The Armstrong Steam QM-3 is an automatic steam quality monitor intended to replace manual testing of pure steam and provide real-time data proving that steam quality meets applicable requirements. It performs three critical tests: calculating dryness, calculating superheat, and quantifying non-condensable gases (NCG). The NCG measurement is performed first; if it is within range, dryness and superheat measurements will be performed.

EN 285 Compliance

This European standard specifies requirements and the relevant tests for large steam sterilizers, primarily used for the sterilization of medical devices and their accessories but has been adopted by most pharmaceutical industries.

• The sterilizer shall be designed to operate with saturated steam containing up to 3.5 ml non-condensable gases collected from 100 ml condensate.
• The sterilizer shall be designed to operate with saturated steam with a dryness value not less than 0.95, where the dryness value denotes the mass of the gas fraction in the mass of saturated steam.
• When the supplied steam is expanded to atmospheric pressure the superheat shall not exceed 25K.

The patented Steam Quality Monitor QM-3 is an alternative procedure to the one described in EN285 that has been shown to give equivalent results to the method specified in this European Standard.

Product Features

• Simple “Plug and Play” installation.
• Simultaneous steam dryness, superheat and non-condensables (NCGs) monitoring.
• Safe alternative to the traditional manual method of sampling steam.
• RS485 connection for data logging using regulation compliant device; results may be remotely monitored via MODBUS.

Manual Versus Automatic

Until now steam quality measurement has been a time-intensive, unreliable and potentially unsafe process. Steam QM-3 is not only more reliable and safer than manual testing, the unit is also portable, so it can be easily transported to multiple points on your steam line.

Feature	Manual Method	Automatic Method (Steam QM-3)
Description	A sample of clean steam is condensed, and the enthalpy allows measurement of steam dryness, and NCG content. Temperature measurement before condensation identifies an excess of superheat temperature.	Reducing steam pressure to atmosphere allows measurement of steam dryness. Steam temperature and pressure measurements detect superheat. Volume of non-condensable gases are compared to condensate.
Disadvantages / Advantages	Time Consuming: Typically requires two people, and can take up to three hours per measurement point. Trending: Impossible to monitor a trend over time. Unsafe: Inherent safety risks involved in sampling live steam. Unreliable: Results depend on the skill of the technician.	Quick and Easy: Simple to install. Trending: Continuous measurements provide trending data over time. Safe: Installed while the steam valve is closed, making it much safer. Reliable: Reliable and accurate within +/- 1% of steam dryness.

Specifications

Parameter	Specification
Calorimeter operating temperature range (T1)	0 – 150 °C (32 – 302 °F)
Maximum allowable calorimeter temperature (T1)	180 °C (356 °F)
Calorimeter operating saturated steam pressure range (P)	0.5 – 4 barg (7 – 60 psig)
Superheated steam operating temperature range (T2)	0 – 180 °C (32 – 356 °F)
Dryness fraction	0.85 – 1
Dryness fraction accuracy	± 0.01 of display
Non-condensable gases content	≤ 15%
Condensate temperature range (T3)	0 – 80 °C (32 – 176 °F)
Operating condensate temperature (T3)	65 °C (149 °F)
Estimated steam consumption	1.5 kg/h (3.3 lbs/h) @ 3 barg (45 psig)
Estimated water consumption	15 L/h (4 gal/h) @ 10 °C (50 °F)
Electrical	115/230 VAC (±10%), 50/60 Hz, 100 W

Dimensions & Weight

Dimension	in	mm
A – Cabinet Width	22	550
B – Width	24	600
C – Cabinet Height	40	1000
D – Depth	7.5	190
E – Width	17	430
F – Height	37	945
G - Height from inlet tee to bottom	26	660
H - Height from cabinet steam inlet to bottom	7.5	190
Cabinet Weight	42 lb	19 kg
Total Weight	55 lb	25 kg

Calorimeter Assembly & Cabinet Interior

Calorimeter Assembly Components:

1. Inlet tee
2. Sanitary clamp
3. P pressure transmitter
4. Calibrated orifice (inside connection)
5. Calorimeter
6. Sanitary clamp
7. Steam line from calorimeter to superheating chamber (not visible)
8. Superheating chamber
9. Drain (6 mm)
10. Tee
11. T1 temperature transmitter
12. T2 temperature transmitter
13. Heating Element

Cabinet Interior Components:

1. NCG pressure differential sensor
2. EV1 solenoid valve
3. NCG burette
4. Condensate pressure differential sensor
5. T3 temperature sensor
6. Condensate burette
7. EV3 solenoid valve
8. EV2 solenoid valve
9. EV0 solenoid valve
10. Condenser
11. Relay board with solenoid LED
12. Main screen
13. Cabinet steam inlet
14. Cabinet condensate outlet

Installation Considerations

Burn Hazard

Uninsulated components upstream of cabinet may be hot. Do not touch when unit is working. Allow to cool before moving or servicing unit. Live steam will cause burns; condensate water may cause them. Skin exposure to 140 °F (60 °C) water for only five seconds may cause a second degree burn.

Shock Hazard

High voltages present inside equipment. Electrical installation must be performed by qualified personnel. Disconnect power before performing any electrical service.

• Ambient temperature must be 5–60 °C (41–140 °F).
• Relative humidity must be 30–80%.
• Altitude must not exceed 2000 m (6562 ft).
• Indoor use, Pollution Degree 2.
• Attachment to vertical steam line is optimal. Attachment to horizontal steam line must be at center line or above. Connecting to top of horizontal line may result in elevated dryness readings.
• Superheating chamber must be installed within 45° of vertical to front or back.

Components and Parts List

Description	Part Nr.
Steam Quality Monitor QM-3 Package	D44212
Insulation jackets (2pcs)	D43805
Stainless Steel Wall mount	D44160
Calorimeter assembly	D49150
Condenser with fittings	D79386
Main board with display	D44124
Relay board	D44125
Vessel Non Condensable Gases assembly with expansion coil	D44126
Vessel Condensate flow meter assembly with fittings	D46738
JUMO PT100 (T1 and T2)	D44110
JUMO Pressure transmitter	D44117
Heating element	D44118
BURKERT 3/2 solenoid valve (EV0)	D44119
BURKERT 2/2 solenoid valve (EV1 and EV3)	D44120
BURKERT 3/2 solenoid valve (EV2)	D44121
JUMO PT100 (T3)	D44122
JUMO Differential pressure sensor	D44123
Orifice Plate with Gasket	D40020
Gasket PTFE for 1/2'' flexible hose (bag with 3 pieces)	D53335

MODBUS Connection

A 9 ft (3 m) cord is provided with an M12 connector for Steam QM-3 cabinet connection. The logger end of the cord must be wired by the customer. Program the logger with the following information:

• Baud Rate: 9600 bauds/sec
• Data Length: 8 bits
• Parity: None
• Handshaking: N/A
• Address: From 1 to 80
• Mode: Master or slave

Master Mode

Data are sent in different registers using Modbus function 16 (0x10). All values are SI units. Decimal values are not used (e.g., 19.2 will show as 192).

Register	Name	Factor	Unit	Data Type
40 001	T1	x 10	°C	(Integer value)
40 002	T2	x 10	°C	(Integer value)
40 004	P1	x 10	bar[a]	(Integer value)
40 007	X	x 1000	N/A	(Integer value)
40 008	Q	x 10	kg/h	(Integer value)
40 011	% NCG	x 10	N/A	(Integer value)
40 012	Alarms	N/A	N/A	Bit 1: Alarm 1, Bit 2: Alarm 2, Bit 3: Alarm 3, Bit 4: Default 4, Bit 5: Default 5, Bit 6: Default 6

Slave Mode

In slave mode, you can send queries with function 0x02 and 0x04. The length of the query and response must remain less than 23 bytes (max 3 registers per query).

Function 0x02 Read Discrete Inputs:

Register	Name	Factor	Unit	Description
10001	Alarm1	N/A	0: disable - 1: enable	Toggle to 1 when the alarm 1 is on
10002	Alarm2	N/A	0: disable - 1: enable	Toggle to 1 when the alarm 2 is on
10003	Alarm3	N/A	0: disable - 1: enable	Toggle to 1 when the alarm 3 is on
10004	Default4	N/A	0: disable - 1: enable	Toggle to 1 when the default 4 is on
10005	Default5	N/A	0: disable - 1: enable	Toggle to 1 when the default 5 is on
10006	Default6	N/A	0: disable - 1: enable	Toggle to 1 when the default 6 is on

Function 0x04 Read Inputs Registers:

Register	Name	Factor	Unit	Description
30001	T1	10x	°C	Integer (16 bits)
30002	T2	10x	°C	Integer (16 bits)
30004	Alarm3	10x	Bar [a]	Integer (16 bits)
30007	Default4	1000x	-	Integer (16 bits)
30008	Default5	10x	Kg/hr	Integer (16 bits)
30011	Default6	10x	-	Integer (16 bits)