Phase Technology 70Xi-SS User Manual

70Xi-SS

COLD FLOW PROPERTIES

SINGLE SHOT ANALYZER SYSTEM

USER GUIDE

70Xi Cold Flow Properties Laboratory Analyzer User Guide

NOTICE OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
AND COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2014 Phase Technology. All rights reserved. No part of this publication, or any software
included with it, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, including photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording or othe rwise, without the prior written
permission of this copyright holder, Phase Techno logy .

The following document contains proprietary information of Phase Technology. These contents are
confidential and any disclosure to persons other than the officers, employees, agents or sub-contractors of
the owner or licensee of this manu al, without the prior consent of Phase Technology, is strictly prohibited.

Phase Technology

11168 Hammersmith Gate

Richmond, BC, Canada V7A 5H8

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

www.phase-technology.com

Customer Service & Support:

[e-mail]

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70Xi Cold Flow Properties Laboratory Analyzer User Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1:
How to Connect and Power On the Analyzer 5

Section 2:
How to Prepare Test Samples 7

Section 3:
How to Run Tests Using Pre-defined Favorites 8

Section 4:
How to Change Test Settings 9

Section 5:
How to Create and Modify Favorites 10

Section 6:
How to View Test Results 11

Section 7:
How to View Phase Plots 11

Section 8:
How to Use QC Chart Limits, Sample Specifications,
and Trending of Test Results 12

Section 9:
How to Change User Level Access 16

Section 10:
How to Shut Down and Restart the Analyzer 18

Section 11:
How to Use the Analyzer’s Connectivity Features 18

Appendix A. How to Use DrySac 23

Appendix B. Cleaning & Routine Maintenance 24

Appendix C. FAQ: Calibration, Recertification and Maintenance 27

Appendix D. Understanding & Using Phase Plots 29

Appendix E. Customer Service & Support 32

Appendix F. Warranty 33

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70Xi Cold Flow Properties Laboratory Analyzer User Guide

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This guide will help you become familiar with your Phase Technology 70Xi Cold Flow Properties Laboratory
Analyzer and its features. In the unlikely event you experience a problem, contact Phase Technology for
service and support.

TYPOGRAPHICAL CONVENTIONS

Throughout this guide, the following conventions are used to make it easier to differentiate between
names of various windows or screens, buttons, and messages:

Convention Meaning Example

Bold upper & lower case

BOLD ALL UPPER CASE
(CAPITALS)

“Text in parenthesis” Message displayed on screen “Run Count = xxx”
Text in bold blue italics Refers to another chapter or

Screen or window name Control Panel

Buttons on the touch screen RUN

section in User Guide

please refer to the

Analyzer Options section

NOTES, CAUTIONS, AND WARNINGS

Important information and alerts are brought to yo ur attention with the following conventions and icons:

NOTE: Indicates further details that support the information provided in the section.

CAUTION! Indicates situations that require attention to prevent

damaging the unit.

WARNING! Indicates necessary safety precautions to avoid injury.

ASSUMPTIONS

This user manual is designed to be used by chemists and laboratory technicians who have a basic
knowledge of sampling equipment and instrumentation.

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70Xi Cold Flow Properties Laboratory Analyzer User Guide

How to Connect and Power On

1

the Analyzer

1. The analyzer should be set up on a flat, vibration-free surface in a well-ventilated location.

2. On the back of the analyzer, remove the red caps that cover the “PURGE IN” and “PURGE OUT”
fittings. These caps should be kept with the shipping box and related packing materials.

3. Attach the dryer bottle assembly to the back panel by fitting the two mounting bracket holes over
the two mounting screws.

4. Separate the quick-connect fittings on the dryer bottle. Press the latch on the female fitting and
pull them apart.

5. Attach the quick-connect fittings to the “PURGE IN” and “PURGE OUT” fittings on the back of the
analyzer. A “click” sound confirms that the fittings have snapped into place.

6. Mount the Sample Injection Port Assembly onto the analyzer cover wi th the 4 mounting screws.
Make sure the stainless steel tubing of the Sample Injection Assembly point to the back of the
analyzer. Rotate the tubing if needed. Connect the sample transfer tube (1/8” Teflon tube with
stainless fitting on one end and brass fitting on other end) from the Sample Injection Port
Assembly (stainless steel fitti ng) to the analyzer “SAMPLE IN” port (brass fitting). Connect the
supplied 1/8” Teflon tube (with brass fitting on one end and no fitting on other end) from the
analyzer “SAMPLE OUT” port to a user-supplied waste bottle.

7. Connect the power cable to the back of the 70Xi Analyzer. Plug the power cable into a grounded
AC outlet that is a dedicated circuit. Use a power surge protector, equipped with a line filter, if
your power source is unstable or noisy.

8. To power up the analyzer, press the round button at the bottom right hand side at the front of
the analyzer.

9. The analyzer will perform a set of self tests to verify that each of the main components of the
analyzer, including the optics system and cooling system, are operating correctly. If a problem is
detected, the self tests will stop and a message will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.

If any component fails the self tests, press t he INTELLINOSTICS button
information and troubleshooting steps.

for further

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70Xi Cold Flow Properties Laboratory Analyzer User Guide

If Pour Point function is available, the message, “Remove sample then press Continue” will be

displayed at the end of the self tests. If the samp le cup is empty, press CONTINUE to proceed,
otherwise remove the sample with a cotton swab, then press CONTINUE. The analyzer will
perform an auto-purge function as a final step of the self-tests.

10. After the self-tests are completed, the analyzer shows the Home screen (Fig. 1). The analyzer

returns to this screen whenever the HOME

Figure 1: Home screen

button is pressed.

a. The Sample Cup temperature, Optics light Signal, and Run Count are displayed at the

top of the screen. A set of Favorites buttons is listed on the right hand side (See
sections 3. How to Run Tests Using Pre-defined Favorites and 5. How to Create

and Modify Favorites). The main area in the middle is initially blank, but displays a

phase plot when a test is done, or if a previous plot is opened

b. The ACCESS button

access levels, resetting the analyzer, and shutdown. (See section 9. How to Change

User Access Levels).

on the lower left hand corner is used for changing user

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70Xi Cold Flow Properties Laboratory Analyzer User Guide

How to Prepare Test Samples

2

1. Phase Technology recommends filtering and drying test samples so that they are bright and clear
in appearance and free of excessive moisture before testing. Refer to APPENDIX A: How to Use

DrySac for more details on drying the sample.

2. Fill a 30mL vial with test sample. Make sure the vial is filled up all the way to the neck.

NOTE: The analyzer automatically determines the amount of current sample (up to 30 mL)
needed to rinse and clean the previous sample. Error messages such as “No sample flow” might
occur if insufficient sample is found. For best results, it is important to fill the vial to its neck.

3. Lift the probe of the Sample Injection Port Assembly by sliding up the arm.

4. Place the vial to the indentation at the base.

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70Xi Cold Flow Properties Laboratory Analyzer User Guide

5. Lower the probe by sliding down the arm.

6. The black handle should sit on top of the mouth of the vial.

How to Run Tests Using

3

Pre-defined Favorites

1. To start a run using a predefined test setting, press and hold (for one second) one of the favorite
buttons (see section 5. How to Create and Modify Favorites).

2. During the test, the LED on the test chamber lid will be red, indicating that the chamber is
running, and the lid should not be opened.

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70Xi Cold Flow Properties Laboratory Analyzer User Guide

a. The STOP TEST button will abort a test that is in progress.

b. After the run has finished, the REPEAT TEST button

the same settings.

will rerun the test using

How to Change Test Settings

1. The analyzer’s current test settings, such as the Sample ID, Run Mode, and Sample Type,

Temperature unit, etc. can be viewed or modified from the Settings window (Fig. 2). The
Settings window can be opened by tapping a favorite or pressing the arrow button

beside the Favorites window.

2. Changing the analyzer settings requires permission to be enabled by the administrator (see

section 9.How to Change User Access Levels).

4

Figure 2: Settings

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70Xi Cold Flow Properties Laboratory Analyzer User Guide

y

The prefix “QC-“ is reserved for the names of QC samples. (see section 8. How to Use QC Chart and

Limits, Sample Specifications and Trending of Test Results). Press SET AS QC button (next to the

sample ID box)
to the sample.

NOTE: samples designed with “QC” status are automatically compared to established control limits after a
test. A message alerting users to QC fai lure will appear on screen should this occur.

3. The FLUSH run mode can be used to program a flush cycle when needed. Flushing is used when
a problem is suspected, such as cross-contamination between samples or particulates in the
system, which could cause symptoms such as erratic test results, poor repeatability, unsta ble
signal, etc. To use the Flush mode, fill a vial with the same sample to be tested and place it in the
Sample Injection Port Assembly. Select FLUSH as the run mode (rather than freeze point, cloud
point, or pour point). The analyzer will flush the sample through the system.

4. Press the RUN button

5. Press the ADD TO FAVORITES button
existing Sample ID will become the name of the new favorite.

6. Press the HOME button

7. The Settings window can also be closed by a horizontal swiping motion on the touch screen,
moving across the bottom of the window.

to assign the current sample to be a QC standard. The prefix “QC-“ will be added

to start a test run using the current settings

to save the current settings as a new favorite. The

to close the Settings window and return to the Home screen.

How to Create
and Modif

1. Creating and modifying existing favorites require permission to be enabled by the administrator
(see section 9. How to Change User Access Levels).

2. To create a new favorite, open the Settings window, either by pressing an existing favorite or
pressing the arrow button

window, make any desired changes to the settings.

3. Press the ADD TO FAVORITES button
The Sample ID will be the name of the new favorite.

4. The order in which favorite buttons appear in the list may be rearranged by dragging and
dropping any button upwards or downwards.

Favorites

on the thin bar to the left of the Favorite lis t. In the Settings

to save the current settings into a new favorite.

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