Agilent Technologies 8860 User manual

Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro
Gas Chromatograph Gasifier
User Manual

Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2020
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Inc. as governed by United States and
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Manual Part Number
G3535-90000
Edition
First edition, July 2020
Printed in China
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
412 Ying Lun Road 
Waigoaqiao Free Trade Zone
Shanghai 200131 P.R.China
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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.

Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual 3
Contents
1 Safety Information
Safety Information 6
Safety symbols 6
Safety and regulatory information 7
General safety precautions 7
Shipping Instructions 10
Cleaning Instructions 10
Disposal Instructions 10
Intended Use 10
Recycling the Product 11
2Introduction
Introduction 14
Specifications 15
Principle of Operation 16
Flow path diagram 16
Hardware description 16
3 Installation for 8860 GC and 8890 GC
Before you begin 20
Compressed liquid/gas sample cylinder safety 20
Check ventilation condition 20
Tools and parts required for installation 20
Check compatibility to the GC system 20
Installation 22
Prepare the GC 22
Install the Gasifier mounting bracket 23
Install the Gasifier 24
Connect the Gasifier transfer line to the GC 26
Install the external filter unit 26
Connect the sample cylinder 27
Connect the power cord and USB cable 27
Update the GC Firmware and driver 28
Configuring the GC and Data System 28
4 Installation for 990 Micro GC
Before you begin 30
Compressed liquid/gas sample cylinder safety 30

4 Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual
Check ventilation condition 30
Tools and parts required for installation 30
Check compatibility to the GC system 30
Leak test 30
Installation 31
Install the mounting bracket and gasifier 31
Connect the transfer line to the GC 33
Install the external filter unit 34
Connect the sample cylinder 35
Connect the power cord and USB cable 36
Update the GC Firmware and driver 36
Configuring the GC and Data System 36
5Operation
Gasifier Operation and Status 38
Gasifier parameters 38
8860 and 8890 GC Operation 39
Create the checkout method 39
Run a sample analysis 40
Typical operating conditions 41
990 Micro GC Operation 43
Create the checkout method 43
Run a sample analysis 43
Typical operating conditions 44
6 Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Periodic Maintenance 46
Troubleshooting 47
Chromatographic symptoms 47
Gasifier Not Ready Symptoms 51
Thermal Fault 52
Electronics Troubleshooting GC Power-On and Communication Symptoms 53
Checking for Leaks 53
Checking for Blockage 54
Error Messages 55

Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual 5
1Safety Information
Safety Information 6
Shipping Instructions 10
Cleaning Instructions 10
Disposal Instructions 10
To prevent any injury to the user or any damage to the instrument, it is essential that you read the
information in this chapter and the gas chromatograph (GC) user manuals.
If this manual is not in your native language, or if you have problems understanding the text,
contact your Agilent office for assistance. Agilent cannot accept responsibility for any damage or
injury caused by misunderstanding of the information in this manual.

1 Safety Information
Safety Information
6 Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual
Safety Information
Safety symbols
Warnings in the manual or on the instrument must be observed during all phases of operation,
service, and repair of this instrument. Failure to comply with these precautions violates safety
standards of design and the intended use of the instrument. Agilent Technologies assumes no
liability for the customer’s failure to comply with these requirements.

See accompanying instructions for more information.

Indicates a hot surface.

Indicates hazardous voltages.

Indicates earth (ground) terminal.

Indicates potential explosion hazard.

Indicates electrostatic discharge hazard.

Indicates a hazard. 
See the Agilent GC user documentation for the item labeled.

Indicates that you must not discard this electrical/electronic product in
domestic household waste

Manufacturing date.

Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual 7
1 Safety Information
Safety and regulatory information
Safety and regulatory information
The Agilent Gasifier conforms to the following safety standards:
•Canadian Standards Association (CSA): C22.2 No. 61010-1
•CSA/Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory (NRTL): ANSI/UL 61010-1
•International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): 61010–1, 61010-2-010, 61010-2-081
•EuroNorm (EN): 61010–1
The Agilent Gasifier conforms to the following regulations on Electromagnetic Compatibility
•(EMC) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI):
•CISPR 11/EN 55011: Group 1, Class A
•IEC/EN 61326-1
This ISM device complies with Canadian ICES-001. Cet appareil ISM est conforme a la norme
NMB—001 du Canada.
NOTE
The Gasifier is designed and manufactured under a quality system registered to ISO 9001.
Declaration of Conformity available.
The Gasifier meets the following IEC (International Electro-technical Commission) classifications:
•Safety Class 1
•Transient Overvoltage Category II
•Pollution Degree 2
This unit has been designed and tested in accordance with recognized safety standards and is
designed for use indoors in non-classified locations. Do not operate it in an explosive atmosphere.
If the instrument is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the protection provided by
the instrument may be impaired. Whenever the safety protection of the Gasifier has been
compromised, disconnect the unit from all power sources and secure the unit against unintended
operation. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel. Substituting parts or performing any
unauthorized modification to the instrument may result in a safety hazard.
General safety precautions
WARNING
When handling or using chemicals for preparation or use within the GC, all applicable local and
national laboratory safety practices must be followed. This includes, but is not limited to, correct
use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), correct use of storage vials, and correct handling of
chemicals, as defined in the laboratory’s internal safety analysis and standard operating
procedures. Failure to adhere to laboratory safety practices could lead to injury or death.

1 Safety Information
General safety precautions
8 Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual
WARNING
This instrument is designed for chromatographic analysis of appropriately prepared samples. It
must be operated using appropriate gases, and within specified maximum ranges for pressure,
flows, and temperatures as described in this manual. If the equipment is used in a manner not
specified by the manufacturer, the protection provided by the equipment may be impaired.
WARNING
It is the responsibility of the customer to inform Agilent customer support representatives if the
instrument has been used for the analysis of hazardous samples, prior to any instrument service
being performed or when an instrument is being returned for repair.
To ensure safe equipment operation, adhere to the following safety practices:
•Dot not use flammable gas (such as H2) other than your sample as purging gas. Use inert gas
(such as N2) instead.
•Perform periodic leak checks on all supply lines and pneumatic plumbing.
•Do not allow gas lines to become kinked or punctured. Place lines away from foot traffic and
extreme heat or cold.
•To avoid exposure to potentially dangerous voltages, disconnect the instrument from all
power sources before removing protective panels.
•Your product must only use the power cord that was shipped with this product. Do not use this
power cord with any other product.
WARNING
Replace faulty or frayed power cords immediately. Contact your Agilent service representative.
•The instrument should be placed in a suitable location with sufficient ventilation to remove
gases and vapors. Make sure there is enough space around the instrument for it to cool off
sufficiently.
•Do not turn on the Power Supply if there is a possibility of any electrical damage. Instead,
disconnect the power cord, and contact your Agilent office.
•The supplied power cord must be inserted into a power outlet with a protective earth ground
connection.
•Do not change the external or internal grounding connections as this could endanger you or
damage the Power Supply.
•The Power Supply is properly grounded when shipped. You do not need to make any changes
to the electrical connections or to the Power Supply chassis to ensure safe operation.
•Do not place containers with flammable liquids on this Power Supply. Spillage of the liquid
over hot parts may cause fire.
•Never try to repair or replace any component that is not described in this manual without the
assistance of an Agilent service engineer. Unauthorized repairs or modifications will result in
rejection of warranty claims.
•Always disconnect the AC power cord before attempting any type of maintenance.
•The customer should not attempt to replace the fuses in the Power Supply.
•Damage can result if the Power Supply is stored under unfavorable conditions for prolonged
periods (for example, subject to heat, water, and so forth).
•This unit has been designed and tested in accordance with recognized safety standards and is
designed for use indoors.
•If the Power Supply is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the protection
provided by the Power Supply may be impaired.

Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual 9
1 Safety Information
General safety precautions
•Substituting parts or performing any unauthorized modification to the Power Supply may
result in a safety hazard.
•Before plugging in your instrument, verify that the voltage of your local power source is set
appropriately.
•Turn off and cool down the GC and Gasifier before disconnecting the Transferline and GC.
•Do not use an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) with a Gasifier.
•The input voltage of external power supply is 100-240V. Never use the mains supply which
voltage fluctuations are exceeded +/- 10 % out of this range.
•Stop using Gasifier with frayed or damaged Transferline, and contact your local Agilent sales
office.
CAUTION
Gasifier will be turned on as long as the power cord is connected to the power source. There is
no "On/Off" switch.
CAUTION
Make sure that the sampler has been removed prior to maintaining, moving or relocating the
Gasifier. Prior to moving, all covers and enclosures must also be seated properly. Make sure all
covers and enclosures are secure.
WARNING
Appliance inlet coupler (main input power cord) is the power disconnect device. Do not position
the instrument such that access to the coupler or plug is impaired.
WARNING
Transferline could be operated at temperatures high enough to cause serious burns.
You should always cool the Gasifier to room temperature before working on it. If you must
perform maintenance on the transferline, use a wrench and wear thermally protective gloves.
Add additional Warning information
WARNING
Do not place the Power Supply and Power cord on the top of GC or Gasifier when GC or Gasifier
is powered on.

1 Safety Information
Shipping Instructions
10 Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual
Shipping Instructions
Follow these steps to prepare your Gasifier for shipping:
1Let the Gasifier cool down for at least 30 minutes before packing.
2Cap every inlet and outlet port.
3Cap all inlet and outlet tubing.
4Always include the power cord kit and USB cable with the Gasifier.
Cleaning Instructions
To keep the Gasifier surface clean, refer to the remarks given below:
•Switch the GC off.
•Remove the GC power cable from the mains.
•Disconnect the Gasifier power cable.
•Use a soft (not hard or abrasive) brush to carefully brush away all dust and dirt.
•If the outer case is dirty, clean it with a soft, clean cloth dampened with mild detergent. Never
clean the inside.
•Never use alcohol or thinners to clean the Gasifier. These chemicals can damage the case.
•Do not get water on the electronics components.
•Do not use compressed air to clean.
Disposal Instructions
Disposal of the Gasifier must be carried out in accordance with all (environmental) regulations
applicable in your country.
Intended Use
Agilent products must only be used in the manner described in the Agilent product user guides.
Any other use may result in damage to the product or personal injury. Agilent is not responsible for
any damages caused, in whole or in part, by improper use of the products, unauthorized
alterations, adjustments or modifications to the products, failure to comply with procedures in
Agilent product user guides, or use of the products in violation of applicable laws, rules or
regulations.

Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual 11
1 Safety Information
Recycling the Product
Recycling the Product
For recycling, contact your local Agilent sales office.

1 Safety Information
Recycling the Product
12 Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual

Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual 13
2Introduction
Introduction 14
Specifications 15
Principle of Operation 16
This chapter describes the working theory of the Agilent Gasifier, the gasifier capabilities, some of
the important features of the system and the hardware components.

2Introduction
Introduction
14 Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual
Introduction
The Agilent GC gasifier is designed to enable flash vaporization of liquefied gases as a means of
sample pretreatment before the gas chromatographic analysis. When vaporizing liquefied
samples, it is important to understand the difference between evaporation and vaporization.
Evaporation occurs gradually with an increase in temperature, while vaporization occurs with a
pressure drop. For a mixed sample with low and high boiling points (bp), evaporation will allow low
bp molecules to gasify first and travel on toward the GC while the high bp molecules remain
behind in the liquid phase, resulting in fractionation. It will no longer accurately represent the
samples in the cylinder.
To preserve the sample’s composition from liquid state to gasified state, the Agilent gasifier uses
a pressure reducing regulator that can create a severe and sudden pressure drop for
high-pressurized liquid passing its orifice to ensure all compounds vaporize at the same time. This
pressure reducing regulator can handle inlet pressures up to 1000 psi, and the outlet pressure is
factory set to 12 psi +/-2.5 psi (a safe pressure to protect the micro GC injector die). It enables to
provide a consistent pressure output for samples of different pressures, which is critical to
produce reproducible GC performance. At the same time, both the regulator and the transfer line
are heated to prevent condensation. The output flow can be adjusted via a needle valve. The
tubing in the flow path are deactivated to avoid adsorption of active components. Adjusting three
key variables – temperature, pressure, and flow – can help ensure proper vaporization and an
accurate analytical result.
The GC Gasifier is powered by an external power adapter, and it is controlled by the gas
chromatograph (GC) through a USB serial cable. Main components of GC Gasifier include:
•Two inlets for either gaseous or liquefied samples, switchable by a manual 2 position 3 way
valve
•A heated regulator (the vaporizer), with a temperature set and controlled by the GC and
displayed in GC software
•A heated transfer line, maintained at a constant 100 °C
•A mechanical needle valve for purging in the vent line. Users need to manually turn on/off the
valve to start and end the purging.
•A mechanical needle valve for gas flow adjustment in the sample line. Users need to manually
adjust the gas flow entering GC as needed.
Gasifier parameters are listed in the following table:
When used with the Agilent 990 Micro GC, the gasifier mounts to the side of the Micro GC and the
transfer line connects directly to the front inlet.
When used with the Agilent 8860 or 8890 GC, the GC Gasifier mounts adjacent to the back inlet.
Table 1 Gasifier parameters
Parameter Status
Vaporizer ON OFF
Temperature (in the range of 30 °C and 150 °C, default at 100 °C)
Transfer Line ON OFF
Temperature (Fixed at 100 °C)

Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual 15
2Introduction
Specifications
Specifications
NOTE
The Gasifier is intended for indoor use. Protect the Gasifier from corrosive chemicals, gases,
dust, or particulate accumulation. The Gasifier should also be protected from the direct venting
from air conditioners, heaters, furnaces, or fans.
Table 2 Specifications
Feature Specifications
General Heated pressure-reducing regulator.
Operation temperatures Regulator 150 °C +/- 1 °C
Transfer line 100 °C +/- 1 °C
Sample input pressure/purge pressure 1,000 psi / 7,000 kPa maximum
Delivery pressure to GC 12 +/- 2.5 psi at 25 °C using 80 psi N2as calibration gas and output flow adjusted
to 30 ml/min with vent closed.
Repeatability 8890: C2~C5 ≤1%, C6+ ≤2%
8860: ≤2%
990: C2~C5 ≤1%, C6+ ≤2%
Concentration range 50 ppm to 100%
Sample carry-over < 1% (500 ppm hexane after N2purging 2 minutes with vent flow 150 ml/min,
transfer line flow 20 ml/min)
Size 149.5 mm × 94.5 mm × 112.2 mm (length × width × height)
Weight 1.8 kg
Electrical supply 12 V, 65 W maximum
Storage Environmental Requirements With 8890/8860:
•Humidity: 5% to 95% RH (noncondensing)
•Temperature: –40 to +70 °C
With 990:
•Humidity: 10% to 95% RH (noncondensing)
•Temperature: –40 to +70 °C
Operating Environmental
Requirements
With 8890/8860:
•Humidity: 5% to 95% RH (noncondensing)
•Temperature: 15 to +35 °C
•Maximum altitude: 4,615 meters above sea level
With 990:
•Humidity: 10% to 95% RH (noncondensing)
•Temperature: 0 to +50 °C
•Maximum altitude: 2,000 meters above sea level

2Introduction
Principle of Operation
16 Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual
Principle of Operation
Flow path diagram
Hardware description
Figure 1. Gasifier internal flow paths
Figure 2. GC Gasifier
Needle valve
Inlet 1
Inlet 2
2P3W ball valve
Pressure-reducing
regulator
Needle valve
Vent
To GC
Note: 2P3W = 2-position 3-way, red color denotes heated parts.
Transfer line

Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual 17
2Introduction
Hardware description
Figure 3. Inlet side (front view) of the GC Gasifier
Figure 4. Vent side (left view) of the GC Gasifier
Inlet 1
Two-position,
three-way stream
selection valve
LED
Inlet 2
Needle valve knob for sample loop
Needle valve knob
for vent loop
Power connector
USB connector
Vent connector
(Transfer line)

2Introduction
Hardware description
18 Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual

Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual 19
3Installation for 8860 GC and 8890 GC
Before you begin 20
Installation 22

3 Installation for 8860 GC and 8890 GC
Before you begin
20 Agilent 8860, 8890, and 990 Micro GC Gasifier User Manual
Before you begin
Compressed liquid/gas sample cylinder safety
The Gasifier assists in the handling of high pressure liquid and gas samples. Make sure you are
familiar with the safe use of compressed sample cylinders.
Check ventilation condition
For safety and environmental protection, make sure the waste coming out of the gasifier and GC
vent connects to the ventilation system.
Tools and parts required for installation
•Torx T-20 screwdriver, 1 pcs
•5/16 inch wrench, 2pcs
•Earthing pipe, P/N G3535-20038, 1pcs
•Gasifier mounting bracket, P/N G3535-00032, 1pcs
•Screws M4*8, P/N 0515-2113, 3pcs
•Screws M4*40 (long), P/N 0515-2195, 1pcs
•Screws M4*18 (short), P/N 0515-3034, 2pcs
•Cable Clamp, P/N 1400-1820, 2pcs
•Washer, P/N 2190-0599, 4pcs
•Union, P/N 0100-0124, 1pcs
•Filter Kit, P/M G3535-60008, 1pcs
•USB Cable, P/N 8121-3060, 1pcs
•Core Ferrite, P/N 9170-2626, 1pcs
Check compatibility to the GC system
The gasifier accessory installs on top of the front inlet. It is not compatible with:
•An ALS tray
•An injector mounted in the back position
•Any other accessory that installs over the back inlet
Hardware
The gasifier assumes the use of a gas sampling valve and valve box. If not present, install and
verify proper operation before installing the gasifier.