LCU Manual 141027

Liquid Calibration Unit
LCU-a & LCU-s
© IONICON Analytik Gesellschaft m.b.H. 2014

Imprint Version Information
Imprint
Version Information
Document edited: 10/27/2014 11:14 AM
Descriptions and illustrations in this document refer to:
Software: LCU Control1.0
Hardware: IONICON LCU-a and LCU-a (built 2013, 2014)
Your actual hardware and software can show slight deviations from the illustrations in this
document. If in doubt, contact the IONICON support, see page 26.
Copyright and Legal Note

The content of this manual, the described software, hardware and illustrations are intellectual
property under copyright of IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H., all rights reserved. IONICON
Software is distributed in combination with IONICON devices, such as mass spectrometers,
calibration solutions and add-ons by IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. or its authorized
distributors. Only users with authorized access to aforementioned products are entitled to use
the software. Software shall not be reproduced or published to a third party in whole or in part,
without prior written approval of IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H.
The software and hardware are under continuous development, the information in this document
is thus subject to change without notice. The software and hardware were developed with
reasonable diligence in order to be useful. Nevertheless, correct functionality is not guaranteed
and IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. cannot be held responsible for any damage of any kind
arising directly or indirectly from the use of the software and hardware.
While this document has been prepared with care, the publisher and the author assume no
responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of information
contained in this document. In no event shall the publisher or author be liable for any loss of
profit or any commercial or other damage caused or alleged, which has been caused directly
or indirectly by the information in this document. Information herein is subject to change without
prior notice.
Names, terms and products referred to in this manual may be registered trademarks. IONICON
is a registered trademark of IONICON Analytik Gesellschaft m. b. H.
Publisher:
IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H.
Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3
6020 Innsbruck
Austria
© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. -2- All rights reserved.

Warning Messages Copyright and Legal Note
Warning Messages
This is a list of all warning messages, which will be detailed throughout this manual. Read the
warning messages carefully.
The Liquid container must not be completely airtight......................................................... 10
Connect overflow to exhaust when calibrating toxic compounds. ...................................... 11
Do not close the overflow port! ...................................................................................... 11
Pressure at Gas Inlet 1 must be between 5.5 and 8 bar(g)! .............................................. 14
Pressure at Gas Inlet 2 (LCU-a only) must be < 8 bar(g)! ................................................... 14
Ensure appropriate electrical connection! ....................................................................... 15
Liquids used with LCU must be free of particles and non-volatiles!...................................... 22
Be careful when opening the LCU! ................................................................................. 24
Mount capillaries carefully! ........................................................................................... 25

Content
Imprint .......................................................................................................................... 2
Version Information ..................................................................................................... 2
Copyright and Legal Note ........................................................................................... 2
Warning Messages........................................................................................................ 3
Content ........................................................................................................................ 4
Introduction ................................................................................................................... 6
Intended use............................................................................................................... 6
About this manual ....................................................................................................... 6
Specifications ............................................................................................................. 7
General introduction ...................................................................................................... 9
LCU operation ............................................................................................................ 9
Connections .................................................................................................................. 9
Front Panel ................................................................................................................. 9
Liquid Inlets ........................................................................................................... 10
Overflow Ports ....................................................................................................... 10
Calibration Gas Outlet ........................................................................................... 12
Rear Panel ............................................................................................................... 13
Getting Started ............................................................................................................ 14
Software Installation .................................................................................................. 15
System Requirements for Control Computer ............................................................... 15
Connecting the LCU with your Computer ..................................................................... 15
Using your LCU with PTR-TOF-MS or PTR-QMS 300/500 .............................................. 17
LCU Control Software ................................................................................................ 19
Technical description of operation ................................................................................. 21
The active Liquid Flow Controller (aLFC) ...................................................................... 21
Calibration Procedure ............................................................................................... 22
Calibration Example ................................................................................................. 22
LCU service operations .............................................................................................. 23
Changing the aLFC-Pump ........................................................................................ 23
Changing the Teflon tube in the spray chamber......................................................... 23

Replacement of the aLFC capillary ........................................................................... 24

Trouble Shooting ......................................................................................................... 24
Support ...................................................................................................................... 26
What to do before reporting a problem: .................................................................. 26
How to report a problem: ....................................................................................... 26
Remote assistance (TeamViewer) ............................................................................. 26
Software update: ................................................................................................... 26
How to contact the IONICON support team ................................................................ 26

Introduction Intended use
Introduction
Intended use
The IONICON Liquid Calibration Unit (LCU) evaporates aqueous standards into a gas stream,
resulting in a gas flow containing compounds at defined trace concentrations. This gas can be
used for precise calibration of trace gas analyzers over an extensive range of compounds and
concentrations.
About this manual

This LCU User Manual provides a detailed overview of the technical aspects of the LCU and the
operating software that is required for running the LCU. Please carefully read through the manual
and familiarise yourself with the operating instructions before you start using the LCU. An
improper use of your LCU may invalidate the warranty.
List of Abbreviations
Dil dilution, as in MFC-Dil
MFC mass flow controller
ppbv parts per billion, by volume
ppmv parts per million, by volume
pptv parts per trillion, by volume
PTR-MS proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer/spectrometry
RH relative humidity
sccm standard cubic centimetre per min (standard; at STP)
S/N signal-to-noise ratio
Std standard, as in MFC-Std
STP standard temperature (273.15 K) and pressure (1013 mbar)
VMR volume mixing ratio
VOC volatile organic compound

Introduction Specifications
Specifications
Equipment: Technical Specifications:
Dilution air flow • Digital Mass Flow Controller for dilution flow
• Operated using pressurized N2 or Air (> 5 barg)
• Gas flow between 500 – 1000 sccm
Gas calibration port • Flow: 0 … 100 sccm

(LCU-a only) • Flow controller passivated by a SilcoNert 2000 ® coating
• Admixing of a calibration gas or admixing of CO2, up 10%
Liquid flow • LCU-s: 1 liquid port (self-priming inlet)

• LCU-a: 2 liquid ports (self-priming inlet)
o 2 liquid solutions can be simultaneously calibrated OR
o Total humidity can be kept constant
• Simple connection of liquid solutions***
• Active liquid µ-flow controller (new!)
• Extremely small internal volume
• Quick flush mode for fast response times
• Liquid flow between 0 … 50 µl/min
Evaporation • High-performance nebulizer for efficient evaporation
• Evaporation chamber heatable to > 100°C
• Inert materials to minimize surface interaction
• Quick exchange of chamber wall
• Cold-spot free gas outlet for: 1/16” capillary with 1/4-28UNF
with PG-29 thread (adapter for PTR-MS heated inlet hose included)
• Additional overflow port
Others • Fully computer controlled

• MS Windows software included
Weight & Dimensions • Dimensions (35 x 35 x 15 cm; WxHxD)

• Weight: 10 kg
Warranty • 12 months limited warranty on the instrument

Introduction Specifications
See deviating specification on the specification plate of your LCU. On the specification plate on
the rear panel, you find the following symbols:
Manufacturer
Date of manufacture
CE symbol
Caution, observe accompanying documents!

I
Attention to the user manual!
SN Serial number
AC voltage

General introduction LCU operation
General introduction
The accuracy of quantitative volatile organic compound (VOC) detection is substantially
enhanced if the analytical instrument is calibrated for the compounds of interest. The IONICON
Liquid Calibration Unit (LCU) evaporates aqueous standards into a gas stream, resulting in a gas
flow containing compounds at exactly known trace concentrations. This gas can be used for
calibration of trace gas analyzers over an extensive range of compounds and concentrations.
The LCU has been designed as a standalone device for the use with many different analytical
VOC instruments. It is especially suited to calibrate IONICON Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass-
Spectrometers (PTR-MS). Therefore, practical examples in this manual focus on calibrating a PTR-
MS instrument using the LCU.
LCU operation
In the following a brief, introductory overview of the LCU functionality is provided. A more in-
depth description of the LCU operation, with instructions of use, is provided in the next sections.
An active liquid flow controller (aLFC) draws the liquid standard with a constant (but adjustable)
flow from a vial or container with its built-in micro-pump. The liquid is pushed towards the
nebulizer. Together with a constant flow of a carrier gas, Nitrogen or Air, the liquid calibration
standard is nebulized at the tip of the nebulizer which is located in the spray- or evaporation-
chamber. A mass flow controller (MFC) controls the flow of the carrier gas.
The LCU-a (advanced version) contains a second aLFC. Using two aLFCs it is possible to change
the concentration of the liquid standard in the carrier gas, but still keep the overall water flow
(hence the gas humidity) constant.
In addition, the LCU-a contains an extra gas input that allows to add a controlled flow of various
gases (e.g. CO2 or a standard gas) to the carrier gas in the spray chamber. The additional
MFC is treated with a Sulfinert® coating to reduce surface effects.
Connections
Front Panel
Figure 1 shows the LCU-a front panel with its two liquid inlet ports (“Liquid Inlet 1/2”), the
calibration gas outlet (“Cal Gas Out”), and two overflow ports (one for the aLFCs (“Liquid”) and
one for the spray chamber (“Gas”)). Additionally there is a connection for a heating hose (“Hose
Heating”).

Connections Front Panel
Figure 1: The front panel of the LCU-a
Liquid Inlets
The liquid inlets can be connected to fluid containers using 1/16" PEEK line and finger-tight
PEEK nuts. An example is shown in Figure 2.
The Liquid container must not be completely airtight

The Liquid container must not be completely airtight: the under pressure
caused by the pump has to be compensated.
Figure 2: Connecting a liquid container to a LCU-a
Overflow Ports
Gas Overflow
© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 10 - All rights reserved.

The Gas overflow is connected to the spray chamber. As the nebulizer is generally operated
with a carrier gas flow of 1000sccm (standard cubic centimetres per minute), but the PTR-MS
usually requires lower flows (depending on the PTR-MS inlet flow settings), the overflow is
accomplished by this port.
Connect overflow to exhaust when calibrating toxic compounds.

A part of the produced calibration gas can exit the LCU through the overflow
port. Connect the overflow to a suitable, and pressure less exhaust, to prevent
those compounds to enter the room.
Whenever connections are fitted to this ports, ensure that two spanners are
used, i.e. use a counter spanner to hold the panel-mounted fitting in place.
Do not close the overflow port!

The overflow prevents the built-up of an elevated pressure in the LCU’s
evaporation chamber. Do not close this port completely unless you have other
means to prevent overpressure.
Liquid Overflows
The Liquid overflows are used when the aLFC’s are flushed (a mode for fast rinsing). Each port
can be connected with a 1/16’’ PEEK line and a finger tight PEEK nut. The calibration fluid
coming from the port should be collected in a container.

Calibration Gas Outlet

The inlet hose of the PTR-MS instrument (or other analyzers) are connected to the calibration gas
outlet (“Cal Gas Out”). This outlet is specially designed to avoid cold spots (and therefore
condensation) and additionally for a fast exchange of the Teflon® tube, which is the inner wall
of the spray chamber. Figure 3 shows how to connect the outlet with the heated inlet hose.
1. Pull out the custom made PEEK plug including the Teflon® tube.
2. Remove the Teflon® tube from the PEEK plug.
3. Insert the 1/16’’ PEEK lining that is coming out of the heated hose and already connected
to the PTR-MS in the PEEK plug. The Peek plug should be as close to the heating hose as
possible.
4. Connect the PEEK line to the PEEK plug by using a Ferrule and a PEEK nut.
5. Put the Teflon® tube back on the PEEK plug.
6. Pull the heating hose adapter over the Teflon® tube until the PEEK plug is all the way
inside the adapter.
7. Screw the heating hose adapter onto the LCU.

Connections Rear Panel
Figure 3: Connecting the calibration gas outlet, evaporation chamber, capillary and heated
hose.
Rear Panel
The rear panel of the LCU holds the supply voltage connection and power switch, as well as an
Ethernet port to connect the LCU via an Ethernet cable to a computer. The “Gas Inlet 1” is the
connection for the carrier gas, the “Gas Inlet 2” for an additional calibration gas. A picture of
the rear panel is shown in Figure 4. The “Gas Inlet 2” is a feature of the LCU-a and is not present
on the rear panel of the LCU-s.
Figure 4: The rear panel connections of the LCU

Getting Started Rear Panel
Gas Inlet 1
This port is connected to a MFC (0-1000sccm) and further with the nebulizer. Connect a gas
line to a carrier gas cylinder containing a pressure reducer. The pressure reducer has to be set
to about 5-6 bar(g) to supply sufficient pressure for the nebulizer to work.
Pressure at Gas Inlet 1 must be between 5.5 and 8 bar(g)!

Whenever connections are being made to these ports, ensure that two
spanners are used for the fittings, i.e. use a counter spanner to hold the panel-
mounted fitting in place.
Gas Inlet 2 (LCU-a only)

This port is connected to the spray chamber through a MFC (0-100sccm) with a Sulfinert®
coating. This port allows to add an additional standard gas (or e.g. CO2) to the calibration
gas. Connect a gas line from your standard gas cylinder to this inlet port. The gas line used
here should preferably be Teflon® or a Silcosteel® capillary. The minimum pressure should be
> 0.1 Bar, but must not exceed 8 bar(g).
Pressure at Gas Inlet 2 (LCU-a only) must be < 8 bar(g)!

A low pressure of ~ 0.1 bar(g) is sufficient.
Whenever connections are being made to these ports, ensure that two
spanners are used for the fittings, i.e. use a counter spanner to hold the panel-
mounted fitting in place.
Getting Started
The following step-by-step instruction guides you through the initial set-up of your LCU (Step 1
needs to be carried out just once).
1. Install the LCU Control Software on an external computer following the procedure
outlined in chapter Software Installation on page 15 of this manual.
2. Connect the LCU to the computer with the provided Ethernet cable.
3. Connect your LCU to the electrical mains supply using the provided cable and switch the
main power on at the back; the mains switch should glow red when the system is on.
4. The LCU is entirely software operated; refer to chapter LCU Control Software on page
19 of this manual for instructions on how to set the necessary configuration.
Follow the procedures outlined in the next section for individual settings to operate your LCU in
the desired mode!

Getting Started Software Installation
Ensure appropriate electrical connection!

Check your mains supply voltage with the operating voltage of the LCU, as
indicated on the specifications plate (on the rear panel of LCU).
Please ensure that you use an earthed (grounded) power cable (such as the
one supplied) to connect the LCU to the mains supply.
Software Installation
To install the LCU software, double-click on the setup.exe - file, which can be found in the
MSI_Installer_Package_LCU_Control folder on the USB-Stick that is delivered with the LCU. An
installer wizard will then guide you through the installation process.
The IP settings of your LCU are:
DEVICE-NAME: LCU
Device IP Address: 192.168.127.210
Device AMS Net ID: 192.168.127.210.1.1
Important: To establish a connection you also need to set the IP Address of YOUR computer to
an address in the regime 192.168.127.xxx; the sub-mask net needs to be set to
255.255.255.0
These adjustments can be done in the Windows Control Panel (or ask your IT-administrator).
After you have installed the LCU Control Software you need to re-start your computer.
System Requirements for Control Computer
Operating System: Windows XP or later
Available Hard Disk Space: LCU Software Package requires 10MB of available hard-disk
space.
Connecting the LCU with your Computer

Once the LCU Control software installation processes is completed, you need to connect the LCU
to your computer via the provided Ethernet cable.

Getting Started Connecting the LCU with your Computer
Ethernet
connection
Mains supply LCU

connection main power on/off switch
Figure 5: Use the provided Ethernet cable to connect the LCU with your computer.
You can use the same computer for LCU and PTR-MS
If a PTR-MS is part of your setup, both the LCU and the PTR-MS can be
connected to the same computer using an external Ethernet switch.
In this case read the next section for installation.

Getting Started Using your LCU with PTR-TOF-MS or PTR-QMS
300/500
Using your LCU with PTR-TOF-MS or PTR-QMS 300/500
If you want to install your LCU Software on the control computer of an IONICON PTR-TOF-MS
or an IONICON PTR-QMS you have to follow the following steps to set a so called ADS-Route
manually.
First you have to open the TwinCAT System Manager which is installed on your PTR-MS
Computer.You can access the System Manager from Windows start menu; Start -> All Programs
-> TwinCAT system -> TwinCAT System Manager.
In the TwinCAT System Manager software, select “SYSTEM-Configuration” in the left column of
the main window. Now click the button “Choose Target” on the General tab in the right window
and the following dialog will pop up.

Getting Started Using your LCU with PTR-TOF-MS or PTR-QMS
300/500
Click the “Search (Ethernet)” button and the “Add Route Dialog” will pop up.
By using the “Broadcast Search” button in the upper right corner your computer should find the
LCU hardware. Other TwinCAT related hosts (i.e. PTR-MS) may also be found as in the example
here.
Select the device with IP-address 192.168.127.210. Type “LCU” into the box “Route name”
and check “IP Address” instead of “Host Name”. Click Add Route.
After adding the new route there should be an “X“ in the column named “Connected” of the
selected device. Close the “Add Route Dialog”. Now your LCU Control Software should be able
to connect to your LCU.

Getting Started LCU Control Software
LCU Control Software

The LCU is completely software-controlled. The LCU Control software gives you full control over
the LCU. Therefore, you need to be familiar with the working principles of the LCU, and it is
strongly recommended to read through the this manual prior to work with the LCU software.
The LCU Control programme can be found in the Start / Programmes / LCU Control folder of
your computer. In the following a detailed description of the different control elements of the LCU
Control GUI is given.
Brief description of the different control elements and slide switches in Figure 6:
2 3
1 4
5
10
Figure 6: The LCU Control Software.
(1) Liquid Flow 1. If you want to change liquid flow 1, type a number into this box and press
the ENTER button, or the arrow button on the left side of the box. You can set a
flow between 0 and 50 (μl/min).
The Liquid Flow 2 panel operates in the same way.
(2) Shows the actual value of Liquid Flow 1.
(3) Shows the current set value of Liquid Flow 1.

Getting Started LCU Control Software
(4) Flush. If you tick the checkbox, the liquid flow controller flushes the pump with 3ml/min. In
flush mode, the liquid is not directed to the nebulizer but rather goes to the
liquid overflow output.
(5) Pump power. Shows the actual pump power in percent.
(6) Gas Flow Nebulizer. In this box you can set the carrier gas flow. It can be set between 0
and 1000sccm. The standard value for an ideal spray performance should be
1000sccm.
(7) Gas Flow Standard. In this box you can set the flow of an external standard gas. It can be
set between 0 and 100sccm.
(8) Temperature Spray Chamber. In this box you can set the spray chamber temperature. It can
be set up to 110°C.
(9) Temperature Heating Hose. In this box you can set the heating hose temperature, if a
heating hose is connected on the front panel. It can be set up to 110°C.
(10) Automate. If the button “Automate” is pressed, a new window opens (see Figure 7).
Within this window you can program steps for an automated calibration. All
individual parameters of the LCU are programmable: Delay [min] is the time
between the single steps in minutes. LSTD1/2 are the values for the liquid flow
controllers, NEB is the nebulizer gas flow, STD is the value for the standard gas,
Flush1/2 are the flush buttons. You can save settings with “Save”, and reload a
saved automation file (“Open”). If you tick the checkbox “loop”, you can loop
all steps. Pressing “Start” initiates the automation. A new step is automatically
added if you write values into the last line. If you want to delete a step, press
the right mouse button in the field left to the values and select “remove selected
step” in the window that appears.
Figure 7: Automation table.

Technical description of operation The active Liquid Flow Controller (aLFC)
Technical description of operation

This section reviews the operation of the LCU, with a step-by-step description of the gas and
liquid pathways and internal components. Use the schematic representation of the LCU provided
in Figure 8 as an aid to follow and understand the description. In Figure 9 the inside of the LCU
is displayed (view from top), to indicate the components.
Figure 8: Schematic of the LCU.
Figure 9: Inside the LCU – top view.
The active Liquid Flow Controller (aLFC)

The custom made aLFC’s (active liquid flow controller) consist of a micro-pump, a flow meter, a
3-way valve and the controlling electronics. It is capable to actively draw liquids with flow rates
between 0 and 50μl/min, the flows are PID-controlled. The outputs of the two aLFCs are
combined and further connected to the nebulizer.

Technical description of operation Calibration Procedure
Calibration Procedure
For a typical calibration procedure with the LCU-a, e.g. the “Liquid INLET 1” can be connected
to a calibration fluid, “Liquid INLET 2” to distilled water.
The “Gas Inlet 1” has to be connected to a carrier gas cylinder, the pressure must be set to 5-6
Bar. For an ideal spray performance the carrier gas flow has to be set to 1000sccm.
The combined liquid from aLFC 1 and aLFC 2 is now sprayed and evaporated inside the heated
spray chamber; the temperature of the chamber should be set to 100°C. This calibration gas
exits the LCU at the “Calibration Gas OUTLET”.
Additionally there is the possibility to add another gas via the “Gas Inlet 2”. The MFC in this line
can be adjusted between 0 and 100sccm. This gas goes directly into the spray camber and
mixes with the other gas.
Liquids used with LCU must be free of particles and non-volatiles!

The used liquids must be free of any particles with a size larger than 10μm.
Such particles can clog the lines and the nebulizer.
Non-volatiles such as salts, cannot evaporate and either remain in the
evaporation chamber or enter the sampling system as aerosols.
Calibration Example
This section describes an example for the preparation of a liquid calibration standard. In this
example the goal is a 10ppb-concentration of acetone ([acetone]ppb) in the gas when a liquid
flow of 5μl/min and a gas flow (

FG ) of 1000sccm are used.
According to the ideal gas law, 5μl/min liquid flow of water results in a 6.22 sccm gas flow
when evaporated ( FL → 5μl of water correspond to mass of 5mg (density of water ~1g/ml);
the mass of 5mg corresponds to 5mg/18.0153g/mol = 0.2775e-3mol; that amount of
substance corresponds according to the ideal gas law to a volume of 0.2775e-3mol *22.414
l/mol = 6.22e-3 l).
The gas concentration of Acetone after evaporation of the liquid is given by
FL
[acetone] ppb = C L ⋅
FG + FL ,
with C L the Acetone concentration in the liquid calibration standard. With the given numbers (
[acetone]ppb =10ppb, FL=6.22sccm, FG=1000sccm) the liquid concentration C L results in
1618ppb.
For the preparation of the liquid calibration standard it is more convenient to convert this number
into a volume ratio. Lets take one liter of clean water (must be free of any particles with a size
larger than 10μm). The amount of substance in one liter of water is 55.5 mol (→

Technical description of operation LCU service operations
1l*1000g/l/18.0153g/mol). For an acetone concentration of 1618ppb we need 89.8µmol of

Acetone (→ 1618e-9*55.5mol). Acetone has a molar volume of 0.07342l/mol. So we need
6.6µl of Acetone per one liter of water for the liquid calibration standard.
After preparing the liquid calibration standard, we connect the container to the “Liquid Inlet 1”
and a container with distilled water to the “Liquid Inlet 2”. With the two liquid inlets it is possible
to produce a calibration gas with different concentrations and a constant humidity. For example
if we set aLFC1 to 10μl/min and aLFC2 to 0μl/min, the result is a calibration gas with 20ppb
of acetone with a certain humidity (in this case with an absolute humidity of 20g/m3 if
1000sccm carrier gas are used). If we set both aLFC’s to 5μl/min, the Acetone concentration is
10ppbv, however, the humidity remains constant.
LCU service operations

This section outlines the service operations required for maintenance of the LCU.
Changing the aLFC-Pump

The micro-pump inside the aLFC is specified for around 5000 operating hours and can be easily
exchanged if needed. Also after contamination of the pump a quick exchange is convenient. To
exchange the pump:
1. Loosen screw1 and screw2 (shown in Figure 10).
2. Pull out the pump. (TIPP: This is easier with the help of a PEEK nut.)
3. Push the new pump into the slot. Make sure the rubber gasket is in place, as shown in
Figure 10, right. The golden pin contacts have to be in the upper right corner.
4. Tighten the screws
5. Test the functionality of the pump with distilled water
Screw 2
Screw 1
Rubber gasket
6.
Figure 10: Exchange of the micro-pump.
Changing the Teflon tube in the spray chamber

After a calibration with very sticky substances, it might be necessary to change the Teflon tube
in the spray chamber. The procedure is shown in Figure 3.

Trouble Shooting LCU service operations
Be careful when opening the LCU!

Disconnect LCU from mains power before opening! Be aware that the the
parts of the evaporation chamber are hiot,. Allow for sufficient cooling before
handling.
Replacement of the aLFC capillary

If the set flow can not be reached, a likely reason is that a particle in the liquid has clogged the
aLFC capillary (shown in Figure 11). The replacement of the capillary is simple: loosen both
1/32’’ PEEK nuts. Afterwards use a new capillary from the LCU replacement kit. Replace the
nuts in case they are broken. The capillary has an inner diameter of 125µm and outer diameter
of 1/32’’ and a length of 100mm.
aLFC Capillary
Figure 11: The aLFC capillary
Trouble Shooting
This section present solutions to various problems that could occur while using the LCU. Refer to
Figure 9 to identify the components.
The aLFC does not reach the set flow
This problem may be the most common one because of a possible clogging of different wetted
parts due to particles in the liquid (if the liquid is not filtered). Important is to find out which part
is clogged to replace it. Additionally the pump of the aLFC has limited operating hours (about
5000h) and needs to be replaced from time to time. The following list should help you to identify
the problem:

Trouble Shooting LCU service operations
• Flush the aLFC for a while with distilled, particle free water: if the water is pumped out
of the overflow (“Liquid”) with a rate of about 3ml/min, the pump is ok. If not, replace the pump
(see page p. 23, Changing the aLFC-Pump).
• If the pump is working properly, disconnect the 1/32’’ PEEK line at the PEEK three-way
connector which is combining the two liquid flows. Try now again if the set flow is reached, if
not replace the aLFC capillary (see page 24, Replacement of the aLFC capillary).
• If the aLFC is working properly when the 1/32’’ PEEK line at the PEEK three-way
connector is disconnected, connect the PEEK line again and disconnect the capillary which
connects the PEEK connector with the nebulizer at the nebulizer. Try again if the set flow is
reached. If not, replace that capillary and try again.
• If the aLFC is working properly when 1/32’’ PEEK capillary is disconnected from the
nebulizer, the nebulizer itself could be clogged. The nebulizer can be removed by pulling it out
of the spray chamber. Treat the nebulizer carefully, especially do not touch the tip! It is possible
to put the nebulizer into an ultrasonic bath for cleaning or to connect a gas line with a certain
pressure (1-3 Bar(g)) to the liquid line of the nebulizer to remove a potential particle. Connect
the nebulizer again, and check if the set liquid flow is reached.
Please contact IONICON Support if the problem still exists after troubleshooting.
The carrier gas does not reach the set flow
In this case the pressure could be too low at the nebulizer and you should increase the pressure
of the carrier gas.
No connection with the computer
The Ethernet cable is probably not connected properly. Check the connections at the LCU and
at the computer, or change the Ethernet cable. Additionally check the network settings of your
computer: the address of the LCU is set by default to 192.168.127.210. Assure that your
computer has an address in the same subnet and no Firewall is blocking the connection.
Pump and nebulizer are consumables.

The pump of the aLFC and the nebulizer are consumables with limited
warranty. To purchase a replacement kit, please contact IONICON.
Mount capillaries carefully!

The 1/32’’ PEEK plugs need to be mounted carefully otherwise the capillaries
are blocked.

Support How to contact the IONICON support team
Support
The IONICON support is your first address to assist, if you encounter problems with your LCU.
You can contact us by phone, mail or ask for a Skype connection to one of our experts.
What to do before reporting a problem:
• Check if any errors are indicated in the software.
• Check if all set values are correctly applied – act values equal to set values.
• If actual values do not respond to changes - restart the software.
• Are the set values in normal range? If unsure load factory settings.
• Check if all cables are properly connected.
• Test if the problem is reproducible.
• Does a reboot of the control computer solve the problem?
How to report a problem:
• Describe the problem.
• Describe if/how you already tried to solve the problem.
• Send screenshots of the software.
• Report the version of your software and the type and serial no. of your instrument.
Remote assistance (TeamViewer)
To help you locate and resolve the problem, we can access your instrument remotely. For this
you need to connect the control computer to the internet, download a special version of
TeamViewer, only available through the link below, unzip and start the program.
TeamViewer:
http://www.ionicon.com/sites/default/files/uploads/downloads/TeamViewerQS.zip
Software update:
On our support website you will also find up-to-date software versions and manuals for
download. Please visit our support page for further information:
http://www.ionicon.com/information/support/customer-support-overview .
How to contact the IONICON support team

E-mail: support@ionicon.com
Phone: +43 512 214 800
Postal address:IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H.
Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3
6020 Innsbruck
AUSTRIA (Europe)

LCU Manual 141027

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Liquid Calibration Unit

LCU-a & LCU-s

© IONICON Analytik Gesellschaft m.b.H. 2014

Copyright and Legal Note

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. -2- All rights reserved.

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. -3- All rights reserved.

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. -4- All rights reserved.

Replacement of the aLFC capillary ........................................................................... 24

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. -5- All rights reserved.

About this manual

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. -6- All rights reserved.

Equipment: Technical Specifications:

Gas calibration port • Flow: 0 … 100 sccm

Liquid flow • LCU-s: 1 liquid port (self-priming inlet)

Others • Fully computer controlled

Weight & Dimensions • Dimensions (35 x 35 x 15 cm; WxHxD)

Warranty • 12 months limited warranty on the instrument

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. -7- All rights reserved.

Caution, observe accompanying documents!

Attention to the user manual!

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. -8- All rights reserved.

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. -9- All rights reserved.

Figure 1: The front panel of the LCU-a

The Liquid container must not be completely airtight

Figure 2: Connecting a liquid container to a LCU-a

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 10 - All rights reserved.

Connect overflow to exhaust when calibrating toxic compounds.

Do not close the overflow port!

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 11 - All rights reserved.

Calibration Gas Outlet

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 12 - All rights reserved.

Figure 4: The rear panel connections of the LCU

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 13 - All rights reserved.

Pressure at Gas Inlet 1 must be between 5.5 and 8 bar(g)!

Gas Inlet 2 (LCU-a only)

Pressure at Gas Inlet 2 (LCU-a only) must be < 8 bar(g)!

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 14 - All rights reserved.

Ensure appropriate electrical connection!

Connecting the LCU with your Computer

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 15 - All rights reserved.

Mains supply LCU

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 16 - All rights reserved.

Using your LCU with PTR-TOF-MS or PTR-QMS 300/500

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 17 - All rights reserved.

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 18 - All rights reserved.

LCU Control Software

Figure 6: The LCU Control Software.

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 19 - All rights reserved.

Figure 7: Automation table.

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 20 - All rights reserved.

Technical description of operation

Figure 8: Schematic of the LCU.

Figure 9: Inside the LCU – top view.

The active Liquid Flow Controller (aLFC)

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 21 - All rights reserved.

Liquids used with LCU must be free of particles and non-volatiles!

flow of 5μl/min and a gas flow (

© 2013 IONICON Analytik Ges.m.b.H. - 22 - All rights reserved.

1l*1000g/l/18.0153g/mol). For an acetone concentration of 1618ppb we need 89.8µmol of

LCU service operations

Changing the aLFC-Pump

Changing the Teflon tube in the spray chamber