Thermo Scientific TSQ 9000, Hardware Manual

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1
Performing Routine Maintenance
Replacing a Column
30 TSQ 9000 Hardware Manual Thermo Scientific
a. Carefully push the capillary column end into the flowmeter section of the column
flowmeter connector.
Figure 27. Column Flowmeter Connector
b. Connect the flowmeter to the dedicated fitting on the column flowmeter connector.
c. If you have a TRACE 1310, select the Back or Front Column icon in the
Configuration menu. Otherwise, perform the column evaluation through the
Chromatography Data System. See the TRACE 1300 and TRACE 1310 User Guide
for instructions.
d. Select Column and input the column’s physical characteristics.
e. If a pre-/post column is present, set the length and nominal internal diameter of the
pre-/post column in the same valid ranges for the column. The following two lines
are added to the menu.
f. Start the column evaluation. According to the physical characteristics of the column,
the system calculates and displays the relevant column K-factor. At the end of the
routine, a message will indicate that the evaluation was successful.
g. Expect a K-factor of approximately 0.7 – 0.9 for a 15 m, 0.25 mm i.d. column
(1.3 – 2.0 for a 30 m, 0.25 mm i.d. column). If the column does not report a
K-factor within this range or within 0.1 units of the previous stored value, check for a
leak or broken column using the leak detector. The K-factor is a measured resistance
for the column. A K-factor that is too low may indicate a leak in the system, while a
K-factor that is too high may indicate a blockage.
Fix any issues found and rerun column evaluation until an appropriate K-factor is
achieved.e a leak in the system, while a K-factor that is too high might indicate a
blockage.
6. Disconnect the column flowmeter:
Note For the most reproducible results, you should conduct a more detailed
column evaluation. However, the following steps, while recommended, are not
required.
A B C
To flowmeter