How it works
The DRA-12 Automatic Precipitation Sampler is a sophisticated microprocessor-controlled automatic sampling solution for the precise sampling of wet deposits, such as rain and snow, for later laboratory assessment and analysis,
The DRA-12 sampler is enclosed within a compact field housing, featuring integrated air conditioning. The collection funnel is coated with Teflon and has a surface of 500cm² (diameter 252mm). During dry periods a lid seals the funnel to mitigate the risk of contamination from environmental debris such as leaves and dust. The lid is triggered to open by a highly sensitive rain sensor and rainwater is channelled through the Teflon funnel and pipeline into the designated collection bottle. The DRA-12 sampler has integrated heating which defrosts snow and ice rain but also prevents the funnel lid from freezing – which is important in harsh weather conditions.
The bottle platform has been designed for versatility. The turnable bottle plate accommodates either 12 1-litre sampling bottles, or 32 250-milliliter bottles and has an automatic bottle exchange that is triggered by predefined time intervals or specific events. When a bottle is full, it will be automatically exchanged with a new one. The bottle chamber is air-conditioned to maintain a constant temperature, preserving the integrity of the collected precipitation samples.
The DRA-12 Automatic Precipitation Sampler logs all events, including key parameters such as precipitation onset and bottle exchanges and the sampler is completely remotely operated using a RS232C interface.
