THERMO NICOLET Avatar Series User manual

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The information in this publication is provided for reference o nl y. All in fo rmation contained in
this publication
is be lieved to be correct and complete. Thermo 'icolet Corporation shall not be
liable for errors contained herein nor for incidental or consequential damages
in connection with
the furnishing, performance or use
of this material. All product specifications, as well as the
information contained in this publication , are subject to change without notice.
This publication may contain or reference information and products protected by copyrights or
patents and does not convey
an y license under the patent rights of Thermo Nicolet Corporation,
nor the rights
of others. Thermo Nicolet Corporation does not assume any liability arising out of
any infringements of patents or other rights of third partie s.
Thermo Nicolet Corporation makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material,
including but not limited
to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose.
Copyright © 2001 by Thermo Nicolet Corporation, Madison
WI 53711. Printed in the United
States
of America. All world rights reserved. No part of this publication may be stored in a
retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy,
photograph, magnetic or other record, without the prior written permission
of Thermo Nicolet
Corporation.
For technical assistance, please contact:
Customer Support
Thermo Nicolet Corporation
5225 Verona Road
Madison, WI 53711-4495 J -
go
Telephone: [phone] or 608-276-6373
Fax: [phone]
E-MAIL: [email protected]
OMNIC
is a registered trademark and Avatar, Continuµm, Centaurµs, Snap-In, RSVP and
PLUS are trademarks
of Thermo Nicolet Corporation.
Windows
is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.
Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks
of the Intel Corp.
PS/2
is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp.
Whatman and Balston are registered trademarks of Whatman International Ltd.
Freon and Teflon are registered trademarks
of Du Pont.
Sound Blaster
is a registered trademark of Creative Technology Ltd.
269-088603
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Contents
Introduction............................................................ .. ........................ .. 1
Location.............................................................................................. 3
System dimensions and weight ..................................................... 4
External beam port...........................................................
.. ....... 5
Sample compartment baseplate dimensions
.. ........................... 6
Overall system dimensions and required clearances................. 7
Environmental Considerations.........................................................
11
Temperature................... .. .......... ... .............................. ... .............. 11
Vibration............................ .. ................................. ... ................. ... 11
Magnetic fields ............................................................................ 12
Humidity...................................................................................... 12
Static electricity........................................................................... 13
Ventilation ................................................................................... 13
Utility Requirements ........................................................................ 15
Electrical requirements ................................................................ 15
Power line conditioning accessories ....................................... 16
Electrical service specifications ..............................................
16
Power consumption.................... .. ........................................... 17
Telephone ...................... ... ............ ... ........................................ .. .. 18
Modem line specifications ...................................................... 18
Wall jack specifications .......................................................... 18
Purge gas...................................................................................... 19
Selecting a purge gas............................................................. .. 20
Installing purge gas fittings........
.. .. ...................... ... .. .............. 20
Purge gas generators ............................................................... 22
Pure air dryer...........................................................................
23
Liquid nitrogen ............................................................................ 26
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Accessory Modules ................................................ .. ........................ 27
IR microscopes ............................................................................ 27
Continuµrn microscopes....................................
.. .. .................. 29
Centaurµs microscopes............................................................ 30
Liquid Analysis System............................................................... 31
Minimum Computer Requirements.................................................. 35
Preinstallation Check List ................................................................ 37
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Introduction
Thermo Nicolet's Avatar™ spectrometers are designed to be
extremely durable and reliable. They will work under adverse
conditions for extended periods; however, to best ensure accurate
results on a repeatable basis, you should maintain a stable working
environment.
Before installation, please read this manual and consider its points
for your system work space. Four major areas are covered in this
manual:
Location -Consult the dimensional drawings of the spectrometer
and accessories when planning the location
of your system. Leave
extra space around the system for clearance and service access.
Environmental considerations -Avoid excessive static
electricity, temperatures, vibration, intense magnetic fields, and
humidity.
Utility requirements -Before the system arrives, it is important to
install any necessary utilities in the planned work space. You will
need electrical power. You may also need a telephone line, a source
of dry air or nitrogen and a supply of liquid nitrogen.
Accessories - If you ordered any accessory modules, consult the
appropriate dimensional drawings to help plan the location
of your
system. Other preinstallation concerns are included.
If you suspect that you cannot meet these optimal conditions, or have
other concerns, contact Thermo Nicolet Customer Support for
assistance.
In the U.S.A., call 1-800-642-6538 or 1-608-276-6373.
Outside the U.S.A., contact your local Thermo Nicolet office.
Telephone numbers for all Thermo Nicolet service offices are
provided on the card that came in this kit.
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Location
Consider these points when planning the location of your system:
• If possible, choose a site easily accessible by Thermo Nicolet
personnel and have a telephone near the system. Should the
system require technical support, optional
R.S. V.P. remote
diagnostic support, or service, these measures will save time.
• An electrical power source must be nearby. The Avatar
spectrometer has a 2.5 m
(8 feet) long power cord.
• The floor (and table or counter used for a work surface) should
be rigid to avoid vibration. Keep the spectrometer away from air
conditioners, refrigeration units and other machinery that may
vibrate the floor. While vibration will not damage the
spectrometer, it can compromise spectral quality.
• Make sure the spectrometer and any accessories will fit in the
work space you choose. Compare the work space with the
dimensions shown in the next section and in the "Utility
Requirements" and "Accessory Modules" chapters.
Access covers must be able to open for maintenance and
service. Leave at least
45 cm (18 in) of clearance above the
spectrometer to allow the sample compartment cover to be
opened fully. (Some accessories may require more clearance.)
If possible, leave at least 30 cm (12 in) of clearance behind
the spectrometer and any accessory modules to allow service
access.
If you use more than one table to support the spectrometer
and any accessory modules, the table tops must be the same
height; otherwise, the external beam port will not align.
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4 Nicolet
System
dimensions
and weight
-Choose a table height that allows you to work comfortably
with the spectrometer.
If you will be using a Thermo Nicolet
microscope accessory, keep in mind that the eyepiece will be
48 to 53 cm (19 to 21 in) above the table top.
• There are air vents on the back
of the spectrometer. Do not block
the vents.
Avatar spectrometers weigh about 22.5 kg (60 lb). They are
approximately 52 cm (20.5 in) deep by 48
cm (18.5 in) long by 28
cm (
11 in) high.
Avatar360 dimensions
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External beam port
The following illustration shows the location of the external beam
port on the right side
of an Avatar spectrometer. See the on-line
Spectrometer Tour that you will receive with the spectrometer for
complete information about using this port.
Note The optional automated external beam mirror is required if you wish
to use the external beam port to create a beam path to a microscope
or other accessory. •
D
=J
t
nj
If 14 cm
_i \.
28cm
External beam port on right side of an Avatar spectrometer
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Sample compartment
baseplate dimensions
6 Nicolet
The following illustration shows the dimensions
of the sample
compartment baseplate. See the on-line Spectrometer Tour and
Replacing Parts tutorials that you will receive with your spectrometer
for complete information about installing and using Snap-In™
baseplates.
Clearance to sample compartment
cover is approx. 18.5 cm (7.25 in)
Sample compartment baseplate dimensions
The infrared beam is focused in the center
of the sample
compartment, 8.9
cm (3.5 in) above the top surface of the baseplate.
The beam diameter is 7
mm at the focus.
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Overall system
dimensions and
required clearances
If you purchased a microscope or other accessory that uses the
external beam port (not available for the Avatar 360N model), use
the dimensions shown below to plan your work space. A standard
table depth
of 76 cm (30 in) will accommodate the spectrometer and
any combination
of accessories.
Computer
i-1 .. - - 44 cm - I
Autosampler
Avatar
Spectrometer
PLUS2
,___ __ 61 cm -- --- 1f-24 cm-- 1
155 cm - ---- -- - -- -!
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8 Nicolet
If your Avatar spectrometer is attached to a Continuµm, Centaurµs,
InspectIR,
or IR-Plan microscope, use the drawing below to plan
your work space.
Avatar
Spectrometer
Avatar
Spectrometer
lnspectlR
•
-
Continuµm
Microscope
l
65 cm
Avatar
Spectrometer
Avatar
Spectrometer
IR-Plan
Microscope
1
60 cm
Centaurµs
Microscope
l
66 cm
I -- ~ f- 43cm_ ,-
t=-::-=97cm
-48cm-
j
-36cm-
, ___ ____ 91 cm - - --- 1
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There must at least 45 cm (18 in) of clearance above the
spectrometer so that the sample compartment cover can be fully
opened and to allow access to internal parts during servicing.
Clearance neededabove spectrometer
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10 Nicolet
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Temperature
Vibration
Environmental Considerations
Environmental considerations include temperature, vibration,
magnetic fields, humidity and static electricity.
Maintain the temperature in the work space between 16° and 27°C
(60° and 80°F). For better long-term stability, keep the temperature
between 20° and 22°C (68° and 72°F). Temperature changes may
result in long-term drift in the system response.
Once the spectrometer has been installed, plan to leave it turned on.
The internal temperature and stability
of the spectrometer will
change significantly
if it is switched on and off daily. Long-term
stability improves with the length
of time the spectrometer has been
on.
Avoid placing the system near air conditioning ducts or large
windows. Even
if the windows have curtains, there is still significant
heat loss through the glass at night.
Keep sources
of heat, such as hot plates and heating mantles, away
from the instrument. Do not place the spectrometer near heating or
air conditioning vents.
Floor vibration or acoustical noise from heavy manufacturing
equipment
or other sources can affect the performance of your
spectrometer. Minimize or eliminate noise and vibration wherever
possible.
If vibration is a problem in your work space, consider
placing the spectrometer on a marble-top table or counter
or
obtaining a vibration isolation system.
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Magnetic fields
Humidity
Intense magnetic fields, such as those produced by superconducting
magnets, can affect spectrometer performance. The spectrometer
should be at least 5.5 meters (18 feet) away from these fields.
Minimize or eliminate exposure to magnetic fields wherever possible.
Internal windows for mid-IR Avatar systems have a special coating
that protects them from humiclity.rdamage. However, you should be
aware that the infrared detector windows are hygroscopic and
become irreversibly opaqqe when exposed to moisture. Also, the
beamsplitter (inside the in~~rferometer) and other components inside
the mid-IR spectrometer models may corrode with exposure to
moisture.
Avatar spectrometers are seal~d
aIJ-d desiccated. This provides a
moderate level
of protection against environmental humidity.
However, in environments with high humidity, we recommend that
you:
•
•
•
Purge the system with dry air or nitrogen. (We provide
instructions for optional purge later in this manual.)
Maintain the humidity in the range of20% to 80%
noncondensing.
Avoid rapid changes in temperature that may cause
condensation.
A Caution Whenever the spectrometer, a detector, or accessory has been stored
or shipped, immediate exposure to room air can cause condensation
damage. Allow 24 hours
for the package to slowly warm to room
temperature before opening it.
If you are moving the system between sampling sites, protect the
instrument from extreme changes in temperature and humidity by
resealing it in the protective packaging that the instrument was
-
originally shipped in. Extreme changes in temperature and humidity ~
may cause moisture condensation, which can permanently damage
the optical components. •
12 Nicolet
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Static electricity
Since static electricity can destroy electronic components, your
spectrometer was specially designed to meet the international
standard: IEC 801-2; electrostatic discharge immunity requirements
for industrial process, measurement and control equipment.
If you
have trouble with static electricity in your laboratory, you can further
protect your spectrometer (especially when you are servicing or
.. handling components inside the spectrometer) by following these
·guidelines:
• Maintain the humidity in the range
of 20% to 80%
noncondensing.
• Use conducting carpet in the work space.
.D: ..
~·', -Pii ce antistatic mats over conventional carpet.
n~ i (::.n:: ·.-.
. .. ~ ,,
Ventilation
• Avoid plastic chairs that may build up large static potentials.
• Wear natural fiber clothing.
• Use a grounding strap.
There are no special ventilation requirements for an Avatar
spectrometer. The types
of analysis you plan may require special
ventilation (for example,
if you will be analyzing highly toxic
samples or dissolving your samples in solvents that interact with
infrared sources). Chlorinated solvents, perfluorochlorinated
solvents, and other solvents containing halogenated hydrocarbons
are often used
as FT-IR solvents. The pyrolysis of these solvents by
an infrared source may produce hydrochloric acid (HCl),
hydrofluoric acid (HF), or phosgene (COCb).
Hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid are highly corrosive and
may cause accelerated corrosion
of the metallic components in the
spectrometer
if the seal on the optical compartment is not properly
maintained or the concentration level ofcorrosive gasses in the air is
excessively high due to improper sampling techniques.
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