Agilent Technologies 7890 Series User manual

Agilent Technologies
Agilent 7890 Series
Gas Chromatograph
Advanced Operation Manual

Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2007-2013
No part of this manual may be reproduced
in any form or by any means (including
electronic storage and retrieval or transla-
tion into a foreign language) without prior
agreement and written consent from
Agilent Technologies, Inc. as governed by
United States and international copyright
laws.
Manual Part Number
G3430-90015
Edition
Twelfth edition, January 2013
Eleventh edition, July 2012
Tenth edition, March 2012
Ninth edition, June 2011
Eighth edition, February 2011
Seventh edition, November 2010
Sixth edition, June 2010
Fifth edition, September 2009
Fourth edition, April 2009
Third edition, September 2008
Second edition, January 2008
First edition, April 2007
Printed in USA
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
2850 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19808-1610 USA
安捷伦科技 （上海）有限公司
上海市浦东新区外高桥保税区
英伦路 412 号
联系电话：[phone]
Safety Notices
CAUTION
A CAUTION notice denotes a hazard. It
calls attention to an operating
procedure, practice, or the like that, if
not correctly performed or adhered to,
could result in damage to the product
or loss of important data. Do not
proceed beyond a CAUTION notice
until the indicated conditions are fully
understood and met.
WARNING
A WARNING notice denotes a hazard.
It calls attention to an operating
procedure, practice, or the like that, if
not correctly performed or adhered to,
could result in personal injury or
death. Do not proceed beyond a
WARNING notice until the indicated
conditions are fully understood and
met.
Firmware Version
This manual is written for 7890 Series GCs
using firmware version B.02.01.

Advanced Operation Manual 3
Contents
1 Programming
Run Time Programming 12
Using run time events 12
Programming run time events 13
The run table 13
Adding events to the run table 13
Editing events in the run table 14
Deleting run time events 14
Clock Time Programming 15
Using clock time events 15
Programming clock time events 15
Adding events to the clock table 16
Editing clock time events 16
Deleting clock time events 16
User-Key Programming 17
To program a User Key 17
To play back (execute) the stored keystrokes 17
To erase the stored keystrokes 17
Post Run Programming 18
To enable a post run program 18
To disable a post run program 18
2 Flow and Pressure Modules
About Flow and Pressure Control 20
Maximum operating pressure 20
PIDs 21
Inlet Modules 22
Detector Modules 23
Pressure Control Modules 24
Auxiliary Pressure Controllers 27
Restrictors 28
Examples 30
1. Using an Aux EPC channel to supply purge gas to a splitter 30
2. Using the PCM channels 30

4Advanced Operation Manual
3 Inlets
Using Hydrogen 35
Inlet Overview 36
Carrier Gas Flow Rates 37
About Gas Saver 38
To use gas saver 39
Pre Run and Prep Run 40
The [Prep Run] key 40
Auto Prep Run 41
About Heaters 42
About the Split/Splitless Inlet 44
Septum tightening (S/SL) 44
Standard and high-pressure versions of the S/SL inlet 44
Split/Splitless inlet split mode overview 45
Split/Splitless inlet splitless mode overview 46
The S/SL inlet pulsed split and splitless modes 47
Split/Splitless inlet split mode minimum operating pressures 48
Selecting the correct S/SL inlet liner 49
Vapor Volume Calculator 51
Setting parameters for the S/SL split mode 51
Selecting parameters for the S/SL splitless mode 52
Setting parameters for the S/SL splitless mode 53
Setting parameters for the S/SL pulsed modes 54
About the Multimode Inlet 55
Septum tightening (MMI) 55
Heating the MMI 56
Cooling the MMI 56
MMI split mode minimum operating pressures 57
Selecting the correct MMI liner 58
Vapor Volume Calculator 60
MMI split and pulsed split modes 60
MMI splitless and pulsed splitless modes 64
MMI solvent vent mode 70
MMI Direct Mode 78
To develop a MMI method that uses large volume injection 79
Multiple injections with the MMI 82
About the Packed Column Inlet 88
Setting parameters 90

Advanced Operation Manual 5
About the Cool On-Column Inlet 92
Setup modes of the COC inlet 93
Retention gaps 93
COC inlet temperature control 93
Setting COC inlet flows/pressures 94
Setting COC inlet parameters 95
About the PTV Inlet 96
PTV sampling heads 96
Heating the PTV inlet 97
Cooling the PTV inlet 98
PTV inlet split and pulsed split modes 98
PTV inlet splitless and pulsed splitless modes 102
PTV inlet solvent vent mode 109
To develop a PTV method that uses large volume injection 117
Multiple injections with the PTV inlet 120
About the Volatiles Interface 126
VI operating modes 127
About the VI split mode 128
About the VI splitless mode 132
About the VI direct mode 137
Preparing the Interface for Direct Sample Introduction 140
VI direct mode setpoint dependencies 142
VI direct mode initial values 142
Setting parameters for the VI direct mode 143
4 Columns and Oven
About the Oven 146
Oven safety 146
Configuring the Oven 147
Cryogenic Operation 148
Cryogenic setpoints 148
About Oven Temperature Programming 150
Programming setpoints 150
Oven ramp rates 151
Setting the oven parameters for constant temperature 152
Setting the oven parameters for ramped temperature 152
About the Oven Insert 154
About Columns 155
Selecting the correct packed glass column type 155
About the column modes 155

6Advanced Operation Manual
Select a column mode 156
Setting the column parameters for constant flow or constant
pressure 157
Enter a flow or pressure program (optional) 157
Programming column pressure or flow 158
Backflushing a Column 159
Backflushing when connected to an MSD 160
Backflushing using a capillary flow technology device 160
Nickel Catalyst Tube 165
About the nickel catalyst tube 165
Nickel catalyst gas flows 165
Setting temperatures for the nickel catalyst tube 166
5 Detectors
About Makeup Gas 168
About the FID 169
How FID units are displayed in Agilent data systems and on the GC 170
To light the FID flame 171
To extinguish the FID flame 171
FID automatic reignition (Lit offset) 171
Recommended starting conditions for new FID methods 172
Setting parameters for FID 173
About the TCD 174
TCD pneumatics 176
TCD carrier, reference, and makeup gas 176
TCD gas pressures 177
Selecting reference and makeup flows for the TCD 178
Chemically active compounds reduce TCD filament life 178
Changing the TCD polarity during a run 179
Detecting hydrogen with the TCD using helium carrier gas 179
Setting parameters for the TCD 180
About the uECD 182
uECD safety and regulatory information 182
uECD warnings 183
Safety precautions when handling uECDs 184
uECD gas flows 185
uECD linearity 185
uECD detector gas 185
uECD temperature 185
uECD analog output 186
Recommended starting conditions for new uECD methods 186

Advanced Operation Manual 7
uECD makeup gas notes 186
uECD temperature programming 187
Setting parameters for the uECD 187
About the NPD 188
New NPD features and changes 188
NPD software requirements 188
NPD flows and general information 188
NPD flow, temperature, and bead recommendations 189
NPD required gas purity 191
Setting parameters for the NPD 192
Selecting an NPD bead type 193
Changing from a ceramic bead to a Blos bead 194
Selecting an NPD jet 194
To configure the NPD 195
Automatically adjusting NPD bead voltage 196
Setting NPD adjust offset on the clock table 197
Aborting NPD adjust offset 197
Extending the NPD bead life 197
Setting the initial bead voltage for new beads 198
Setting NPD bead voltage manually (optional) 199
About the FPD+200
FPD+linearity 201
FPD+Lit Offset 201
FPD+photomultiplier protection 201
FPD+optical filters 201
Inlet liners for use with the FPD+201
FPD+temperature considerations 202
FPD+gas purity 202
FPD+gas flows 202
Lighting the FPD+flame 203
Setting parameters for the FPD+204
About the FPD 206
FPD linearity 207
FPD Lit Offset 207
Starting Up and Shutting Down the FPD 207
FPD photomultiplier protection 207
FPD optical filters 207
Inlet liners for use with the FPD 208
FPD temperature considerations 208
FPD gas purity 208
FPD gas flows 208

8Advanced Operation Manual
Lighting the FPD flame 209
Setting parameters for the FPD 210
6 Valves
About Valves 214
The Valve Box 215
Heating the valves 215
Valve temperature programming 216
Configuring an Aux thermal zone 216
Valve Control 217
The valve drivers 217
The internal valve drivers 217
The external valve drivers 218
Valve Types 219
Configuring a Valve 220
Controlling a Valve 221
From the keyboard 221
From the run or clock time tables 221
Simple valve: column selection 221
Gas sampling valve 222
Multiposition stream selection valve with sampling valve 223
7 GC Output Signals
About Signals 226
Signal Types 227
Value 227
Analog Signals 229
Analog zero 229
Analog range 229
Analog data rates 230
Selecting fast peaks (analog output) 231
Digital Signals 232
Digital zero 232
Signal Freeze and Resume 232
Data rates with Agilent data systems 233
Zero Init Data Files 235

Advanced Operation Manual 9
Column Compensation 236
Creating a column compensation profile 237
Making a run using analog output column compensation 237
Making a run using digital output column compensation 237
Plotting a stored column compensation profile 238
Test Plot 239
8 Auxiliary Devices
Auxiliary Devices 242
About Auxiliary Pressure Control 242
About Aux Thermal Zone Control 243
About Cryo Trap Control 243
About Auxiliary Device Contacts 244
About the 24V Auxiliary Device Power Supply 244
About Auxiliary Columns 244
About Auxiliary Detectors 245

10 Advanced Operation Manual

11
Agilent 7890 Series Gas Chromatograph
Advanced Operation Manual
Agilent Technologies
1
Programming
Run Time Programming 12
Using run time events 12
Programming run time events 13
The run table 13
Adding events to the run table 13
Editing events in the run table 14
Deleting run time events 14
Clock Time Programming 15
Using clock time events 15
Programming clock time events 15
Adding events to the clock table 16
Editing clock time events 16
Deleting clock time events 16
Post Run Programming 18
User-Key Programming 17
To play back (execute) the stored keystrokes 17
To erase the stored keystrokes 17
To program a User Key 17

12 Advanced Operation Manual
1Programming
Run Time Programming
Run time programming during a method allows certain
setpoints to change automatically during a run as a function
of the chromatographic run time. Thus an event that is
programmed to occur at 2 minutes will occur 2 minutes
after every injection.
Its uses include:
•Controlling column switching or other valves
•Changing analog signal definition, zero, or range
•Controlling an auxiliary pressure channel
•Changing polarity of a thermal conductivity detector
(TCD)
•Turning the hydrogen flow to a nitrogen- phosphorus
detector (NPD) on or off
•Switching digital signal output (requires an Agilent data
system)
•Pausing (“freezing”) and resuming digital signal output
(requires an Agilent data system)
The changes are entered into a run table that specifies the
setpoint to be changed, the time for the change, and the new
value. At the end of the chromatographic run, most setpoints
changed by a run time table are returned to their original
values.
Valves can be run time programmed but are not restored to
their starting position at the end of the run. You must
program the reset operation in the run table if this action is
desired. See “From the run or clock time tables” on
page 221.
Using run time events
The [Run Table] key is used to program the following timed
events.
•Valves (1- 8)
•Multiposition valve
•Signal type (see “Signal Types” on page 227)
•Analog signal definition, zero, and range
•Auxiliary pressures (1 through 9)
•TCD negative polarity (on/off)

Programming 1
Advanced Operation Manual 13
•Detector gas flow (on/off), including NPD H2fuel gas
•Inlet septum purge flow
Programming run time events
1Press [Run Table].
2Press [Mode/Type] to see the available run time events.
3Scroll to the event to be programmed. Press [Enter].
4Enter values for the Time: and the other parameter. Press
[Enter] after each entry.
5Press [Mode/Type] to add another event. Press [Status] to
terminate entries.
The run table
The programmed events are arranged in order of execution
time in the Run Table. This is a brief example:
RUN TABLE (1 of 3) Event 1 rotates a valve.
Time: 0.10
Valve #2 On
RUN TABLE (2 of 3) Event 2 adjusts the signal
Time: 3 range.
Analog signal 2 range 2
RUN TABLE (3 of 3) Event 3 resets Valve #2 to its
Time: 4.20 original position in preparation
Valve #2 Off for another run. Valves do not
reset automatically.
Adding events to the run table
1To add new events to the run table, press [Mode/Type]
while on the Time: line of any entry.
2Select the event type.
3Set appropriate Time: and other parameters. Some require
numbers; others require [On/Yes] or [Off/No].
4Repeat until all entries are added. Events are
automatically placed in order by execution time.

14 Advanced Operation Manual
1Programming
Editing events in the run table
1Press [Run Table].
2Move the cursor to the event you want to change.
3To edit the time for an event, move the cursor to the line
labeled Time:. Type the desired time and press [Enter].
4To edit a setpoint value, scroll to the setpoint line. Press
[On/Yes] or [Off/No] or enter a numeric value for the
setpoint. Press [Enter].
Deleting run time events
1Press [Run Table].
2From within this table press [Delete] to delete events
from the run time table. You will be asked to confirm the
deletion.
3Press [On/Yes] to delete the current timed event; press
[Off/No] to cancel this operation.
4To delete the entire table, press [Delete][Run Table].

Programming 1
Advanced Operation Manual 15
Clock Time Programming
Clock time programming allows certain setpoints to change
automatically at a specified time during a 24- hour day. Thus,
an event programmed to occur at 14:35 hours will occur at
2:35 in the afternoon. A running analysis or sequence has
precedence over any clock table events occurring during this
time. Such events are not executed.
Possible clock time events include:
•Valve control
•Method and sequence loading
•Starting sequences
•Initiating blank and prep runs
•Column compensation changes
•Adjustments of the detector offset
Using clock time events
The Clock Table function allows you to program events to
occur during a day based on the 24- hour clock. Clock table
events that would occur during a run or sequence are
ignored.
For example, the clock table could be used to make a blank
run before you even get to work in the morning.
Programming clock time events
1Press [Clock Table].
2Press [Mode/Type] to see the available clock time events.
3Scroll to the parameter to be programmed.
4Edit Time: and the setpoints for this event.
5Press [Mode/Type] to add another event. Press [Status] to
terminate entries.
When the clock event is executed, a confirming message
appears.

16 Advanced Operation Manual
1Programming
Adding events to the clock table
1Press [Clock Table].
2Press [Mode/Type]. When entries are added, they are
automatically ordered chronologically.
3Select the event type.
4Set appropriate parameters.
5Repeat this process until all entries are added.
Editing clock time events
1Press [Clock Table] to view all events programmed.
2Scroll to the event you want to change.
3To edit the time for an event, move the cursor to the line
labelled Time: and type the desired time.
4To edit a setpoint value, scroll to the setpoint item. Press
[On/Yes] or [Off/No], or enter a numerical value for the
setpoint.
Deleting clock time events
1Press [Clock Table].
2Use [Delete] to remove events from the clock time table.
You will be asked to confirm the deletion.
3Press [On/Yes] to delete the current timed event; press
[Off/No] to cancel this operation.
To delete the entire table, press [Delete][Clock Table].

Programming 1
Advanced Operation Manual 17
User-Key Programming
The two User Keys create macros (sets of frequently used
keystrokes) and assign them to single keys. A macro is
executed when the User Key is pressed.
The stored keystrokes may be any keys except [Start], [Prog],
[User Key 1], or [User Key 2].
This discussion assumes that you wish to program [User Key
1]. The process is the same for [User Key 2].
To progr am a Use r Key
1Press [Prog]. Press [User Key 1].
2Press up to 31 keys, then press [User Key 1]. The
keystrokes are stored.
To play back (execute) the stored keystrokes
Press [User Key 1].
To erase the stored keystrokes
Press [Prog][User Key 1][User Key 1]. This creates an “empty”
macro.

18 Advanced Operation Manual
1Programming
Post Run Programming
This function can be used with both isothermal and
programmed methods. Post run is a period that begins at the
end of the normal run. The parameters include:
•Time—How long is the post run period?
•Oven Temperature—What is the oven temperature during the
post run period?
•Column npres—For a column controlled in a pressure mode,
enter the pressure for this column during the post run
period.
•Column nflow—For a column controlled in a flow mode,
enter the flow rate for this column during the post run
period.
•Enable Front inlet temp—For the Multimode inlet, set the post
run inlet temperature. You can also press [On/Yes] and
[Off/No] to turn this parameter on or off.
•Enable Front inlet total flow—For the Multimode inlet, set the
post run inlet total flow rate. You can also press [On/Yes]
and [Off/No] to turn this parameter on or off.
Post run may be used to clean out a column in preparation
for the next run, backflush a column to eliminate
high- boilers, and other functions.
When the Post run Time elapses, the GC returns to the initial
state defined in the current method. If it uses cryogenic
cooling and you do not start another run quickly, you could
waste considerable coolant while waiting for the next run. A
solution is to use a sequence that loads a less wasteful
method.
To enable a post run program
1Press [Post Run].
2Type a non- zero time for the post run duration and press
[Enter]. The post run parameters available for the current
GC configuration appear.
3Scroll to each desired parameter, type the value for the
post run period, and press [Enter].
To disable a post run program
1Press [Post Run].
2Type a 0 as the post run time and press [Enter].

19
Agilent 7890 Series Gas Chromatograph
Advanced Operation Manual
Agilent Technologies
2
Flow and Pressure Modules
About Flow and Pressure Control 20
Maximum operating pressure 20
PIDs 21
Inlet Modules 22
Detector Modules 23
Pressure Control Modules 24
Auxiliary Pressure Controllers 27
Restrictors 28
1. Using an Aux EPC channel to supply purge gas to a splitter 30
2. Using the PCM channels 30

20 Advanced Operation Manual
2Flow and Pressure Modules
About Flow and Pressure Control
The GC uses four types of electronic flow or pressure
controllers; inlet modules, detector modules, pressure control
modules (PCMs), and auxiliary pressure controllers (Aux
EPCs).
All of these modules mount in the slots at the top rear of
the GC. The slots are identified by numbers, as shown here.
When a module is installed in a slot, it must be connected to
the communications buss that runs underneath it. Each
branch of the buss has an identifying label near the
connector. The proper branch must be connected to the
module for the firmware to recognize it.
Branch/slot assignments are:
If a detector is mounted in the left side carrier (as seen
from the front side of the oven), it is controlled by EPC6. An
extension cable connects to EPC6, runs across the top of the
oven just in front of the top row of slots, and passes through
an opening into the detector carrier.
Maximum operating pressure
The pneumatics modules of the GC will stand over 250 psi
pressure, but may not function reliably. We recommend a
maximum continuous operating pressure of 170 psi to avoid
excessive wear and leaks.
Split vent traps
and valves
Back of GC
Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5
Slot 6
Split vent traps
and valves
Back of GC
EPC1
EPC2
EPC3
EPC4
EPC5
EPC6