1 Problem Resolution Model 1130 & Model 1135 Frank Schaedlich 330 Nantucket Blvd. Toronto, Canada M1P 2P4 Rev 1.12 Aug 2004

2 Classes of Problems  System leaks  System contamination  Excessive restriction  Mechanical failures  Analytical problems

3 System Leaks Why are my blanks so high ?

4 Leak Points

5 Impactor Fittings  Difficult to detect  Will primarily affect the amount of particulate being detected Impactor Fittings  Difficult to detect  Will primarily affect the amount of particulate being detected Coupler:  Will give higher Hg 0 numbers during sampling  May also give bad zeros during desorb phase  Also applies to 1130 only systems (elbow) Coupler:  Will give higher Hg 0 numbers during sampling  May also give bad zeros during desorb phase  Also applies to 1130 only systems (elbow)

6 Leak Points RPF Tail Fitting Common source of leaks  Must tighten securely  Can use a layer of Teflon tape  RPF units can each be different RPF Tail Fitting Common source of leaks  Must tighten securely  Can use a layer of Teflon tape  RPF units can each be different Sample Filter - DM Common source of leaks  Takes practice to tighten up housing properly  Ensure membrane is not creased Sample Filter - DM Common source of leaks  Takes practice to tighten up housing properly  Ensure membrane is not creased

7 Leak Points Junction Tee  Big leak here can actually result in higher area counts during zeros than during sampling!  During sampling, Tee is filled with outside air (PM ON)  During zero, we have indoor air at Tee (PM OFF) Junction Tee  Big leak here can actually result in higher area counts during zeros than during sampling!  During sampling, Tee is filled with outside air (PM ON)  During zero, we have indoor air at Tee (PM OFF) Sodalime Trap  Check all four seal points!  Trap uses standard Quikgrip ® fittings Sodalime Trap  Check all four seal points!  Trap uses standard Quikgrip ® fittings

8 Leak Points Filter Holder – Model 2537A  Even more critical than usual because of low pressure at this point Filter Holder – Model 2537A  Even more critical than usual because of low pressure at this point Internal 2537A leak  If leak is in valve assembly, may result in bi-modal areas Internal 2537A leak  If leak is in valve assembly, may result in bi-modal areas

9 Restriction Points Why are my pump(s) racing?

10 Notes on Restriction  Every bit of restriction within the system is cumulative  Effect is non-linear  System will operate fine, with pumps loafing along  When the threshold is exceeded, one or both pumps will suddenly start racing as they attempt to meet their target flows

11 Restriction Points

12 Restriction Points Impactor  Becomes very restrictive if elutriator is screwed in too tightly  Keep impactor disk clean Impactor  Becomes very restrictive if elutriator is screwed in too tightly  Keep impactor disk clean RPF  Pack quartz wool loosely  Do not use too much wool  Repack filter more often under high particulate loadings RPF  Pack quartz wool loosely  Do not use too much wool  Repack filter more often under high particulate loadings

13 Restriction Points Pyrolyzer  Use only minimum quartz wool required to keep pyro fill chips in place  May use coarser fill quartz chips Pyrolyzer  Use only minimum quartz wool required to keep pyro fill chips in place  May use coarser fill quartz chips Sample Filter - DM  Make certain that you use a 1 µm glass membrane  Not 0.2 µm Teflon! Sample Filter - DM  Make certain that you use a 1 µm glass membrane  Not 0.2 µm Teflon!

14 Restriction Points Sodalime Trap  Use coarse S/L crystals (8 mesh)  Use minimum quartz/glass wool for packing ends  Pack all material loosely Sodalime Trap  Use coarse S/L crystals (8 mesh)  Use minimum quartz/glass wool for packing ends  Pack all material loosely Model 2537A Filter  Remember to change membrane often  Model 2537A itself may become restrictive  V2 or V3  Cartridges Model 2537A Filter  Remember to change membrane often  Model 2537A itself may become restrictive  V2 or V3  Cartridges

Can’t Maintain Flow  Sample path restriction  BPR set too high  V2 is restrictive

A Can’t Maintain Flow PM can maintain flow but 2537A pump can’t  Excessive upstream (1130 & 1135) restriction  There is such a high vacuum present at the Tee junction that 2537A can’t pump full flow against it  Reduce 2537A flow  Increase PM flow  Remember to change factors!  2537A has become internally restrictive

17 Impactor Cut Size vs. Flow  Impactor cut size is dependent on actual volumetric flow at current temp & pressure  Model 1130 and 2537A regulate flow based on liters/min at 760 mmHg, 0 °C  Good reason to lower pumping rate at high altitudes  Impactor cut size is dependent on actual volumetric flow at current temp & pressure  Model 1130 and 2537A regulate flow based on liters/min at 760 mmHg, 0 °C  Good reason to lower pumping rate at high altitudes

18 Impactor Cut Size vs. Flow

19 Common Contamination Points

20 Contamination Points ????

21 Contamination Points Impactor inlet Various Symptoms  Dirty impactor surfaces may:  Add or remove Hg 0 or RGM  May not result in high zero areas Impactor inlet Various Symptoms  Dirty impactor surfaces may:  Add or remove Hg 0 or RGM  May not result in high zero areas Coupler: Very high readings on 3 rd denuder heat cycle  Material may degas a lot of Hg when it gets hot  Clean with methanol  Vacuum oven  Also applies to 1130 only systems (union & elbow) Coupler: Very high readings on 3 rd denuder heat cycle  Material may degas a lot of Hg when it gets hot  Clean with methanol  Vacuum oven  Also applies to 1130 only systems (union & elbow)

22 Contamination Points RPF Low Hg 0 readings  Dirty RPF may scrub out elemental Hg when sampling  High zeros during desorb RPF Low Hg 0 readings  Dirty RPF may scrub out elemental Hg when sampling  High zeros during desorb Pyrolyzer High blanks  Ensure that only minimal quartz wool is used  Should not extend into tail area  Tail isn’t heated hot enough to ensure self cleaning Pyrolyzer High blanks  Ensure that only minimal quartz wool is used  Should not extend into tail area  Tail isn’t heated hot enough to ensure self cleaning

23 Contamination Points ¼” Coupling tubing High Blanks  May receive deposits  Particularly noticeable with Model 1130 only  Volatilized KCl ¼” Coupling tubing High Blanks  May receive deposits  Particularly noticeable with Model 1130 only  Volatilized KCl Heated Line High Blanks & ??  Heated line may scavenge Hg 0  May be responsible for cartridge “skunking” effect in some cases  Clean line as part of normal maintenance cycle Heated Line High Blanks & ??  Heated line may scavenge Hg 0  May be responsible for cartridge “skunking” effect in some cases  Clean line as part of normal maintenance cycle

24 Contamination Points Sodalime High Blanks  Change often with fresh soda lime  Do not buy large containers of the soda lime  Always keep tightly sealed in dry area  May also scavenge Hg  Preferably heated above the dew point of sample air Sodalime High Blanks  Change often with fresh soda lime  Do not buy large containers of the soda lime  Always keep tightly sealed in dry area  May also scavenge Hg  Preferably heated above the dew point of sample air 2537A Filter High Blanks  Sample filter should be replaced as part of normal maintenance cycle 2537A Filter High Blanks  Sample filter should be replaced as part of normal maintenance cycle

25 Contamination Points Water in Canisters High Blanks  Problems can occur if canisters become waterlogged. (TN-311) Only occurs if:  Warm humid air outdoors  Air conditioning indoors  Condensation can actually cause corrosion of canisters!  Probably responsible for passivation after desorb cycle  Use driest ambient air available  Use air dryer if required Water in Canisters High Blanks  Problems can occur if canisters become waterlogged. (TN-311) Only occurs if:  Warm humid air outdoors  Air conditioning indoors  Condensation can actually cause corrosion of canisters!  Probably responsible for passivation after desorb cycle  Use driest ambient air available  Use air dryer if required

26 Mechanical Problems

27 Pump Hunts during Desorb  Not a problem as long as zero air keeps flowing to impactor  Increase Zero flow setpoint  Increase BPR setting

28 Oven is Slow to Heat  Oven exhaust vent flapper is open  Ensure that flaps are free swinging and are operating properly  Ensure that 1130/35 are mounted perfectly upright!  Low line voltage  Get CVT (at least 1.5 kVA rating!) for 1130 or 1135  Defective heater  Check & replace

29 GFI Trips - A  Moisture inside of case  Check & replace door seal  Check top access door of 1135  Ensure mounting board is absolutely flat (Warped board may twist case)  Ensure door locks seal properly  If blowing rain or snow is being sucked in, you may need to cover case inlet vent

30 GFI Trips - B  Heater may be shorting  Usually only a problem with earlier generation heaters  T/C may be shorting to heating coils  Heating coils may be shorting to ground  Replace heater

31 Freezing of Zero Air Line  The only available solution here is to use dry outside air as zero air source  Even if the internal line was moved, insulated, etc., the air would frost up somewhere inside external zero air components  Must purge zero canisters of moisture when moving them from temperate to arctic conditions

32 Analytical Problems

33 Cartridges Skunked after Desorb - A  Ensure sufficient line voltage to analyzer (> 115 VAC/230 VAC)  Check voltage to analyzer during heating  Use Voltage stabilizer or high quality / capacity UPS  Check heater screws (8) for tightness

34 Cartridges Skunked after Desorb - B  Add sodalime trap (TN-304)  Wet or corroded zero air canisters (TN-311)  Replace canister(s) periodically  Install 1130 plumbing fix (TN-313)  Purge with dry gas to dry interior fill material  Use driest available ambient air source  Use gas drier (being evaluated by Tekran Aug, 2004)  Add Tenax trap (TN-310)

35 Sodalime problems  Replace soda lime  May have batch that has gone bad

36 Summary  These are the most common problems that have been experienced with the 1130/35 under field conditions  Appear to be resolvable in most cases