This publication is protected by federal copyright law. No part of this publication
may be copi ed or distri buted, tr ansmitte d, tran scribe d, stor ed in a r etrieval sy stem,
or transmitted into any human or computer language, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, magnetic, manual, or otherwise, or disclosed to third parties
without the express written permission of Dionex Corporation, 1228 Titan Way,
Sunnyvale, California 94088-3603.
DISCLAIMER OF WAR RANTY AND LI MITED WARRANTY
THIS PUBLICATION IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF
ANY KIND. DIONEX CORPORATION DOES NOT WARRANT,
GUARANTEE, OR MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE, OR THE RESULTS OF THE
USE, OF THIS PUBLICATION IN TERMS OF CORRECTNESS,
ACCURACY, RELIABILIT Y, CURRENTNESS, OR OTHERWISE.
FURTHER, DIONEX CORPORATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVISE
THIS PUBLICATION AND TO MAKE CHANGES FROM TIME TO TIME
IN THE CONTENT HEREIN WITHOUT OBLIGATION OF DIONEX
CORPORATION TO NOTIFY ANY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION OF
SUCH REVISION OR CHANGES.
TRADEMARKS
DX-LAN, Self-Regen eratin g Suppr essor, SRS, and The rmoFlareare
trademarks of Dionex Corporation.
Teflon and Tefzel are registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and
Company.
PRINTING HISTORY
Revision 01, August 1993
Revision 02, September 1993
1.2Ab out T his Manua l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1- 3
1.3Produc t Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Doc. 034859 -0 2 9/93
1-1
LC20 Chromatography Enclosure
1-2
Doc. 034859- 02 9/93
1 • Introduction
1.1 Overview
The LC20 Chromatog raphy Enclosure is an integral part of the
Dionex DX 500 Chr omatography Systems. It can house the
following system components, which must be ordered separately or
as part of anothe r module: Separator colu mns, optional guard
columns, SRS (Self-Regenerating Supp ressor), DS3 Detection
Stabilizer, and detector cell(s) for the ED40 Electrochemical
Detector and CD 20 Conductivity Detector.
The LC20 is available in two co nfigurations, depending o n
the type of injection valve installed:
LC3 0, stainle ss steel automated injection valve (P/N 044171)
1.2 About This Manual
This manual describes the operation, mainte nance, and us e of the
L20 Chromatography E nclosure.
Chapter 1, Introduction, introduces the product a nd conventions
used in the manual, a nd provides safety information.
Chapter 2, Description, is a descriptio n of the physica l aspects of
the LC20 Chromato graphy Enclosure, followed by a functional
description of the operating features.
Chapter 3, Operation and Maintenance, discusses th e operating
features and routine maintenance.
Chapter 4, Troubleshooting, provides step-by -step procedures to
isolate problems and lists possible causes.
Chapter 5, Service, presents step-by-step p rocedures to perf orm
service an d parts replacemen t routines.
Doc. 034859 -0 2 9/93
1-3
LC20 Chromatography Enclosure
Appendix A Specifications contains the LC2 0 specifications .
Appendix B, Installation, describes the installation a nd interface
necessary to place the LC20 i nto operation.
1.3 Product Safety Information
This instrument was designed in conformanc e with the safety
requirements set forth in IEC 1010 Safety R equirements forElectrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use.
Section of this manual are flagged with key words and symbols to
denote the natu re of potential haza rds. These safety directives apply
to all operators an d service personnel.
The following safety reference symbols are marked in the instrument
and this manual where nec essary to alert the operator.
Indicates a potential hazard to the operator, or
damage to the instrument o r other property.
Example: Overtightening valve bolts may break them
off.
Eluent from the grad ient pump enters the R heodyne injection valve
port inside the enclosure. From the inje ction valve, eluent and
sample flow through the g uard column (if used ), the separator
column, the supp ressor or other post-column device, and finally
through the detec tor cells.
The LC20 may be configured for optional dual-channel opera tion. It
will then include a secon d Rheodyne injection valve and component
panel. There is eno ugh tubing in th e LC20 Ship Kit (P/N 046 300) to
plumb two systems.
The LC20 do es not req uire power. Internal compon ents are operat ed
by the GP40/IP20 p ump.
2.2 Front Panel
The front panel of the enclosur e is the door. It contains access to
one or two Rheodyne injection valves.
2.2.1 Rheodyne Injection Valve
Doc. 034859 -0 2 9/93
The Rheodyne injection valve is mounted on th e component
panel in a manner that allows its control knob to extend
through the fron t door for acce ss. If the LC20 is configured
as a dual-chan nel module, a second Rheodyne in jection valve
will be installed on th e left-side compone nt panel and extend
through the adjac ent port.
2-3
LC20 Chromatography Enclosure
2.3Interior Layout
The interior of the LC20 is a n insulated, passive chamber. It
contains a slide-out panel for mounting components. Figure 2-1
illustrates the LC20 chassis. See Section B.2. 1 for recommended
stacking configurations. See Figure 2-2 for an illustration of the
slide-out component pa nel.
2-4
Figure 2-1. LC20 Interior Chassis
Doc. 034 859-02 9/93
2.3. 1 Component Panel
Components are mounted o n the slide-out panel. The panel
on the right side is standard in all LC20 enclos ures. When a
dual-channel modu le is ordered, an o pposite panel is
factory-installed on the left side (see Figure 2- 2).
2 • Description
Doc. 034859 -0 2 9/93
Figure 2-2. Component Panel Layout
2-5
LC20 Chromatography Enclosure
The component pa nel has two slide releases to lock it in a
fully closed (in) or op en (out) posi tion. Press th e slide rele ase
at the upper horizontal edge of the panel to release the detent.
The panel will lock at about three q uarters of its total travel
when you pull it out. This prevents it from being pulled
entirely out of the tracks and possibly damaging the
components. To reinsert the panel, press th e second slide
release and push it back into its closed position. The fully
closed position locks the panel and prevents it from being
forced outward by pressure from the vario us tubing
arrangements.
The panel can b e pulled completely out by pressing the
second slide release a nd pulling the panel until it clears the
top and bottom tracks. H old the panel securely when it
disengages the tracks. To replace the panel, align it with the
top and bottom tracks and push inward until it engages the
second detent. Pre ss the second slide release a nd push the
panel to its closed and locked position.
2-6
Various component arrang ements are made pos sible by
multiple mounting ho les and slots. The configuration s hown
here is only on e of many offered by the enclos ure.
2.3.2 Rheodyne Injection Valve
The Rheodyne injection valve is mounted at the bottom of the
component pane l. Its control knob exten ds through the door
to allow manual operation with the doo r closed. The valve
has two operating positions:
The injection valve is a low-volume, metal-free, 35 MPa
(5000 psi) rotary injec tion valve. It accommodates syr inge
injections or pressurized sample loading.
The Rheodyne injection valve is equippe d with a microswitch
for detection of the valve position. The microswitch can be
wired to a module that can p rocess the signal to verify the
position of the valve.
INJECT
and
LOAD
.
Doc. 034 859-02 9/93
The LC20 S hip Kit in cludes two acce ssories fo r the
Rheodyne injection valves: a 25 µL gas-t ight syrin ge
(P/N 041389) and a 25 µL sample loop (P/N 0 42857). For
more information about the valve, including important
operating precautions, refer to the
Manual
(Document No . 034468), inclu ded in the LC20 Ship
Kit.
2.3. 3 Self-Regenerating Suppressor
The Self-Regenerating Suppresso r (SRS) is held in place
by a special support pla te. Align the two slots on the botto m
of the SRS case with the tabs on the suppo rt plate. Press
and then
down
to lock the SRS in place. Pull up and then
to remove (see Figure B-8 in Appendix B).
2.3.4 Leak Sensor
This sensor detects leaks and spills in th e bottom of the
enclosure, a nd generates a signal wh en a leak occurs . The
sensor is located at the lower front corner of the left wall in
the bottom tray. Its cable exits through the rear service ch ase,
and must be conne cted to the GP40 pump .
2 • Description
Rheodyne Valve Operator’s
in
out
2.3. 5 Separator Columns
2.3.6 Guard Columns
Doc. 034859 -0 2 9/93
The column mount n ear the front of th e component panel c an
accommodate up to two separato r columns. The colu mn
mount supports 4-mm columns on one side and 2-mm
columns on the other. The column mount can be removed by
pressing on each side of its mounting ta b and pulling away
from the slot in the panel. Yo u can then reverse it and press it
back into the panel to ch ange column size and maintain the
columns at the outer positio n (see Figure B-7 in Appendix B).
The smaller gu ard columns (if used) are held in pl ace by the
tubing below the separator columns.
2-7
LC20 Chromatography Enclosure
2.3.7 Col umn Select Valve
The column selec t valve (P/N 044858), when included, will
be supported o n the component pan el by a mounting plate .
The column select valve is controlled by the pump through a
pair of air solenoids on the back of the LC20.
The column select valve is not normally plumbe d into the
system. However, enough tubing is provided in the LC20
Ship Kit to plumb u p to two column select valves into two
systems. When plumb ed, the optional 28 MKa (400 0 psi)
column sel ect valve directs the flow of eluent a nd sample
from the Rheodyne injection valve to either column A or B.
The column select valve can alternatively be used to switch in
and out a separator c olumn.
The column select valve is actuated by a pair o f solenoids
mounted on the rear panel, which will be included only wh en
the column select valve is installed. The solenoids are
electrically co nnected to and controlled b y the GP40 or IP20
pump. Refer to the pump manual for operating instructions.
2-8
Figure 2-3 shows the assembly of the column select valve.
Doc. 034 859-02 9/93
2 • Description
Doc. 034859 -0 2 9/93
Figure 2-3. Column Select Valve
The groove around the valve body in dicates the top of the
valve. The ports are numbe red clockwise aroun d the valve
body. The small vent hole is between ports 1 a nd 5. Pressure
bolts provide an intermediate conn ection between the valve
slider and all tube fittings.
These bolts must be tightened
evenly to provide uniform sealing pressure against the
valve slider and ensure leak-free operation.
maintenance information, refer to the
Installation and
Maintenance of the Dionex High Pressure Valve
. For valve
(Document
No. 032678).
2-9
LC20 Chromatography Enclosure
The valve is operated by a ir pressure push ing against pistons
inside the valve cap. The p iston pushes a slider up and down
inside the valve body. Applying pressure to the top piston
pushes the slider down; applying pressure to the bottom
piston pu shes the sl ider up. T he slider con nects the valve
ports as follows (see Figure 2-4 ).:
Switch in OFF position, selecting column A (slider down):
1 → 4 and 2 → 3,
5 → 8 and 6 → 7
Switch in ON position, s electing column B (slider up):
The valve is tested to op erate leak-free at 28 M Pa (4000 psi).
After testing, the valve pressure bolts are loosened to reduce
stress on critical parts during storage. Before shipment, the
pressure b olts are tigh tened to provide leak-free oper ation at
pressures up to 17 MPa (2500 psi) or 90 in-oz torque. If yo u
Doc. 034 859-02 9/93
need to o perate at hig her pressu res (up to 2 8 MPa, or
4000 psi), first torque the bolts to 128 in-oz . If the valve is to
be unused for mo re than two days, red uce the torque o n the
bolts to 90 in-oz while ins talling or removing the fittings.
Use a wrench on the valve pressure bolt to prevent it from
turning while loosening the fitting. Refer to
Maintenance of the Dionex High-Pressure Valve
No. 032678) for additional information.
2.3.8 Detector Cells
Detector cells for the CD20 Conductivity Detector or the
ED40 Electrochemical De tector are mounted o n the
component pane l. Their cables exit thr ough one of the serv ice
chases on the r ear panel.
2.3. 9 DS3 Detection Stabilizer (Optional)
The DS3 improves baseline stability by da mping fluctuations
in temperature, thus improving detection at trace levels. Refer
to the