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Waters ACQUITY UPLC Operator's, Overview And Maintenance Manual

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ACQUITY UPLC
Column Compartments Operator’s Overview
and Maintenance Information
Revision C
Copyright © Waters Corporation 20102011
All rights reserved
ii
Copyright notice
© 20102011 WATERS CORPORATION. PRINTED IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA AND IN IRELAND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS
DOCUMENT OR PARTS THEREOF MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY
FORM WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and
should not be construed as a commitment by Waters Corporation. Waters
Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this
document. This document is believed to be complete and accurate at the time
of publication. In no event shall Waters Corporation be liable for incidental or
consequential damages in connection with, or arising from, its use.
Considerations specific to the column compartments
Warning: Do not use the column heater with solvents that have auto
ignition temperatures below 150 C.
Warning: When dealing with hazardous solvents, run the system in a
hooded environment that provides a sufficient air exchange rate.
Warning: To prevent injury, always observe Good Laboratory Practices
when you handle solvents, change tubing, or operate the column heater.
Consult the Material Safety Data Sheets and the Solvent
Considerations section of the ACQUITY UPLC System Guide regarding
the solvents you use.
Table of Contents iii
Copyright notice ................................................................................................... ii
Considerations specific to the column compartments ................................. ii
Overview ................................................................................................................ 1
Column compartment types ................................................................................ 1
Preparing the column compartments ........................................................... 14
Installation recommendations for fittings........................................................ 14
Installing the standard column heater............................................................. 17
Installing the 30-cm column heater.................................................................. 39
Installing the column manager......................................................................... 45
Installing one CM-Aux module, in a single-stack configuration..................... 48
Installing two CM-Aux modules in a multiple-stack configuration................ 54
Installing the ACQUITY 30-cm column heater/cooler..................................... 82
Installing the optional column in-line filter ..................................................... 87
Installing the column......................................................................................... 89
Using the column compartments ................................................................... 98
Control panels .................................................................................................... 98
Resolving column compartment leak sensor errors ......................................... 99
Maintaining the column compartments ..................................................... 110
Contacting Waters technical service............................................................... 110
Maintenance schedule ..................................................................................... 112
Maintenance considerations............................................................................ 113
Configuring maintenance warnings ............................................................... 113
Replacing the column heater’s leak sensor .................................................... 114
Replacing the 30-cm column heater’s leak sensor ......................................... 119
Replacing the column manager’s leak sensor................................................. 119
Replacing the column manager switching-valve cartridge............................ 122
Replacing the column ...................................................................................... 125
Replacing the active preheater assembly ....................................................... 127
Replacing the column stabilizer assembly (CH-A only)................................. 133
Replacing the frit in the in-line filter unit...................................................... 136
Table of Contents
iv Table of Contents
Replacing the column heater/cooler fuse (ACQUITY UPLC 30-cm CHC).... 139
Cleaning the instrument’s exterior (all models) ............................................ 140
Overview 1
Overview
Column temperature variations can shift peak retention times and alter peak
shapes, increasing the difficulty of achieving precise results. The ACQUITY
UPLC® column compartments help to ensure precise, reproducible
separations by controlling the column temperature.
Note: If you are using an ACQUITY UPLC system with two dimensional
applications, refer to the ACQUITY UPLC Systems with 2D Technology
Capabilities Guide.
Column compartment types
The following column compartments are available for use with ACQUITY
UPLC systems:
• Column heater (CH-A)
• 30-cm column heater (CH-30A)
• Column manager (CM-A)
• Auxiliary column manager (CM-Aux)
• 30-cm column heater/cooler (ACQUITY UPLC 30-cm CHC)
Each of these column compartments is also available in a bio-compatible
version.
Column heater (CH-A)
A standard component of the basic ACQUITY UPLC system, the column
heater heats the column compartment to any temperature, from 20ºC to
90 ºC, that is at least 5 ºC above the ambient temperature. A standard, active
preheater heats the incoming solvent before it enters the column.
Additionally, you can install a supplementary column stabilizer.
The column heater can accommodate UPLC® columns with dimensions of as
much as 4.6 mm, internal diameter (ID), and 150-mm long.
To reduce dispersion associated with dead volume, and minimize the length of
tubing between system instruments, the column compartment is directly
above the sample manager and connected to the optical detector (on top of the
column heater). For MS applications, you can mount the column
compartment, on a bracket to the right-hand side of the system stack,
reducing the distance to the mass spectrometer’s inlet probe.
2
A receptacle on the column heater’s right-hand side receives the column's
eCord™ chip. The eCord column chip stores column manufacturing and usage
data, which you can access from the ACQUITY UPLC Console.
The column heater does not have its own power supply; it draws power from
the sample manager. Thus the column heater is automatically powered-on
when you power on the sample manager.
Restriction: The ACQUITY column heater (CH-A) cannot be used in
conjunction with the optional 30-cm column heater (CH-30A).
Active preheater
The standard, active preheater uses an electric heating element to directly
heat the column inlet tubing. The rapid heating, low volume design reduces
gradient delay and extra-column bandspreading. It ensures that high flow
rate separations occur at the column temperature, not at the temperature of
the incoming solvent. By controlling the temperature of the mobile phase at
the point of use—the column inlet—temperature differences introduced by
variations in the system configuration are eliminated.
Active preheater:
If you use the active preheater when running an HPLC or UPLC method
originally developed for use with a column stabilizer, adjusting the column
temperature can be necessary.
Overview 3
The following diagram shows the location of the column heater in the
ACQUITY UPLC system.
TP03240
Bottle tray
Detector
Column heater (CH-A)
Sample manager - flow through needle /
Sample manager - fixed loop
Solvent manager
4
Column heater, major components:
The following diagram shows the column heater’s major components.
Column heater components:
Component Description
Column
compartment
Contains the column, column heater, in-line filter, and
active preheater or column stabilizer assembly. The
column compartment insulates the column from changes
in ambient temperature. For MS applications, the
assembly can be mounted on an external bracket on the
right-hand side of the chassis, reducing the distance to
the inlet probe of a mass spectrometer.
In-line filter Protects the analytical column against contamination by
trapping impurities before they reach the column.
Active preheater
assembly
Heats the incoming solvent to the specified column
temperature before the solvent enters the column.
Active preheater
key
In the 30-cm column heater, installed in the control port
not occupied by the active preheater.
Active preheater
retainer
Secures the active preheater in the column
compartment.
eCord receptacle Receives the column eCord™ chip, which stores column
manufacturing and usage data.
Column
compartment tray
Location of
column
Fitting Active preheater
retainer
Active preheater
assembly
Overview 5
30-cm Column heater (CH-30A)
The optional 30-cm column heater heats the column compartment to any
temperature, from 20ºC to 90 ºC, that is at least 5 ºC above ambient. The
30-cm column heater mounts on the side of the system stack.
An active preheater heats the incoming solvent before it enters the column.
The active preheater can be located at the top or bottom of the column
compartment, to accommodate UPLC or HPLC columns. You can disable the
active preheater when solvent pre-heating is unnecessary.
Column stabilizer
(optional)
Passively heats the incoming solvent before the solvent
enters the column.
Drip tray Captures any leakage from the column or column
connections and routes it into the drip management
system.
Column heater components: (Continued)
Component Description
6
The column heater can accommodate UPLC® columns of 4.6 mm, or less, ID
and 150 mm, or less, length and HPLC columns of 4.6 mm, or less, ID and
300 mm, or less, length. For columns that exceed 4.6 mm ID, use the
ACQUITY UPLC 30-cm column heater/cooler with the appropriate
compatibility kit.
A receptacle atop the column heater receives the column’s eCord™ chip. The
chip stores column manufacturing and usage data, which you can access from
the ACQUITY UPLC Console.
The column heater does not have its own power supply; it draws power from
the sample manager. Thus the column heater is automatically powered-on
when you power on the sample manager. Do not use the 30-cm column heater
(CH-30A) in conjunction with the standard ACQUITY column heater (CH-A).
Overview 7
30-cm column heater components:
Column manager (CM-A) and auxiliary column manager (CM-Aux)
The column manager can regulate the temperature of as many as four
columns between 4 and 90 °C. The temperature of each column trough can be
independently set in 0.1 °C increments. The column manager can be used for
column switching applications as well as two dimensional applications. For
two dimensional applications, see the ACQUITY UPLC Systems with 2D
Technology Capabilities Guide.
Column compartment tray
Location of active preheater
or active preheater key
Location of active preheater
or active preheater key
Location of column
Drip tray with leak
sensor
8
Note: The minimum achievable column compartment temperature set point
cannot be greater than 25 °C below ambient temperature.
A supplementary pre-heating device (active preheater) can also be installed,
to heat the incoming solvent before it enters the column.
The column manager also offers a bypass channel and automated,
programmable switching between columns for methods development.
ACQUITY UPLC™ columns are equipped with eCord Information
Management Technology, which captures the history of each column to assist
in tracking column usage. Reusable high-pressure fittings ease replacement of
the columns, when needed.
The column manager can accommodate columns with inside diameters of up
to 4.6 mm. It can accommodate two 100- or 150-mm columns or four 50-mm
columns.
Receptacles on the column manager’s front panel receive the column eCord™
chips. The eCord column chip stores column manufacturing and usage data,
which you can access from the ACQUITY UPLC Console.
Column manager major components
The following diagram shows the column manager’s major components.
Column
compartment tray
eCord receptacles
Active preheater
retainer Location of active
preheater assembly
Drip tray with leak
sensor
Column switching-valves
Overview 9
Auxiliary column manager
In addition to the column manager, the system can include one or two
auxiliary column manager modules. The column manager acts as a master to
the optional auxiliary column manager modules. Although the auxiliary
column manager modules have their own power supply, the column manager
controls their power state.
Auxiliary column manager modules are not fitted with switching valves. All
plumbing connections are made to the switching valves in the column
manager.
The auxiliary column manager can accommodate two 100- or 150-mm columns
with inside diameters of up to 4.6 mm.
Each auxiliary column manager module consists of two independently heated
and cooled column troughs. Like the column manager, the temperature range
of the auxiliary column manager module is 4 to 90 °C. Each trough can
accommodate one column of 50 to 150-mm, and an active preheater.
Column manager and auxiliary column manager components:
Component Description
Column
compartment
Contains the column, column heater, in-line filter, and
active preheater assemblies. The column compartment
insulates the column from changes in ambient
temperature.
In-line filter Protects the analytical column against contamination by
trapping impurities before they reach the column.
Active preheater
assembly
Heats the incoming solvent to the specified column
temperature prior to entry to the column.
Active preheater
retainer
Secures the active preheater in the column
compartment.
Column
switching-valves
(CM-A only)
The inlet and outlet column switching-valves allow for
programmable switching access to any column installed
in the column manager as well as to column bypass
mode and to waste.
Drip tray Captures any leakage from the column or column
connections and routes it into the drip management
system.
10
Auxiliary column manager:
Column manager configurations
You can configure the column manager for use with two columns (in any
combination of 50-, 100-, or 150-mm columns), or with as many as four, 50-mm
columns. To accommodate additional 100- or 150-mm columns, the ACQUITY
UPLC system can include one or two auxiliary column manager (CM-Aux)
modules (a maximum of six columns per system).
These configurations are available for an ACQUITY UPLC system including a
CM-Aux:
• Column manager configured for two columns and, in addition, one
auxiliary column manager (as many as four, 100- or 150-mm columns,
total)
• Column manager configured for two columns and, in addition, two
auxiliary column managers as many (as six, 100- or 150-mm columns,
total)
To reduce dead volume, and ensure optimal performance, you must plumb all
column manager configurations using preconfigured tubing lengths.
Therefore, the modules must occupy specific positions in the system stack.
One auxiliary column manager can rest atop the column manager, and the
column manager can rest atop a second auxiliary column manager.
Note: See the appropriate system guide for supported system configurations.
Overview 11
Examples of column manager configurations:
Single stack
Dual stack
Triple stack
TUV
Sample
Solvent
CM-Aux
CM-A
TUV
SQD
CM-A
CM-Aux
PDA
CM-Aux
CM-Aux
CM-A
PDA
CM-Aux
CM-A
ELS
TUV
SQD
CM-A
ELS
CM-Aux
CM-Aux
CM-Aux
CM-A
PDA
ELS
PDA
CM-Aux
CM-Aux
CM-A
SQD
ELS
CM-Aux
PDA
CM-Aux
CM-Aux
CM-A
ELS
SQD
PDA
CM-Aux
CM-A
Manager
Manager
Solvent
Manager
Solvent
Manager
Solvent
Manager
Solvent
Manager
Solvent
Manager
Solvent
Manager
Solvent
Manager
Solvent
Manager
Sample
Manager
Sample
Manager
Sample
Manager
Sample
Manager
Sample
Manager
Sample
Manager
Sample
Manager
Sample
Manager
12
For each column in a two- or four-column configuration, you can use an active
preheater. In the two-column configuration, the column manager supports
guard columns or filters. When the column manager is configured for four
50-mm columns, you cannot use guard columns or filters (see page 10).
ACQUITY UPLC 30-cm column heater/cooler (ACQUITY UPLC 30-cm
CHC)
The ACQUITY 30-cm column heater/cooler is a combination
forced-air-convection heater and cooler with a temperature range of 20 to
65 °C.
30-cm column heater/cooler:
The ACQUITY UPLC 30-cm column heater/cooler offers these features for
ease of use:
• Adjustable column clips that slide, for easy column mounting.
• Extended column compartment that allows for the use of two 300-mm
columns, with column guards; four 150-mm columns, without column
guards; or six 50-mm columns, without column guards.
• Grommet in the column mounting plate, for attaching a calibrated probe
(thermistor) for validation.
Overview 13
• Single-piece column compartment door and hinge assembly that allows
tubing to enter or exit the column compartment from all four sides.
• Columns with dimensions of up to 7.8 mm diameter.
When you specify the temperature via the operating software, thermoelectric
devices achieve the desired column temperature. The column heater/cooler’s
internal power supply provides the additional power required to operate the
thermoelectric heater/cooler engine circuit.
Door gasket
Compartment
door
Tubing guide
Drip tray
Compartment door clasp
Column clip rails
Temperature port
Column clip
Convection grid
14
Preparing the column compartments
Installation recommendations for fittings
The system uses gold-plated compression screws and two-piece ferrules. See
the diagram below for assembly orientation.
Recommendations:
• To prevent bandspreading, ensure the tubing bottoms in its fitting hole
before tightening the compression screw.
• For easier accessibility, use long compression screws to attach tubes to
the injector and vent valve.
• Whenever you loosen fittings during maintenance, examine them for
cracks, stripped threads, and deformations.
• Do not reuse stainless steel fittings more than six times.
• When installing or removing a column or optional in-line filter, always
hold the active preheater’s reusable compression fitting in place and
rotate the column or in-line filter onto the fitting.
Warning: To avoid the harmful effects of personal contact with
fittings contaminated with biologically hazardous or toxic
materials, always wear clean, chemical-resistant, powder-free
gloves when reinstalling the fittings.
TubingCompression screw
Ferrule with
locking ring
Preparing the column compartments 15
When tightening system fittings, consult the following table.
Installation recommendations for ACQUITY UPLC column compartment
fittings:
Fitting Recommended tightening
First use
Reusable finger-tight Finger-tight, plus 1/6-turn
Reinstalled
Reusable finger-tight Finger-tight, plus up to
1/6-turn; if leaking, tighten
another 1/8-turn
First use
Stainless steel (gold-plated) fitting with
long flats and 2-piece stainless steel
ferrule
Finger-tight, plus 3/4-turn
using wrench
TP02728
Collet
removal tool
1/6-turn
Additional 1/8-turn
TP03378
Long flats 2-piece ferrule
3/4-turn
16
Reinstalled
Stainless steel (gold-plated) fitting with
long flats and 2-piece stainless steel
ferrule
Finger-tight, plus up to
1/6-turn using wrench
First use or reinstalled
Dual-threaded finger-tight fitting with
stainless steel cap nut
1. Loosen the stainless steel
cap nut from the gold
fitting.
2. Finger tighten the gold
fitting, with the ferrule,
into the column.
Requirement: If you are
reinstalling the fitting,
replace the PEEKTM
ferrule.
3. Rotate the column, and
tighten the column onto
the gold fitting.
4. If you are installing the
column in a system with
pressures exceeding
103,421 kPa (1034 bar,
15,000 psi), tighten the
column an additional
1/2-turn.
5. Tighten the stainless steel
cap nut onto the gold
fitting.
Installation recommendations for ACQUITY UPLC column compartment
fittings: (Continued)
Fitting Recommended tightening
TP02713
Long flats 2-piece ferrule
TP03360A
Gold fitting
Ferrule
Stainless
steel cap
/