Thermo Scientific TRACE 1310 User manual

TRACE 1300 and TRACE 1310 Gas
Chromatographs
NoVent Microfluidics
Installation Guide
120807-0001 Revision A March 2013

© 2013 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. TSQ 8000, ISQ, TRACE 1300, and TRACE 1310
are trademarks of Thermo Fisher Scientific. SilFlow, NoVent, and FingerTite are registered trademarks of SGE
Analytical Science. All other trademarks are the property of Thermo Fisher Scientific and its subsidiaries.
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Release history: Revision A, March 2013
Software version:
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Thermo Scientific NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide 1
NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide
This quick-start guide provides instructions for installing the NoVent™ Microfluidics on your
TRACE 1300 or TRACE 1310 GC and your ISQ or TSQ 8000 mass spectrometer.
Module Description
The NoVent Microfluidics is a solution for maintaining carrier gas flow into the mass
spectrometer without breaking vacuum during column replacement, injector maintenance, or
both. See Figure 1.
Contents
•Module Description
•Connecting the NoVent Microfludics Module to the TRACE 1300/1310
•Installing the Mounting Bracket
•Preparing the NoVent Microfluidics Restrictor Tubing
•Attaching the Ferrule and Nut to the GC Column
•Attaching the New Tubing to the Transfer Line
•Connecting the Capillaries to the Microfluidics Splitter
•Configuring the Post-Column
•Using the Module
•Ordering Parts

NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide
Connecting the NoVent Microfludics Module to the TRACE 1300/1310
2NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide Thermo Scientific
Figure 1. NoVent Microfluidics Module
The module includes the solenoid valve for starting and stopping the carrier gas flow, the
On/Off switch, the On/Off status LED (Light Emitting Diode), and the fittings for the
connection to the SilFlow™ device by using a 300 mm × 75 μm i.d. fused silica restrictor.
Connecting the NoVent Microfludics Module to the TRACE 1300/1310
According to the configuration of your TRACE 1300 or TRACE 1310 GC, a dummy
module is present in the free site where the detector module is not installed.
If no dummy module is present, and no vacant module position is present on either the
TRACE 1300 or TRACE 1310 GC or on the optional gas valve oven (if you have one), you
must take one of the existing and installed modules off in order to install the NoVent
Microfluidics.
Module Flap Cover
On/Off Status LED
On/Off Switch
Bottom Fittings

NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide
Connecting the NoVent Microfludics Module to the TRACE 1300/1310
Thermo Scientific NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide 3
Figure 2. Location of Detector Modules on your TRACE 1300/TRACE 1310 GC
To connect the NoVent microfluidics module to the TRACE 1300/1310 GC
1. Cool the oven, injector or injectors, transfer line, ion source, and any installed GC
detectors to room temperature and shut down the GC.
2. Push down on the power switch to power off the GC.
3. Shut down the TSQ 8000 or ISQ mass spectrometer using the software. See your mass
spectrometer's user guide for more information. The heaters and the turbomolecular
pump power off.
4. If you are using hydrogen as a carrier gas, unscrew the hydrogen safety screw on the front
door of the mass spectrometer.
Dummy Back Detector Module
Dummy Front Detector Module
CAUTION Where a dummy module is installed, the gas connection is blocked by a plug.
WARNING - BURN HAZARD: The injectors, detectors, oven, and transfer line may be hot.
Allow them to cool to room temperature before touching them.
WARNING - FIRE HAZARD: If you are using hydrogen, do NOT reach over the top of the
instrument to power it off. Instead, reach around the right side or go to the back of the
instrument and flip down the power switch.

NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide
Connecting the NoVent Microfludics Module to the TRACE 1300/1310
4NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide Thermo Scientific
Figure 3. Finding the Vent Valve on the Mass Spectrometer
5. Open the front door of the mass spectrometer.
6. Look behind the right side of the vacuum interlock shield and twist the vent valve knob
one and a half times in a counter-clockwise direction to open the vent valve.
7. Wait five minutes for the mass spectrometer to vent.
8. Open the front door of the GC and loosen the transfer line nut. Then pull the column
back (into the oven) about 5 cm to ensure the column is no longer in the ion source.
9. Close all GC gas supplies. Shut the carrier gas supply off at its source, such as the tank.
10. Remove the dummy module from the position where the NoVent Microfluidics will be
installed. The most convenient location for accessing the tubing connections is the front
position.
a. Open the module flap cover.
b. Using a T20 Torxhead screwdriver, unscrew and remove the two captive fixing
screws.
c. Keeping the dummy module flap cover open, lift up the module from its seat in the
detector housing. Place the dummy module on a clean surface.
d. Remove the gas plug by unscrewing its fixing screw using a T20 Torxhead
screwdriver.
Vacuum Interlock Shield Power Switch
Vent Valve Knob

NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide
Connecting the NoVent Microfludics Module to the TRACE 1300/1310
Thermo Scientific NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide 5
Figure 4. Removing the Detector Gas Plug
11. Install the No-Vent module.
a. Open the module flap cover.
b. Keeping the module flap cover open, place the module in its seat. Be sure to insert the
25-pin male connector, on the bottom of the module, into the 25-pin female
connector on the detector seat of the detector housing.
c. Use a T20 screwdriver to tighten the three captive fixing screws without
overtightening.
d. Close the module flap cover.
12. Power on the GC.
13. Switch the module on so that the LED light glows green and start the carrier gas flowing
to purge the line.
Gas Connections Without Gas Block Plug
Gas Block Plug on Detector Seat
O-rings
WARNING Make sure all four o-rings are correctly seated on the gas connection. Do not
install the module if the o-rings are missing.
Note Tighten the center screw first and then secure the side screws.
Note This module requires a constant carrier gas pressure of 60 psig (410 kPa).

NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide
Installing the Mounting Bracket
6NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide Thermo Scientific
Installing the Mounting Bracket
Install the mounting bracket near the front of the GC oven on the right-hand side. This will
keep the mounting bracket out of the way of the column.
To install the mounting bracket
1. Remove the nut at the top end of the mounting bracket. This nut secures the two sections
of the mounting bracket.
Figure 5. Mounting Bracket Parts
2. Push the top of the mounting bracket down.
3. Line up the bottom of the mounting bracket into two holes on the bottom side of the GC
oven.
4. Hold the mounting bracket directly upright, and twist the top end of it so that it is
securely attached to the GC oven holes.
5. Let out the top of the mounting bracket until it is long enough to be secured into two
holes on the bottom of the GC oven.
6. Loosely replace the nut, then rotate the top and bottom in opposite directions.
7. Tighten the nut until the mounting bracket is securely attached to the top and bottom of
the GC oven.
Note If you already have a mounting bracket installed in your GC with either the SSL or
PTV backflush kit, skip this step.
Top
Bottom Nut
Holder

NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide
Installing the Mounting Bracket
Thermo Scientific NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide 7
Figure 6. Mounting Bracket Installed in the GC
8. Attach the Thermo Scientific™ microfluidics splitter to the mounting bracket. The
microfluidics splitter snaps into place. The small hole should be positioned at the top.
See Figure 7 for the correct orientation.
Figure 7. Correct Orientation for the Microfluidics Splitter
9. Position the holder for the microfluidics splitter upright and use two 7 mm wrenches to
secure it.
Small Hole

NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide
Preparing the NoVent Microfluidics Restrictor Tubing
8NoVent Microfluidics Installation Guide Thermo Scientific
Figure 8. Securing the Holder for the Microfluidics Splitter
Preparing the NoVent Microfluidics Restrictor Tubing
If you are using helium as a carrier gas, use the 30 cm length of 75 μm fused silica tubing in
your kit (two are supplied) to connect the NoVent Microfludics module to the splitter.
If you are using hydrogen as a carrier gas, use the 80 cm length of 75 μm fused silica tubing in
your kit (one is supplied) to connect the NoVent Microfludics module to the splitter.
This tubing acts as a flow restrictor to limit the helium flow from the NoVent microfluidics
module.You must swage a SilTite™ ferrule to this tubing.
You will need the following materials to connect the tubing to new ferrule and nut. They are
all included in the complete kit.
• SilTite FingerTite™ pre-swage tool—to pre-swage the SilTite FingerTite ferrule to the GC
module
• SilFlow™ pre-swage tool and SilFlow FingerTite tool—to pre-swage the SilFlow ferrule to
the microfluidics splitter
• SilFlow nut—to connect the tubing to the microfluidics splitter
•SilTiteferrule(1)
• SilFlow ferrules (3)
1. Use a scoring wafer to cut the end off the tubing.
2. Use the SilTite FingerTite pre-swage tool in your kit to pre-swage the SilTite ferrule to
your tubing. See Figure 9.
The tubing should extend just past the tool when pre-swaging the ferrule. After the
ferrule is swaged, remove the tool and confirm the ferrule does not slide on the tubing.
Then cut the tubing to about 2 mm past the tip of the ferrule.
Note If you are using a 0.25 mm id column, use a 0.4 mm SilFlow ferrule and a 0.4 mm
SilFlow FingerTite jig. If you are using a 0.32 mm id column, use a 0.5 mm SilFlow
ferrule and a 0.5 mm SilFlow FingerTite jig.