as dry will be shown in a column with name Volatiles dry and
the recalculated results will be in a column with name % NLR Volatiles.
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The standards factors will be calculated and placed on the column Calculated factors that is in the
standards spreadsheet panel.
The calculated factors placed on the standards panel will be calculated based on the average of the
factors of the samples that uses that standard.
The samples factors will be independent even if they have been assigned the same standard.
The program shows the relative and the residual errors of the results in the results panel and also the
relative and residual errors of the calculated factors on the standards spreadsheet panel.
4 The user can select and clear the standards and results to be used.
To apply the changes made to the spreadsheets click the Apply changes on spreadsheets to
predictions button.
8.7.11.2 Accepting the predictions to samples
After clicking Apply changes on spreadsheets to predictions button or after selecting a formula the
results panel will be like the following:
In this window is shown the relative errors as well as the residual errors.
The residual error formula is the following:
RESIDUAL ERROR = CALCULATED PERCENTAGE ORIGINAL PERCENTAGE.
The relative error formula is the following:
RELATIVE ERROR = (RESIDUAL ERROR / ORIGINAL PERCENTAGE) * 100.
If the changes are acceptable click the Accept predictions to samples button.
When this button is clicked the calculated factors are applied to the selected standards and/or samples,
each sample will have an independent factor even if several samples uses the same standard.
If you do not want to change a standard or a sample clear the check box to the left of the sample before
clicking the Apply changes on spreadsheets to predictions button.
After the changes has been accepted the results panel is shown like the following:
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The standards and samples that have been recalculated will show the text Recalibrated on the results panel,
the results can be exported and printed with an R letter beside the result that indicates that the sample have
been calculated using curves fitting.
The recalculated results are also updated in the database; there is a check box option named Show calibrated
results in the window Database reports, that allows viewing the original or the recalculated results.
8.7.11.3 Restoring the original calibration factors
After the predictions has been accepted the user can go back to the original calibration factors doing
the following:
1 - Select the samples to be restored.
2 - Click the button Restore predictions original calibration factors.
3 - Select or clear the samples to be restored.
4 - Click the button Accept predictions to samples.
8.7.11.4 Accepting the calculated factors to standards spreadsheets
The user can accept the standards calculated factors by clicking the Accept factors to standards
button.
8.7.11.5 Accepting all the changes
When the user changes the slope to calibrate or exits this window
The following window is shown:
If the user clicks YES the new calculated factors are saved to the standards spreadsheet.
If the user made a curves fitting the following window is also shown:
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If the user click Yes the following window is shown:
The user can navigate through the folders structure; change the name of the file and save it.
The recalibrated results files has extension .RCL.
When the records of the database are printed the recalibrated results have an R on the right side of the
percent value.
When the records are exported to TXT, CSV or XLS files, the user can configure whether to export the marks,
see the chapter Database records export settings.
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8.7.11.6
Opening and saving the curves fitting files
If the user clicks the Open results file button the following window is shown:
There can be selected files with .TGA or .RCL extensions.

The files with .RCL extension are files that were previously saved on the curves fitting window.
8.8
Exporting manually to the LIMS folder
This option is present in the Calibration, Linearization and Curves fitting windows.
The user may export manually the results to a folder and a file name the operator chooses by clicking the
option Export records or graphics to (.TXT, CSV or XLS) files ..., or the operator may export the results
manually to the LIMS folder by clicking the button Export results to LIMS folder, the last option is used
to facilitate to the user the export to the configured LIMS folder, the effect of both options is the same but if
the instrument is connected to a LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System), the second option
is preferred for simplicity.
This option may be useful if the operator wants to export the results after the results have been corrected by a
Calibration, Linearization or Curves fitting.
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If the manual exports option is used, the option Export automatically database records at the end of the
analysis may be disabled to avoid confusing the LIMS software, as the data will be of the same analysis but
with the results corrected.
The user can also export the results although no calibration have been made, i.e. the user can open a results file
and them click the button Export results to LIMS folder
The folder used for the data exports is configurable in the option Destination folder that is in the Data
outputs & LIMS connections menu, Files data output submenu.
If the user clicks this option there will be shown the following window asking for confirmation:
8.9
Curves fitting formulas
8.9.1 Linear interpolation formula
The linear interpolation calculates the lines that joins the even and odd points; it is similar to the least squares
formula but instead of using a scatter of several points it calculates the lines joining even and odd points.
For example if the curve has 8 points from 1 to 8, it joins points 1-3, 3-5, 5-7. And calculates the results that
are at positions 2, 4, 6.
It also joins the points 2-4, 4-6, 6-8.And calculates the results that are at positions 3, 5 and 7.
The calculations are done in 4 steps:
1 Given a known X value, calculate the unknown Y value using the following formula:
2 The X axis are results percentages, the Y axis are standards percentages.
Calculate the new factor using the following formula:
New Factor = Calculated Y / Original Result percentage
3 Apply the new factor to the original sample result to calculate a result percentage that fits in the linear
curve using the following formula.
New result percentage / New factor = Original result percentage / Original factor.
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The formula can be calculated the following way:

New result percentage = (Original result percentage / Original factor) * New factor.
4 The standard calibration factor will be calculated; the new calculated calibration factors for the standards
can be used in next analysis.
The standards factors are calculated by making an average of the samples calculated calibration factors during
the curves fitting.
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8.9.2 Linear least squares formula

The least squares formula calculates a line that goes theoretically through the middle of all the points.
The least squares formula is the following:
Page N 132

1 Calculate the coefficient m.
2 Calculate the value a
3 Given a known X value, calculate the unknown Y value using the following formula:
5 Apply the new factor to the original sample result to calculate a result percentage that fits in the linear least
squares curve using the following formula.
the curves fitting.
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8.9.3 Quadratic formula

When using the quadratic formula the curve is parabolic.
The Quadratic formula is a system of 3 equations:
Page N 134

1 Create a matrix of dimensions 3 x 3 using the XY data that is at the left side of the equal signs.
X are the results percentages, Y are the standards percentages.
2 Invert the created matrix.
3 Create a column matrix with the data that is at the right side of the equal signs.
4 Multiply the matrix 3 x 3 that has been inverted with the column matrix created.
5 The resultant matrix contains the coefficients C, B and A.
6 - Given a known X value, calculate the unknown Y value using the following formula:
8 Apply the new factor to the original sample result to calculate a result percentage that fits in the quadratic
the curves fitting.
8.9.4 Cubic formula
When using the cubic formula the curve looks like a sinusoidal wave.
The cubic formula is calculated as the following:
1 There is created a matrix of 4 x 4 using the certified standards values and the results of the standards after
the analysis.
2 There is created a vector of 1 column and 4 rows.
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3 The matrix created previously is inverted.

4 The inverted matrix is multiplied with the column vector.
The product of the matrix and the column vector looks like the following:
Where:
The indexes used in the matrix have the following meanings:
Te indexes used in the column vector that is multiplied by the inverted matrix have the following meaning:
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5 The result is a vector of 1 column and 4 rows that contains the coefficients (D, C, B, A ) of the following
formula:
Where:
A
B
C
D
=
=
=
=
b01
b11
b21
b31
6 - Given a known X value, calculate the unknown Y value using the following formula:
8 Apply the new factor to the original sample result to calculate a result percentage that fits in the cubic
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the curves fitting.
8.9.5 Deviation errors formulas

The program shows the deviation errors to visualize an indication of the goodness of the curves fitting.
The lower the errors the better is the fitting and the accuracy of the corrected results.
8.9.5.1 Least squares deviation errors formulas

The errors formulas for the least squares calculation are the following:
8.9.5.2 Quadratic deviation errors formulas

The errors formulas for the Quadratic calculation are the following:
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8.9.5.3 Cubic deviation errors formulas

The errors formulas for the Cubic calculation are the following:
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8.10 Networking menu
8.10.1 Network settings
Name of this PC: This is the name of the PC where is installed the TGA program, this name can be
changed in the Windows control panel, icon System, folder Name of the PC.
Server name: This is the name that is used to connect to the server, the name in this edit box should
coincide with the name of the PC where is installed the server program.
THE SERVER PROGRAM CAN BE INSTALLED IN THE SAME PC WHERE IS INSTALLED THE
TGA PROGRAM, IN THAT CASE IT IS ONLY NECESSARY TO COPY THE NAME THAT IS IN
THE NAME OF THE PC AND PASTE IT IN THE EDIT BOX THAT CONTAINS THE SERVER
NAME.
TO COPY THE TEXT SELECT IT AND CLICK CTRL + C (COPY), THEN SELECT THE BOX
WHERE WILL BE PASTED AND SELECT IN THE KEYBOARD CTRL + V (PASTE).
Channel: This is the network port used to communicate with the server, this option is necessary to be used
only if there is conflicts with other programs in the network that use the same channel.
Timeout interval ( Milliseconds): If in this elapse time the TGA terminal cannot send a message to the
server or receive a message from the server the program will show a warning message telling that there
was a communications problem, perhaps if the network cable is unplugged or other connection problem.
8.10.2 Use network connection to a TGA weigh station server
If this option is selected the connection to the weigh station server is enabled.
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Formulas
The software allows creating user defined formulas for specific applications.
Applications where customized formulas may be useful are : Research, adding additives to the samples to
speed up the analysis time and that may affect the results (i.e. Magnesium acetate or ethanol for the
combustion acceleration of ash in flour) etc
The formulas menu is the following:
9.1
Formulas assignments
When the user selects this option there is shown a window similar to the following:
If the user clicks on the drop-down Data base field list box there is shown a window similar to the
following:
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This window is used to associate a formula file with a column of the database table.
This window is not used to create the formulas, the formula files can be created using the window Formulas
designer.
If the user clicks the button Columns organizer in the window Database reports or in the windows
Database records export settings or in Reports format in the Printer data output menu there is shown a
window similar to the following:
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In some applications the user may not need the original result of a slope provided by the instrument, but
instead a modified result, in these cases the user can configure the software to use a formula for printing and
exporting the data and ignore the original slope result.
For example in the analysis of ash in flour, the user can configure the columns organizer to hide the ash
column and instead show the column that contains the formula Ash 14 % mb, the data saved in this field (
Column ) can be exported or printed instead of the original ash results.
Use formula check box:
If this check box is cleared the button Browse will become dimmed and disabled, the formula that is in
the formula control area will become empty and the file path that is shown in the Formula file path text box
will be cleared.
If this check box is marked the Browse button will become enabled and after the user opens a formula
file the software will attach the formula file that is in the Formula file path text box to a formula database
field and the formula name that is at the left of the equal sign in the formula control area will become the title
of a column in both the Database reports window and in the Samples and reference crucible data
panel in the application main screen.
Browse button:
If the user clicks this button there is shown a window similar to the following:
Page N 143
The user can navigate through the folders structure, locate and select a file with .FRM extension that has been
created with the Formulas designer window and then click the Open button.
Database field drop-down list box:
When the user selects an option in this list box the software will show the formula control, the Use formula
check box and the Formula file path accordingly to what is stored in the selected formula field.
If there is not selected any formula the Use formula check box will be cleared, the formula control area will
be empty and the Formula file path will be cleared.
OK and cancel buttons:
If the user clicks the OK button the changes made in this window will be saved, and the database field
names and the table with the samples at the application main screen will be updated.
If the user clicks the Cancel all the changes made in this window will be ignored.
NOTE: The selected formula files are related to the selected program, if the user selects other program
using the Options menu these files will be the files that belong to the selected program.
9.2
Formulas designer
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This window is used to create, save and open formula files with .FRM extension and test the formulas.
This window is not used to apply the formulas, After a formula has been saved in a file with .FRM extension
use the window Formulas assignments to assign the formula file to a column of the database and apply the
formula to next analysis.
A formula consist on the following elements:
1 Operators.
2 Constants
3 Variables.
The operators that can be used are:
1 Parenthesis.
2 Power.
3 Root.
4 Multiplication.
5 Division.
6 Addition.
7 Difference.
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The constants are values that do not change and are typed with the keyboard by the user when
creating the formula, for example 27.43.
The variables are values that change and can vary from one sample to other sample.
The variables that can be selected are:
1 Constant.
2 Original sample weight.
3 Result (The user can select the result of any slope)
4 Calibration factor (The user can select any slope)
5 Weight:
The weight can be selected based on the following:
-
At the beginning of the slope.

At the row where the sample provides the result.
At the end of the slope.
At a simulated result (This is the weight that the sample would have if the sample would
give and hypothetical result, the user can type the result with the keyboard)
When the furnace reaches certain temperature (The user can type the temperature).
When the furnace reaches certain time of analysis (The user can type the time in seconds).
6 Temperature:
The temperature can be selected based on the following:
-

At a simulated result (This is the temperature that the sample would have if the sample
would give and hypothetical result, the user can type the result with the keyboard)
When the sample reaches certain weight (The user can type the weight).
When the furnace reaches certain time of analysis (The user can type the time in seconds).
7 Time:
The time is expressed in seconds and can be selected based on the following:
-

At a simulated result (This is the time that would have been elapsed if the sample would
give and hypothetical result, the user can type the result with the keyboard)
When the sample reaches certain weight (The user can type the weight).
When the furnace reaches certain temperature (The user can type the temperature with the
keyboard).
NOTE: The variables most used in the majority of applications will be:
-
Constant.
Original sample weight.
Result.
Weight at result.
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There can also be used temperatures and times in special applications, for example in research.
Clear equation and create new formula:
Selecting this option removes all the nodes ( Operators, constants and variables ) and resets the formula.
This can be used to create a new formula before editing the formula and saving to a file.
Remove selected operator:
This option can be used to merge two nodes that are joined by one operator and convert them to a single node.
This node can then be splitted again by selecting an operator button or converted to a constant or a variable.
Buttons (Parenthesis, Power to, Root to, Product, Division, Plus, Minus) :
These buttons are used to split the selected node in two nodes, the new created nodes are joined by the selected
operator button.
To select a node click with the mouse on the node.
For example if a node has the value 0 and the user clicks the Plus button, the node will be replaced by
0 + 0.
The user can then convert the left and the right nodes to variables or constants or even split the left and/or right
node.
Splitting nodes sequentially using operators allows creating any kind of formula of any size with any
number of nodes.
To create a formula first create the outmost operators and then create the inmost operators, for example to
create the following formula (3 5) / (7 + 2)
do the following:
At the beginning the formula has only a 0 at the right side of the equal sign:
Select the node 0 with the mouse.
Then click the division operator and the formula will appear as 0 / 0.
Then select the left node and click the minus operator, the formula will appear as 0 0 / 0
Then select the right node and click the plus operator, the formula will appear as 0 0 / 0 + 0
Now if you have finished creating the structure of the formula you can select a node that will have a constant
and select the Constant field in the Selected variable type list, then type the value with the keyboard.
If you want to replace a node with a variable, select a variable type from the Selected variable type list.
There are variable types that only require one data, these are:
1
2
- Constant.
- Original sample weight.
There are variable types that require two data, these are:
1
2
- Result.
- Calibration factor.
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In this case the list titled Slope will be enabled and the user can select the slope, i.e. Moisture, Volatiles, Ash
etc
There are variable types that require three data, these are:
1
2
3
- Weight.
- Temperature.
- Time
In this case the list titled Slope will be enabled and the user can select the slope, i.e. Moisture, Volatiles, Ash
etc
The user needs also to select where and when to load the value.
For example if the user selects the variable weight, the user needs to specify which slope, i.e. Ash and from
where to load the value ( At the beginning of the slope, at the end of the slope or when the sample provides de
result).
Using some options there is also necessary to specify a 4th data value to load the data.
For example the user can select to load the weight of the sample when the furnace temperature is equal to 500
degrees centigrade.
The options that can be selected in the list MATCHING OF OPERATIONS are used to calculate this 4th
data.
For example if the user wants the weight of the sample at 500 degrees, there may not be any temperature that
coincides exactly with 500 degrees, instead there may be 499 or 503, in this case there are 3 options:
1 - Keep the nearest value.
2 - Do a linear least squares interpolation / extrapolation.
3 - Do a quadratic interpolation / extrapolation.
In the example above if there is selected the first option there will be used the value of 499 because this value
is closer to 500 than 503.
If the options 2 or 3 are selected there will be created a linear or non-linear regression using the point before
the nearest value, the point after the nearest value and the point at the nearest value.
Constants visualization and variables visualization:
The user can select the following for the constants and the variables:
1 - Font type (letters style).
2 - Color.
3 - Bold (Can be selected or cleared).
4 - Italic (Can be selected or cleared)
These options do not have any impact on the calculations they are only used for the appearance of the
formulas and to make easier the human reading.
For example the constants can have a color and the variables other color to differentiate them better
visually.
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If the user clicks a drop-down font list there will be shown a window similar to the following:
If the user clicks on a drop-down colors list there will be shown a drop-down window that will allow
selecting common colors similar to the following window:
If the user clicks the button More colors in this window there will be shown a window similar to the
following:
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The formulas box area
This area is used to create and show the formulas.

Initially an empty formula will appear as:
Formula name = 0.
If the formula gets big and does not fit inside the window there will appear horizontal and vertical scroll bars
to allow moving the visible portion of the formula.
Calculate formula
This button can be used for testing constants.

If the formula has variables, as the variables cannot be calculated because there is not analysis data the
variables will evaluate to zero.
If you want to test formulas with constants and/or variables (Real world formulas) use the button Open
results file and apply the present selected formula to results file for testing.
The Formulas designer window with a formula consisting of constants will look like the following after
clicking the button Calculate formula:
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The result after evaluating the formula will appear at the right of the Calculate formula button.
Open results file and apply the present selected formula to results file for testing:
If the user clicks this button the user can open a results file and after opening the file there will appear the
same window that appears when clicking the View button at the main screen, the window will appear with a
new column at the right side of the samples list titled FORMULA TEST
The window that allows opening result files looks similar to the following:
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Using this window the user can browse through the folders structure of the disk and open a TGA results file.
The user can select files with the following extensions:
1 - .TGA ( Normal analysis files )
2 - .CAL ( Calibration files )
3 - .LIN ( Linearization files )
4 - .RCL ( Re-calibration files )
The window that appears after opening the file looks like the following:
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The column titled FORMULA TEST will show the results of the test for each individual sample after
applying the formula, each row is a sample.
The calculations can also be verified by anybody as the results and the raw data (All the weights, temperatures
and times are shown in this window for each sample).
If there are slopes in the formula not analyzed in the results file the rows in this column will show asterisk
characters ********** as there is incomplete information to fill the values of the formula.
Save formula in a file as :
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In this window the user can navigate through the folders structure, type a name for the file and save the file.
The formula files have .FRM extension, .FRM stands for FORMULA.
The formulas designer window is only used to create formulas.
To use and apply the formulas to future analysis you need to use the Formulas assignments option that is in
the formulas menu.
Open formula file :
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In this window the user can navigate through the folders structure and locate a file with .FRM extension.
After the formula is opened the formula saved on the file will appear in the formulas box area.
The user can then edit or change the formula.
The user can do the following:
1 - Edit the formula name at the left side of the equal sign = to show this name in the database reports
window and in the results files list in future analysis.
2 - Add new nodes.
3 - Delete nodes.
4 - Convert constants to variables ( The user can select the variables from the lists and type some extra data for
some type of variables if necessary )
5 - Convert variables to constants ( The user can type the constant values with the keyboard )
6 - Change the option MATCHING FOR OPERATIONS if necessary.
7 - Save the formula file with a new name or with the same name.
File Path :
If the user opened a formula file, there will be shown the path of the file in the hard disk.
MATCHING FOR OPERATIONS :
This option is in a drop-down list box.

The user can select among the following options:
1 - Nearest value in list.
2 - Linear list squares interpolation / extrapolation
3 - Quadratic interpolation / extrapolation.
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These options are used for the following:

Some values do not need extra data, for example the original sample weight, a constant, a slope result. Etc
Some other values need extra data, for example the weight of the sample at 550 degrees, in this case the extra
data is 550.
In this case where the user needs to supply extra data for a formula node the data that is in the analysis may
not match exactly with the supplied data.
For example, the 550 degrees may not exist but instead 549 or 552, in this case the software can be configured
to keep the nearest value of the weight at 550 degrees, in this case the nearest value is the exact weight at 549
because 549 is nearest to 550 than 552.
If an extrapolation formula is used there will be generated a graph internally in the software and calculate what
would be the weight at 550 degrees using the following data:
1 - The temperature before the nearest temperature value.
2 - The temperature at the nearest temperature value
3 - The temperature after the nearest temperature value.
4 - The weight before the nearest temperature value.
5 - The weight at the nearest temperature value
6 - The weight after the nearest temperature value.
7 - The supplied temperature value for that node in the formula, in this case 550 degrees.
8 - The calculated value will the weight at the hypothetical temperature of 550 degrees.
Selected variables type list:
The formulas designer with the variable types list dropped looks like he following:
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Slope list:
The formulas designer with the slopes list dropped looks like the following:
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NOTE: The slopes names can be changed and configured in the window Slopes settings that can be
accessed from the Configuration menu at the main screen.
NOTE: If the user selects a variable type of Result, i.e. Result (%) Volatiles.
The non-formula volatiles field may give a result multiplied by a calibration factor if the user applied
one but the node in the formula will not use the multiplied value but instead the original value without
applying the calibration factor.
For example if you want to apply the same value of the volatiles field to a node in the equation you need
to select Result (%) Volatiles * Calibration factor volatiles
Where drop-list:
If the user selected weight as variable type the Where drop-list will look like the following:
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If the user selected temperature as variable type the Where drop-list will look like the following:
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Accept value button:
This button is used when the user selects a variable type that needs 4 parameters:
For example:
1 - Variable type = Weight.
2 - Slope = Volatile-matter.
3 - Where = At temperature.
4 - Temperaure = 900
The 4th parameter is specified by typing the value in the Value text box and then clicking the button Accept
value
EXAMPLES OF FORMULAS THAT CAN BE CREATED
Some examples of formulas are the following:
Calculation of 14 % ash mb in flour:
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Calculation of the correction of the magnesium acetate addition in flour used to speed up the combustion:
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Hypothetical formula:
Page N 162
This formula may not be useful in the real world, it is only used to show the power of the formulas designer
Alternatively instead of using the folder LOI formulas that is in the Slopes settings window.
The user can create the LOI formulas using the formulas designer.
The following are some examples of LOI formulas:
Example of LOI 1:
Example of LOI 2:
Example of LOI 3:
Page N 163
Example of VDAF:
Example of Fixed-carbon in coal and coke:
10 DATABASE
10.1 Databases
Databases are the more standardized method of storing large series of data, databases are organized in tables,
registers (records or rows) and fields (Columns).
The fields or columns are initial sample weight, sample identification code, result of moisture, the date, the
time, the number of analysis within the date, the duration of the analysis for the sample, the number of cycles,
the position of the sample in the carousel, the program name, 5 fields named by the operator, the results as wet
basis as well as dry basis etc....
A record is an instance of the columns, in this case a record is a sample.
10.2 Open database connectivity standard
This database use a standard called ODBC (Open Database Connectivity).
The programs that use this standard allows generating the data for any format of any vendor or provider of
databases without need of specific formats that could be given by the software that generates the data, it is a
system totally open to collaborative work and sharing of data in all platforms of databases whose drivers
complies with the ODBC standard.
The TGA program communicates with the ODBC system, and the ODBC system communicates with the
ODBC driver.
The ODBC driver communicates with the database.
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ALL YOU NEED IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE FORMAT IN WHICH THE TGA WILL STORE
THE DATA IS AN ODBC DRIVER.
By default the TGA program is shipped to communicate with Microsoft Access driver.
THIS CONFIGURATION CAN BE CHANGED BY THE END-USER TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE
DATABASE OF YOUR CHOICE.
The TGA program may communicate with Oracle , IBM DB, DBASE III, MySQL , SQL server
etc if these database formats have the correct ODBC drivers.
The ODBC settings can be located in Windows control panel, administrative tools, ODBC data sources.
Other advantage of this method of managing databases is that if you want to create reports or queries of any
other type for example statistics etc it can be done with any tool available in the market without depending
on the software that produces the data.
The TGA program also allows creating your own customizable reports and printouts, the database is organized
in columns and rows, columns represents the data stored, rows represents instances of that data, each instance
is a register or record related to a unique sample.
The database is autonomous, you do not need to install in the computer other software than the TGA software,
but if you want special functionalities you can install the database software you want.
The database uses the format Microsoft Access (.MDB extension) format by default when the instrument
is shipped, you do not need to install Microsoft Access.
10.3 Database reports
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Filtering the records of the database
By default all records are visible when the window is displayed, if you want to see a group of records, for
example those between a range of dates and also within a range of moisture values at the same time, select the
field date from the Column drop-down list box, select operator greater than from the Operator drop-down
list box, and then select the lower date from the calendar control that is in the value area, and then click the
button Add to add a filter, after this operation there will be shown less records, the amount of records for the
filters is also shown in this window, then do the same steps for the upper limit date, but in this case select the
operator less than from the Operators drop-down list box, then repeat the above two steps for the range of
moisture values.
When the Column drop-down list box have the date field selected there is a drop-down calendar control to
select the date in the values area, you can also type a date with the keyboard.
The program will reject invalid date values such as 32 January.
The calendar control is like the following.
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When the Column drop-down list box have a numeric or text field selected there is shown an edit box in the
values area where the user can type the value with the keyboard.
The edit box is like the following:
When the Column drop-down list box have a time field selected there is shown a time control in the values
area where the user can select the time in HH:MM :SS format.
The time control is like the following:
Sorting the rows of the database
The records can be sorted in ascending and descending order for any field: There can be sorted the rows from
A-Z or 0-9 and Z-A or 9-0 orders by clicking on each column header, one click orders from minimum to
maximum, other click orders from maximum to minimum.
The text fields are sorted in alphabetical order, the numeric and decimal fields are sorted in numeric order.
For example if we sort in ascending numeric order, the number 10 is after the number 2.
But in alphabetical order 10 is before 2 because 1 is before 2.
Text fields are sample identification codes, program names, etc
Numeric fields are the results like moisture, volatile-matter, ash, initial sample weight etc
When the records are sorted in ascending order there is shown a small triangle on the column header like the
following:
Beside this icon on the column heading the rows in the list at the screen will also appear sorted, when the
operator exports, prints or outputs the data by serial port the data will also appear in the same order it appears
at the screen.
When the records are sorted in descending order there is shown a small triangle on the column header like the
following:
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The column header of a sorted field can look like the following:
Sorting the columns of the database
The columns can be sorted from left to right or from right to left by clicking on a column header and drag-drop
the column header to the new position.
Resizing the columns widths
The user can resize the columns width to view more text by dragging the column header border, the mouse
cursor will change to a double black arrow pointing to left and right.
When dragging the column border to resize the column width the mouse cursor will look like the following:
The mouse cursor when selecting records from the database will look like the following:
The mouse cursor in all other windows ( Standard mouse cursor ) is like the following:
Viewing the original results or the calibrated results
If the option Show calibrated results is cleared there will be shown the original results provided by the
instrument (Multiplied or not by the calibrating factors the sample was assigned during weighing).
If this option is checked there will be shown the results that were calibrated, linearized, or re-calibrated using
the Calibration, Linearization or Curves fitting windows.
If the option Show calibrated results is selected the results that were not corrected will be shown as if this
option is not selected (Original results), but the corrected results will be shown with the corrected values and
beside the result there will appear any of the following texts:
1 Calibrated (Single point calibration, Results that were corrected using the calibration option)
2 Linearized (Results that were corrected using the linearization option)
3 Re-Calibrated (Results that were corrected using the Curves fitting option)
There is also a text that is called Aborted, the results that shows this text beside the value are results of a
slope that were forced by the operator to provide the results.
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The operator may force the instrument to provide results and continue with next slope or finish the analysis if
there are samples that are slow to provide results (i.e. results with very low content of ash), results that are
aborted may not be accurate in the value, therefore it is necessary to know which results may be affected by
stopping the analysis.
When printing the results from the option Database reports the results that were corrected will have any of
the following marks beside the results:
1 A (Aborted)
2 C (Calibrated)
3 L (Linearized)
4 R (Re-calibrated)
When the results are exported the user can configure if the marks should be wrote to the files.
Some LIMS programs may not recognize the marks beside the results and may interpret the numbers as text,
this option is configurable.
When the option Show calibrated results is selected, the filtering of the records will be affected.
The filtering will not be affected until the user adds the next filter or removes any filter.
That way the user may select and clear this option to compare the corrected and the original results.
If the option Show calibrated results is checked the Database reports window may be like the following:
Printing records
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The records can be printed in customized reports: columns will be printed from left to right in the order it is on
the screen, you can select the count of columns from the left you want to print.
Numeric, date and time fields will be printed with fixed width.
Text fields are printed with calculated proportional widths.
There can be configured the maximum number of records to print if this window is actually showing many
records.
The user can select the number of copies to print.
Exporting records to LIMS or Spreadsheets
Records can be exported in customized reports: columns will be exported from left to right in the order it is on
the screen, you can select the count of columns from left you want to export.
By selecting the Export button there will be shown a window from which you can select the folder to
manually export the file, you can type the name of the file and select the format of the file that can be TXT,
CSV, or Microsoft Excel format .XLS.
There can be configured the maximum number of records to export if this window is actually showing many
records.
When the Export button is clicked the following window is shown:
The user can navigate through the directories structure, and type the name of the file to be saved.
The user can also select the format in which will be saved the file.
There are 3 file filters:
1 Text files (*.TXT)
2 Comma separated values files (*.CSV)
3 - Microsoft Excel files (*.XLS)
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For information on the way that is exported the data see the section Data outputs & LIMS connections in
this manual.
Sending the records to RS-232 serial port
The records can be sent to serial port.

The records will be sent in the order they appear on the screen, from top to bottom.
The user can configure the parameters of the serial port in the RS-232 settings window.
The format in which will be exported the records can be configured in the Output generation format of the
Serial port data output menu.
Deleting records
The records that have bad results can be deleted by pressing the Delete button.
Viewing the graphics of a record
By clicking the button View graphic the graphic of the selected sample will be displayed, in the window that
is shown you can print and export the file in TXT, CSV or Microsoft Excel format .XLS.
All the graphics are also accessible using the button View that is in the operational buttons panel at the main
screen.
Calibrating and linearizing by results
If the operator selects a record and then clicks the Calibrate / Linearize button there will be shown the
Calibrate & Linearize by results window.
This window can also be accessed from the calibration menu.
But in this case the file will be automatically opened, there will be shown the Calibrate by results page and
the Curves fitting page or the Linearize by results page, depending if the result is a normal TGA analysis
file with .TGA extension or a linearization results file with .LIN extension.
The database has a column with the name Linearization which can have 2 values: YES or NO.
This field allows filtering the records that are linearization files, and the records that are normal TGA analysis.
Compacting and repairing the database
The database can be compacted and repaired after deleting records the following way:
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2 Double click the icon Administrative tools in the control panel.

3 Double click the icon Data sources (ODBC) in the administrative tools panel.
Click the page System DSN and there will be shown a window like the following:
Click the row that says TGA DATABASE and then click the button Configure.
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Click the buttons Repair and Compact.
NOTES
It is better to export the data than printing it, because the data can be imported in other programs such as many
spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel , Corel Quattro Pro or Lotus 123 etc, and print them from that
programs.
The exported data can also be used to do statistics and for processing the data.
While the printed data cannot be processed, it is only in paper.
If the exported file is TXT it can also be opened by double clicking on it and Windows Notepad will start,
you can also print it from that program, Windows Notepad is included in the installation of the Windows
operating system.
If the exported file is CSV or XLS it can be opened by double clicking on it and Microsoft Excel will
start if it is installed in the PC where you export the results.
To make backups of the database copy C:\TGAFAST\TGAFAST.MDB to other folder location, this file can
be very large depending on the amount of the results there is in the database.
If you have configured the ODBC to use other database format than the one that is installed by default
(Microsoft Access format, MDB file) it will be necessary to see the ODBC option in the windows control
panel to check where is located the database file.
10.4 Columns organizer
There exist the possibility to configure the database tables to show or hide some columns if there are many
columns or some columns are not used in the specific application.
For example there may be applications where the user does not need to analyze volatile-matter, or where there
is not necessary to analyze moisture because the samples are pre-dried.
In these case the operator can hide the unused columns of the database to make the usage simpler an easier.
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The operator can also configure which columns to appear in the statistics, for more information on the
statistics please read the section Database statistics.
If the user clicks the button Columns organizer there is shown a window similar to the following:
In this window there is a list with 4 columns and several rows.

The columns are:
1 - Field name
2 - Visibility
3 - On statistics
4 - Sorting
Move up and move down buttons:
The operator can also sort the columns order.

Sorting the columns order in the database header control by drag-and-drop operations with the mouse has the
same affect that sorting the field names in this window by clicking the buttons Move up and Move down.
The columns in the database header control and in the columns organizer window are sorted in the reading
order.
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Moving the fields up in this window has the same effect of moving the columns to the left in the database
header control and moving the fields down in this window has the same effect of moving the columns to the
right in the database header control.
When the database records are exported or printed the software also use a reading order, the left most columns
have priority to the right most columns and are exported and printed before.
Visibility check boxes column:
Selecting these check boxes in the rows make the rows visible in the database reports window.
Clearing these check boxes hides the columns.
The hidden columns do not affect the results storage, they are only used to make the database management
easier.
If the operator makes new analysis and then un-hides the hidden columns the results obtained while the
columns were hidden are not lost and will become visible.
On Statistics check boxes column:
There are some columns that can be used to make statistics and some columns that cannot be used.
The text fields, like sample identification codes, furnace names, program names, dates and times cannot be
used to make statistics.
The fields (Rows) that cannot be used to make statistics have a dimmed appearance in the On statistics
column.
The decimal values fields, like the results of the slopes and also the sample weights can be used to make
statistics.
If the user clears a check box in a row of this column the statistics of the cleared field will not be shown when
the user clicks the button Show statistics of selected rows in the window Database reports.
Sorting column:
This column indicates which field will be used to sort the rows (records) of the database and in which order
will be sorted.
The sorting order can be ascending or descending.
Selecting a sorting option in this window has the same effect of sorting the rows by clicking with the mouse on
the header control of the database reports window.
Reset columns order and settings to default configuration:
This button can be clicked if the operator made many changes to the columns order or other changes.
Clicking this button sets all the default configurations that are initially set when the software was installed.
After clicking this button this window will have a default uniform configuration easier to configure for
specific needs.
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10.5 Database cleaning

You can delete registers contained in a range of dates to free disk space when there are many registers in the
database.
10.6 ODBC settings

There can be configured the ODBC data source which will be the same as the one configured in the Windows
control panel.
You can also configure the name of the table that is inside the database file.
The fields configurable are related to the meaning you want to give to each field in the database, for example
if you configure field 1 as Supplier, when data is asked to the user it will be asked as Supplier will be shown as
Supplier on the screen and in the reports exported and printed.
Do not modify the ODBC data source name and the name of the table unless you are an experienced user
because these parameters specifies how the connection must be done, if you modify these parameters you must
also modify the ODBC settings in the Windows control panel and the name of the table in the database file.
You can modify the rest of the parameters to give the meaning you want to the columns (Fields).
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10.7 Bar code reader settings

This window allows configuring if the user wants to enter the fields automatically by bar code reader or by
hand.
If the operator enters the fields by bar code reader when the user enters the data of each field, the focus to
enter more data will jump automatically to the next field configured, in this window you can configure the
order of the fields, for bar code readers is also configurable if you want to remember last data of a given field.
If you configure to use bar code reader and you do not use bar code reader, it will be difficult to edit the fields
by hand because each key press on the keyboard makes the mouse cursor to jump automatically to the next
field.
If you configure NO bar code reader and you use bar code reader, you will need to click in each field by hand
before editing the field.
Bar code readers are very easy to install and use, they are connected to a socket in a small device and the
keyboard is connected to other socket of the same device, the device is connected to the keyboard input in the
PC and the entering of characters is similar to a keyboard, it is in ASCII format (alphanumeric numbers and
text), you can use the bar code reader and keyboard simultaneously.
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10.8 Date and time formats

If this option is selected there will be shown a window like the following:
In this window the user can select the formats of the date and the time.
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The options selected in this window may be used when exporting the data to a LIMS (Laboratory Information
Management System).
In some countries there are used different formats for the date and the time.
If these options are not selected properly the LIMS program may not recognize the date or the time fields.
Date formats
o American long date
MM / DD / YYYY: where:
MM is the month with 2 decimal digits, numbers less than 10 i.e. 9 will use also 2 digits;
the first digit will be 0, i.e. 09.
DD is the day within the present month with 2 decimal digits, numbers less than 10 i.e. 9
will use also 2 digits; the first digit will be 0, i.e. 09.
YYYY is the year with four digits. I.e. 2007.
For example: 12 / 31 / 2007, for 31 th December 2007.
o American short date
The same format as the American long day except the year will use 2 digits instead of four
digits, the year will use the last two digits, i.e. in year 2007, it will use 07.
MM / DD / YY
For example: 12 / 31 / 07, for 31 th December 2007.
o International long date
YYYY / MM / DD
For example: 2007 / 12 / 31.
o International short date
YY / MM / DD
For example: 07 / 12 / 31.
o European long date
DD / MM / YYYY
For example: 31 / 12 / 2007.
o European short date
DD / MM / YY
For example: 31 / 12 / 07.
o Generic long date
o Generic short date
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These formats may be used if the user wants to export also the day of the week and the time
in a generic format i.e. Monday, December 31, 2007, 23:59:59 PM.
Time formats
o American long time
HH / MM / SS: where:
HH is the hour in 24 hour format with 2 decimal digits, numbers less than 10 i.e. 9 will use
also 2 digits, the first digit will be 0, i.e. 09.
MM are the minutes.
SS are the seconds.
For example: 23:59:59, for 11 night, 59 minutes, 59 seconds.
o American short time
The same as the American long time format with the exception that it does not use the
seconds.
HH / MM
For example: 23:59, for 11 night, 59 minutes.
o European long time
HH / MM / SS AM or PM: where:
HH is the hour in 11-hour format with 2 decimal digits.
MM are the minutes.
SS are the seconds.
AM or PM, Antemeridian or Postmeridian for the morning or for the night.
For example: 11:59:59 PM, for 11 night, 59 minutes, 59 seconds.
o European short time
The same as the European long time format with the exception that it does not use the
seconds.
HH / MM AM or PM
For example: 11:59 AM.
Options
o Link the time field to the date field.
o Do not link the time field to the date field.
Link the time field to the date field.

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If this option is selected when exporting the date field from the database the program will also
export the time field beside the date field.
For example, Date field: 12/31/07 23:59:59
The time field will be exported always independently, with this option selected or not selected.
For example, Time field: 23:59:59
These options may be useful because there are some LIMS (Laboratory Information Management
System) programs that need the date in a specific format to operate.
Date components separator

This option is predefined by default with the character /.
If the separator character is # the date field can look similar to the following:
2007#12#31, instead of 2007/12/31.
Time components separator

This option is predefined by default with the character :.
This option is similar to the date separator but in this case it is used for the time field.
10.9 Ask data base fields after weighing samples

There are 5 fields related to each sample, for example a field can be Material, Supplier, Customer etc or any
other meaning.
You can modify the values of the fields.
This fields will be asked automatically if you have selected "Ask database fields after weighing samples" in
the database menu.
The window that asks the contents of the database fields is the following:
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11 Database statistics
The software allows making statistics of the results:
The statistics can be used in some applications, i.e. Research to analyze the behavior of several samples and
represent several samples with only one data, i.e. Average.
The statistics fields are the following:
1 - Average ( This is the arithmetic mean, The value if all the samples would be only one sample )
2 - Standard deviation ( It is a kind of average of the deviations of all the samples to the average )
3 - Standard deviation population ( It is other type of deviation statistics )
4 - Relative standard deviation ( It is the standard deviation in relation to 100 % )
5 - Minimum value
6 - Maximum value
To do the statistics the user can filter and sort the records of the database.
The user can select a set of records to do the statistics, then show the statistics on the screen and export the
statistics to a file with the following extensions:
1 TXT ( ASCII Text file )
2 CSV ( Comma separated values )
3 XLS ( Microsoft Excel file )
The user can also print the statistics to printer.
The statistics can also be made across multiple database filters and columns orderings.
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11.1 Statistics formulas

11.1.1 Average formula
The average formula ( Arithmetic mean ) is the following:
11.1.2 Standard deviation formula

The standard deviation formula is the following:
11.1.3 Standard deviation population formula

The standard deviation population formula is the following:
11.1.4 Relative standard deviation formula

The relative standard deviation formula is the following:
11.2 Statistics operational buttons

To make statistics click the option Database reports from the menu Database in the window that appears
there are several options to make statistics.
For more information please see the section Database reports in this manual.
Enable multiple selections check box:
If this check box is cleared the user needs to select one row after another.
If the user wants to select several rows at once without having to select one after the other the user can mark
this check box.
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After the operator selects this check box the user can make adjacent (Contiguous) and non-adjacent
(Discontinuous) selections
2 - Maintain pressed the CTRL key and then click on each row you want to select.
After several rows are selected click the button Add/Remove selected rows in selection list.
Clicking this button will make the rows that were not selected into selected rows and the rows that were
selected into non selected rows.
The selected rows will be shown in the database table with a different color like the following screen:
The user can view the statistics by clicking the button Show statistics of selected rows
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Show statistics of selected rows:
In this window the user can do the following:

1 - See the statistics.
2 - Export the statistics to a file and configure the format to export the data.
3 - Print the statistics to printer and configure the format and the number of copies.
4 - If the statistics are not satisfactory close the statistics window, then select other set of rows reusing some of
the already selected rows or start a new set of rows and make the statistics again.
If the user wants to reuse some rows that are in the selection list the user can make other selections and click
the button Add/Remove selected rows in selection list as many times as desired.
If the user clears the check box Enable multiple selections the selected rows in the selection list will be
reset and all the selections will be cleared, then the user can mark again this check box and start a new
selection set from the beginning.
Exporting configuration:
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The settings in this window are similar to the settings of the database records exports.
For more information please see the section Database records export settings window in this manual.
Printing configuration:
The user can select the size of the characters and the number of copies to print.
Export button:
The user can navigate through the folders structure, type a name for the file using the keyboard and click the
Save button.
If the file is saved with the .TXT extension the file can be opened with the Notepad program, this program
comes preinstalled with the Windows operating system.
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A file with .TXT extension and delimited fields using spaces in Notepad will look similar to the following:
A file with .XLS extension in Microsoft Excel will look similar to the following:
If the file has .CSV extension, it is a comma separated values file and can be opened directly with both
Windows Notepad and Microsoft Excel.
The files with .TXT extension can also be opened in Excel but they need to be imported in Excel first.
12 Data outputs & LIMS Connections menu

The menu for configuring the parameters of data outputs and LIMS connections is the following:
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The software has data output in 3 ways: Files, RS-232 serial port and printer.
12.1 Execution of external program at end of analysis window
It is possible to execute an external program at the end of the analysis; you can execute a MS-DOS batch file
or a Windows executable file.
This may be useful for example if you need to copy the excel files to several locations on the network or for
printing automatically.
MS-DOS batch files can be edited manually to define different program behaviors.
Browse button
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When the user clicks this button the following window is shown:
The user can navigate through the directories structure to locate the program file.
There are 2 filters that can be selected in the filters drop-down list box:
1 - MS-DOS Batch files (*.BAT)
2 Windows Executable files (*.EXE)
MS-DOS Batch files are edited easier than executable files but are more limited.
When the Open button is clicked the path of the selected file will be shown in the External program path
read only edit box of the previous window.
Execute this program at end of analysis
If this check box is selected the program that is in the External program path edit box will be executed at the
end of the analysis before cooling the furnace.
Test batch file commands or executable program
When this button is clicked the program contained in the External program path edit box will be tested, if
the program has .BAT extension the commands will be shown in the Commands listing, MS-DOS prompt
emulation box, if it has .EXE extension the program will be launched but no commands will be shown.
This button is useful for testing.
12.2 Files data output menu
The menu for files data output is the following:
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12.2.1 General description of ASCII file format

The user can export the data generated by the analysis in ASCII text files and Microsoft Excel format.
When the analysis has finished the results are always saved in the folder where the application is installed,
it is by default C:\TGAFAST.
The user can also configure the software for automatic results saving in other folders which could be a
network folder, a removable drive like a CD-R or a local folder.
There exists a common format for interchange of data between applications common to many types of
software programs.
This format is called ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange), this format
commonly use the TXT extension for the files where the data is contained, for example File_Name.TXT.
The files in ASCII format use American and European alphanumeric characters.
The complete set of ASCII characters and the specification is public and can be found in the ASCII
Character set.
The files in ASCII format and TXT extension can be opened with many programs including Windows
Notepad, the MS-DOS Edit command and many spreadsheets in the market like Microsoft Excel ,
Corel Quattro Pro , Lotus 123 etc.
This data can be used in your spreadsheets to make your own statistics.
There exists also other format compatible with many LIMS and spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel
called Comma Separated Values.
The files in Comma Separated Values format are also ASCII text files but instead of TXT extension
they use CSV extension.
The TGA Software allows exporting the data in 3 formats with the following extensions:
1 - TXT.
2 - CSV.
3 - XLS
In TXT files format there is also the possibility to delimit the fields using a delimiter character or making
the fields of fixed width.
In CSV files format the fields are always delimited using commas.
12.2.2 Destination folder window
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When the user selects the option Destination folder there is shown a window like the following:
In this window the operator can configure the folder where will be saved the results automatically after
the analysis finishes.
The LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) will keep the results saved in this folder.
The LIMS software must be configured to open the results in the same folder.
12.2.3 Database records export settings window
The window that allows configuring the database records automatic exports is like the following:
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In this window the user can configure the columns order, the rows order, how many columns to export etc..
When exporting to the LIMS or spreadsheet.
There are 3 possibilities:
1 Export as TXT files.
2 Export as CSV files.
3 Export directly to Microsoft Excel, XLS files.
When exporting .TXT files there are 2 possibilities:
1 Delimit fields using fixed widths:
When delimiting the fields using fixed width the numeric, the date and the time fields will be exported
with fixed width and the operator can configure in this window the width of text fields, like sample
identification codes or data base fields.
The fields that exceeds the width will be truncated and the fields that have less width than the configured
in this window will be added spaces to the end to reach the fixed width.
2 Delimit fields using a separator or delimiter character:
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When delimiting the fields using a separator character the text fields will not be truncated or enlarged but
they will be delimited with the character configured in this window i.e. ;.
All the occurrences of this character found as part of a data base field will be replaced by space to avoid
shifting the results when importing in a spreadsheet.
When exporting CSV files the fields will be delimited using commas.
All occurrences of comma in data base fields or sample identification codes will be replaced with space
character to avoid shifting the results when importing in a spreadsheet.
Sorting the columns:
The user can configure the order in which will be exported the columns starting from the left side of the
columns bar.
To do this select a column header with the mouse and use the Drag & Drop feature to place the column in
other position of the columns bar.
Sorting the rows:
When the user clicks on a column header with the mouse there is shown a small triangle that changes the
orientation with each click of the mouse.
If the triangle is pointing upward the results will be exported sorted in ascending order using the column that
has the triangle in its header.
The triangle pointing upward is like the following:
The triangle pointing downward is like the following:
The column header of a sorted field can look like the following:
Number of fields or columns to export:
The program will export the number of columns configured in this window.
The software will start to export at the left side of the columns bar and will scan to the right until this number
is reached.
Decimals for data exports:
In some countries they use comma instead of point for decimals, if this parameter is not properly configured
when the data is exported from the database or automatically and imported in other program the numbers will
be interpreted as text and you will not be able to do statistics or calculations with the numbers.
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The decimal values are the initial sample weight and results of the slopes.
Export also headers (Column titles):
The user can also configure if the operator wants to export the column headings.
The column headers or column titles are the texts that are used by the operator to identify a field.
For example the text literals: Date, Time, ID Sample, Position etc
The names of the slopes can be configured in the window Slopes settings
Add serial number beside ID Codes:
The serial number is a number that is added to the sample identification code.
All the samples with the same date and same ID code have different serial numbers.
The serial number is incremented every time a sample is added to the database and is reset automatically by
the software to one when the date changes.
Export marks beside result fields:
If this check box is selected when exporting the result fields there will be added marks at the right of the
result to differentiate in which condition was obtained the result.
The marks are the following:
1 A If the sample has been aborted and forced to provide the result.
2 C If the sample has been calibrated using single point calibration.
3 L If the sample has been linearized.
4 R If the sample has been calibrated using non-linear regression.
Columns organizer:
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This window is similar to the window that appears when the user clicks the button Columns organizer
in the window Database reports, with the exception that there is not shown the column titled On
statistics because the data will be exported automatically.
For more information please see the section Columns organizer in the chapter Database reports in this
manual.
NOTES:
TXT Files using fields of fixed width are more readable for people.
CSV files or TXT files delimited by characters are more readable for Software programs.
DOUBLE CLICKING CSV OR XLS FILES WILL LAUNCH AUTOMATICALLY MICROSOFT
EXCEL IF IT IS INSTALLED IN THE LIMS PC.
DOUBLE CLICKING TXT FILES WILL LAUNCH AUTOMATICALLY WINDOWS NOTEPAD
WHICH COMES PRE-INSTALLED IN WINDOWS.
12.2.4 Export automatically data base records menu option
If this option is checked (selected) there will be exported the data base records in the following way:
File: Configured folder\TGA_RESULTS\Date_Run_Number.TXT
Where Configured folder is the folder you have selected in the Destination folder menu option.
Date is the present date.
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TGA_RESULTS is the literal stream TGA_RESULTS.

Run is the number of analysis within that date (Run / Day).
Number is the number of samples that are represented inside the file.
For example:
C:\TGAFAST\TGA_RESULTS\2003_07_17_000001_000019.XLS.
If the format configured to export data is TXT and delimited by fixed width the result file will look like the
following:
I.e.
Date
ID Sample
2007/09/29 tgherq1
2007/09/29 tgherq2
2007/09/29 tgherq3
2007/09/29 tgherq4
2007/09/29 tgherq5
Posi N A Weight Moistur Ash

1
2
3
4
5
1
1
1
1
1
0.948
0.926
0.982
0.910
0.952
1.827
1.792
1.822
1.807
1.803
26.814
26.738
26.935
27.413
27.044
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If the format configured to export data is Microsoft Excel files (.XLS extension) the file will look like the
following:
12.2.5 Graphics export settings window

The window that allows configuring the format in which will be exported the graphics is like the following:
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Graphics files will be exported as the following:

File: Configured folder\TGA_RESULTS\Date_Run.TXT
I.e. the following:
C:\TGAFAST\TGA_RESULTS\2003_07_17_000001.XLS.
12.2.6 Export automatically graphics menu option
If this option is selected there will be exported the graphics in TXT, CSV or Microsoft Excel format .XLS
automatically at the end of the analysis.
The graphics will be exported like the following:
If the file is configured to export in Microsoft excel format, there will be generated an Excel Workbook, the
excel workbook will consist of the following:
1 A spreadsheet named Batch_Data
Which will contain the data generic to all slopes and all samples, i.e. Program name, date, analysis time,
number of revolutions, slopes names and slopes times, samples ID codes etc
The first sheet will be like the following if it is opened with Microsoft Excel:
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2 Several spreadsheets with the data for each sample

There will be generated a sheet for each sample, the naming convention is Sample_Pos_X, where X is the
position of the sample in the carousel.
I.e. Sample_Pos_12 is sample in position 12.
In each page will be a list with the revolution numbers, elapse times from the beginning of the analysis,
temperatures, weights and first derivatives of temperatures and weights, the first derivative formula is the
following:
First derivative = (Weight 2 Weight 1) / (Temperature 2 Temperature 1).
First derivative = (Weight 3 Weight 2) / (Temperature 3 Temperature 2).
In each row there will be subtracted the previous weight to the row weight and the result will be divided by the
difference of the row temperature minus the previous temperature.
The first derivatives can be used to test the behavior of some materials.
The spreadsheet for each sample will be like the following:
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12.2.7 Export automatically first derivatives files menu option

If this option is selected there will be generated a file for each sample that will use the following naming
convention:
C:\Results folder\First_Derivatives\Date_Number1_Pos_Number2.Extension.
Where Results folder is the folder where has been configured the program to export results.
First Derivatives is a folder generated automatically by the program inside the results folder to export the first
derivatives files in a folder different than the records exports or the graphics exports as the first derivatives
generates many files (one file for each sample in the batch).
Date is the present date.
Number 1 is the number of analysis within the date.
Pos is the literal word Pos.
Number 2 is the position of the crucible in the carousel, if this number is less than 10 it will have a leading
zero. I.e. 09.
Extension can be .TXT or .CSV.
If the program is configured to export the graphics in Microsoft Excel format there is also exported the first
derivatives in the spreadsheet of each sample.
This option for exporting the first derivatives files is only useful if you use other spreadsheet different from
Microsoft Excel.
For example:
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C:\TGAFAST\First_Derivatives\2005_02_03_000002_Pos_08.TXT.
If the file is opened in the Windows Notepad, the file will be like the following:
Each row contains the elapse time in seconds, the temperature, the weight and the first derivative.
12.3 Serial port data output menu
The menu for RS-232 serial data output is the following:
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12.3.1 RS - 232 Settings window

In this window can be configured the RS-232 parameters of the port to which will be connected the PC or
device to receive the results.
The parameters configured in this window must be the same as the configured in the connected device, except
the communications ports which can be the same or different.
12.3.2 Output generation format window

12.3.2.1 Output configuration page
If the user selects this option there will be shown a window like the following:
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In this window the user can configure the order in which fields will be exported to RS-232 serial port and the
number of fields to export.
To change the order of the fields double click on a cell and select the field in the drop-down list box.
The window will be like this:
Number of fields to export:

This option specifies how many fields will be exported for each sample.
The fields will be exported from the top of the list and will be scanned to the bottom of the list until this
number is reached.
Start of transmission character

End of transmission character
Samples separator
Fields delimiter
These options allow selecting the characters that will be used to delimit the samples, the fields and the
entire transmission.
The Start of transmission and End of transmission characters are only used when exporting the results
manually from the database.
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The Samples separator and Fields delimiters characters are used when exporting the results manually
from the database and also automatically after the analysis.
The characters can be specified in ASCII format or in the hexadecimal or decimal representation.
The hexadecimal and decimal representation can be used if you want to export a delimiter character that
cannot be represented in ASCII format, i.e. control characters.
The list of ASCII characters and its decimal and hexadecimal representations can be found in the
ASCII Character set.
ASCII means American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
There is a special delimiter that is called Carriage return and line feed or CRLF, this delimiter
makes the fields or the samples break into a new line.
I.e.
ID code
Weight
Volatiles
Etc
Send delimiter also for last sample

Send delimiter also for last field
If these check boxes are cleared there will not be exported the delimiter for the last sample or for the last
field.
Literals replacement and data exports

There are 2 possibilities when exporting each field of each sample:
1 Export only the value.
2 Export a literal and the value.
1 Export only the value.
In this case there will be exported only the value.
For example if the result of Ash is 35.41, there will be exported the text stream 35.41
2 Export a literal and the value.
In this case there will be exported a literal text that the user can type with the keyboard in the Literal
replacement column, and then the value beside the literal.
For example if the result of Ash is 35.41, and the literal is Ash= there will be exported the text stream
Ash=35.41
To export the literal and the value, type the text literal in the Literal replacement column, double click
the data export column and select Literal and value from the drop-down list box.
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Add serial number beside ID Codes:

The serial number is a number that is added to the sample ID code.
All samples with the same date and same ID code have different serial number, the serial number is
incremented every time a sample is added to the database.
Export leading and trailing spaces in decimal values:

If this option is selected there will be exported the leading and trailing spaces for the weights and the
results.
It is used for compatibility with some LIMS programs.
Export marks beside result fields:

If this option is selected there will be exported the following characters beside the results:
1 A If the sample has been aborted and forced to provide the result.
2 C If the sample has been calibrated using single point calibration.
3 L If the sample has been linearized.
4 R If the sample has been calibrated using non-linear regression.
12.3.2.2 Literals insertion page

If the user selects this option there will be shown a window like the following:
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This window is used only if it is necessary to insert some texts in the output.
Some LIMS programs need the data to be in specific formats to be able to be interpreted by the LIMS.
The user can select the insertion points where will be inserted the characters streams.
And the character streams to be inserted at that points.
12.3.3 Use Serial port data output Menu option
If this option if checked (selected) there will be exported the results to serial port automatically at the end of
the analysis
The user can also export manually the results from the Data base reports window.
12.4 Printer data output menu
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12.4.1 Reports format window

This option operates in a similar way as the data exports to files but in this case the data is printed on paper.
For more information please see the section Database records export settings window in this manual
Page N 209
There are 2 ways to print the results automatically.

1 Windows printer mode.
2 DOS printer emulation mode.
Windows printer mode:
Windows printer is the standard printing method.

This type of printing is the one used by the majority of the software Windows programs like word processors,
spreadsheets and several authoring tools.
Windows printing allows more control on the results but has the limitation that ejects the sheets every time it
receives any printing command.
Configure the font size (size of characters), the bigger the size will keep less records per page, the smaller the
size will keep more records per page but will be worse readable.
Configure the number of copies to print.
DOS printer emulation mode:
DOS printing emulation uses the old DOS (Disk operating system) method.
The program will print with every obtained result immediately.
If there is a sheet on the printer tray not full and the user wants to get the page (i.e. for process control) press
the EJEC button on the printer and there will be the ejected page available immediately.
Configure the following:
1 - The port to print to.
2 - The text fields widths, numeric, date and time fields will be printed with fixed width.
3 - Whether to print the column titles with every record or not.
Columns organizer:
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This window is similar to the window that appears when the user clicks the button Columns organizer
in the window Database reports, with the exception that there is not shown the column titled On
statistics because the data will be printed automatically.
For more information please see the section Columns organizer in the chapter Database reports in this
manual.
12.4.2 Automatic printing menu options
If these options are selected the software will print automatically.
Page N 211
If automatic sound is selected the software will show a warning message that will beep with the buzzer at end
of every slope after results are obtained.
13 Operational Buttons
The most important operational buttons are located in the operational buttons panel at the main screen; other
options and settings are in the application main menu.
13.1
Graphics:
The operator can monitor dynamically the state of the graphics.

If the operator clicks this button, the graphic of the selected sample will be shown in the graphics panel of the
application main screen.
The selected sample is the row that is in different color in the list that is in the samples and reference crucible
data panel of the application main screen.
This graphic shows the sample weight loss or gain and the temperatures curve given by the temperature
controller.
This button toggles its displaying and hiding with the button View carousel.
The instrument is automatic and does not need operator attention for the analysis, but this button may
be used in case of failure for diagnostics.
If this graphics show peaks in the samples weights there may be a problem of stability due to the
balance leveling, the crucible is touching the furnace carousel or the balance pedestal is touching the
furnace walls.
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13.2
View carousel:
The operator can monitor dynamically the state of the furnace.

When the operator clicks this button, the drawing of the carousel is shown in the graphics panel of the
application main screen.
The graphics panel can also show the graphics of the samples.
This graphic shows the positions of the furnace carousel that have crucibles and the empty positions of the
carousel with no samples using different colors.
This window may be used to have a visual indication of how many samples are in the furnace carousel and the
positions that have a crucible and the positions that are empty.
This button toggles its displaying and hiding with the button Graphics.
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13.3
Weigh:
This button is used to weigh the crucibles, samples and/or covers as well as to enter the identification
codes for the samples, and select the calibration factors.
When this button is clicked there will be shown a window like the following:
Select the number of samples from the drop-down list box and click the button OK.
There are 2 methods to weigh the crucibles, samples, and/or covers:
1 - Sequential Ids weighing method.
2 - No sequential Ids weighing method.
13.3.1 Sequential Ids weighing method
The sequential identifications weighing method is faster than the no-sequential Ids method but it have the
disadvantage that the operator cannot see the weights of the samples dynamically during weighing, in this
method the obtaining of initial weights will be done the following way:
1- The following window is shown:
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The operator selects the first row, then selects the last row in the list, types the identification code in the edit
box Present ID and clicks the button Recalculate sequential Ids.
When all Ids are calculated the operator clicks the OK button.
This window will not allow entering empty ID codes.
The ID codes of all samples will be shown in the main screen.
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2- The furnace lid opens.

3- If the user selected the maximum number of crucibles that fits inside the furnace i.e. 19 samples in
models with 20 crucible positions (19 samples + 1 reference crucible), all the sample positions will
have a crucible therefore the following window is shown:
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While the user holds down the Enter sample button on the instrument front panel the carousel will rotate
freely, if the user leave the button unpressed the carousel will stop rotating, if the user presses the Enter
sample button again the furnace carousel will start rotating again.
This allows the user to access all the sample positions without having to extend the hands much.
When the user presses the OK button with the mouse or the Enter key on the keyboard, the furnace lid
will close, and all the crucibles will be weighed automatically.
4- If the user entered less samples than the total available positions on the instrument the following
windows are shown:
And so on, these windows will indicate the user which positions will have a crucible.
Every time the user presses the OK button with the mouse or the Enter key on the keyboard the
carousel will move automatically to the next position and the next crucible will be placed in front of the
operator, then the next warning message asking for a crucible will be shown indicating the next crucible
position.
If the user selected to use 12 samples the carousel graphic will look like the following:
Page N 217
The software automatically calculates which positions will have sample and which positions will not have
sample.
The carousel must be equilibrated to have good distribution of temperatures inside the furnace.
When the user accepts all the windows the lid will close, and all the crucibles will be weighed
automatically.
If the user wants to stop the weighing of the crucibles it is not necessary to wait until all the process is
finished, the user can click the button Stop that is in the operational buttons panel at the main screen at
any time during the weighing of crucibles, samples and/or covers as well as during the analysis.
5- When all crucibles have been weighed and the instrument is ready to continue the lid will open and the
software will show a warning message that will beep with the buzzer to ask the user to weigh the
samples.
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6- If the sequential Ids method has been selected at the beginning of the weighing, the following windows
will be shown, depending if the user selected to use all the samples positions or not.
The user enters the samples in the crucibles.

When all samples have been entered, the lid will close and the samples will be weighed automatically.
The user can configure the minimum and maximum allowed weigh for samples in the configuration window.
If any of the samples have less than the minimum sample weigh or more than the maximum sample weight,
the software will open the lid again and ask the user to enter more sample or remove sample from the crucible
positions that have less than or more than the allowed weigh.
The sequential Ids weighing method is faster than the no sequential Ids at this point in which all samples are
entered at once.
7 - When all samples have been weighed a warning message that will beep with the buzzer will the shown.
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The weighing of the covers is similar to the weighing of crucibles and samples.
8- When the software has finished weighing crucibles, samples and/or covers the user will be asked to enter
the Data base fields for each sample, if it is configured in the Database menu.
13.3.2 No sequential Ids weighing method

1 - The weighing of crucibles and covers is the same as in the sequential Ids method.
This method is different from the sequential Ids method in the weighing of the samples.
In this method the samples are weighed each one after the other.
This weighing method is slower but the operator has more control on the amount of sample entered in the
crucibles and more control on other things, like selected calibration factors, identification codes etc
For information on the lid opening and closing in this weighing method, please read the section Lid position
to open the lid for samples weighing in chapter Furnace lid opening folder starting in page 50.
Page N 220
If the operator did not select the option Create linearization results file in next analysis batch in the
calibration menu the following window is shown:
When weighing the samples the users can 2 possibilities:

1 - Selecting the calibration factors from the calibration factors spreadsheet.
2 - Selecting the calibration factors from the non-linear regression spreadsheets.
If the user clicks on the non-linear regression page the following window is shown:
Page N 221
The formulas that can be selected in the weighing window are the following:
1 Use factor 1.0.
2 Calculate the factor using linear interpolation as wet.
3 Calculate the factor using least squares as wet.
4 Calculate the factor using quadratic formula as wet.
5 Calculate the factor using cubic formula as wet.
6 Calculate the factor using linear interpolation as dry.
7 Calculate the factor using least squares as dry.
8 Calculate the factor using quadratic formula as dry.
9 Calculate the factor using cubic formula as dry.
The window with the automatic factors calculation drop-down list box displayed is like the following:
Page N 222
The drop-down list box that allows selecting the type of automatic calculation at the bottom of the weighing
window can only be changed when the first sample is weighed, the next samples after the first sample, this list
is disabled, the program allows using only one calculation method in a batch to make the Curves fitting
consistent.
If the operator made a mistake the automatic calculation method can be changed later before starting the
analysis in the window Modify samples, and the change will be applied by the program to all the samples.
Automatic factors calculation and dynamic curves fitting
When the user calibrates the samples on the curves fitting window the program creates a series of points
making the X axis the results and the Y axis the standards percentages.
During the automatic factors calculation the X-axis are standards percentages and the Y-axis are the factors
that were calculated during the curves fitting.
During the automatic factors calculation after the result has been obtained the result is fitted in the selected
equation, the new calculated factor is applied to the sample based on its value and the result is recalculated.
Page N 223
If the operator selected the option Create linearization results file in next analysis batch in the calibration
menu the following window is shown:
Sample weight:
The operator can add sample to the crucible that is placed on the carousel.
The weighing window shows the weight of the sample in real time as it is changing, in this way the user can
get the amount of sample the user wants by adding or removing sample to the crucible.
The program will not accept the sample weight if the weight is below the minimum samples weight or if the
weight is above the maximum samples weight.
The minimum and the maximum samples weights can be configured using the parameters that are in the page
titled Parameters, this page can be accessed using the option Configuration from Configuration menu.
Page N 224
Sample Id Codes:
The user can type the present sample identification code in the edit box using the keyboard.
The program will not accept the sample if the identification code is empty, if the user does not enter an
identification code the software will show a warning message asking for the identification code and this
window will not be closed.
If the user wants to enter an identification code that has been entered previously the user can select the
identification code from the drop-down list box that is attached to the sample ID code edit box.
The list box will show the last entered ID codes at the top of the list.
Lists of ID Codes:
There are 2 lists of identification codes:

1 - LIST OF LAST ID CODES.
2 - LIST OF FAVORITES ID CODES.
The entering of the identification codes is done through a combination box.
Combination boxes are at the same time text boxes, and list boxes.
The user can type a text in the edit box using the keyboard or click in the right drop-down button of the control
and select the identification text from the list.
The last identification codes will be shown at the top of the list and the first identification codes will be shown
at the bottom of the list.
The software can be configured to sort the identifications in alphabetical order depending on the user
preferences.
The window for entering samples with the drop-down list visible is like the following:
Page N 225
Importing identification codes from LIMS:
The user can also import the identification codes from several text files.
These text files can be generated by a LIMS program (Laboratory Information Management System).
If the user clicks the button Import ID code there will be shown a window like the following:
Page N 226
Browse buttons
The user can browse the files where are located the identification codes.
When the user clicks any button titled Browse there is shown a window similar to the following:
Page N 227
In this window the user can navigate through the folders structure of the disk and locate the files from which
will be imported the identification codes.
The user can also select a folder that may be in a network disk drive or in a removable media, like CD-R, USB
flash memory, etc
The most commonly used file extension for text files is .TXT but the program allows selecting any file
extension.
The filter used is All files *.*.
Identification codes delimiting options
The user can delimit the identification codes imported from the files using 2 methods:
o Delimit IDS using a delimiter character.
o Delimit IDS using fixed width.
o Delimit IDS using a delimiter character.
The user can select the separator character of the identification codes, the most commonly used separator
characters are comma or semicolon , and ; but the user can select any character.
o Delimit IDS using fixed width.
The user can select the widths that separates each identification code.
Identification codes importing steps
Page N 228
If the user wants to import the complete identification code from a file the user can use the button titled
Browse that is beside the text box titled Path for file 1.
If then user wants to combine different parts of identification codes to make the identifications modular the
user can use up to 4 files.
At the beginning the first 2 lists at the left are enabled and the other lists are disabled, the list with the dates
and the list with the first file texts are enabled.
Each time the user selects one item from a list the selected text is added at the end of the text that is in the edit
box titled Present ID.
When the user selects the second list at the left, both 2 first lists are disabled and the third list is enabled, then
the user can select any item in the third list.
When the user selects an item from the third list the selected text is added at the end of the edit box titled
Present ID, and then the third list is disabled and the fourth list is enabled.
If the user presses the button Reset all the Present ID edit box is emptied, the first 2 list are enabled and all
other list are disabled.
When the user has finished selecting the identification code in this window the user clicks the button OK
and the ID code will be attached to the Sample ID code edit box in the weighing window.
Calibration or linearization factors and use of standards:
There will be shown a page for each slope that is configured to be analyzed in the selected program.
The name of the page is the name of the slope.
The names of the slopes are configurable in the window Slopes settings.
The user can select in the grids the calibration or linearization factors or the standard of the present sample for
each slope.
In coal analysis it is used calibration factors for volatile matter determination, moisture and ash normally do
not use calibration factors, but the software is generic for any application.
When the weighing window is shown the program will show the grids for the slopes that are configured to be
analyzed in the window Slopes settings, If some slopes are not configured to be analyzed before weighing
the samples the operator will not be able to select the calibration factors for that slopes in the weighing
window.
If the user configures the slopes to be analyzed after weighing the samples the operator can use the option
Modify samples that is in the Options menu and change the calibration factors for all the samples and all
the slopes in the spreadsheets.
The calibration, linearization and standards spreadsheets in the window Modify samples shows all the slopes
even if they will not be analyzed.
Calibration:
If the user does not select the Create linearization results file in next analysis batch in the calibration menu
or if the user selected it and the deselects it, the program will do a normal TGA analysis, the results of this
analysis are saved automatically in a file with extension .TGA in the TGA results folder inside the
application folder.
Page N 229
The results contained in this file can be calibrated later for 2 purposes:
1 - Obtain the new calibration factors and add them to the calibration factors spreadsheet to be used in future
next analysis.
2 - Recalculate the results and save the new calculated results in a file with .CAL extension and in the
database.
The user can select Automatic calculation for each sample and for each slope.
Automatic calculation check box
This option can only be used in normal TGA analysis.

When this option is selected the calibration factor column-row index for the selected sample and slope will
be Auto x where x is the number of the column, for example Auto0 for the first column or Auto4 for the
last column.
This means that the sample will have a calibration factor of 1.0 from the beginning.
When the sample provides the result for the slope selected with automatic calculation the program will
look in the linearization factors spreadsheet window and will do the following:
1- The program will search a percentage less than the result that was obtained, starting in the first row
of the column that was selected for the automatic calculation, then will continue searching in the
second row, until the end of the selected column.
2- If the program obtained a percentage from the linearization factors spreadsheet selected column
less than the result it will start searching a result greater than the result from the present position in
the spreadsheet selected column.
3- If the program obtained both a percentage less than the result and a percentage greater than the
result, then the calibration factor will be calculated using the linear equation.
4- The new calibration factor for the present sample and present slope will use the following formula:
Formula for automatic calculation of the calibration factor:
The new factor is calculated using the linear equation where the angle is theoretically always the
same relative to X (Results) and Y (Factors).
The new factor is calculated as the following:
(New Factor - Factor1) / (Result - Percent1) = (Factor2 - Factor1) / (Percent2 - Percent1)
Therefore:
New Factor = ((Factor2 - Factor1) * (Result - Percent1) / (Percent2 - Percent1)) + Factor1
Where:
Percent2 and Percent1 are the percentages keep from the linearization factors spreadsheet.
Factor2 and Factor1 are the linearization factors keep from the linearization factors spreadsheet.
For example if the given result is 30, it is among 25 and 35, 35 will be Percent2 and 25 will be
Percent1.
New factor is the theoretically unknown factor with complies with the linear equation.
This factor is applied to the original result that was initially set a factor to 1.0 as the following.
Page N 230
If the user configured the type of result in the Slopes settings window to be weight lost the
formula for the result will be:
New Result = (I. Weight S. Weight) *New factor * 100 / Initial Weight
If the user configured the type of result in the Slopes settings window to be weight remaining
the formula for the result will be:
New Result = S. weight *New factor * 100 / Initial Weight
Where:
I. Weight is the initial weight of the sample.
S. Weight is the slope weight that provides the result.
Linearization:
If the user selects Create linearization results file in next analysis batch in the calibration menu the program
will do a linearization analysis, the results of this analysis are saved automatically in a file with extension .LIN
in the Linearization results folder inside the application folder.
The results contained in this file can be linearized later for 2 purposes:
1 - Obtain the new linearization factors and add them to the linearization factors spreadsheet to be used with
next analysis using the Automatic calculation check box in normal TGA analysis.
2 - Recalculate the results and save the new calculated results in a file with .LIN extension.
The user cannot select Automatic calculation in this type of analysis.
13.4
Remove:
This button can be used to remove crucibles from the furnace carousel.
It would be necessary to remove a crucible from the carousel if there is a sample that is faulty or not
homogeneous and never provides results.
This button is not used normally but it can be used if it is necessary.
Page N 231
The operator can do the following things:

1 - Select a position of the furnace carousel and remove the crucible by selecting the position of the crucible
using the drop-down list box titled Crucible position and then clicking the button Remove crucible.
2 - Remove the reference crucible by clicking the button Remove reference.
3 - Remove all the samples and the reference crucible by clicking the button Remove all.
13.5
View sample:
This button is used to view the graphics of the samples of previous analysis that have been saved in files in the
computer disk.
The user can also view the graphics of the samples by clicking the button View graphic in the window
Database reports that can be accessed from the Database menu.
In this window the user can open result files of other dates and print the results or export the database records
or the graphics to TXT, CSV or Microsoft Excel XLS file formats.
When exporting the graphics to files there will be exported the revolution numbers, times, temperatures,
weights, first derivatives, etc .
The samples graphics is like the following:
The reference crucible graphics is like the following:

Page N 232
This window shows the following information:
Total time of analysis

Total number of revolutions or cycles
Date of the results file
Full path of the results file in the directories structure
Program name used in the analysis
Selected sample identification code
Crucibles initial weights that can be used for diagnosis
Selected sample initial weight
Selected sample graphic.

Reference crucible stability graphic.
Samples list.
Selected sample list.
Reference crucible list.
Page N 233
Selected sample graphic:
When the user selects a row in the samples list there is shown the graphic of the selected sample in
this window
The user can also select several rows and there will be shown the multiple samples curves.
The left Y axis is used to represent the temperatures, the temperatures increase from bottom to top.
The right Y axis represents the sample or samples percentage weight loss or gain, the percentages
increase from top to bottom, the top is the lowest percentage, the bottom is the greater percentage.
If the sample gains weight instead of losing weight the sample weights curve goes up instead of down
and the results in the list of samples may show negative values (If the software is configured to be able
to provide negative results, otherwise it will show zero %).
The X axis at the bottom represents the cycles along the time, the cycle numbers increase from the left
to the right, the left side is zero and the right side is the maximum number of cycles.
The graphics scales can be configured in the window Configuration that can be accessed from the
Configuration menu.
Reference crucible stability graphic:
The reference crucible graphic can be used for diagnosis.

The reference crucible curve must be normally a straight horizontal line on the top portion of the
graphic.
If the reference crucible curve shows big peaks there may be a problem in the leveling of the balance,
the crucible is touching the carousel, the balance pedestal is touching the furnace walls or other
problem.
The reference crucible curve must be as much straight and horizontal as possible.
This curve can show a little peak that goes up when the furnace temperature gets high, for example
during the analysis of volatiles and then a little peak that goes down when the temperature is
decreased, in this case this is normal as the reference crucible weight increases with the temperature.
Samples list:
This is the list of samples with positions, identification codes, initial sample weights, results of the
analyzed slopes, calibration factors used in the analyzed slopes, calibration factor indexes etc
When the user selects a row in the samples list the graphics is updated to show the weights curve of
the selected sample.
The user can also select several samples in the list, in this case there will be shown several curves in
the graphics.
Selected sample list:
This list shows information of the sample selected in the samples list.
The information of the selected sample is the following:
Page N 234
o
o
o
o
Revolution numbers or cycles

Elapse times starting from the time of the first weight
Temperatures
Weights
When the user selects a sample by clicking on a row from the samples list the software updates the list
of the selected sample.
The rows that provided results in any slope will be shown in red color and will have and asterisk
character added *at the end of the row, all other rows in the list that did not provide results will be
shown in black color.
Reference crucible list:
If the reference crucible check box is selected there will be shown the reference crucible graphic and
the reference crucible list.
The reference crucible list shows the following information:
o
o
o
o
Revolution numbers or cycles

Temperatures
Weights
Variations of the weights
The weights of the reference crucible are used to make corrections to the weights of the sample
crucibles, since the reference crucible is weighed at the beginning when the furnace is cold and then
during the analysis when the furnace is hot.
Delete button
This button allows deleting the samples that have incorrect results, if the user clicks this button the
program will ask for confirmation to delete the sample from the results file.
If all samples are deleted there will be removed also the file from the disk.
Print button
This button allows printing the selected sample graphic with the results of all slopes or the results
from the database.

1 - Print database records.
Page N 235
2 - Print graphics.
The database records can also be printed from the database, but printing using this option may be
used for example if the results have changed after a calibration.
If the option Print database records is selected the following window is shown:
The user can select the number of copies to print or cancel the operation.
If the option Print graphics is selected there will be printed the weight loss or gain and the
temperatures graphic.
If there are selected several samples the program will print the multiple sample graphic.
The reference crucible graphic can also be printed.
Exit button
This button is used to close this window; it will not exit the program.
Open button
If the user wants to open a file with results of any other day the user can click the button Open and
there will be shown a window like the following:
Page N 236
This window allows navigating through the directories structure and select a file to be opened.
There are 4 file filters to open 4 types of files:
TGA results files:

These files are normal TGA analysis with .TGA extension.
These files are generated by the TGA program automatically during the analysis.
Calibrated results files:

These are files with .CAL extension.
The user generates these files when the operator does a calibration by results and then
saves the file.
Linearization & Linearized results files:

These are files with .LIN extension.
These files are generated in 2 circumstances:
A - The TGA program generates these files when doing linearization analysis.
B - The operator generates these files when the user makes a linearization by results and
then saves the file.
Re-calibrated results files:

These are files with .RCL extension.
The operator generates these files when the user makes a curves fitting and then saves the
file.
Derivatives button
Page N 237
This button is used to export the first derivatives files manually;

There will be shown the Save as window where the user can navigate through the directories
structure and select the folder where will be saved the files.
The program can also be configured to export the first derivatives files automatically at the end of
the analysis.
For more information see Data outputs & LIMS connections menu, Export automatically first
derivatives files at the end of analysis option.
13.5.1 Selection of multiple curves in the same graphic for printing

The user can see the weight loss or gain curves of multiple samples and also the reference crucible curve in the
same graphic at the same time to make comparisons.
The temperatures curve is common to the entire batch.
This window use an extended selection list box, in software terminology that means that with one click on a
row deselects the previous selected row and the user can make multiple selections of rows using also the
keyboard.
2 - Maintain pressed the CTRL key and then click on the rows you want to select one by one, if you make
mistake and you have selected one row that must not be selected select it again while you maintain the control
key pressed and it will be deselected.
The graphics with multiple samples selected is like the following:
Page N 238
The graphics with multiple samples selected can also be printed.

When there are made multiple selections of samples the curves will use the colors in the following order:
1 - RED
2 - BLUE
3 - BLACK
4 - GREEN
5 - GRAY
In total the graphic use 5 colors.
The first 5 curves will use a SOLID line style.
If the operator selects more than 5 samples the colors are repeated but the line style will be DASH.
If the operator selects more than 10 samples the colors are repeated but the next 5 samples will use a line style
DASH-DOT.
If the operator selects more than 15 samples the colors are repeated but the next 5 samples will use a line style
DOT-DOT.
13.5.2 ZOOM In Utility
There is a zoom in utility to be able to see a portion of the graphics increased in size.
The user can view the graphics in more detail using the zoom button.
Page N 239
To use this tool do the following:

1- Click the zoom button.
2- Click on the area of the zoom utility and drag the mouse out of the zoom window to the area you
want to zoom, there will be shown a square area that you can move dynamically and the zoom
window will be updated in real time as you move the mouse over the graphics.
3- when you want to finish zooming, release the left mouse button and the zoom window will show
the last area that was zoomed.
4-You can also resize the zoom window as well as the square area for zooming.
To resize the zoom window click with left mouse button on the lower right corner of the zoom
window and drag the resize handle on the corner.
You can make thus this window smaller or bigger.
To resize the square area used for the zoom, click on the zoom menu on the zoom window and
select the appropriate zooming area, which can be 0.5 centimeters of the screen to 3.5 cm.
Zoom menus
Page N 240
To copy the zoomed area to the clipboard to be used in other applications select the copy menu
command on the Clipboard menu.
The zoom in utility can be useful but if you want to use in a better way the graphics of the TGA you
can also export the graphics to a TXT, CSV or Excel files to be opened with a spreadsheet, i.e.
Microsoft Excel.
13.5.3 View analysis data
If the user clicks the button Data a window like the following is shown:
In this window the user can see the parameters used to make the analysis.
This data is saved inside the results file with the graphics, elapse times, temperatures and weights.
This window is the same as the one used to configure the parameters for analysis but the 2 differences
with the Slope settings window are the following:
Page N 241
1 - There will be shown only the pages of the slopes that were analyzed, the pages of the slopes that were
not analyzed will not be shown.
2 - The data in this window cannot be edited, all the data is read-only and is disabled.
If the user clicks on the folder Formulas assignments there is shown a window similar to the following:
The formulas are embedded inside the results file.

If the user deletes the formula file (File with .FRM extension) from the hard disk after making the analysis
the formulas are still visible when opening a results file.
For more information please see the section Formulas designer
13.5.4 Export graphic
If the user clicks the button Export the following window is shown:
Page N 242
The user can select 2 options:

1 - Export the database records.
2 - Export the graphics.
This option is used to export the data manually; if you want to export the data automatically after
the analysis has finished see the section Data Outputs and LIMS connections.
Page N 243
The user can choose to export the database records and the graphics in TXT, CSV or Microsoft Excel files
XLS.
When exporting the database records the data saved are results like Moisture, volatiles, ash, identification
codes, dates, times, program names, initial sample weights etc
When exporting graphics the data saved are revolution numbers, elapse times, temperatures, weights, first
derivatives, etc of all the samples.
For information on the Excel format used to export the graphics see the section Data exports & LIMS
connections in this manual.
13.6
Execute:
When this button is clicked the software starts the analysis cycle.
If this button is disabled it means that the program is not ready to start an analysis because there is needed
some data.
Normally if this button is disabled the button Weigh is enabled.
If the button Weigh is enabled you can click the button.
The program may be unable to start the analysis if one of the following conditions happens:
1 - There are not samples or there is not a reference crucible weighed inside the furnace carousel.
2 - The crucibles have been weighed but the samples have not been weighed.
3 - The program is configured to weigh the crucible-covers and the covers have not been weighed (In models
with dual carousel)
For example: If the program is not configured to weigh the crucible-covers and all the samples have been
weighed and you change later the configuration to weigh the covers before starting the analysis, the button
Execute will get disabled and the button Weigh will get enabled:
You can do one of the following:
1 - Click the button Weigh to weigh the crucible-covers.
2 - Configure all the slopes to not use covers.
This button toggles its showing and hiding with the button Stop , when this button is shown the button
Stop is not visible and vice versa.
If there is a mechanical problem during the analysis the software will show a warning message box with an
explanation of the problem, for example: There is not gas pressure etc
The message box that shows information about the problem will also beep using the buzzer to alert the user,
after the user attends the message box by clicking the button OK on the message box or pressing the Enter
key on the keyboard the message box will be closed and the buzzer will stop beeping, then the program will
stop the analysis and will show the button Execute.
The user can use the diagnostics window to find and fix the problem and then click the button Execute again
and the analysis will continue at the point it was interrupted, the analysis data will not be lost.
Page N 244
13.7
Stop:
This button stops the operation started when the user clicked the button Execute or the button Weigh.
This button toggles its showing and hiding with the Execute button, when this button is shown the button
Execute is not visible and vice versa.
The operator may force the instrument to provide results and continue with next slope or finish the analysis if
there are samples that are slow to provide results (i.e. results with very low content of ash), results that are
aborted may not be accurate in the value, and the aborted results will be shown with the text Aborted beside
the value to facilitate the user distinguishing the result values that may not be accurate.
If the user clicks the Stop button there will be shown a window like the following:
If the user clicks the button Yes, the samples that did not provide the result will provide the result and will
have the text Aborted.
The results that were aborted will be shown also with the text Aborted in the window Database reports.
The user can continue with next slope clicking the Execute button.
The aborted results will look like the following:
Page N 245
The results at the example above are not real; they are used only to show the effect of this feature.
When the results are printed, the aborted results will have an A mark beside the value.
If the results are exported, the user can configure whether to export the A mark beside the result values or
not.
Page N 246
14 TGA Spare parts listing
Page N 247
Page N 248
TGA SPARE PARTS LISTING
DESCRIPTION
Balance
Balance pedestal
Balance protector
Ceramic lance
Ceramic lower Furnace
Ceramic upper Furnace
Cooling fan 45
Drive belt
Electronic interface board
Electro valve
Elevating block
Temperature controller brand E
Key
Lid piston
Lower turntable
Magnetic sensor
Mechanical relay
Navas Instruments driver board
Pneumatic cylinder for auto-covers
Pneumatic cylinder for the elevation
Pulley
Retainer
Rotational coupling
Shaft
Slide
Small fan in back panel
Solid state relay
Steel cover
Steel crucible
Stepper motor
Synchronization pin
Thermocouple
Upper carrousel shaft
Upper turntable
Wheel with teeth
REFERENCE
100 000 023
100 000 024
100 000 025
100 000 003
100 000 002
100 000 001
100 000 027
100 000 013
100 000 032
100 000 029
100 000 034
100 000 035
100 000 010
100 000 017
100 000 006
100 000 028
100 000 031
100 000 033
100 000 016
100 000 015
100 000 021
100 000 018
100 000 019
100 000 007
100 000 020
100 000 026
100 000 030
100 000 012
100 000 011
100 000 022
100 000 009
100 000 004
100 000 008
100 000 005
100 000 014
Page N 249
15 DIAGRAMS
15.1 Common Diagrams to all models
Solenoids
Flow
Regulators
Pistons
Table Piston
Exhaust
Pressure
Regulator
Automatic Covers
Installation and Removal
(Only Model TGA-2000A)
System Air
Exhaust
Flow
Regulator
Furnace Lid
Resistance
Furnace
O2
Exhaust
50 to 1000 C
Sample
Exhaust
Multiple
step lid
opening
Rotometer
Balance
N2
Pressure
sensor
Page N 250
Monitor
Printer
Keyboard Mouse
RS-232
Connector
PC
TGA FURNACE
Balance
DB25 &15
Connectors
Las Navas Board
Back panel,
Motor,
switches &
valves
Interface Board
RS-232
Connector
Temperature
controller
Power
switch
Circuit
breaker
Mains
Mains
Page N 251
EUROTHERM
RB
1B
Brown
1
Alive
Blue
2
Neutral
3
Ground
Circuit
Breaker
Blue
1 Relay OFF: Resistors in series

2 Relay ON: Resistors in parallel
1A
3 With OXIGEN ON only lower heating elements

have power
POSSIBILITIES:
1 All in series
2 All in parallel
3 Only lower heating elements in parallel
Brown
AC AC
Brown
Mechanical
Relay
Lower
heating
elements
Blue
Ref D
Note : +24VDC has a fuse in LNI

board.
Mechanical
Relay
Ref C
POWER +24
Brown
7
Brown
AC AC
Blue
5
6
GND
L
N
24 DC
Power
supply
-V 9RC
3
4
1RD IN MODEL TGA-2000A

1RD IN MODEL TGA2000-3S
3RD IN MODEL TGA-2000G
+V 2RC (Note)
EUROTHERM
Temperature
controller
UPPER
HEATING
ELEMENT
Blue
Ref F
Balance
power
supply
Ref E
Upper heating
element
Page N 252
Page N 253
Page N 254
Page N 255
12
11
10
Sensor
lid
+24VDC
to PC
150C
cooling
Final
cooling
Sensor
elevation
Pressure
sensor
Enter
sample
Home
sensor
- VDC
15.2 TGA-2000A Diagrams
+12 VDC
From PC
ELECTROVALVES
18
16
28
21
19
27
15
23
RC
O2 N2
Multiple
step lid
Covers Lid Elevation opening
36
12
14
32
31
26
25
29
30
PINK PINK PINK YELLO BLUE BLUE WHITE BROW BROW GRAY
RED
BROW WHITE
BROWN
GRAY
BROW
4RB
GRAY
YELLOBLUE
BROW PINK BROW
WHIT BLAC BLUE YELLO WHIT GREE PURPL WHIT RED RED
BLUE
10RC
9RC
BROWN
1RC
10RC
BLUE
BROWN
Home
magnetic
sensor
Lid
magnetic
sensor
Enter
sample
6RC
switch
7RC
Red
Blue
10
Yellow
7
Orange
Stepping
motor
Safety
mechanical
relay PIN 1
9RC Brown
Lid safety
interlock SW
BLACK
Gas pressure
sensor
Blue
8RC
Elevation
magnetic
sensor
Blue
BROWN
Brown
BLUE
To
mechanical
relay
Brown
BLACK
6
+24 VDC
from PC
Magnetic
sensors
5RC
RD
Page N 256
1B
4
-
24VDC
AC
2
3
5RB
24VDC
Multiple step lid opening ( Red

cable )
A2
Safety
mechanical relay
Pin 3
Mechanical
relay Pin 14
Lid safety
interlock SW
SAFETY
MECHANICAL
RELAY
A1
J203 Direct
(Green-White)
14
13
REF A
24
23
3rd SSR Pin 2
33
REF B
REF F 34
1 (-)
4RB
AC
Blue
AC
37 Pins connector
(White - Black)
AC
1A
3
5
6
Brown
2RC
43
4th SSR Pin 1
MR
2 (+)
24VDC
44
4
Third
SSR Pin 1
Page N 257
12
11
10
Sensor
lid
+24VDC
to PC
150C
cooling
Final
cooling
Sensor
elevation
Pressure
sensor
Enter
sample
Home
sensor
- VDC
15.3 TGA-2000G Diagrams
+12 VDC
From PC
ELECTROVALVES
18
16
28
21
19
27
15
23
RC
O2 N2
Multiple
step lid
Lid Elevation opening
36
12
14
32
31
26
25
29
30
RED
BROWN
BROW WHITE
GRAY
BROW
4RB
GRAY
YELLOBLUE
BROW PINK BROW
BLUE
10RC
9RC
BROWN
1RC
10RC
BLUE
BROWN
Home
magnetic
sensor
Lid
magnetic
sensor
Enter
sample
6RC
switch
7RC
Red
Blue
10
Yellow
7
Orange
Stepping
motor
Safety
mechanical
relay PIN 1
9RC Brown
Lid safety
interlock SW
BLACK
Blue
8RC
Gas pressure
sensor
Blue
BROWN
Elevation
magnetic
sensor
Brown
BLUE
To
mechanical
relay
Brown
BLACK
6
+24 VDC
from PC
Magnetic
sensors
5RC
RD
Page N 258
37 Pins connector
(White - Black)
AC
4
-
24VDC
AC
2
3
5RB
24VDC
3
+
Mechanical
relay Pin 14
1 (-)
Brown
13
REF A
24
23
3rd SSR Pin 2
33
REF B
REF F 34
43
4th SSR Pin 1
MR
2 (+)
24VDC
J203 Direct
(Green-White)
14
44
3
5
6
A1
A2
Safety
mechanical relay
Pin 3
Lid safety
interlock SW
SAFETY
MECHANICAL
RELAY
4RB
1
Blue

cable )
-
AC
1B
AC
1A
2RC
4
Third
SSR Pin 1
Page N 259
12
11
10
Sensor
lid
+24VDC
to PC
150C
cooling
Final
cooling
Sensor
elevation
Pressure
sensor
Enter
sample
Home
sensor
- VDC
15.4 TGA2000-3S Diagrams
+12 VDC
From PC
ELECTROVALVES
18
16
28
21
19
27
15
23
RC
O2 N2
Multiple
step lid
opening Lid Elevation
36
12
14
32
31
26
25
29
30
RED
BROWN
BROW WHITE
GRAY
BROW
4RB
GRAY
YELLOBLUE
BROW PINK BROW
BLUE
10RC
9RC
BROWN
1RC
10RC
BLUE
BROWN
Home
magnetic
sensor
Lid
magnetic
sensor
Enter
sample
6RC
switch
7RC
Red
Blue
10
Yellow
7
Orange
Stepping
motor
Safety
mechanical
relay PIN 1
9RC Brown
Lid safety
interlock SW
BLACK
Blue
8RC
Gas pressure
sensor
Blue
BROWN
Elevation
magnetic
sensor
Brown
BLUE
To
mechanical
relay
Brown
BLACK
6
+24 VDC
from PC
Magnetic
sensors
5RC
RD
Page N 260
1A
1B
24VDC

cable )
AC
3
+
4
AC
37 Pins connector
(White - Black)
A2
AC
4
-
24VDC
AC
2
3
5RB
Lid safety
interlock SW
6RD
14
13
REF A
24
23
3rd SSR Pin 2
33
REF B
REF F
34
1 (-)
4RB
1
Mechanical
relay Pin 14
Blue
SAFETY
MECHANICAL
RELAY
Safety
mechanical relay
Pin 3
A1
3
5
6
2 (+)
24VDC
Brown
44
MR
2RC
43
4th SSR Pin 1
4
Third
SSR Pin 1
Page N 261
16 WIRED TGA
16.1 Models TGA-2000A and TGA2000G
J203 CONNECTOR 37 PINS
COLOR
PIN
Purple
White-black
Brown
Green
Gray-brown
Green-White
Red-blue
White-yellow
Orange
White
White-red
Brown-red
Yellow
Gray
Brown-blue
Orange-brown
Blue
1
2
3
4
9
10
12
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
23
25
Yellow-brown
Gray-rosy
White-blue
Black
White-gray
White-orange
Brown Green
Red
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
36
FUNCTION AND ORIGIN

7D, Motor X (orange color cable)
Mechanical relay & assisted cooling
9C, GND
+5 NOT USED
10C, +12V For magnetic sensors
Mechanical relay & assisted cooling
9D, Motor X (cable red color)
8D, Motor X (cable blue color)
2C, Sends 24V from the furnace to the PC *
7C, Enter sample
NOT USED
8C, Crucible position home
4C, Fans cool furnace
Chassis and mesh cables
5C, Magnetic sensor position plate
1C, Magnetic sensor position covers
3D, Auto covers placement & removal in TGA2000A, Upper
heating element control in TGA2000G
4D, Lifts the Lid of the furnace
3C, Extractor of external air
6C, Sensor of pressure
2D, Oxygen
1D, Nitrogen
5D, Solenoid go up-low plate
6D, Brings +24V from card Navas *
10D, Motor X (cable yellow color)
DESTINATION
3 DB25
2 DB15
15 DB15
14 DB15
16 DB25
1 DB15
2 DB25
4 DB25
9 DB15
12 DB15
23 DB25
22 DB25
3 DB15
Metal case DB25
10 DB15
11 DB15
5 DB25
6 DB15
13 DB25
24 DB25
7 DB15
10 DB25
8 DB25
9 DB25
1 DB25
Page N 262
17 RS-232 CABLES
TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER BRAND E

DB9 PIN
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
COLOR
Bridge to 4
Yellow
Brown
Bridge to 6
Green
Bridge to 4
Bridge to 8
Bridge to 7
------------
CONTROLER
------------------HF
HE
------------------HD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE BRAND S
DB9 PIN
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
COLOR
------------------Yellow
Brown
Green
------------------------------------------------------White
-------------------
DB25 PIN
-------------------2
3
5
---------------------------------------------------------20
-------------------Bridge 4-14
BALANCE BRAND A
DB9 PIN ( M )
1
2
3
4
GND
COLOR
White
Yellow
Brown
Green
Gray
DB25 PIN ( M )
4
3
2
5
GND
Page N 263
18 PERIPHERALS PARAMETERS (BALANCE & TEMPERATURE

CONTROLLER)
18.1 TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER CONFIGURATION
There are 2 models of temperature controllers:
1 - Old model: long temperature controller.
2 - New model: short temperature controller.
New instruments use new model for the temperature controller.
18.1.1 Old model long temperature controller parameters
There are configured 2 access modes:
1 - Full access mode.
2 - Configuration access mode.
18.1.1.1 Full access mode
MENU
0
C
C0
C0
Atun
Atun
Atun
Atun
PID
PID
PID
PID
PID
PID
PID
PID
PID
PID
PID
PID
PID
PARAMETER
OP
M-A
Cid
Tune
Dra
Dra.t
Adc
Set
*Pb
*Ti
*Td
Res
*Hcb
*Lcb
*Pb.2
*Ti.2
*Td2
Res.2
*Hcb.2
*Lcb.2
VALUE
0.0
Auto
0
Off
Off
10
man
Pid.1
4
424 sec
70 sec
0.0
7
12
3
25
4
0.0
Auto
Auto
Page N 264
MENU
PARAMETER
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
IP
IP
IP
IP
IP
IP
OP
OP
OP
OP
OP
OP
CMS
Ssel
Sp1
Sp2
Sp.L
*Sp.H
Sp2.L
*Sp2.H
*Sprr
Hbty
* Filt
Ofs.1
Mu.l
Cjc.1
Li.1
PusL
Op.L0
Op.H1
Oprr
* Cych
Ont.H
Sb.op
Addr
VALUE
Sp1
20
20
0
1150
0
1150
1000
Off
off sec
0
-0.1
26.7
24-25
ip1
0.0
100.0
off
0.5
Auto
0.0
1
The parameters with an asterisk * are configured by Navas Instruments, the rest of parameters use the factory
settings of the temperature controller manufacturer.
Old TGA models use the following temperature controller auto-tuning settings:
Auto - Tuning Pid 1
Auto - Tuning Pid 2
->
->
102 C
940 C
New TGA models allow doing auto-tuning from the TGA program.
The TGA application allows selecting the set of auto-tuning parameters for each slope, i.e. Moisture, Volatile
matter, ash etc
Page N 265
18.1.1.2
MENU
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
PU
PU
PU
PU
IP
IP
IP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
HA
HA
HA
HA
CAL
CAL
CAL
CAL
CAL
CAL
1A
1A
PARAMETER
Ctrl
Act
Cool
Ti.td
Dty.p
* m-a
* r-h
pwrf
fwd.t
pd.tr
sbr.t
fop
gsch
Unit
Dec.p
* Rng.L
* Rng.H
Inpt
Cjc
Inp
NSp
Rmtr
m.tr
* rmp.u
rmt
Id
Func
Baud
Dely
Rcal
Ucal
Ptl.L
* Ptl.H
Ofl.L
Ofl.H
Id
Fune
VALUE
Pid
Rev
Lin
Sec
Pu
Disa
Disa
On
None
No
sb.op
No
No
C
nnnn
0
1150
K.tc
Auto
Auto
2
off
off
Pmin
None
Cms
Ei.bi
9600
No
None
No
0
100
0.0
0.0
Log
Heat
Page N 266
MENU
1A
1A
1A
1A
Pass
Pass
PARAMETER
Ual.L
Ual.H
Out.L
Out.H
*Acc.p
*Cnf.p
VALUE
0
100
0.0
100.0
0
0
18.1.2 New model short temperature controller parameters

There are configured 2 access modes:
1 - Full access mode.
2 - Configuration access mode.
18.1.2.1 Full access mode
MENU
0
C
C0
C0
C0
C0
Atun
PID
PID
PID
PID
PID
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
IP
IP
PARAMETER
OP
W.SP
MA
Disp
C.ID
Tune
Pb
Ti
Td
LCB
HCB
SSel
SP1
SP2
SP1.L
SP1.H
SP2.L
SP2.H
Sprr
Dwell
End.t
Prog
Stat
Filt
Ofst
VALUE
0.0
5
Auto
Std
0
Off
4
424
70
12
7
SP1
5
25
0
1050
0
1050
999.0
Off
Rset
Rset
Dwell
0.0
0
Page N 267
MENU
IP
IP
OP
OP
OP
OP
OP
18.1.2.2
PARAMETER
Cjc
Mu
OP.L0
OP.H1
Sb.Op
Cyc.h
Ont.h
VALUE
21
-0.06
0.0
100.0
0.0
0.5
0.1
MENU
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
INST
IP
IP
IP
IP
IP
CAL
CAL
CAL
CAL
CAL
HA
HA
HA
HA
HA
1A
1A
1A
Pass
PARAMETER
Unit
Dec.p
ctrl.
Act
Cool
Pwrf
Pd.tr
Fop
Sbr.t
LC.H1
Inpt
Rng.L
Rng.H
Cjc
Imp
Adj
Pnt.L
Pnt.H
Ofs.L
Ofs.H
ID
Func
Baud
Prty
Resn
ID
Func
Sens
Acc.p
VALUE
C
nnnn
PID
Rev
Lin
Off
No
No
Sb.Op
100
K.tc
0
1050
Auto
Auto
No
0
100
0
0
CMS
CMS
9600
None
Full
Log
Heat
Nor
0
Page N 268
MENU
Pass
PARAMETER
Cnf.p
VALUE
0
18.2 TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER RS-232 SERIAL PORT PARAMETERS

Baud rate:
Parity:
Stop bits:
Data bits:
9600
Even
1
7
Page N 269
18.3 BALANCES CONFIGURATION

There are 3 types of settings depending on the balance model:
1 Balance S old.
2 - Balance S new.
3 - Balance A.
New instruments use the settings for balance model S new or model A.
18.3.1 Balance parameters for model S old
113
515
541
614
622
721
854
Unstable ambient.
2400 Baud rate.
Software handshaking advises.
Individual printing without stability.
No disabled with key.
16 Digits format.
Automatic ON.
Rest of parameters comes pre-configured from factory settings.
Page N 270
18.3.2 Balance parameters for model S New
IF IT IS NECESSARY TO RECONFIGURE THE BALANCE FIRST RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS

FROM THE BALANCE MENU, AND THEN CONFIGURE THE FOLLOWING SETTINGS:
Setup
Setup
Setup
Setup
Setup
Setup
->
->
->
->
->
->
Bal. Scal
Interface
Interface
Print out
Print out
EXTRAS
->
->
->
->
->
->
Ambient
Baud rate
Handshaking
Print
Format
ON Mode
->
->
->
->
->
->
Unstable
2400
Software
Auto without stability
16 CHARACTERS
Auto ON
THE OPTION FOR RESETING TO FACTORY SEETINGS IS IN THE FOLLOWING PATH:

Setup
->
Reset
->
Menu
->
YES
Page N 271
18.3.3 Balance parameters for model A
MENU
C0
C0
C0
C1
C1
C1
C1
C3
C4
C4
C4
C4
C4
C4
C5
C5
C5
C5
C5
C5
C5
C9
C9
PARAMETER
STB - B
COND
TRC
SPEED
POINT
P - ON
RANGE
CAL
PRINT
AP - P
AP - B
PAUSE
AT - F
INFO
BPS
BT - PR
CR - LF
TYPE
T - UP
E - COD
CTS
PN
PF
VALUE
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
2
3
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Page N 272
18.4 BALANCE RS-232 SERIAL PORT PARAMETERS

18.4.1 Serial port parameters for balances models S
Baud rate:
Parity:
Stop bits:
Data bits:
2400
Odd
1
7
18.4.2 Serial port parameters for balance model A
Baud rate:
Parity:
Stop bits:
Data bits:
2400
Even
1
7
Page N 273
19 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
19.1 TGA-2000A
Model: Navas Instruments TGA-2000A
Specifications:
Sample size: 0.1 ~ 10 grams
Number of samples: 1 to 19
Weight Loss/Gain range: 0 ~ 100 %
Instrument precision: Standard deviation of 0.0002 g
Balance: Complete brand name precision balance with display, Sensitivity: 0.0001 gram
Furnace temperature range: 50 ~ 1000 C
With dual metallic carousel (2 year warranty) for automatic cover placement and removal for volatiles
analysis
Furnace temperature stability:
1C at 105C.
2C at other temperatures.
Controlled with complete brand name temperature controller.
Ramp rate:
Start Temperature
25C
104C
550C
End Temperature
107C
1000C
750C
Programmable rate
5 to 30C / Min
5 to 50C / Min
5 to 40C / Min
Programs:
Up to 8 editable programs with 50 editable factors for each slope and non-linear regression.
Processor and equipment:
Standard PC with Pentium processor and 2 electronic boards plugged inside for system control.
Communications with digital balance and controller by RS-232 cables.
Color monitor.
Color printer.
Keyboard.
Mouse.
Software:
Visual Software in Windows.
With all possible features you will need, special Software free of charge.
Data transmission Software:
Connection to other PC or network software included in ASCII text files and Microsoft Excel (TXT,
CSV and XLS formats) for Excel or other programs like Quattro Pro or Lotus 123.
Up to 10 TGA-2000A connected to an external balance and server for users with massive number of
analysis.
Page N 274
20 Error messages (Alarms) and solutions

20.1 Temperature controller alarms
1- RS-232 communications error with furnace temperature controller.
Check that the furnace is ON, the temperature controller is operating and the cable is connected.
When the instrument is installed it is necessary to configure the communication port to which the temperature
controller is connected.
2- Unable to read present temperature from temperature controller
This error indicates a problem with the PC ports.
3- Temperature controller unable to receive final temperature (set point)
4- Temperature controller unable to receive ramp rate (slope)
This error message appears when the software sends the temperature or the ramp rate to the temperature
controller and the controller does not respond.
5- Checksum error on RS-232 communications with furnace temperature controller.
This error indicates that there are electronic interferences in the electric installation.
6- The furnace temperature controller has not responded in 2 minutes, furnace relay has been
deactivated.
If the furnace temperature controller does not respond in 2 minutes, it is possible it has broken down, so the
software will drop the relay and cut the temperature to avoid damaging the furnace.
Page N 275
20.2 Balance alarms

1- RS-232 communications error with balance: Check the furnace is ON, the balance is operating and
the cable is connected.
When the instrument is installed it is necessary to configure the communication port to which the balance is
connected.
This error appears also during the weighing of the crucibles, samples and covers before analysis and during the
analysis if the balance does not provide a weight when it is requested from the software.
The balance sends weights every 100 milli-seconds (10 times a second).
If this error is shown check that the cable of the balance is not broken or the balance is not damaged.
The balance communications can also be checked using the HyperTerminal program.
HyperTerminal comes with Windows 98, 2000, ME, NT and XP, if it is not installed install it from the
Windows CD using the add & remove programs icon in the operating system control panel.
2- Balance could not tare
The software moves the carousels up and tares the balance before getting the initial weights of crucibles,
samples and/or covers.
The software also tares the balance during the analysis with the carousels up in each revolution; the software
tares the balance every complete turn of the carousels just before weighing the reference crucible.
This is useful to correct the possible balance drift due to temperature.
This error is shown if the balance does not respond after sending to it the instructions to tare.
3- Balance has not tared, problem with the communications. Weight greater than 0.001 grams.
The software moves the carousels up and tares the balance before getting the initial weights of crucibles,
samples and/or covers.
The software also tares the balance during the analysis with the carousels up in each revolution; the software
tares the balance every complete turn of the carousels just before weighing the reference crucible.
This error appears if the balance has a weight greater than 0.001 grams after taring.
If this error appears it is possible that the pedestal is touching the furnace ceramics or the pedestal protector is
not properly installed.
The pedestal protector avoids air turbulences in the pedestal.
The furnace internal fans start when temperature is over 150 C
4- Balance does not have stable weight, please verify that the crucible is no touching the carousel, and
that the pedestal is not touching the furnace ceramic, The numbers on the balance display must be
stable.
LOOK NOW at balance display, are numbers stable or moving, if numbers are moving there is a
mechanical problem.
The balances send weights in 2 ways.
When the balance has stable weight the balance sends a g character with the weight.
When the balance does not have stable weight the balance send weights without the g.
The software looks for the g when getting the initial weights of crucibles, covers and samples with the
furnace cool before analysis.
The software also looks for the g during the analysis in each revolution when weighing the reference
crucible.
The software does not look for the g during analysis when weighing the samples as the furnace is hot and
samples losing weight.
If this message appears check that the pedestal protector is properly installed to avoid air turbulences.
Page N 276
The furnace internal fans start cooling when furnace is over 150 C
20.3 Other errors & alarms (Carousels, pistons, gases etc )
1- Lid does not open, check lid is open, and if it is open check lid switch.
When the software opens the lid it looks at the lid switch after activating the lid electro valve to open the
furnace.
If this message appears there are 4 possibilities:
A- The lid electro valve is damaged:
The lid does not open, in this case check the lid electro valve is operating, the lid electro valve activates the
pneumatic piston to open the lid.
Go to diagnostics and activate manually the lid, the piston can be damaged or the lid electro valve broken
down.
Open the back panel of the instrument and check if the light of the lid electro valve gets ON and OFF when
activating and deactivating the lid.
B- The lid pneumatic piston is damaged:
The light on the lid electro valve gets ON and OFF but the lid does not open.
C- There is not pneumatic pressure in the installation:
Check also if there is the necessary pneumatic pressure, some installations use turbo-compressor.
D- The lid switch is damaged:
If the light of the lid electro valve changes when activating and deactivating it, the electro valve is not
damaged, it is possible that the lid operates but the lid switch does not work.
You can activate and deactivate the lid switch manually and see if it changes in the diagnostics window.
All the sensors are shown in diagnostics in real time as they are changing.
The lid switch is located beside the lid piston.
The switch that is below the lid, in the furnace chassis is not the lid switch, it is the interlock switch which is
used to disconnect the solid state relay to avoid heating the furnace when the lid is open, this is a safety
feature.
2- Lid does not close, check lid is closed and if it is closed check lid switch.
This error message is similar to the error above.
3 - Carousel does not get up, use diagnostics.
Check that the carousel goes up and down by using diagnostics.
If it operates check that the elevation switch changes its state in diagnostics.
The carousel level magnetic switch is located inside furnace.
This error message is similar to the errors of the lid above.
4- Cannot close the CAROUSEL magnetic switch while moving to home position.
Check that the carousel home switch is operating properly and that the carousel motor is turning.
The TGA use a stepping motor for the carousel rotation, this type of motors are better than DC motors as
positioning is more accurate.
Stepping motors are easy to control to provide good positioning.
The software counts steps every time the carousel is positioned in a position different from zero (Reference
crucible).
The software looks the motor magnetic switch every time it moves through the zero position.
If this message appears there are 2 possibilities:
A- The motor is broken down:
Page N 277
The motor does not turn, go to diagnostics and try to activate manually the carousel movements.
B- The motor switch is damaged or not properly adjusted:
Go to diagnostics window, then open the lid and click the button Remove motor current, now you can move
manually the carousel by hand and see if the home switch in the diagnostics window changes.
All the switches in the diagnostics are shown in real time as they are changing.
5 - There is not gas pressure.
Go to diagnostics and check the gas pressure switch.
It is possible there is not pressure or the pressure switch is damaged.
Regulate the gas flow using the Rota meter.
Go to diagnostics window and activate manually nitrogen and oxygen, deactivate both by selecting No gas.
You can see if the state of the gas pressure switch in the diagnostics window changes.
All the switches are shown in the diagnostics window in real time as they are changing.
Page N 278
21 Installation requirements
20A 220 VAC 50/60 Hz
Compressed air 4 kilos minimum, dry
Oxygen purity min. 99.5%
Nitrogen purity min. 99.5%
2 m flexible tubing id 50mm.
22 IMPORTANT NOTES
1 - The instrument needs to be leveled in relation to earth gravity to obtain good balance readings; the leveling
can be done with a leveler.
2 - The program needs a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels,
Although the monitor may use a better resolution, 1024 x 768 is optimum for the TGA windows and dialog
boxes sizes.
Page N 279
Page N 280

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Tga Manual 2011 10 14

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Navas Instruments

MULTIPLE SAMPLE THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYZER (TGA) WITH

Navas Instruments TGA-2000 Series

DUAL CAROUSEL GENERAL VIEW ....................................................................................................... 7

SCOPE OF DELIVERY ............................................................................................................... 14

TGA-2000A GENERAL DESCRIPTION ............................................................................... 15

EXAMPLES OF TGA RESULTS.............................................................................................. 16

EXAMPLE OF ONE COAL TYPE, 19 SAMPLES ...................................................................................... 16

INSTALLATION OF THE INSTRUMENT .......................................................................... 17

CONFIGURATION SETTINGS BACKUP ........................................................................... 30

TGA APPLICATION MAIN SCREEN ................................................................................... 31

SOFTWARE MENUS ................................................................................................................... 35

FORMULAS ASSIGNMENTS ............................................................................................................. 141

DATABASE ................................................................................................................................ 164

DATABASE STATISTICS .................................................................................................... 183

11.1 STATISTICS FORMULAS .................................................................................................................. 184

DATA OUTPUTS & LIMS CONNECTIONS MENU................................................... 188

12.1 EXECUTION OF EXTERNAL PROGRAM AT END OF ANALYSIS WINDOW ............................................... 189

OPERATIONAL BUTTONS ................................................................................................ 212

VIEW CAROUSEL:.............................................................................................................. 213

WEIGH: ............................................................................................................................ 214

VIEW SAMPLE: ..................................................................................................................232

TGA SPARE PARTS LISTING............................................................................................247

COMMON DIAGRAMS TO ALL MODELS ............................................................................................250

WIRED TGA ..............................................................................................................................262

RS-232 CABLES ........................................................................................................................263

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ......................................................................................274

ERROR MESSAGES (ALARMS) AND SOLUTIONS .................................................275

BALANCE ALARMS ........................................................................................................................ 276

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................ 279

IMPORTANT NOTES ............................................................................................................ 279

Patented auto crucible-covers placement and removal mechanism

Dual carousel general view

1.2 Balance pedestal view

1.4 Carousel down and covers up view

Carousel down and covers down view

Carousel up and covers down view

Outside general view

TGA-2000A GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Gas pressure sensor

Examples of TGA results

Example of one coal type, 19 samples

Example of moisture and ash results in flour

Moisture - 150 C, Plateu Deviation 0.051%

Table 1. Summary of Results

Between Day Std (n=9)

Within Day Std (n=3)

Between Day Std (n=9)

Mst Time (min)

Ash Time (min)

Total Time (min)

Installation of the instrument

INSTALLATION OF THE MECHANICS

4 Alignment of the balance pedestal and the lower furnace orifice:

To move balance, loose big

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THE WHEEL

8 - Install the pedestal

Distance from pedestal

11 - Adjusting the carousel home position

- First, adjust the home position by hand

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR THE TGA OPERATION

The TGA will provide excellent results if it is installed properly.

IMPORTANT NOTES BEFORE USING THE PROGRAM