Agilent Technologies 7820A User guide

Agilent Technologies
Agilent 7820A
Gas Chromatograph
Safety Manual

27820A GC Safety Manual
Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2009–2015
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Manual Part Number
G4350-90010
Edition
Fifth edition, August 2016
Fourth edition, June 2015
Third edition, June 2011
Second edition, June 2009
First edition, March 2009
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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.

3
Agilent 7820A Gas Chromatograph
Safety Manual
Agilent Technologies
Introduction
Important Safety Warnings 4
Hydrogen Safety 7
Uncombusted Hazardous Gases 9
Micro-Electron Capture Detector (µECD) 10
Fuses and Batteries 12
Safety and Regulatory Certifications 13
Intended Use 17
Cleaning 17
Recycling the Product 17

47820A GC Safety Manual
Introduction
Important Safety Warnings
Before moving on, there are several important safety notices that you
should always keep in mind when using the Agilent 7820A GC.
Many internal parts of the GC carry dangerous voltages
If the GC is connected to a power source, even if the power switch is off,
potentially dangerous voltages exist on:
•The wiring between the GC power cord and the AC power supply, the AC
power supply itself, and the wiring from the AC power supply to the power
switch.
With the power switch on, potentially dangerous voltages also exist on:
•All electronics boards in the instrument.
•The internal wires and cables connected to these boards.
•The wires for any heater (oven, detector, inlet, or valve box).
WARNING
When handling/using chemicals for preparation or use within the GC, all applicable
local and national laboratory safety practices must be followed. This would include,
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.
WARNING
All these parts are shielded by covers. With the covers in place, it should be difficult
to accidentally make contact with dangerous voltages. Unless specifically
instructed to, never remove a cover unless the detector, inlet, or oven are turned off.
WARNING
If the power cord insulation is frayed or worn, the cord must be replaced. Contact
your Agilent service representative.

Introduction
7820A GC Safety Manual 5
Do not use an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) with a GC
If the area where the GC is located suddenly loses power, an unsafe condition
can result if the GC remains powered on. Do not use the GC with a UPS.
Electrostatic discharge is a threat to GC electronics
The printed circuit (PC) boards in the GC can be damaged by electrostatic
discharge. Do not touch any of the boards unless it is absolutely necessary. If
you must handle them, wear a grounded wrist strap and take other antistatic
precautions. Wear a grounded wrist strap any time you must remove the GC
right side cover.
Many parts are dangerously hot
Many parts of the GC operate at temperatures high enough to cause serious
burns. These parts include but are not limited to:
•The inlets
•The oven and its contents
•The detectors
•The column nuts attaching the column to an inlet or detector
•The valve box
You should always cool these areas of the GC to room temperature before
working on them. They will cool faster if you first set the temperature of the
heated zone to room temperature. Turn the zone off after it has reached the
setpoint. If you must perform maintenance on hot parts, use a wrench and
wear thermally protective gloves. Whenever possible, cool the part of the
instrument that you will be maintaining before you begin working on it.
WARNING
Be careful when working behind the instrument. During cool-down cycles, the GC
emits hot exhaust which can cause burns.

67820A GC Safety Manual
Introduction
Oven thermal leaks
Do not allow wiring or temperature probes to pass through the oven door jam.
Agilent recommends using one of the access holes.
WARNING
The insulation around the inlets, detectors, valve box, and the insulation cups is
made of refractory ceramic fibers. To avoid inhaling fiber particles, we recommend
the following safety procedures: ventilate your work area; wear long sleeves,
gloves, safety glasses, and a disposable dust/mist respirator; dispose of insulation
in a sealed plastic bag; wash your hands with mild soap and cold water after
handling the insulation.
WARNING
Objects passing through the oven door seal can cause thermal leaks which create
hazardous hot spots which cause burns and melt equipment.

Introduction
7820A GC Safety Manual 7
Hydrogen Safety
Hydrogen gas may be used as carrier gas, and/or as fuel for the FID and NPD.
When mixed with air, hydrogen can form explosive mixtures.
Hydrogen is a commonly used GC carrier gas. Hydrogen is potentially
explosive and has other dangerous characteristics.
•Hydrogen is combustible over a wide range of concentrations. At
atmospheric pressure, hydrogen is combustible at concentrations from 4%
to 74.2% by volume.
•Hydrogen has the highest burning velocity of any gas.
•Hydrogen has a very low ignition energy.
•Hydrogen that is allowed to expand rapidly from high pressure into the
atmosphere can self-ignite due to an electrostatic spark.
•Hydrogen burns with a nonluminous flame which can be invisible under
bright light.
Hydrogen shutdown
Hydrogen gas may be used as a carrier or as fuel for some detectors. When
mixed with air, hydrogen can form explosive mixtures.
WARNING
When using hydrogen (H2) as the carrier gas or fuel gas, be aware that hydrogen
gas can flow into the GC oven and create an explosion hazard. Therefore, be sure
that the supply is turned off until all connections are made and ensure that the inlet
and detector column fittings are either connected to a column or capped at all times
when hydrogen gas is supplied to the instrument.
Hydrogen is flammable. Leaks, when confined in an enclosed space, may create a
fire or explosion hazard. In any application using hydrogen, leak test all
connections, lines, and valves before operating the instrument. Always turn off the
hydrogen supply at its source before working on the instrument.

87820A GC Safety Manual
Introduction
The GC monitors inlet and auxiliary gas streams. If a stream shuts down
because it is unable to reach its flow or pressure setpoint and if that stream is
configured to use hydrogen, the GC assumes that a leak has occurred and
declares a hydrogen safety shutdown. The effects are:
•The offending channel and any associated channels (such as septum purge)
are set off.
•The split valves in the split/splitless inlets open.
•The oven (heater and fan) turns off.
•The small heated zones are turned off.
•An alarm tone sounds.
To recover from this state, fix the cause of the shutdown (tank valve closed,
serious leak, others). Turn the instrument off, then back on.
Measuring hydrogen gas flows
When measuring gas flows on a detector using hydrogen for the detector flame
or carrier gas, measure the hydrogen flow separately. Never allow an air
stream to enter when hydrogen is present in the flow meter.
WARNING
The GC cannot always detect leaks in inlet and/or detector gas streams. For this
reason, it is vital that column fittings should always be either connected to a
column, or have a cap or plug installed. The H2streams must be configured for
hydrogen so that the GC is aware of hydrogen use.
WARNING
Do not measure hydrogen together with air or oxygen. This can create explosive
mixtures that may be ignited by the automatic ignitor.
To avoid this hazard:
Turn the automatic ignitor off before you begin.
Always measure gases separately.

Introduction
7820A GC Safety Manual 9
Uncombusted Hazardous Gases
During normal operation of the GC with many detectors and inlets, some of
the carrier gas and sample vents outside the instrument through the split vent,
septum purge vent, and detector exhaust. If any sample components are toxic
or noxious, or if hydrogen is used as the carrier gas, these exhausts must be
vented to a fume hood. Place the GC in the hood or attach a large diameter
venting tube to the outlet for proper ventilation.

10 7820A GC Safety Manual
Introduction
Micro-Electron Capture Detector (µECD)
The μECD contains a cell plated with 63Ni, a radioactive isotope. The beta
particles released at the energy level in the detector have little penetrating
power—the surface layer of the skin or a few sheets of paper will stop most of
them—but they may be hazardous if the isotope is ingested or inhaled. For this
reason, handle the cell with care. Cap the detector inlet and outlet fittings
when the detector is not in use. Never introduce corrosive chemicals into the
detector. Vent detector exhaust outside the laboratory environment.
Refer to the safety documentation provided with the detector for important
details about safety, maintenance, and compliance with local government
regulation.
WARNING
Materials that may react with the 63Ni source, either to form volatile products or to
cause physical degradation of the plated film, must be avoided. These materials
include oxidizing compounds, acids, wet halogens, wet nitric acid, ammonium
hydroxide, hydrogen sulfide, PCPs, and carbon monoxide. This list is not exhaustive
but indicates the kinds of compounds that may cause damage to 63Ni detectors.
WARNING
In the extremely unlikely event that the oven or the detector-heated zone should go
into thermal runaway (maximum, uncontrolled heating in excess of 400 °C) and the
detector remains exposed to this condition for more than 12 hours, take the
following steps:
1 After turning off the main power and allowing the instrument to cool to room
temperature, cap the detector inlet and exhaust vent openings. Wear disposable
plastic gloves and observe normal laboratory safety precautions.
2 Contact your local Agilent Technologies sales office or distributor for ECD disposal
instructions
3 Include a letter stating the condition of abuse.
It is unlikely, even in this very unusual situation, that radioactive material will
escape the cell. However, permanent damage to the 63Ni plating within the cell is
possible; therefore, the cell must be returned for exchange.