Agilent Technologies G3180B User Manual
Agilent G3180B
Two-Way Splitter Kit
With Makeup Gas
Installation and Operation
Guide
Agilent Technologies
Notices
©Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2006
No p art o f this manu al may be re produce d in
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Technologies, Inc. as governed by United
States and international copyright laws.
Manual Part Number
G3180-90120
Supercedes G3180-90110
Edition
First edition, April 2006
Printed in USA
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
2850 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19808-1610 USA
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Microsoft® is a U.S. registered trademark
of Microsoft Corporation.
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CAUTION
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2 Installation and Operation Guide
In this Guide. . .
This Installation and Operation Guide contains information for installing and
using an effluent splitter on an Agilent 6890 gas chromatograph (GC). The
G3180 splitter is intended for use with capillary columns and uses makeup gas
to maintain adequate flows throughout the system.
1 Introduction
This chapter describes how the splitter works, the GC and software
requirements of the system and the contents of the installation kit.
2 Hardware Installation
See this chapter for a detailed procedure for installing the splitter hardware
and connecting the makeup gas supply.
3 Splitter Configurations
The split ratio (how the column effluent divides between the two detectors) is
governed by two restrictors, which are lengths of deactivated fused silica
tubing. This chapter presents a set of precalculated “typical” configurations. If
desired, you can create a custom configuration to meet specific needs. The
chapter describes a set of software tools, included in the kit, to assist you in
designing such configurations. Finally, installation of the column and
restrictors is covered.
4Operation
This chapter contains a worked-out custom configuration, plus a few special
topics.
Installation and Operation Guide 3
4 Installation and Operation Guide
Contents
1 Introduction
Overview 8
How It Works 9
Details 10
Metal ferrules 10
Microfluidic plate 10
Constant pressure operation 10
Calculation of chromatographic parameters 11
GC Requirements 12
Other Requirements 12
Parts Supplied 13
Part Identification 14
Parts Not Supplied 15
Tools Required 15
2 Hardware Installation
Prepare the GC 18
Install the Column Clips 20
Install the Bracket and Splitter 21
Connect the Makeup Gas Supply 24
To supply the makeup gas froma PCM 24
To supply the makeup gas from an Auxiliary Pressure
controller 24
Installation and Operation Guide 5
3 Splitter Configurations
Typical Configurations 26
Splitting to an MSD 28
Custom Configurations 29
Restrictor id and length 32
Maximum and minimum flows 33
Column outlet pressure 34
Inlet pressure 34
Restrictor and Column Installation 35
Install the column 35
Connect the splitter 35
Disconnect tubing from the splitter 37
4Operation
An Example 40
Column flow 40
Select restrictors 42
Calculate column flow 43
Calculate ECD restrictor flow 44
Calculate MSD restrictor flow 45
Changing Columns Without Venting the MSD 46
Backflushing the Column 47
6 Installation and Operation Guide
Agilent G3180B Splitter Kit
Installation and Operation Guide
1
Introduction
Overview 8
How It Works 9
Details 10
Metal ferrules 10
Microfluidic plate 10
Constant pressure operation 10
Calculation of chromatographic parameters 11
GC Requirements 12
Other Requirements 12
Parts Supplied 13
Part Identification 14
Parts Not Supplied 15
Tools Required 15
This manual covers the installation and operation of the G3180B effluent
splitter with makeup gas kit on the Agilent 6890 series gas chromatograph
(GC).
Agilent Technologies
7
1 Introduction
Overview
Splitter installation is done in three steps:
1 Hardware installation. This gets the hardware installed and the gas flows
connected.
2 Restrictor configuration. You can choose to use a typical, precalculated
configuration or create a custom one using software tools supplied on a CD.
3 Restrictor and column installation. Using the results of step 2, cut the
appropriate lengths of the appropriate diameter tubing for the restrictors.
Install the restrictors and the analytical column.
8 Installation and Operation Guide
How It Works
Introduction 1
The splitter divides the effluent from a column between two different
detectors. The detectors can be operating at different pressures, that is, any
mix of the following can be used:
• Atmospheric pressure
FID (flame ionization detector)
TCD (thermal conductivity detector)
NPD (nitrogen phosphorus detector)
ECD (electron capture detector)
FPD (flame photometric detector)
• Below atmospheric pressure
MSD (mass selective detector)
• Above atmospheric pressure
AED (atomic emission detector)
The split ratio is determined by the length and diameter of tubing connecting
the splitter to the detectors. Tubing dimensions may be determined from
Table 2 on page 26 in this manual or from a spreadsheet calculator that is
included for calculating tubing dimensions for special situations.
Figure 1 shows the plumbing configuration for the G3180B splitter.
Det 1 Det 2Inlet
Restrictor 1 Restrictor 2
Splitter
Column
GC oven
Constant pressure
makeup gas supply
Figure 1 Splitter plumbing
Installation and Operation Guide 9
1 Introduction
Details
Metal ferrules
Microfluidic plate
The column flow mixes with the makeup flow in the splitter. This mixture then
flows through lengths of uncoated, deactivated, fused-silica tubing to each
detector. These tubes act as flow restrictors. While the flow through each
restrictor changes with oven temperature, the ratio of the two flows at any
temperature is the same.
The G3180B kit addresses several limitations of previous approaches to
splitting column effluent between two detectors:
The splitter uses metal column ferrules, which eliminate air leakage into the
sample stream. Unlike polyimide, metal ferrules do not loosen upon thermal
cycling of the oven. They also do not outgas contaminants or shed particles
(like graphite) that can result in chromatographic problems.
The splitting hardware is based on microfluidic plate technology. This allows
very low dead volume connections between the column end and the two
detector restrictor tubes. The thin metal plate has fast thermal response and is
mounted solidly on the oven wall for ease of use. The interior plate surfaces
are deactivated to prevent adsorption by active compounds.
Constant pressure operation
The splitter uses a source of makeup gas supplied by electronic pneumatics
control (EPC). This maintains the splitter at a known and constant pressure.
Constant pressure allows easier splitting to vacuum detectors like the MSD. It
simplifies choice of splitter parameters, allowing all aspects of the
chromatographic setup to be calculated. Constant pressure makeup allows the
column to be run in constant flow mode while still maintaining a constant
split ratio between two detectors of different operating pressures such as the
FPD and the MSD. Because the EPC pressure can be time programmed, useful
operations like backflushing unwanted heavy materials from the column and
changing columns in MSD systems without venting are possible.
10 Installation and Operation Guide
Calculation of chromatographic parameters
Because the pressure at the split point is known and constant, the
chromatographic parameters can be calculated before setup. This is especially
useful with GC/MSD setups, where there are limitations on the flow rates of
carrier gas allowed into the MSD. If a method that was originally developed on
an MSD is converted to a splitter setup, a new inlet pressure can be calculated
to produce retention times very similar to the original method.
Introduction 1
Installation and Operation Guide 11
1 Introduction
GC Requirements
The splitter mounts in an Agilent 6890 series GC.
The splitter requires an electronically controlled pressure source such as the
Three Channel Pressure controller (6890 option 205, 301, or 308) or a
Pneumatics Control Module (PCM).
Other Requirements
The calculator requires Microsof®t Excel 97 (or later), which is not supplied
with this kit.
12 Installation and Operation Guide
Parts Supplied
Introduction 1
The G3180B kit contains the following parts (Table 1).
Tab l e 1 Parts supplied
Part number Description Quantity
0100-0124 Union, stainless steel, 1/16-inch tubing 2
0100-0241 Union, stainless steel, 1/8 to 1/16-inch reducing 1
G1580-00130 Valve box blanking plate 1
G1530-01340 Capillary column spring clips 4
0515-0374 Screw, M3 × 10 mm 7
G2855-60140 Oven bracket assembly 1
G2855-60560 T-screw oven bracket retainer 2
G2855-80022 Manual and calculator CD 1
G3180-90120 Manual, G3180B
0100-2354 Tubing, stainless steel, 1/16-inch od × 0.01-inch id, 1 m 1
G3180-61500 Compact splitter with makeup gas assembly 1
G2855-60150 Supplies and spares kit 1
Installation and Operation Guide 13
1 Introduction
Part Identification
Most of the kit parts are easily recognized. The unique ones are identified in
Figure 2.
Capillary column
spring clips
Valve box
blanking plate
Oven bracket
assembly
This assembly is shipped in a
Compact splitter
with makeup gas
assembly
plastic bag to keep contaminants
out of the tubing and the fittings.
Do not open the bag until you are
ready to install the splitter.
Figure 2 Part identification
14 Installation and Operation Guide
Parts Not Supplied
Brown-dot frit (19231-60610)
Tools Required
Side cutter, large
Open-end wrenches
Introduction 1
Installation and Operation Guide 15
1 Introduction
16 Installation and Operation Guide
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