Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience MercuryiTC User manual

Operator's Manual
MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments
Omicron NanoScience
Operator’s Manual
Oxford Instruments
NanoScience
Issue 0
5
/Feb 2015 /
Original Instructions
MercuryiTC
Cryogenic environment controller
Issue 05 /
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
Omicron NanoScience
. All rights reserved.
Oxford Instruments
Omicron
NanoScience
Original Instructions
Cryogenic environment controller
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
Omicron

Operator's Manual
Issue 05 /
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience. All rights reserved.
Contents
PREFACE.................................................................................................................................. 1
Use of this manual ................................................................................................................................. 1
Customer support................................................................................................................................... 3
Health and safety information ................................................................................................................4
Disclaimers............................................................................................................................................. 5
Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................ 5
Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Certification compliance statements ......................................................................................................7
About Oxford Instruments ...................................................................................................................... 8
1 HEALTH AND SAFETY....................................................................................................... 9
1.1 Warnings........................................................................................................................ 9
1.1.1 Protective and functional ground ............................................................................................9
1.1.2 High voltage hazard..............................................................................................................10
1.1.3 Maintenance and adjustment................................................................................................10
1.1.4 Restrictions on use ...............................................................................................................10
1.2 Cautions....................................................................................................................... 11
1.2.1 Electrostatic caution..............................................................................................................11
1.2.2 Cooling caution ..................................................................................................................... 11
1.2.3 Acoustic noise caution..........................................................................................................11
1.3 Solid waste................................................................................................................... 12
2 Mercury iTC BASICS........................................................................................................ 13
2.1 MercuryiTC front and rear panels................................................................................. 14
2.2 Display and touch-screen............................................................................................. 15
2.3 Electrical power supply................................................................................................. 15
2.4 Temperature sensor circuits......................................................................................... 15
2.5 Heater circuits.............................................................................................................. 15
2.6 Optional cooling circuit control...................................................................................... 16
2.7 Remote interfaces........................................................................................................ 17
2.8 Functional Description.................................................................................................. 18

Operator's Manual
Issue 05 /
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience. All rights reserved.
2.9 Main components......................................................................................................... 19
2.9.1 Motherboard..........................................................................................................................20
2.9.2 Expansion slots and daughter boards ..................................................................................20
2.10 Alarms and interlocks............................................................................................... 22
3 GETTING STARTED ......................................................................................................... 23
3.1 Checking the electrical supply...................................................................................... 23
3.2 Mounting the equipment............................................................................................... 23
3.3 Connecting electrical power.......................................................................................... 24
3.4 Powering up the MercuryiTC for the first time............................................................... 24
3.5 The MercuryiTC touch screen ...................................................................................... 25
3.5.1 The home page.....................................................................................................................26
3.5.2 Custom home pages.............................................................................................................27
3.5.3 Channel summary widget .....................................................................................................27
3.5.4 Drop-down menus.................................................................................................................28
3.5.5 Scrolling ................................................................................................................................28
3.5.6 Soft keypads .........................................................................................................................29
3.5.7 Using arrows to adjust integer values...................................................................................31
3.5.8 Button labels .........................................................................................................................31
3.5.9 Common touch screen features............................................................................................31
3.5.10 Setting the date and time......................................................................................................32
3.6 Plotting signals on the MercuryiTC touch screen.......................................................... 33
3.6.1 Plot Configuration .................................................................................................................33
3.6.2 Scaling a plot.........................................................................................................................35
4 HOW TO MEASURE AND CONTROL TEMPERATURE................................................... 37
4.1 Heater and sensor connections.................................................................................... 38
4.1.1 Connecting thermocouples...................................................................................................38
4.2 Configuring a temperature sensor ................................................................................ 39
4.2.1 Configuring the sensor details ..............................................................................................40
4.2.2 To clear a widget configuration.............................................................................................42
4.3 Setting heater properties.............................................................................................. 43
4.4 Configuring a heater..................................................................................................... 44

Operator's Manual
Issue 05 /
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience. All rights reserved.
4.5 Configuring the heater control loop............................................................................... 46
4.5.1 Configuring manual heater control........................................................................................46
4.5.2 Configuring automatic heater control....................................................................................46
4.6 Changing a temperature set point in automatic control................................................. 48
4.7 Using the sweep function ............................................................................................. 49
4.7.1 The purpose of the sweep function.......................................................................................49
4.7.2 Using the sweep function......................................................................................................49
4.7.3 Loading a sweep...................................................................................................................51
4.7.4 Starting a sweep ................................................................................................................... 51
4.7.5 Stopping a sweep .................................................................................................................52
4.8 Using the ramp function................................................................................................ 52
4.8.1 The purpose of the ramp function.........................................................................................52
4.8.2 Using the ramp function........................................................................................................52
4.8.3 Starting a ramp .....................................................................................................................53
4.8.4 To disable ramp mode..........................................................................................................53
4.9 Configuring a gas valve................................................................................................ 54
4.9.1 Configuring manual control of the gas valve.........................................................................56
4.9.2 Configuring automatic control of the gas valve.....................................................................56
4.9.3 Changing a gas flow set point...............................................................................................58
4.10 Using a generic calibration-file.................................................................................. 58
4.10.1 Overview...............................................................................................................................58
4.10.2 Adjusting a generic calibration file ........................................................................................59
4.11 Types of temperature sensor.................................................................................... 60
4.11.1 Thermocouples .....................................................................................................................60
4.11.2 Metallic resistance thermometers (positive temperature coefficient)....................................61
4.11.3 Semiconductor resistance thermometers (negative temperature coefficient)......................61
4.11.4 Semiconductor diodes ..........................................................................................................61
4.11.5 Excitation current .................................................................................................................. 61
4.11.6 Calibration for different sensors............................................................................................62
4.11.7 Available generic calibration files..........................................................................................64
4.12 More about thermocouples....................................................................................... 65
4.12.1 Thermocouple principles.......................................................................................................65
4.12.2 Configuring for thermocouples..............................................................................................65
4.12.3 Reference junction compensation ........................................................................................67

Operator's Manual
Issue 05 /
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience. All rights reserved.
4.12.4 External reference junctions .................................................................................................67
4.12.5 Heater control interlock.........................................................................................................68
5 CRYOGEN LEVEL-METER............................................................................................... 70
5.1 Principles of operation.................................................................................................. 70
5.1.1 Operation of the board with a helium-level probe.................................................................70
5.1.2 Operation of the board with a nitrogen-level probe...............................................................71
5.1.3 Why different methods are used for the two liquids..............................................................71
5.2 Installing the level-meter board..................................................................................... 71
5.2.1 Removing the top cover........................................................................................................71
5.2.2 Fitting the board....................................................................................................................72
5.2.3 Basic check of board operation.............................................................................................74
5.3 Connecting the level probe........................................................................................... 74
5.4 Configuring MercuryiTC for helium level meter............................................................. 74
5.5 Configuring MercuryiTC for nitrogen level meter........................................................... 76
5.6 Setting up liquid nitrogen auto-fill.................................................................................. 78
6 MANAGING YOUR MERCURY......................................................................................... 80
6.1 General........................................................................................................................ 80
6.2 Display......................................................................................................................... 82
6.3 Devices ........................................................................................................................ 84
6.4 Clock............................................................................................................................ 85
6.5 File transfer.................................................................................................................. 86
6.6 Updates........................................................................................................................ 87
6.7 Access Level................................................................................................................ 89
6.8 Factory......................................................................................................................... 91
6.9 Save File pages............................................................................................................ 91
6.10 Load File pages........................................................................................................ 92
7 REMOTE OPERATION...................................................................................................... 94
7.1 Remote operation using RS232 or ISOBUS................................................................. 94

Operator's Manual
Issue 05 /
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience. All rights reserved.
7.1.1 Configuring RS232 and ISOBus...........................................................................................94
7.1.2 Serial RS232 cabling requirements ......................................................................................96
7.2 Remote operation using GPIB...................................................................................... 97
7.2.1 Configuring GPIB..................................................................................................................97
7.2.2 GPIB Cabling requirements..................................................................................................98
7.3 Remote operation using Ethernet................................................................................. 98
7.3.1 Configuring Ethernet.............................................................................................................98
7.3.2 Ethernet cabling requirements............................................................................................100
7.4 Remote operation using USB......................................................................................100
7.4.1 Configuring USB ................................................................................................................. 100
7.4.2 USB Cabling requirements .................................................................................................100
7.4.3 USB drivers.........................................................................................................................100
7.5 Switching MercuryiTC control between local and remote.............................................100
7.6 Testing remote connections.........................................................................................101
7.7 Programming examples...............................................................................................101
8 COMMAND REFERENCE GUIDE....................................................................................102
8.1 Nomenclature used in this section...............................................................................102
8.2 SCPI and legacy command sets..................................................................................102
8.3 SCPI commands .........................................................................................................102
8.3.1 SCPI protocols....................................................................................................................103
8.3.2 Reading the instrument identity ..........................................................................................103
8.3.3 Basic SCPI command structure..........................................................................................104
8.3.4 Verbs...................................................................................................................................104
8.3.5 Nouns..................................................................................................................................105
8.3.6 Invalid responses................................................................................................................114
8.4 Legacy commands......................................................................................................114
8.4.1 Legacy command protocols................................................................................................114
8.4.2 Legacy monitor commands.................................................................................................115
8.4.3 Legacy control commands..................................................................................................117
8.4.4 Legacy system commands ................................................................................................. 118
9 TEMPERATURE SENSOR DAUGHTER BOARD............................................................119

Operator's Manual
Issue 05 /
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience. All rights reserved.
9.1 Overview of the temperature sensor board..................................................................119
9.2 Installing a temperature sensor board .........................................................................119
9.2.1 Fitting the board..................................................................................................................119
9.2.2 Basic check of board operation...........................................................................................120
9.3 Circuit description of the temperature sensor board ....................................................120
9.3.1 Voltage measurement mode...............................................................................................120
9.3.2 Resistance measurement in constant current mode ..........................................................122
9.3.3 Resistance measurement in constant voltage mode..........................................................123
9.3.4 Calibrating the temperature measurement circuit...............................................................124
10 HEATER DAUGHTER BOARD ..................................................................................126
10.1 Installing a heater board..........................................................................................126
10.1.1 Fitting the board..................................................................................................................126
10.1.2 Connecting the heater.........................................................................................................126
10.2 Circuit description of the heater board.....................................................................126
10.2.1 Description of the heater circuit ..........................................................................................127
10.2.2 Calibrating the heater circuit...............................................................................................128
11 AUXILIARY I/O DAUGHTER BOARD ........................................................................129
11.1 Description of the auxiliary I/O board.......................................................................129
11.1.1 Auxiliary I/O board functions...............................................................................................129
11.1.2 Gas-flow control using a motorised needle-valve...............................................................130
11.2 Installing an auxiliary I/O board................................................................................130
11.2.1 Fitting the board..................................................................................................................130
11.2.2 Basic check of board operation...........................................................................................130
11.2.3 Connecting to the auxiliary I/O board .................................................................................131
11.2.4 Configuring an input on the auxiliary I/O board ..................................................................131
11.2.5 Configuring an output on the auxiliary I/O board................................................................132
12 PRESSURE BOARD...................................................................................................134
12.1 Description of the pressure board............................................................................134
12.1.1 Description of the pressure board circuit ............................................................................134
12.2 Installing a pressure board ......................................................................................137
12.2.1 Fitting the board..................................................................................................................137

Operator's Manual
Issue 05 /
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience. All rights reserved.
12.2.2 Basic check of board operation...........................................................................................137
12.2.3 Connecting to the pressure board ......................................................................................137
12.2.4 Configuring the pressure board ..........................................................................................139
12.2.5 Configuring the pressure sensor details.............................................................................139
12.3 Using the pressure board to control a pressure.......................................................141
13 GPIB DAUGHTER BOARD ........................................................................................142
13.1 Description of the GPIB daughter board..................................................................142
13.2 Installing a GPIB board............................................................................................142
13.2.1 Fitting the board..................................................................................................................142
13.2.2 Basic check of board operation...........................................................................................142
13.3 Connecting to the GPIB board.................................................................................143
14 THEORY OF CONTROL LOOPS................................................................................144
14.1 General information on control loops.......................................................................144
14.2 General information on temperature control loops...................................................144
14.2.1 Open loop operation ........................................................................................................... 145
14.2.2 On-Off control......................................................................................................................145
14.2.3 Proportional control.............................................................................................................146
14.2.4 Proportional control with integral action..............................................................................147
14.2.5 Proportional control with integral and derivative action ......................................................148
14.2.6 North American terminology ...............................................................................................149
14.2.7 PID tables............................................................................................................................149
14.3 Theory of gas-flow control .......................................................................................150
14.3.1 Overview of gas control ......................................................................................................150
14.3.2 Manual control of the gas flow............................................................................................151
14.3.3 Automatic control of the gas flow........................................................................................151
14.3.4 Heater target tables ............................................................................................................152
14.3.5 Siphon algorithm.................................................................................................................152
15 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ..................................................................................153
15.1 Cleaning the touch-screen.......................................................................................153
15.2 Calibrating the temperature sensor circuits..............................................................153
15.3 Lubricating the fan...................................................................................................153

Operator's Manual
Issue 05 /
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience. All rights reserved.
15.4 Lithium-ion coin cell replacement.............................................................................154
16 ALARMS, INTERLOCKS AND TROUBLESHOOTING ..............................................155
16.1 Alarms and interlocks..............................................................................................155
16.1.1 Alarm Logs and Alarms History pages ...............................................................................155
16.2 Troubleshooting.......................................................................................................158
16.2.1 Internal faults.......................................................................................................................158
16.2.2 External faults .....................................................................................................................158
16.3 Directory of alarms ..................................................................................................159
17 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.................................................................................161
17.1 Physical specification ..............................................................................................161
17.2 Electrical power supply............................................................................................161
17.3 Sensor inputs ..........................................................................................................161
17.4 Heater outputs.........................................................................................................162
17.5 PC interfaces...........................................................................................................162
17.6 Electrical isolation....................................................................................................163
17.7 Environmental specifications ...................................................................................163
17.8 Level meter board....................................................................................................163
17.9 Pressure board........................................................................................................164
18 CUSTOMER SUPPORT..............................................................................................165

Operator's Manual
Issue 05 /
Feb 2015 / UMC0071
MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience. All rights reserved. Page 1
PREFACE
Welcome to the Operator’s Handbook for the Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience
MercuryiTC cryogenic environment controller. The MercuryiTC is a high performance
laboratory temperature controller, with a number of features specifically intended for use in
cryogenic applications.
Use of this manual
This Operator’s Handbook provides all the information necessary for the safe and proper
installation, operation and servicing of the MercuryiTC cryogenic environment controller..
Chapters 1 to 3 provide essential information that must be read and understood before
operating the MercuryiTC for the first time.
Intended users
Users of the MercuryiTC must have received adequate training on its safe and effective use
before attempting to work with the equipment. Please contact Oxford Instruments Omicron
NanoScience for information on training requirements and training courses that are available.
Training requirements vary from country to country. Users must ensure that training is given in
accordance with all applicable local laws and regulations.
If any user of the equipment has not been directly trained by Oxford Instruments Omicron
NanoScience, ensure that they understand the safety issues associated with the equipment,
and that they consult relevant personnel for guidance when operating the equipment.
Statement of intended use of the MercuryiTC
The MercuryiTC has been designed for environmental control in a laboratory environment. The
equipment has been designed to operate within the process parameter limits that are outlined in
this manual.
The MercuryiTC is intended to be installed, used and operated only for the purpose for which
the MercuryiTC was designed, and only in accordance with the instructions given in this
manual and other accompanying documents. Nothing stated in this manual reduces the
responsibilities of users to exercise sound judgement and best practice.
It is the user's responsibility to ensure the system is operated in a safe manner. Consideration
must be made for all aspects of the system's life-cycle including, handling, installation, normal