Agilent Technologies ICP-MS Series Operating instructions

Agilent ICP-MS
Interactive Troubleshooting tool for
Plasma ignition problem
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Rev. B
2017, January, 20

Preconditions
•7900, 7800, 7700, 8800, or 8900 ICP-MS is used.
•Sample introduction type is “PeriPump”. If you are using a special configuration such as
LC/GC integration or ISIS, setup the instrument with standard configuration.
•You have the “Hardware Maintenance Manual”for your instrument. Some details of the
operations are not in this tool. You should refer to the manual.
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Legends
Notes or tips that help troubleshoot.
You need to refer to another document for detail of the steps.
Good example of situation.
Bad example of situation.
Did the ion lens test pass? ←Questions are displayed in blue you need to click
buttons such as or
Based on your answer the tool will navigate you to next step.
Note
Reference
Good
Bad
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Yes No

1.1.1 Check Water flow and Gas flow errors
(1) Select MassHunter Instrument Control Window → Main menu → “View” → “Instrument
Status” to display “Instrument Status” Pane
If Main menu is not displayed, press F10 key.
(2) Click the dropdown below and check the error number for errors that are generated at the
date/time of the attempt to ignite plasma.
(3) Are error numbers 1440, 1445, or 1446 included in the latest errors?
Note
<Previous Yes No

1.2.1 Check water and argon gas
(1) If error 1440 has been generated, check if cooling water valve is open and chiller or heat
exchanger is working correctly.
(2) If error 1445 or 1446 have been generated, check if argon gas valve is open and remaining
amount is enough.
(3) Did this solve the problem？
Yes No

1.3.1 Check timing when Plasma goes out
(1) When did Plasma go out?
Not ignite at all
Several seconds after ignition
One to several minutes after ignition
When "Plasma Correction“ is going on
20 minutes or later after ignition

2.1.1 Check condition of argon gas line condition
(1) Are there any situations below?
-Ar cylinder has been replaced recently
-Was there any work on Ar line recently?
-Is the instrument used after a long time ( > 1 month).
Yes No

2.2.1 Check condition of argon gas line
(1) Purge Ar line.
(2) Do leak check on Ar line.
(3) Check specification of Ar gas to have ≧99.99% purity (In case cylinder has been replaced).
(4) Try alternative source of Ar gas (In case cylinder has been replaced and any alternatives
are available)
(5) Does this fix the problem?
Yes No

2.3.1 Isolate the torch and try to ignite
(1) Block end of the torch with plastic film and try to ignite.
(2) Can it ignite?
Yes No

2.4.1 Check torch box
(1) Open the torch box and observe to check if there are situations below, following
instruction from the next page.
- Damaged torch
- Damaged bonnet
- Damaged shield plate
- Damaged shield contact
-Non Agilent torch
-Dirty torch stand
-Wrongly assembled torch
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