Shimadzu GCMS-QP2010 Series User manual

225-35068A
Jun. 2016
GCMS-QP2010 Series
GCMS-QP2020
GCMS-TQ Series
Hydrogen Carrier Gas Safety
Read this manual thoroughly before you use the product.
Keep this manual for future reference.

ii
© 2015-2016 Shimadzu Corporation. All rights reserved.
Original version is approved in English.
Important
• Provide this manual to the next user in the event that the instrument is borrowed or sold.
• To ensure safe operation, contact your Shimadzu representative for installation, adjustment, or re-
installation after moving the instrument to a different site.
Notices
• The copyright of this manual is owned by Shimadzu Corporation. Reproduction and duplication of whole
or part of the content without permission of the company are strictly prohibited.
• The content of this manual is subject, without notice, to modifications for the sake of improvement.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the content of this manual was correct at the time of creation.
However, in the event that any mistakes or omissions are discovered, it may not be possible to correct
them immediately.
• The content of this manual is applicable to every model of GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020,
GCMS-TQ Series.

iii
Safety Precautions
Hydrogen gas, which is generally used as the carrier gas in gas chromatographs, is a
dangerous gas that explodes easily. This manual contains cautionary notes for the safe
use of hydrogen gas due to the possible danger associated with its use as the
GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020, GCMS-TQ Series carrier gas.
Read these safety precautions thoroughly before using the GCMS-QP2010 Series,
GCMS-QP2020, GCMS-TQ Series, and use the product correctly. Be sure to observe
the precautions described here. They are important for ensuring safety.
Cautions related to hydrogen gas are also listed in the gas chromatograph user manual.
Please read these as well.
In this manual, the following safety-related signal words are used to explain the degree
of hazard or possible damage.
In this manual, actions that must NOT be performed and actions that must be
performed are indicated using the following two icons.
Hydrogen Gas Properties
Hydrogen is a dangerous gas which can easily explode if handled improperly. When
hydrogen is to be used as the carrier gas, be sure to understand the characteristics and
proper handling of this gas.
• Colorless, odorless gas
• Wide combustion range, combustible within range of 4 vol% to 75 vol% when mixed with
air.
• Ignites with extremely low energy.
• Easily accumulates near the ceiling, as it is lighter than air.
• Quickly mixes with air due to its high diffusion rate.
• Automatically ignites when rapidly expanding.
• The hydrogen flame is invisible, and easily carried by the wind.
• When mixed with a halogen gas such as chlorine, it explodes on direct exposure to
sunlight.
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which,
if not avoided, could result in serious injury or
possibly death.
!WARNING
Indicates an action that must NOT be performed.
Indicates an action that must be performed.

Safety Precautions
iv
 Precautions in Installation
!WARNING
Ventilate the room where the instrument is installed.
Leakage of significant amounts of hydrogen gas into a poorly ventilated room
could result in explosion.
Make sure that the ventilation system is operating properly through daily
inspections.
Do not place objects that can become an ignition source such
as fire, electrical discharge and static electricity in the room
where the instrument is installed.
These can cause serious accidents, such as fires or explosions.
Do not use if the equipment is faulty.
Direct the exhaust from the rotary pump and GC split/purge
vent to a ventilation system so that the exhaust does not
accumulate.
Failure to do this can cause serious accidents, such as fires or explosions.
Through daily inspections, verify that the hose is securely
fixed to the device side and the ventilation system, and that it
has not come off. In addition, make sure that there are no gas
leakage sources on the hose (breaks or cracks).

Safety Precautions
v
 Precautions in Operation and Running of the Instrument
!WARNING
Before supplying the hydrogen gas, confirm that all the
connections are completed or that the outlet is closed.
Failure to do this can cause serious accidents, such as fires or explosions.
Make sure that the GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020,
GCMS-TQ Series Vacuum Restart Mode is set to OFF at all
times.
If the Vacuum Restart Mode is set to ON, the GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-
QP2020, GCMS-TQ Series will automatically start up following recovery of a
power outage. At this time, an explosion could occur if hydrogen gas has
accumulated.
Prior to operating the equipment, remove static electricity from
your body, such as with a destaticizing sheet.
Ensure that the hydrogen gas concentration in the room where
the equipment is installed is not high. If the hydrogen
concentration is 4 % or more, there is a risk of fire and
explosion. Use of a hydrogen gas alarm device is advised.
Check that there are no leaks in the hydrogen gas flow line
each time the instrument is used.
Failure to do this can cause serious accidents, such as fires or explosions.
If it is believed that hydrogen gas has accumulated, carefully
eliminate the accumulated gas.
If the GC or MS is turned on carelessly without removing the accumulated
hydrogen gas, there is a danger of explosion.
The procedure for removing accumulated hydrogen gas is as follows.
1Immediately stop the supply of hydrogen gas.
2Switch OFF power to the GC and the MS.
3Confirm that the room is adequately ventilated.
4Confirm that there is no ignition source that could ignite the hydrogen gas.
5Wait until the temperature of all GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020,
GCMS-TQ Series components has fallen to the ambient temperature
(approximately 1 hour).
6Open the front door of the GC and loosen the nut of the interface to return the
interior of the MS to atmospheric pressure.
7Confirm that the knob on the front door of the MS is completely loose.
8Wait until all hydrogen gas is completely expelled (approximately 30 minutes).
9After confirming the items in "Precautions in Installation" and "Precautions in
Operation and Running of the Instrument", use the standard startup procedure
to start the GC and MS.

Safety Precautions
vi
 Precautions for Maintenance, Inspections, and Adjustments
!WARNING
Stop the supply of hydrogen gas in the following situations.
• When the GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020, and GCMS-TQ
Series are shut down
• When there is a vacuum leak
• When there is a power outage
Failure to do this can cause serious accidents, such as fires or explosions.
^"Accumulation of Hydrogen Gas Inside the MS" P.xi
Be sure that hydrogen gas leak check equipment is always at
hand, and regularly perform leak checks for the carrier gas line.
Set up hydrogen gas alarm devices around the room where the equipment will
be installed for improved safety.
Check for rises in the concentration of hydrogen using a portable hydrogen
detector.
Manage calibration of the hydrogen gas alarm device
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
When the tubing connections and hydrogen gas supply
connections are reconnected, perform a leak check.
Failure to do this can cause serious accidents, such as fires or explosions.
Stop the supply of hydrogen gas when the instrument is not
being operated.
Failure to do this can cause serious accidents, such as fires or explosions.

Safety Precautions
vii
 High-Pressure Gas Cylinder Precautions
When a high-pressure gas cylinder is used as the gas supply source, receive proper
guidance on the handling of gas cylinder from the gas cylinder supplier, and handle the
cylinder in a safe manner.
!WARNING
Do not place any ignition source, such as a source of fire,
electric discharge, or static electricity, in the room where the
equipment is installed.
Remove dust and other particles on the power outlet.
Check for proper ventilation.
Set up the high-pressure gas cylinder outdoors in a well-
ventilated location not exposed to direct sunlight, and
introduce the gas via piping into the installation room.
Do not place the high-pressure gas cylinder in a location
where the temperature can exceed 40 °C.
Secure the high-pressure gas cylinder with a cylinder stand or
chain, etc., so that it does not fall over.
Do not use fire within 5 m of the high-pressure gas cylinder.
Especially, when a combustible gas (acetylene, hydrogen, propane, etc.) or
gas that supports burning (oxygen, nitrous oxide, etc.) is used, do not use fire
within 5 m of the equipment using that gas.
Also, keep an effective fire extinguisher close at hand in preparation for any
fire-related accident.
Be sure to use a pressure regulator with oil-free specifications.
Be sure that tubing internal surfaces where the gas makes
contact are completely oil-free.

Safety Precautions
viii
Warning signs (adhesive aluminium plates) are available to indicate hydrogen gas use.
Ask your Shimadzu representative for more details about the attachment. Signs are
supplied free of charge to sites in which they are mandatory.
For safety, use a hydrogen generator if at all possible.
When high pressure gas will be used, take care to provide
adequate ventilation, and check for gas leakage using soapy
water, etc. prior to starting operations.
Do not release hydrogen gas directly from the high-pressure
gas cylinder into the air.
When gas usage ends, immediately shut off the main supply
valve of the cylinder.
Inspect the pressure gauge at least once every three months.

Safety Precautions
ix
Dangers Associated with GCMS-QP2010 Series,
GCMS-QP2020, GCMS-TQ Series during
Operation
The following dangers could occur when operating the GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-
QP2020, GCMS-TQ Series using a hydrogen carrier gas.
• If hydrogen gas accumulates in the GC oven, it could potentially ignite.
• If hydrogen gas accumulates inside the MS, it could potentially ignite.
• If hydrogen gas leaks from tubing, it could potentially ignite.
• If hydrogen gas is released from the GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020,
GCMS-TQ Series into the room where it is installed and accumulates, it could
potentially ignite.
• If hydrogen gas gushes out of the high-pressure gas cylinder, sudden expansion of
the gas could potentially cause it to ignite.
GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020, GCMS-
TQ Series Operation Procedures when Using
Hydrogen Gas
Procedures for operating the GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020, GCMS-TQ
Series when using hydrogen gas are described below.
1Before starting up the instrument, check that carrier gas is being supplied to
the GC.
2Check that there are no leaks in the tubing system.
3Close the front door of the MS, and tighten the knob on the front door.
4Perform Auto Startup of the instrument according to "Instrument Startup and
Shutdown" in the GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020, GCMS-TQ
Series User's Guide.
At this time, remove the checkmark (turn OFF) from "Vacuum Restart Mode".
5Once the GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020, GCMS-TQ Series
vacuum pump starts running, completely loosen the knob on the front door.
When the vacuum condition is in force, the door will not open due to the pressure difference
even if the knob remains loosened.
^"Accumulation of Hydrogen Gas Inside the MS" P.xi
^"Accumulation of Hydrogen Gas Inside the MS" P.xi

Safety Precautions
x
!WARNING
6Check for small leaks according to the procedure described in "Vacuum
Leak Check Using Peak Monitor" of the GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-
QP2020, GCMS-TQ Series User's Guide.
Especially, perform this check after reconnecting the column.
7Perform analysis.
8When shutting down the instrument, perform Auto Shutdown according to
"Instrument Startup and Shutdown" in the GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-
QP2020, GCMS-TQ Series User's Guide.
Do not shut down the instrument using the advanced mode. If the instrument is shut down in
advanced mode without turning OFF the flow control, carrier gas will accumulate inside the
MS.
!WARNING
When hydrogen carrier gas is used, keep the knob on the front
door completely loosened except when starting up the vacuum
pump to prevent accumulation of hydrogen gas inside the MS.
Breakdown or mis-operation could potentially cause hydrogen gas to
accumulate inside the MS.
When the pump is stopped, do not introduce carrier gas using
the advanced mode.
Carrier gas can potentially accumulate inside the MS.
Avoid use beyond the replacement guideline frequency for the
septum and glass inserts described in “Maintenance and
Inspection” of the GC-2010 Plus user manual.
There is a risk of hydrogen gas leaking from the seal portions.

Safety Precautions
xi
 Accumulation of Hydrogen Gas Inside the MS
The GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020, and GCMS-TQ Series are designed so
that when the GC power is turned OFF, the flow of carrier gas is also stopped.
However, in the following situations, hydrogen gas could potentially accumulate inside
the MS.
• When the pump is stopped while the vacuum chamber is closed, if the flow control is
turned ON using the advanced mode, hydrogen gas will continue to accumulate
inside the vacuum chamber.
• Even if the carrier gas is stopped in a sequence, if the flow controller is damaged, or
if there is a gas leak while the flow controller is shut off, hydrogen gas could
potentially accumulate inside the vacuum chamber.
When Vacuum Auto Shutdown is Used
Hydrogen gas continues to flow into the MS until the leak valve closes automatically.
At the point the leak valve closes, hydrogen gas flow in the GC stops, and hydrogen
gas flow into the MS is shut off.
When Power Outage Occurs
Since the power to the GC is interrupted, hydrogen gas flow in the GC stops and
hydrogen gas flow into the MS is shut off.

Safety Precautions
xii
Measures during Power Outage
Take the following measures in the event of power outage.
1Immediately stop the supply of hydrogen gas.
2Switch OFF power to the GC and the MS.
3Open the windows and doors of the room where the instrument is installed
to thoroughly ventilate.
4Confirm that there is no ignition source in the room that could ignite the
hydrogen gas.
5Wait until the temperature of all GCMS-QP2010 Series, GCMS-QP2020,
GCMS-TQ Series components has fallen to the ambient temperature
(approximately 1 hour).
6Open the front door of the GC and loosen the nut of the interface to return
the interior of the MS to atmospheric pressure.
7Confirm that the knob on the front door of the MS is completely loose.
8Wait until all hydrogen gas is completely expelled (approximately 30
minutes).
9After confirming the items in "Precautions in Installation" and "Precautions
in Operation and Running of the Instrument", use the standard startup
procedure to start the GC and MS.