LC MS Nitrogen Generator

7/28/2019 LC MS Nitrogen Generator

1/15

Directions for Use

Document No. 031972

Revision 01

October 2003

LC/MS NitrogenGenerator

MSQ10LA


2/15

MSQ10LA Nitrogen Generator

Instructions for Use

MSQ10LA issue 1 1

2003 by Dionex CorporationAll rights reserved worldwide.

Printed in the United States of America.

This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication may be

copied or distributed, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted into

any human or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,

magnetic, manual, or otherwise, or disclosed to third parties without the express written

permission of Dionex Corporation, 1228 Titan Way, Sunnyvale, California 94088-3603

U.S.A.

The MSQ10LA Nitrogen Generator is manufactured for Dionex by:

Peak Scientific Instruments

Fountain Crescent

Inchinnan Business Park

Inchinnan, Renfrewshire

PA4 9RE

Scotland, UK

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY AND LIMITED WARRANTY

THIS PUBLICATION IS PROVIDED AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

DIONEX CORPORATION DOES NOT WARRANT, GUARANTEE, OR MAKE ANY

EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE, OR THE RESULTS

OF THE USE, OF THIS PUBLICATION IN TERMS OF CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY,

RELIABILITY, CURRENTNESS, OR OTHERWISE. FURTHER, DIONEX CORPORATION

RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVISE THIS PUBLICATION AND TO MAKE CHANGES

FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE CONTENT HEREINOF WITHOUT OBLIGATION OF

DIONEX CORPORATION TO NOTIFY ANY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION OF SUCH

REVISION OR CHANGES.

TRADEMARKS

Molex is a registered trademark of Molex, Inc.

Swagelok is a registered trademark of Swagelok Co.

PRINTING HISTORY

Revision 01, October 2003

The products of Dionex Corporation are produced under ISO 9001 accredited quality management systems.

Published by Technical Publications, Dionex Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA 94086.


3/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 2

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION........................................................... ........................................................... ............... 3

2 UNPACKING AND INSTALLATION............................. ................................................................ ...... 3

3 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.................................. ................................................................ ............ 3

4 AIR CONNECTION............................... ........................................................... ....................................... 4

5 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION................................................................ ............................................... 4

6 COMMISSIONING...................................................... ........................................................... ................. 5

7 ROUTINE INSPECTION .............................................................. .......................................................... 6

8 TROUBLESHOOTING .......................................................... ............................................................ ..... 8

9 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................ ........................................... 10

10 PARTS LIST ...................................................... ............................................................... ...................... 11

MAINTENANCE RECORD LOG .......................................................... ....................................................... 14

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO USERS

These instructions must be read thoroughly and understood before installation andoperation of your LC/MS Nitrogen Generator. Please follow the appropriate safetystandards for handling gases as determined by the laws and regulations of yourcountry.

Please save the product packaging for storage or future shipment of the generator.


4/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 3

1 Introduction

The MSQ10LA is a self-contained nitrogen generator designed specifically for use with Liquid

Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) analytical instruments as a source of carrier gas. The generator

has been designed to operate totally independent of an external air supply and only requires an electrical

supply to deliver high volume, high pressure, clean, dry, pure nitrogen.

2 Unpacking and Installation

Although every precaution has been taken for safe transit and packaging, it is advisable to fully inspect the

unit for any sign of transit damage.

ANY DAMAGE SHOULD BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE CARRIER AND DIONEX.

After unpacking and a visual inspection, the unit should be placed in a ventilated area away from direct

sunlight. Care should be taken not to obstruct the ventilation holes on the sides of the unit or the fan outlet

at the rear.

The generator should be placed on a steady and level base. It has been designed to fit under most

workbenches. Alternatively, the unit may be placed on the workbench adjacent to the machine or in any

location convenient to the user. A guide for installation is included at the end of the document.

Performance of the generator (as with any sophisticated equipment) is affected by ambient temperature.Continuous operation in ambient temperatures exceeding 25C will lead to a reduction in capacity and

prolonged operation in temperatures exceeding 35C will shorten the life of the unit. Note should also be

taken of the proximity of air conditioning outlets. These can sometimes give rise to pockets of air with

high relative humidity. Operation of the generator within such a pocket could adversely affect its

performance.

3 Electrical Connection

Important Electrical Notice

This unit is classified asSAFETY CLASS 1

equipment.THIS UNIT MUST BE EARTHED

. Before

connecting the unit to the mains supply, please check the information on the serial plate. The mains

supply must be of the stated AC voltage and frequency.

EARTH/GROUND (E): Green & YellowLIVE (L): BrownNeutral (N): Blue

FuseThe generator protection fuse is in the pull-out drawer of the mains inlet IEC Euroconnector located on the

bottom right-hand side of the cabinet, adjacent to the off/on switch. The fuse is rated at 230V 10%

(50/60Hz ac). The drawer also holds a spare.

Connect the generator to a single-phase supply using the power cord provided, or the power cord

supplied with the equipment from Dionex for the country of use.


5/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 4

4 Air Connection

The MSQ10LA generator has its own built-in air compressor and therefore does not require an external

compressed air source.

The generator has one bulkhead connection to the rear of the unit. This is supplied with a 6mm push-in

fitting. This is the nitrogen outlet fitting and should be coupled to the application. There is no drain on this

machine. Any moisture liberated by the filter-separator is discharged through the high capacity exhaust

system, where the sudden reduction in pressure causes instant evaporation. The water vapor is safely

removed from the unit by the ventilation system.

5 Principle of OperationThe MSQ10LA Nitrogen Generator utilizes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) method to extract pure

nitrogen from air. This is where unwanted gases can be selectively adsorbed from compressed air into a

porous carbon molecular sieve material (CMS). Dionex instruments utilize a unique single-column system

where the column is alternately pressurized and vented under a finely tuned timing cycle. The rates of

pressurization and venting are accurately set, which guarantees higher purity than can be achieved with a

similarly sized traditional 2-column system.

10

14

Nitrogen Generator

Standard System

Parts List

1. Compressor

14. Bulkhead Connection

15. Internal Gauge Rail

9. Nitrogen Storage Tank

10. Pressure Regulator

11. Internal Pressure Gauge

13. Front Panel Gauge

8.

7.

15.

12

116.

9.

13

2. 3.

7. CMS Column

8. Non-return Valve

2. Cooling Coil

4. Filter / Separator

5. Exhaust Valve

6. Exhaust Silencer

3. Cooling Fan (if fitted)

16. 16.

16. Compressor Cooling Fan (if fitted)

1.

5. 4.

12. Flow Regulator

Air is drawn into the system by the compressor (1) and passed via the cooling coil (3) andthe filter/separator (4) into the CMS column (7). Oxygen molecules in the air are trapped bythe sieve. However, the molecules of nitrogen pass straight through and are collected in the

nitrogen storage tank (9). After a time interval, the compressor is stopped and the exhaustvalve (5) opens, allowing the sieve column to vent to atmosphere. The trapped oxygen isliberated and escapes to atmosphere via the exhaust valve (5) and the silencer (6). Thegenerated nitrogen in the storage tank is then regulated to the correct pressure and flow

rate. After another time interval, the exhaust valve shuts and the compressor starts. Thiscycle runs continuously.


6/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 5

6 Commissioning

With the generator installed as described earlier, connect power to the unit and turn it on. Disconnect the

nitrogen outlet connection to allow the generator to vent to atmosphere until the unit is stabilized. At

Switch On, the exhaust valve will open and the generator will commence its Venting Cycle. This is to allow

venting of any residual pressure in order that the compressor does not start against pressure. The Vent

Cycle may last up to 90 seconds. At the end of the vent cycle, the compressor should be heard to run

and the normal operating cycle will begin. Pressure should begin to build, and the gauge on the front

panel should indicate 75 psig after approximately 10 minutes.

The generator has been pre-set at the factory to give 10 liters ATP per minute at 85 psig. Once the

pressure in the nitrogen receiver exceeds that setting, the generator will stabilize and produce purenitrogen. Maximum purity will be achieved after around 45 minutes. At this time, the generator can be re-

connected to the application.

The generator is designed to deliver up to 10 liters of nitrogen at 85 psig with an oxygen content of 2% or

less. Should the demand for nitrogen be less than 10 liters, or should the demand stop, the generator will

continue to operate without any problems. The generator is protected from over-pressure and its normal

operating cycle ensures frequent venting.

Timer Setting

The cycle timer has been set at the factory and should not require further adjustment. Adjusting the timer

will affect the volume and purity of the delivered nitrogen; therefore, the timer should NEVER be adjusted

without reference to the factory. The normal settings for this generator are 175 seconds ON, 85 seconds

OFF. These settings may vary slightly between machines.


7/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 6

7 RoutineInspection

Due to the simplicity of the design and the small number of moving parts, the MSQ10LA Nitrogen

Generator will have a long and trouble-free life. However, as with all scientific and technical equipment,

the generator should be regularly inspected by a competent person and the following points noted.

Every 12 Months

Note: All routine maintenance filter elements are contained in Dionex P/N 061492.

Compressor Inlet Filter Element

1. Switch the generatorOFFand disconnect it from the electrical supply. Remove the fuse fromthe Euro-socket to prevent the generator being inadvertently switched on by another person.

2. Remove the 5-off X-head screws securing the lower front panel. Remove the panel to expose

the compressor.

3. The filter is located on top of the compressor and faces toward the rear, as shown below.

The cover is removed by twisting it one-

quarter turn and pulling clear. The elementsimply lifts out.

Part Number 02-4187

Reassembly is the reverse procedure.

Inlet Filter


8/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 7

Coalescing Filter and Exhaust Silencer

1. Switch the generatorOFFand disconnect it from the electrical supply. Remove the fuse from

the Euro-socket to prevent the generator being inadvertently switched on by another person.

2. Pull the generator clear of the bench (if located under) to a place where access is possible to

all four sides.

3. Remove the 8-off X-Head screws securing the lid. Remove the lid.

4. Remove the coalescing filter bowl shown below by holding down the black slide and twisting

the bowl one-quarter turn. The element simply unscrews.

1. Fit new element and clean, and re-fit bowl.

2. Unscrew and remove the green plastic cover of the exhaust silencer. Remove the 10mm nut

and prize off the element.

1. Fit new element and re-fit plastic cover.

2. Replace all covers and switch on. Allow 4 hours to recover purity before reconnecting toapplication.


9/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 8

8 Troubleshooting

The PSA method for nitrogen production is the most reliable of the popular methods. Many thousands of

PSA systems are currently operating worldwide and have given many years of trouble-free operation.

Provided the CMS material is protected from oils and oxygen enrichment, the purity of the nitrogen

produced will remain consistent over the lifetime of the machine.

Problems associated with the generator will be confined to the compressed air or control systems and will

probably show up through loss of capacity. Reference should be made to the following Fault Finding

Chart.

Insuficient

N2 Flow

Compressor

Cycling On/Off

Sieve Vents on

Exhuast Cycle

Check Timer

Operating

Check Timer

OperationFit New Timer

Yes

No

Ok

Yes

No

Ok

Not

Running

Check PowerRepair Wiring

Fault

Ok

No Power

Check Power out

to Solenoid ValveNo

Yes

Check Exhaust

Valve

Replace Faulty

Valve

Check

Compressor Inlet

Filter

clean

Dirty

Fit New Filter

Check Pressure

@ Filter Bowl

Check System

for Leaks Repair Leaks

Check Gauge

Rail PressureAdjust Pressure

< 100 psi

>110 psiNo

Yes

Service

Compressor

>100 psi

< 100 psi

Check Timer

Settings


10/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 9

Compressor Requirements

The intake filter requires periodic replacement. Initial inspection should be after 500 hours operation.

Most compressor-related problems can be prevented by keeping the filter clean. A dirty inlet filter will

decrease compressor performance and may shorten its life.

The compressor head surfaces and motor casing become very HOT during operation. Do not

touch these parts until the unit has been switched off and allowed to cool.

Switch the generator OFFand disconnect it from the electrical supply. Remove the fuse from the

Euro-socket to prevent the generator being inadvertently switched on by another person.

This is a non-lubricated compressor and should never be oiled. Oiling this compressor will cause

damage.

Compressor Replacement

Remove the generator to a clean dry place with sufficient room to work.

1. Remove the lower front panel.

2. Disconnect the braided hose from cone fitting where it is secured to the right-hand side panel.Take care not to disturb the fit between the cone fitting and the bracket assembly.

3. Disconnect the Molexconnector at the front of the compressor.

4. Tip the generator onto its back and remove the 4-off nuts securing the compressor to thebase. Support the weight of the compressor with one hand while removing the last nut.

5. Lift the compressor clear of the generator.

6. Remove and clean all the fittings from the old compressor and reassemble onto the newmachine using PTEF tape and sealing compound. (Swagelok Teflon Free Pt No MS-TFS-

50) is recommended.)

Reassembly is the reverse procedure.


11/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 10

9 Technical Specifications

General Details

Minimum Operating Ambient Temperature 5oC (41

oF)

Maximum Operating Ambient Temperature 30oC (86

oF)

Inlet Conditions(Free of oil and bulk moisture)

Minimum Air Inlet Pressure N/A

Maximum Air Inlet Pressure N/A

Minimum Air Inlet Flow Rate N/A

Outlet Gas

Maximum Pressure Drop (Outlet-Inlet) P N/A

Maximum Gas Outlet Pressure 85 psig

Maximum Gas Outlet Flow for Specified Purity 10 Liters/min (ATP)

Pressure Dew point -75oC (-103

oF) (1.4ppm @ ATP)

Start up time for Purity 45 minutesParticles 0.01um

O2 level (maximum) 2.0%

Electrical Requirements

@230V ac 10% (50/60Hz ac) 4.2 Amps

Fuse (220V 50/60Hz ac) 10 Amps

Electrical Connection IEC Euroconnector

Plug Type NEMA Code N6/15

General

Dimensions H x W x D cm

(inches)

63 x 43 x 41

(24.6 x 17 x 16)

Weight Kg

(lbs)

47.5

(104.5)

Shipping Weight Kg

(lbs)

69

(152)


12/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 11

10 Parts List

Recommended Spares

MSQ10LA Service Spares

The following parts are in Dionex P/N 061492

Item Description Interval Part No. No. Off

1 Compressor Inlet Filter Element 12 Months 02-4187 1

2 Coalescing Filter Element 12 Months 02-4509 1

3 Exhaust Element 12 Months 02-4336 1

MSQ10LA Maintenance Spares

Item Description Part No. No. Off

1 Braided Hose 02-1100 1

2 Internal Gauge 02-1021 1

3 Exhaust Valve 02-4289 1

4 Non-Return Valve 02-1135 1

5 Timer 04-1019 1

6 Contactor 04-4439 1

7 Cooling / Ventilation Fan 04-1021 2

8 Flow Controller 02-4209 1

9 Pressure Regulator 02-1110 1

10 Panel Gauge 02-1020 2

11 Safety Valve 02-4544 112 Compressor Anti-vibe Mounts 06-1020 4

13 Compressor 06-5513 1

14 Back Pressure Relief Valve 02-1213 1

Additional parts can be ordered from:

Peak Scientific InstrumentsFountain CrescentInchinnan Business Park

Inchinnan, RenfrewshirePA4 9REScotland, UK

Contact information:

+44-141-812-8100+44-141-812-8200 fax

[email protected]


13/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 12

14

15.

10 11

12

16.

1.

9.

6. 5.

13

7.

8.

11. Internal Pressure Gauge

Nitrogen GeneratorStandard System

14. Bulkhead Connection

15. Internal Gauge Rail

13. Front Panel Gauge

16. Compressor Cooling Fan (if fitted)

12. Flow Regulator

16.

4.

Parts List

1. Compressor

9. Nitrogen Storage Tank

10. Pressure Regulator

7. CMS Column

8. Non-return Valve

2. Cooling Coil

4. Filter / Separator

5. Exhaust Valve

6. Exhaust Silencer

3. Cooling Fan (if fitted)

2. 3.

NL ESwitch

Fuse

Fan Motor s

MSQ10LA Electrical Dia ram

Terminal Rail

Com ressor

Timer

Valve

Exhaust


14/15



MSQ10LA issue 1 13

80.00 mm

800 mm

PowerOutletPosition

(MaximumD

istanceLHS)

PowerOutletPosition

(MaximumD

istanceRHS)

RearVentilationGap

Clearan

ceforMaintenance

875 mm

900 mm

Notes

1.Accessisrequiredthrough

FrontPanels&Lidfor

maintenance.

2.PlugPowerCordintoacon

venientoutletwithsufficient

slacktoallow

theunittobe

pulledforwarforaccess.

3.Allow

sufficientslackinthe

GasLinetoallow

the

generatortobepulledforwardformaintenance

MSQ10LA

InstallationNotes

NitrogenPressure

110 mm

625 mm

IO

410 mm

GaprequiredforPowerCord


15/15



11 Maintenance Record Log

Model- MSQ10LA Serial Number:

WorkDone

Remarks Date Name

Documents

LC MS Nitrogen Generator