4
Preparing the Pump for Operation
Priming the Pulse Dampener
Thermo Scientific
Accela Pump Hardware Manual
41
6. If you do not want the LC column in the solvent path, do the following:
a. Open the purge valve by turning the wingnut counterclockwise.
b. Place a beaker under the purge valve to collect solvent.
7. Click
(Start) to start the solvent flow.
8. Click
(Stop) to stop the solvent flow.
9. If you opened the purge valve to let the solvent flow bypass the LC column, close the
purge valve by turning the wingnut clockwise.
Priming the Pulse Dampener
Priming the pulse dampener involves filling its dampening loop with a solvent such as
methanol or isopropanol. When the loop is filled with solvent, it can effectively dampen
pressure pulsations from the rest of your system. Closing the pulse dampener flush valve after
you fill the loop shuts the loop off from the flow path. Prime the pulse dampener before the
initial operation of the pump and periodically thereafter.
Y
To prime the pulse dampener
1. Fill a solvent reservoir with particulate-free, HPLC-grade methanol.
2. Connect an HPLC column or a flow restrictor to the LDA outlet.
3. Insert the tip of the 10 mL syringe into the tubing that is connected to the pulse
dampener flush valve, and then open the valve by turning it counterclockwise.
4. Set the flow rate to 1000
μ
L/min.
5. Fill the loop completely to expel any air that might be trapped.
The volume of the dampening coil is 2 mL.
6. Set the flow rate to one that is appropriate for your system.
7. Close the pulse dampener flush valve by turning the valve clockwise.
Unless you need to refill the dampener loop of the pulse dampener with fresh solvent,
keep the pulse dampener flush valve closed.
Note
Do
not
fill the pulse dampener with an aggressive acid, an aqueous solution, or a
buffered solution. The recommended filling solvents are methanol, acetonitrile, or
isopropyl alcohol. If you accidentally fill the pulse dampener with an acidic or buffered
solvent, flush the loop with a miscible solvent, and then refill it with methanol,
acetonitrile, or isopropyl alcohol.
