Thermo Scientific Vanquish VH-D20 User manual

thermoscientific
Vanquish
Charged Aerosol
Detectors
VH-D20, VF-D20
Operating Manual
4820.8401-EN Revision 3.0 •August 2023
*4820.8401-EN-3.0*

Copyright © 2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved.
Original Operating Manual
The hardware descriptions in this manual revision refer to devices: VF-D20-A, VH-D20-A.
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Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. provides this document to its customers with a product purchase to
use in the product operation. The document is copyright protected; any reproduction of the
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of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
This manual is provided "as is." The contents of this manual are subject to being changed,
without notice, in future revisions.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. makes no representations that this document is complete,
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Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
Operating Manual
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Contacting Us
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Operating Manual

Contents
Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
Operating Manual
Page 5
Contents
1 Using this Manual....................................................................... 11
1.1 About this Manual ............................................................................................... 12
1.2 Conventions ......................................................................................................... 13
1.2.1 Conventions for Safety Messages ............................................................ 13
1.2.2 Special Notices ......................................................................................... 13
1.2.3 Typographical Conventions ...................................................................... 14
1.3 Reference Documentation................................................................................... 15
2 Safety......................................................................................... 17
2.1 Safety Symbols and Signal Words ........................................................................ 18
2.1.1 Safety Symbols and Signal Words in this Manual..................................... 18
2.1.2 Observing this Manual ............................................................................. 18
2.1.3 Safety Symbols on the Device .................................................................. 19
2.1.4 Rating Plate .............................................................................................. 19
2.2 Intended Use........................................................................................................ 20
2.3 Safety Precautions ............................................................................................... 21
2.3.1 General Safety Information...................................................................... 21
2.3.2 Qualification of the Personnel ................................................................. 22
2.3.3 Personal Protective Equipment................................................................ 22
2.3.4 Electrical Safety Precautions .................................................................... 23
2.3.5 General Residual Hazards......................................................................... 23
2.3.6 In Case of Emergency ............................................................................... 26
2.4 Solvent and Additive Information........................................................................ 27
2.4.1 General Compatibility .............................................................................. 27
2.4.2 Allowed pH Ranges................................................................................... 27
2.4.3 Allowed Concentrations ........................................................................... 28
2.4.4 Further Information ................................................................................. 28
2.5 Compliance Information ...................................................................................... 29
3 Device Overview......................................................................... 31
3.1 Detector Features ................................................................................................ 32
3.2 Operating Principle .............................................................................................. 33
3.3 Interior Components............................................................................................ 35
3.4 Nebulizer.............................................................................................................. 36

Contents
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3.5 Gas Filter Assembly.............................................................................................. 37
3.6 Excess Liquid and Leak Detection ........................................................................ 38
3.7 Operation............................................................................................................. 39
4 Unpacking .................................................................................. 41
4.1 Unpacking ............................................................................................................ 42
4.2 Scope of Delivery ................................................................................................. 44
5 Installation ................................................................................. 45
5.1 Safety Guidelines for Installation......................................................................... 46
5.2 Installing the Device............................................................................................. 47
5.3 Site Requirements................................................................................................ 49
5.3.1 Power Considerations .............................................................................. 49
5.3.2 Power Cord............................................................................................... 49
5.3.3 Condensation ........................................................................................... 50
5.3.4 Ventilation Requirements ........................................................................ 51
5.3.5 Gas Supply Requirements ........................................................................ 52
5.4 Accessing the Interior Components..................................................................... 55
5.5 Setting Up the Hardware ..................................................................................... 56
5.5.1 System Arrangement................................................................................ 56
5.5.2 Connecting the Device ............................................................................. 58
5.5.3 Connecting the Interface Cables .............................................................. 60
5.5.4 Connecting the Power Cord ..................................................................... 62
5.5.5 Installing the Nebulizer ............................................................................ 62
5.5.6 Connecting the Gas Inlet and Exhaust Tubes ........................................... 68
5.6 Setting Up the Liquid Flow Connections .............................................................. 71
5.6.1 General Information and Guidelines........................................................ 71
5.6.2 Guiding Capillaries and Tubing Through the System................................ 72
5.6.3 Connecting Fittings, Capillaries, and Tubing ............................................ 73
5.6.4 Connecting the Waste Line ...................................................................... 75
5.6.5 Connecting the Inlet Capillary to the Nebulizer ....................................... 77
5.6.6 Guiding Liquid Leaks to Waste ................................................................. 81
5.7 Turning On the Device ......................................................................................... 82
5.8 Setting Up the Device in the Software................................................................. 83

Contents
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Operating Manual
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6 Operation................................................................................... 85
6.1 Introduction to this Chapter ................................................................................ 86
6.2 Safety Guidelines for Operation........................................................................... 87
6.3 Control Elements ................................................................................................. 89
6.3.1 Keypad...................................................................................................... 89
6.3.2 Status Indicators....................................................................................... 90
6.4 Power On/Off Control.......................................................................................... 92
6.5 Preparing the Device for Operation..................................................................... 93
6.6 Mobile Phase Guidelines for the Detector........................................................... 96
6.6.1 General Guidelines ................................................................................... 96
6.6.2 Mobile Phase Selection ............................................................................ 97
6.6.3 Mobile Phase Delivery System ................................................................. 98
6.6.4 Additives................................................................................................... 99
6.7 Setting the Nebulizer Gas Pressure and the Nebulizer Serial Number .............. 101
6.8 Turning On/Off the Detector Gas Flow .............................................................. 102
6.9 Important Operating Parameters ...................................................................... 104
6.10 Optimizing the Performance of the Device........................................................ 107
6.10.1 General Guidelines ................................................................................. 107
6.10.2 Overview of Optimization Parameters................................................... 108
6.10.3 Data Collection Rate and Filter Constant ............................................... 108
6.10.4 Signal Channels ...................................................................................... 109
6.10.5 Evaporation Temperature ...................................................................... 110
6.10.6 Gas Regulation Mode (VH-D20 Detector only) ...................................... 112
6.10.7 Power Function Value ............................................................................ 112
6.10.8 Baseline Noise ........................................................................................ 113
6.11 Shutting Down the Device ................................................................................. 114
6.11.1 Short-Term Shutdown (Interruption of Operation) ............................... 114
6.11.2 Long-Term Shutdown............................................................................. 115
6.11.3 Restart after Long-Term Shutdown........................................................ 117
7 Maintenance and Service ......................................................... 119
7.1 Introduction to Maintenance and Service ......................................................... 120
7.2 Safety Guidelines for Maintenance and Service ................................................ 121
7.3 General Rules for Maintenance and Service...................................................... 123

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7.4 Routine and Preventive Maintenance ............................................................... 124
7.4.1 Maintenance Plan .................................................................................. 124
7.4.2 Flushing the Detector Between Analyses............................................... 124
7.4.3 Cleaning or Decontaminating the Device............................................... 125
7.4.4 Predictive Performance.......................................................................... 127
7.5 Disconnecting the Gas Inlet and Exhaust Tubes ................................................ 128
7.6 Disconnecting the Waste Line............................................................................ 130
7.7 Removing the Nebulizer..................................................................................... 131
7.8 Replacing the Gas Filter Assembly ..................................................................... 134
7.9 Replacing the Main Power Fuses ....................................................................... 139
7.10 Updating the Device Firmware .......................................................................... 141
7.11 Replacing the Doors ........................................................................................... 143
7.12 Transporting or Shipping the Device.................................................................. 145
7.12.1 Preparing the Device for Transport........................................................ 145
7.12.2 Transporting the Device to a New Location ........................................... 146
7.12.3 Shipping the Device................................................................................ 147
7.13 Replacing the Slide-In Module ........................................................................... 148
7.13.1 Removing the Slide-In Module ............................................................... 148
7.13.2 Returning the Slide-In Module ............................................................... 150
7.13.3 Installing the Slide-In Module ................................................................ 151
7.13.4 Setting Up the Slide-In Module .............................................................. 153
8 Troubleshooting ....................................................................... 155
8.1 General Information about Troubleshooting..................................................... 156
8.2 Messages............................................................................................................ 158
8.3 Operating Issues................................................................................................. 163
8.3.1 Resolving Liquid Leaks............................................................................ 163
8.3.2 Resolving Gas Supply Overpressure ....................................................... 164
8.3.3 Resolving Flooding In the Detector ........................................................ 165
8.3.4 Additional Device Operating Issues........................................................ 166
9 Specifications ........................................................................... 169
9.1 Performance Specifications ............................................................................... 170
9.2 Physical Specifications ....................................................................................... 172

Contents
Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
Operating Manual
Page 9
10 Accessories, Consumables and Replacement Parts ................... 173
10.1 General Information .......................................................................................... 174
10.2 Ship Kit ............................................................................................................... 175
10.3 Optional Accessories.......................................................................................... 176
10.4 Consumables and Replacement Parts................................................................ 177
11 Appendix.................................................................................. 179
11.1 Compliance Information .................................................................................... 180
11.1.1 Declarations of Conformity .................................................................... 180
11.1.2 WEEE Compliance .................................................................................. 181
11.1.3 FCC Compliance...................................................................................... 181
11.1.4 Manual Release History.......................................................................... 182
Index ........................................................................................ 183

Contents
Page 10 Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
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1 • Using this Manual
Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
Operating Manual
Page 11
1 Using this Manual
This chapter provides information about this manual, the conventions
used throughout the manual, and the reference documentation that is
available in addition to this manual.

1 • Using this Manual
Page 12 Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
Operating Manual
1.1 About this Manual
This manual describes the functional features and operating principle of
your Vanquish™ device and provides instructions for installation, set up,
start up, shut down, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting.
This manual also contains safety messages, precautionary statements,
and special notices. Follow these properly to prevent personal injury,
damage to the device, or loss of data.
Note the following:
•The device configuration may vary; therefore, not all descriptions
necessarily apply to your particular device.
•If some detail applies to only one model or variant, the model or
variant is identified by name.
•Illustrations in this manual are provided for basic understanding.
They can vary from the actual model of the device or component.
However, this does not influence the descriptions. No claims can be
derived from the illustrations in this manual.
•The device is referred to as module, device, detector or charged
aerosol detector in this manual. If other detector types are
referenced, they are identified by name.
The descriptions in this manual assume that the device is installed in the
Vanquish system stack. If this is not the case, additional hardware is
required and must be ordered separately. The information in this
manual applies correspondingly.

1 • Using this Manual
Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
Operating Manual
Page 13
1.2 Conventions
This section describes the conventions that are used throughout this
manual.
1.2.1 Conventions for Safety Messages
The safety messages and precautionary statements in this manual
appear as follows:
•Safety messages or precautionary statements that apply to the
entire manual and all procedures in this manual are grouped in the
Safety chapter.
•Safety messages or precautionary statements that apply to an entire
section or to multiple procedures in a section appear at the
beginning of the section to which they apply.
•Safety messages that apply to only a particular section or procedure
appear in the section or procedure to which they apply. They appear
different from the main flow of text.
Safety messages are often preceded by an alert symbol and/or alert
word. The alert word appears in uppercase letters and in bold type.
Make sure that you understand and follow all safety messages
presented in this manual.
1.2.2 Special Notices
Special notices and informational notes in this manual appear different
from the main flow of text. They appear in boxes and a note label
identifies them. The label text appears in uppercase letters and in bold
type.
NOTICE
Highlights information necessary to prevent damage to the device or
invalid test results.
TIP Highlights information of general interest or helpful information that
can make a task easier or optimize the performance of the device.

1 • Using this Manual
Page 14 Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
Operating Manual
1.2.3 Typographical Conventions
These typographical conventions apply to the descriptions in this
manual:
Data Input and Output
The following appears in bold type:
•Input that you enter by the keyboard or that you select with the
mouse
•Buttons that you click on the screen
•Commands that you enter by the keyboard
•Names of, for example, dialog boxes, properties, and parameters
For brevity, long expressions and paths appear in the condensed form,
for example: Click File > Save as.
References and Messages
•References to additional documentation appear italicized.
•Messages that appear on the screen are identified by quotation
marks.
Viewpoint
If not otherwise stated, the expressions left and right in this manual
always refer to the viewpoint of a person that is facing the device from
the front.
Particularly Important Words
Particularly important words in the main flow of text appear italicized.
Electronic Manual Version (PDF)
The electronic version (PDF) of the manual contains numerous links that
you can click to go to other locations within the manual. These include:
•Table of contents entries
•Index entries
•Cross-references (in blue text)

1 • Using this Manual
Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
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Page 15
1.3 Reference Documentation
In addition to this operating manual, other documentation is available
for reference.
Hardware Documentation
Additional hardware documentation includes the following:
•Operating manuals for the other modules of the Vanquish system
•Vanquish System Operating Manual
•Instrument Installation Qualification Operating Instructions
Thermo Fisher Scientific provides up-to-date operating manuals as PDF
(Portable Document Format) files that you can access from our customer
manuals web site. To open and read the PDF files, Adobe™ Reader™ or
Adobe™ Acrobat™ is required.
Go to the following web site: www.thermofisher.com/HPLCmanuals
Software Documentation
Additional software documentation includes the following:
•Chromeleon™ Help and documents
The Chromeleon Help provides extensive information and
comprehensive reference material for all aspects of the software.
In addition, the following documentation is available (availability
depends on the software version):
•Installation Guide
For basic information about device installation and configuration,
refer to the Installation Guide.
•Instrument Configuration Manager Help
For specific information about a certain device, refer to the
Instrument Configuration Manager Help. In Chromeleon7, devices
are called modules.
•Quick Start Guide
For information about the main elements of the user interface and
step-by-step guidance through the most important workflows, refer
to the Quick Start Guide.
•Reference Card
For a concise overview of the most important workflows, refer to
the Reference Card.
TIP The Chromeleon Help and documents are included in the software
shipment.

1 • Using this Manual
Page 16 Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
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Third-Party Documentation
Refer also to the user documentation provided by the manufacturers of
third-party components and materials, for example, Safety Data Sheets
(SDSs).
Third-party documentation includes the user documentation for the gas
supply, as applicable:
•User documentation for the nitrogen generator
•User documentation for the air compressor

2 • Safety
Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
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Page 17
2 Safety
This chapter provides general and specific safety information and
informs about the intended use of the device.

2 • Safety
Page 18 Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
Operating Manual
2.1 Safety Symbols and Signal Words
2.1.1 Safety Symbols and Signal Words in this Manual
This manual contains safety messages to prevent injury of the persons
using the device.
The safety symbols and signal words in this manual include the
following:
Always be aware of the safety information. Do not proceed until you
have fully understood the information and consider the consequences of
what you are doing.
CAUTION
Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in minor
or moderate injury.
WARNING
Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in
serious injury.
2.1.2 Observing this Manual
Observe the following:
•Before installing or operating the device, read this manual carefully
to be familiar with the device and this manual. The manual contains
important information with regard to user safety as well as use and
care of the device.
•Always keep the manual near the device for quick reference.
•Save this manual and pass it on to any subsequent user.
Read, understand, and comply with all safety messages and
precautionary statements presented in this manual.

2 • Safety
Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
Operating Manual
Page 19
2.1.3 Safety Symbols on the Device
The table lists the safety symbols that appear on the device or on labels
affixed to the device. Follow the safety notices in this manual to prevent
the risk of operator injury or damage to the device.
Symbol Description
Indicates a potential hazard. Refer to this manual to avoid the risk of
personal injury and/or to prevent damage to the device.
—
Ο
Power supply is on
Power supply is off
Indicates alternating current.
2.1.4 Rating Plate
The rating plate is present on the device near the electrical connections.
The rating plate indicates the serial number, part number, module
name, revision number (if any), and the line and fuse rating.
TIP An additional type label on the leak tray of the device indicates the
module name, serial number, part number, and revision number (if any).
To facilitate device identification, have the information from this label
available when communicating with Thermo Fisher Scientific.

2 • Safety
Page 20 Charged Aerosol Detectors (VH-D20, VF-D20)
Operating Manual
2.2 Intended Use
The device is intended to be part of the Vanquish system.
The intended use of the Vanquish system is to analyze mixtures of
compounds in sample solutions.
The device is for use by qualified personnel and in laboratory
environment only.
The device and Vanquish system are intended to be used as General
Laboratory Equipment (GLE).
They are not intended for use in diagnostic procedures.
Laboratory Practice
Thermo Fisher Scientific recommends that the laboratory in which the
Vanquish system is used follow best practices for LC analyses. This
includes among others:
•Using appropriate standards
•Regularly running calibration
•Establishing shelf life limits and following them for all consumables
used with the system
•Running the system according to the laboratory's verified and
validated 'lab developed test' protocol