Epm Manual Prima PRO Sentinel PRO

Prima PRO / Sentinel PRO
Mass Spectrometers
User Guide
P/N 209-230-510
Revision 10
Part of Thermo Fisher Scientific

2013 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (Thermo Fisher) makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and
completeness of this manual. However, we cannot be responsible for errors, omissions, or any loss of data
as the result of errors or omissions. Thermo Fisher reserves the right to make changes to the manual or
improvements to the product at any time without notice.
The material in this manual is proprietary and cannot be reproduced in any form without expressed written
consent from Thermo Fisher.
Revision History
Revision Date Comments
Level
Rev 10 17/02/2016 Ex label changes
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide v
Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction......................................................................... 1-1
Chapter 2 Safety Information .............................................................. 2-1

Overview ....................................................................................... 2-1
Safety Conventions and Symbols ................................................. 2-2
System Safety ............................................................................... 2-3
Connecting the Instrument to the Electrical Supply .................. 2-4
Repair & Maintenance ............................................................... 2-4
Changing the Rotary Pump Oil .................................................. 2-4
Switching on the Rotary Pump .................................................. 2-4
High Temperatures .................................................................... 2-5
Rotary Pump Exhaust Outlet ..................................................... 2-5
Inlet System Exhaust ................................................................. 2-5
Gas Mixtures in the Inlet System ............................................... 2-6
Protective Clothing .................................................................... 2-6
Hazardous Materials .................................................................. 2-6
Hazardous Area Systems ........................................................... 2-7
Fan Noise ................................................................................... 2-7
Chapter 3 Site Requirements .............................................................. 3-1

Physical Installation ...................................................................... 3-1
Cable Entries ................................................................................. 3-2
Safe Area Systems ..................................................................... 3-2
Hazardous Area Systems ........................................................... 3-2
Computer and Communications ................................................... 3-2
Fibre Optic Communication ...................................................... 3-3
Hazardous Area Systems ........................................................ 3-3
Environment.................................................................................. 3-4
General ....................................................................................... 3-4
Temperature ............................................................................... 3-4
Humidity .................................................................................... 3-4
Vibration .................................................................................... 3-4
Particulate Contamination.......................................................... 3-4
Altitude ...................................................................................... 3-5
Inlet Gas Connections ................................................................... 3-5
Calibration Gases ....................................................................... 3-5
Sample Gases ............................................................................. 3-6
Exhaust Gas Connections ............................................................. 3-7
Power ............................................................................................ 3-8
Voltage and Frequency .............................................................. 3-8
Requirements ............................................................................. 3-8
Over-current Protection ........................................................... 3-10
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide vii
Contents
Power Quality .......................................................................... 3-10

Power Connection .................................................................... 3-10
Other Services ............................................................................. 3-10
Safe Area Systems ................................................................... 3-10
Dry Gas Vent ........................................................................ 3-10
Enclosure Purge .................................................................... 3-10
Hazardous Area Systems ......................................................... 3-11
Dry Gas Vent ........................................................................ 3-11
Rotary Pump Purge ............................................................... 3-11
Compressed Air Requirements ............................................. 3-12
Options ........................................................................................ 3-13
Pump Purge Gas ....................................................................... 3-13
Rotary Oil Box Purge............................................................ 3-13
Rotary Pump Ballast ............................................................. 3-13
Turbo Pump Bearing Purge .................................................. 3-13
External I/O Unit...................................................................... 3-14
Chapter 4 Handling & Storage ............................................................ 4-1

Receiving the Instrument .............................................................. 4-1
Unpacking the Instrument ............................................................. 4-2
Storing the Instrument................................................................... 4-2
Chapter 5 Installation & Interconnection ........................................... 5-1

Introduction ................................................................................... 5-1
Positioning the Instrument ............................................................ 5-1
Cable Connections ........................................................................ 5-1
General Requirements ................................................................ 5-1
Safe Area Systems .................................................................. 5-1
Power Connection ...................................................................... 5-2
Sentinel PRO Sample Pump Power Connection ..................... 5-4
Signal Connection ...................................................................... 5-4
Gas Connections ........................................................................... 5-4
Other Services ............................................................................... 5-4
Computer System .......................................................................... 5-5
Chapter 6 Commissioning .................................................................. 6-1

General .......................................................................................... 6-1
Procedure ...................................................................................... 6-1
Chapter 7 Startup & Shutdown ........................................................... 7-1

Startup ........................................................................................... 7-1
Procedure ...................................................................................... 7-1
Vacuum Gauge Trip Level......................................................... 7-4
viii Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Contents
Starting Scheduled Analysis ...................................................... 7-4

Checking Instrument Tuning and Mass Alignment ................... 7-5
Emission.................................................................................. 7-6
Peak Shape .............................................................................. 7-6
Sensitivity ............................................................................... 7-7
Detectors ................................................................................. 7-8
Mass Alignment ...................................................................... 7-8
Heaters .................................................................................. 7-10
Checking Instrument Status Parameters .................................. 7-10
Shutdown .................................................................................... 7-11
Introduction .............................................................................. 7-11
Shutdown Procedure ................................................................ 7-11
Emergency Shutdown .............................................................. 7-12
Chapter 8 Status & Tuning Parameters .............................................. 8-1

Instrument Status .......................................................................... 8-1
Source Tab .................................................................................... 8-2
Electron Energy ......................................................................... 8-2
Emission..................................................................................... 8-2
Filament Current ........................................................................ 8-2
Filament Current Limit .............................................................. 8-2
Filament Integrity ...................................................................... 8-3
Half Plate 1 and 2 Output Voltages ........................................... 8-3
In Current Limit ......................................................................... 8-3
Ion Energy.................................................................................. 8-3
Repeller Voltage ........................................................................ 8-4
Source Current ........................................................................... 8-4
Source Temperature ................................................................... 8-4
Trap Current ............................................................................... 8-4
Analyser Tab ................................................................................. 8-5
ASU Controller Status ............................................................... 8-5
Cabinet Temperature.................................................................. 8-5
Electronics Temperature ............................................................ 8-5
Magnet Controller Status ........................................................... 8-5
Mass Filter ................................................................................. 8-6
Pressure Set Point ...................................................................... 8-6
System Pressure ......................................................................... 8-6
System Pressure Trip ................................................................. 8-7
Turbo Motor Current ................................................................. 8-7
Turbo Operating Hours .............................................................. 8-7
Turbo Speed ............................................................................... 8-7
Turbo Speed Interlock ............................................................... 8-8
Vacuum ...................................................................................... 8-8
Vent Valve ................................................................................. 8-8
Inlet ............................................................................................... 8-8
Pressure Raw.............................................................................. 8-8
RMS Ambient Temperature....................................................... 8-8
RMS Body Temp ....................................................................... 8-8
RMS Controller Status ............................................................... 8-8
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide ix
Contents
RMS Sample Flow Sensor ......................................................... 8-8

RMS Flow Zero ......................................................................... 8-8
RMS Position ............................................................................. 8-8
Sample Tube Current ................................................................. 8-8
Sample Tube Temperature ......................................................... 8-9
Collector Tab ................................................................................ 8-9
Faraday Deflector....................................................................... 8-9
Multiplier Deflector ................................................................... 8-9
Multiplier Voltage ...................................................................... 8-9
Negative and Positive Quad Lens Voltages ............................... 8-9
Resolution .................................................................................. 8-9
Power .......................................................................................... 8-10
Amplifier +24V........................................................................ 8-10
Analyser Supplies +24V .......................................................... 8-10
Instrument CPU 24V................................................................ 8-10
Fan 24V .................................................................................... 8-10
Inlet Probe Current ................................................................... 8-10
Magnet Supply Current ............................................................ 8-11
Magnet Sync AC ...................................................................... 8-11
Power Controller Status ........................................................... 8-11
Turbo 24V ................................................................................ 8-11
User IO 24V ............................................................................. 8-11
Vent Valve 24V ....................................................................... 8-11
Communications ......................................................................... 8-11
Host Comms Quiet................................................................... 8-11
User I/O 0 Comms Quiet ......................................................... 8-11
VGiNet ..................................................................................... 8-12
Checking Mass Alignment .......................................................... 8-12
Chapter 9 Fault Diagnosis................................................................... 9-1

Introduction ................................................................................... 9-1
Alarm Conditions .......................................................................... 9-1
Leak Detection .............................................................................. 9-4
Mass Spectrometer Faults ............................................................. 9-5
No Peaks .................................................................................... 9-5
Poor Sensitivity .......................................................................... 9-6
Poor Stability on Startup ............................................................ 9-6
Poor Results Following Calibration ........................................... 9-7
Ion Source and Magnet Pole Pieces Assembly .......................... 9-8
Filament Failure ............................................................................ 9-8
Chapter 10 Maintenance...................................................................... 10-1

Maintenance Schedule ................................................................ 10-1
Procedures ................................................................................... 10-1
Rotary Pump Oil Level ............................................................ 10-1
Cleaning the Cooling Fans ....................................................... 10-2
x Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Contents
Lubricating the Turbo Molecular Pump .................................. 10-3

Dismantling and Cleaning Procedures ........................................ 10-3
Filament ................................................................................... 10-3
Ion Source ................................................................................ 10-5
Magnet Pole Piece Assembly .................................................. 10-8
Fuses ...................................................................................... 10-10
Appendix A Hazardous Area Operation ............................................... A-1

Introduction .................................................................................. A-1
Installation ................................................................................ A-2
General Hazardous Area Work ................................................. A-3
Commissioning and Maintenance ............................................. A-3
Routine Checks ......................................................................... A-4
Hazardous Area General ........................................................... A-4
Area Classification .................................................................... A-4
Gas Classification ..................................................................... A-5
Methods of Protection ............................................................... A-5
Purge/Pressurisation............................................................... A-5
Flameproof (Europe) or Explosion Proof (North America) .. A-6
Increased Safety ..................................................................... A-7
Non-Electrical ........................................................................ A-7
Purge Operation ........................................................................... A-8
Purge Overview ........................................................................ A-8
Purge Operation Requirements ................................................. A-9
Parameter Measurement ...................................................... A-10
Sample Containment System .................................................. A-11
Definition and Description................................................... A-11
Parameters ............................................................................ A-11
Leakage Handling ................................................................ A-11
Inspection and Testing ......................................................... A-13
Enclosure Leak Testing .......................................................... A-14
Purge Operation and Testing .................................................. A-15
All System Types ................................................................. A-15
ATEX, IECEx and X-Purge Systems .................................. A-15
Z-Purge Systems .................................................................. A-16
Other Hazardous Area Considerations ...................................... A-16
Temperature ............................................................................ A-16
Over-Temperature Protection .............................................. A-16
Batteries .................................................................................. A-17
Dry Gas Vent .......................................................................... A-17
Rotary Vacuum Pump ............................................................. A-18
General ................................................................................. A-18
Thermal Trip ........................................................................ A-18
Purge .................................................................................... A-18
Calibration Panels ................................................................... A-19
Air Conditioner ....................................................................... A-20
Remote / Dual RMS................................................................ A-20
RMS and Instrument in Hazardous Area ............................. A-20
RMS in Hazardous Area and Instrument in Safe Area ........ A-20
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide xi
Contents
Sample Pump (Sentinel PRO Applications) ........................... A-21

Fibre Optic Communications .................................................. A-21
Service Replacement Items ........................................................ A-21
Troubleshooting ......................................................................... A-23
Standards Conformance ............................................................. A-25
Appendix B Technical Description: Hardware ......................................B-1

Introduction to the Prima PRO Hardware .................................... B-1
Main Components ..................................................................... B-1
Principle of Operation .................................................................. B-2
Vacuum System ........................................................................... B-4
Ion Source .................................................................................... B-5
Filaments ................................................................................... B-7
Mass Analyser .............................................................................. B-9
Collector ....................................................................................... B-9
Ion Detection .............................................................................. B-10
MCP Detector Assembly ........................................................ B-10
MCP Operation ....................................................................... B-11
Faraday Detector ..................................................................... B-13
Introduction of a Gas Sample .................................................... B-13
Mass Spectrometer Parameters .................................................. B-15
Sensitivity ............................................................................... B-15
Resolution ............................................................................... B-15
Cracking Patterns ....................................................................... B-17
Ion Types ................................................................................ B-17
Molecular Ion ....................................................................... B-17
Isotope Ions .......................................................................... B-17
Fragment Ions ...................................................................... B-18
Multiple-Charged Ions ......................................................... B-18
Rearrangement and Recombination Peaks........................... B-18
Definitions............................................................................... B-19
Appendix C Technical Description: Inlet...............................................C-1

Rapid Multi-Stream Sampler (RMS) ........................................... C-1
Introduction ............................................................................... C-1
Safety ........................................................................................ C-1
Inlet Specification ..................................................................... C-2
Inlet Operation .......................................................................... C-3
General Description ............................................................... C-3
Connection to the Mass Spectrometer ................................... C-4
Seals ....................................................................................... C-4
Inlet Selection ........................................................................ C-5
Calibration Gas Control ......................................................... C-5
Gas Connection ...................................................................... C-6
Exhaust Connection ............................................................... C-7
Heating ................................................................................... C-8
Hazardous Area Systems ....................................................... C-9
Inlet Controller ........................................................................ C-10
General ................................................................................. C-10
xii Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Contents
Calibration Valve Drives ..................................................... C-10

Main Body Heater ................................................................ C-10
Sample Tube Heater............................................................. C-11
Flow Sensor ......................................................................... C-11
Digital Inputs ....................................................................... C-11
VGiNet ................................................................................. C-11
Inlet Testing ............................................................................ C-12
Functional Testing ............................................................... C-12
Cross Port Leakage ................................................................. C-14
External Leakage .................................................................... C-15
Maintenance ............................................................................ C-15
Routine Maintenance ........................................................... C-16
Sample Tube Removal ............................................................ C-19
Inlet Ports ................................................................................ C-21
Cleaning Procedure ................................................................. C-21
Inlet Options ........................................................................... C-22
Remote Mounting ................................................................ C-22
Dual RMS ............................................................................... C-23
Solenoid Inlet ............................................................................. C-27
Introduction ............................................................................. C-27
Safety ...................................................................................... C-27
Inlet Operation ........................................................................ C-28
Valve Operation ................................................................... C-30
Capillary Connection ........................................................... C-30
Heating ................................................................................. C-31
Inlet Controller ........................................................................ C-31
General ................................................................................. C-31
Valve Drives ........................................................................ C-32
Manifold Heater ................................................................... C-32
Microcapillary Block Heater ............................................... C-32
Flow Sensor ......................................................................... C-32
Digital Inputs ....................................................................... C-32
VGiNet ................................................................................. C-33
Testing .................................................................................... C-33
Capillary Testing.................................................................. C-33
Valve Function ..................................................................... C-34
Cross Seat Leakage .............................................................. C-34
External Leakage ................................................................. C-35
Maintenance ............................................................................ C-36
Calibration Inlet ................................................................... C-36
Sample Inlet ......................................................................... C-38
Cleaning Procedure .............................................................. C-39
Appendix D Local I/O ............................................................................. D-1

Introduction .................................................................................. D-1
Serial I/O ...................................................................................... D-1
Serial Link Type Selection ....................................................... D-1
Indicators .................................................................................. D-2
Fibre Optic Serial Connection .................................................. D-2
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide xiii
Contents
Discrete I/O .................................................................................. D-4

Supplying Power to the External I/O Circuit ............................ D-4
Indicators................................................................................... D-4
Analogue I/O ............................................................................. D-5
Appendix E Air Conditioner ................................................................... E-1

Introduction .................................................................................. E-1
Normal Operation ........................................................................ E-1
Fault Conditions ........................................................................... E-2
Fault Diagnosis ............................................................................ E-3
Appendix F Regulatory........................................................................... F-1

FCC .............................................................................................. F-1
WEEE .......................................................................................... F-2
China RoHS ................................................................................. F-3
xiv Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Chapter 1
Introduction
This manual is provided for users, operators, and owners of Thermo
Scientific Mass Spectrometers.
This manual covers both the Thermo Scientific Prima PRO,
Sentinel PRO, Prima PRO Ex (hazardous area), and Sentinel PRO Ex
(hazardous area) instrumentation.
Note: The name Prima PRO will be used exclusively in subsequent

chapters. Sentinel PRO is identical to Prima PRO except for the
following:
Inlet: A membrane assembly replaces the Prima PRO

capillary, molecular leak, and bypass.
Collector slits: Are 0.36 mm / 0.69 mm as opposed to the
standard 1.0 mm / 4.0 mm on the Prima PRO.
Information in this is organized in chapters and covers site
preparation, installation, commissioning, operation, and
maintenance. Technical descriptions of the instrument and various
inlet configurations are provided as individual appendices.
Contacts
For sales and support of the Prima PRO / Sentinel PRO
instrumentation, the Thermo Fisher Process Instruments main offices
are detailed below.
Americas
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Process Instruments Division
1410 Gillingham Lane
Sugar Land, Texas 77478 USA
Phone: 713-272-0404
Fax: 713-272-4573
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide 1-1
Introduction
Contacts
Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Europe
Ion Path
Road Three
Winsford Industrial Estate
Winsford
Cheshire
CW7 3GA
UK
Phone: +44 (0)1606 548700
Fax: +44 (0)1606 548711
China
Thermo Fisher Scientific, China
Building 6,
No.27 Xin Jinqiao Rd.
Shanghai
China 201206
Tel: +86(21)6865 4588
Fax: +86(21)6445 1101
Web Site
www.thermofisher.com
1-2 Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Chapter 2
Safety Information
This chapter contains general safety and operating information
Overview applicable to analytical systems that must be understood by all
persons installing, using, or maintaining the system. This information
is designed to aid personnel in the safe installation, operation, and
service of the analyser and sample systems. It is not designed to
replace or limit appropriate safety measures applicable to work
performed by personnel. Any additional safety and operating
measures that are required must be determined by and followed by
personnel performing work on the system.
It is the responsibility of the user / operator / integrator (hereon
referred to as user) to perform risk assessments of the site location,
installation and operation of the instrumentation. This manual
highlights hazards associated with the instrument and provides
details of precautions to be taken to ensure safe operation. The user
must account for the information provided and put in place
procedures to ensure for the safety of personnel and plant.
To ensure personal safety, system integrity, and optimum
performance, users should thoroughly understand the content of this
manual before installing, using, or performing maintenance on this
product.
Failure to follow appropriate safety procedures or inappropriate
use of the equipment described in this manual can lead to
equipment damage or injury to personnel.
Any person working with or on the equipment described in this
manual is required to evaluate all functions and operations for
potential safety hazards before commencing work. Appropriate
precautions must be taken as necessary to prevent potential damage
to equipment or injury to personnel.
Only qualified technical personnel should access the analyser
enclosure.
If in doubt as to the instructions and information provided or if you
have additional questions regarding the product, a service or support
request, contact your nearest Thermo Fisher Scientific representative
for process mass spectrometers.
Safety Information
Safety Conventions and Symbols
Safety
The following conventions and symbols are used throughout this
Conventions manual to alert users to potential hazards or important information.
and Symbols Failure to heed the warnings and cautions in this manual can
lead to injury or equipment damage.
Warning / Danger
Warning / Danger statements notify users of procedures, practices,

conditions, etc. which may result in serious injury or death if not
carefully observed or followed. The triangular icon displayed with a
warning varies depending on the type of hazard (only two are
displayed here).
Prohibited
These statements explicitly PROHIBIT an action. Ignoring an

instruction related to a hazard highlighted with this symbol may
cause an unsafe condition that could result in an accident.
Caution
Cautions notify users of operating procedures, practices, conditions,

etc. that may result in equipment damage or cause injury if not
carefully observed or followed.
Caution
Statements accompanied by this caution symbol explicitly require

an action be taken. Ignoring an instruction related to a hazard or
instruction highlighted with this symbol may cause an unsafe
condition which could result in an accident.
Note
Notes emphasize important or essential information or a statement of

company policy regarding an operating procedure, practice,
condition, etc.
Safety Information
System Safety
The information in this manual is designed to aid personnel to

correctly and safely install, operate, and / or maintain the system
described; however, personnel are still responsible for considering all
actions and procedures for potential hazards or conditions that may
not have been anticipated in the written procedures. If a procedure
cannot be performed safely, it must not be performed until
appropriate actions can be taken to ensure the safety of the
equipment and personnel.
The procedures in this manual are not designed to replace or
supersede required or common sense safety practices. All safety
warnings listed in any documentation applicable to equipment and
parts used in or with the system described in this manual must be
read and understood prior to working on or with any part of the
system.
Failure to correctly perform the instructions and procedures in
this manual or other documents pertaining to this system can
result in equipment malfunction, equipment damage, and / or
injury to personnel.
Warning! Deviation from the instructions may result in equipment

malfunction, equipment damage, and / or injury to personnel.
Read this manual before operating the instrument! In particular,

System review the following cautionary statements.
Safety
Caution! Only qualified personnel trained in the safe operation of
the Prima PRO / Sentinel PRO hardware should have access to the
cabinet door keys.
Caution! Never disregard any cautionary or warning instructions.

Read and observe all instructions on printed labels fixed to the
instrument.
Caution! Failure to operate the instrument as specified could

impair the protection features provided and described in this guide.
Hazards exist within the instrument enclosure, and the remainder of

this chapter details any necessary precautions to be taken. Read the
following safety notes carefully before attempting to operate or work
on the instrument.
Safety Information
System Safety
Connecting the
Instrument to the
Electrical Supply
Caution!
Check that the mains supply satisfies the requirements

detailed in Chapter 3: Site Requirements.
Connection must be made by qualified personnel only.
Observe the instructions provided in Chapter 3: Site
Requirements, and ensure that the connection is consistent
with local safety regulations.
Repair & When performing repair or maintenance on the instrument:

Maintenance
Warning! Before attempting to carry out repairs or maintenance,

isolate the mains electrical supply.
Caution! Maintenance should be carried out by qualified personnel

only.
Changing the
Rotary Pump Oil
Warning! Allow the pump oil to cool before draining.
Switching on the
Rotary Pump
Caution! Check that the oil level is between the two markers on the
oil level window before switching on the rotary pump.
Safety Information
System Safety
High
Temperatures Warning! The following assemblies may attain a surface
temperature as listed:
Rapid Multi-Stream Sampler (RMS) and Single Point Inlet

System: 120C.
Single Point Inlet System (High Temperature Version):
230C.
RMS Sample Probe: 120C.
Inlet Probe Assembly: 120C.
Rotary pump operating temperature: 75C.
Rotary Pump
Exhaust Outlet
Warning! Ensure that the rotary pump is unobstructed. Failure to
do so will cause dangerous internal pressures in the pump. This will
result in blown seals and bursting of the oil box and could result in
physical injury.
Inlet System
Exhaust
Warning! A leak-tight exhaust must be fitted to the inlet system
when sampling gas streams which are:
Explosive
Toxic
Asphyxiant
Safety Information
System Safety
Gas Mixtures in
the Inlet System
Warning! All gases flowing into multi-stream inlets (e.g. RMS)

mix in the common exhaust. Consideration should be given to the
creation of potentially explosive or toxic mixtures in the valve and
exhaust as a result of incompatible sample streams. See Exhaust
Gas Connections in Chapter 3.
Protective
Clothing
Warning! It is recommended that the following personal protective
equipment (PPE) is used when performing the following tasks:
Changing rotary pump oil: Safety glasses, overalls and rubber

gloves.
Changing or removing the glass leak: Safety glasses.
Connecting sample lines: Safety glasses.
Changing a filament: Rubber gloves.
Hazardous
Materials
Warning! The substances listed below are potentially hazardous.
Thoria filaments: Thoria is naturally radioactive and should

not be ingested. When handling wear rubber gloves. Old
filament assemblies can, however, be treated in general
waste.
Rotary pump oil: Must not be ingested. It is a possible
irritant. Keep away from skin, especially open wounds.
Waste oil is to be disposed of in an environmentally
responsible manner.
Gas lines: It is the users responsibility to check the integrity
of gas lines taking samples to the instrument. Special care
must be taken when dealing with toxic gases.
Safety Information
System Safety
Hazardous Area
Systems
Warning! Specific safety considerations for installation,
commissioning, operation, and maintenance of the Prima PRO Ex
and Sentinel PRO Ex instruments in hazardous areas are given in
Appendix A: Hazardous Area Operation. The points covered in that
section must be considered in addition to the points above.
For Ex systems, the instructions in Appendix A: Hazardous

Area Operation take precedence over content in the rest of the
manual.
For Ex systems, always defer to the instruction in Appendix
A: Hazardous Area Operation.
Fan Noise
Note: At full speed, the noise level from the air conditioner fan can
be up to 65 dBA. Although this is below a level considered harmful,
it can be intrusive if the installation is in a confined space, laboratory
environment, or where ambient background noise levels are low.
If the installation is in an environment where ambient temperatures

are not expected to exceed 30C, a speed limiter can be switched in
to the fan supply, which will reduce the maximum noise level to < 55
dBA.
Chapter 3
Site Requirements
Note: Further information on many of the items covered in this
chapter can be found elsewhere in this manual or on the installation
drawing for the particular instrument configuration.
Physical The instrument comprises a single enclosure fixed to a mounting

Installation frame. A vacuum pump (or pumps) is mounted on the frame base
below the enclosure. The frame is supplied with wheels brackets for
ease of initial positioning. There are three options for the physical
installation of the main unit.
Wheels removed, fixed to the floor.
Wheels removed, standing on the floor but fixed to a wall.
Free standing with wheels fitted.
Caution! The unit is not suitable for (1) free standing with the
wheels removed or (2) fixing to a wall where the base is not in
contact with the ground.
Note:
The dimensions of the system vary, depending on the options

chosen for a particular application, safe / hazardous area, inlet
type, mounting method, etc.
The installation drawing for the particular configuration
should be consulted for detailed dimensional information.
The installation drawing will also provide details of fixing
points and additional space required for air flow and service
access.
The complete system may include items not mounted on the
main instrument frame (IO systems, remote inlet systems
etc). Such items are typically wall mounted. The installation
drawing should be consulted for details.
Site Requirements
Cable Entries
Cable Entries
Safe Area
A blank gland plate is supplied in the enclosure base. This is the only
Systems place where drilling the enclosure for user cable entries is allowed.
See Chapter 5: Installation & Interconnection for further details.
Hazardous Area
Systems
Warning! Heed the following warnings for hazardous area
systems:
No user electrical connections (power or signal) are made

within the instrument enclosure.
All electrical connections are to be made to the flameproof
box above the main enclosure (or to additional flameproof
boxes in the case of extended I/O). See Chapter 5: Installation
& Interconnection for further details.
If the fibre optic communication option has been ordered, the
fibre connection point is within the enclosure, and this is the
only situation where cable entry to the purged enclosure is
permitted.
See Chapter 5: Installation & Interconnection for further
details. See below for details of fibre optic cable
requirements.
Computer and
A computer specification can be requested from Thermo Fisher
Communications Scientific if required. Most modern PCs are suitable, but they should
ideally incorporate at least one serial port. This functionality can be
provided through a USB-to-serial converter.
Contact the factory regarding compatibility with different versions of
Microsoft Windows operating system.
If a permanent PC connection is planned, the most common
configuration, physical space, and a mains power supply are
required. The PC can be local to the instrument or remote depending
on requirements and the area classification of the instrument
location.
The PC is connected to the instrument enclosure via a serial link.
Connection is to the host terminals on the CPU IO PCB in the
bottom left of the enclosure, through the gland plate. Other serial
connections, such as link to DCS, are also made here.
Site Requirements
Computer and Communications
Warning! On Ex systems, connection is made to an equivalent set

of terminals in the flameproof box above the instrument enclosure.
A number of serial formats are possible:

a. RS232 simple 3-wire link, transmission distance 5 meters.
May be extended by the use of good quality screened cable.
b. RS422 4-wire, full duplex link, extended transmission
distances. For the host link, this is likely to require an RS422-
232 converter for connection to the PC (available as an
option).
c. RS485 2-wire, half duplex link, extended transmission
distances. Cannot be used for the host link.
Fibre Optic The fibre optic communication option can be used to extend
Communication transmission distances for the above communication formats by up to
1000 meters. When selected for any given link (there are five links
that can use fibre optic communication), a pair of fibre optic
converters is supplied. One is to be fitted in the instrument enclosure
and the other at the remote end, PC / DCS.
The interconnecting fibre optic cables (a pair of fibre cores for each
link) must:
a. have ST terminations
b. support multimode operation
c. be compatible with LED drivers.
It is recommended that one or two spare fibre pairs are included in
multi-core cable runs to allow for future expansion.
It should be noted that selection, installation, and termination of the
fibre optic cable is a user / installer responsibility.
Hazardous Area
Systems Warning! Where fibre optic links are selected for use with a
hazardous area system the following additional requirements must be
met:
The remote fibre optic converter (i.e. not installed in the

purged instrument enclosure) must be located wholly within a
safe area or a suitably protected enclosure (e.g. Exd, Exp).
The fibre optic cable must have a suitable degree of
protection, e.g. steel wire armour or equivalent.
Site Requirements
Environment
Environment
General
Note: The system should be located indoors or in an analyser
shelter, or similar, to provide for basic physical and weather
protection. Contact with water sources, chemicals, etc. should also be
avoided.
The operating temperature should be between 12C and 40C.

Temperature Sudden step changes in temperature (>10C) should be avoided.
Humidity Relative humidity should be 90% maximum, non-condensing.
Vibration The vibration frequency and amplitude should be within the limits
shown in the following table.
Table 31. Vibration Limits
Frequency Maximum Amplitude
20 Hz 5 mm
60 Hz 1 mm
200 Hz 0.05 mm
> 200 Hz 0.01 mm
Where necessary, the instrument should be isolated from sources of

vibration by use of suitable mountings. Transmission of vibration
along pipes and conduit should also be considered.
Particulate
Contamination
Note:
Where possible, the instrument should be positioned in an

environment free of particulate contamination.
Although the instrument enclosure is sealed and largely
immune to dust, the operation of the air conditioner will
become impaired over time and will require more frequent
maintenance.
Site Requirements
Inlet Gas Connections
Inspect the condition of the heat exchanger fins on a regular

basis. Clean as required.
Altitude Altitude must be less than 2000 m.
Inlet Gas
Calibration and sample gas lines to single or multi-point inlet options
Connections are connected with Swagelok compression fittings (1/8 or 1/4 or 6
mm, as defined in the order). All fittings are supplied with PTFE
plugs fitted (ferrules packed separately) to provide a seal during
transit. These can be used as seals for unused ports, but it is
recommended that for long term use, particularly at elevated
temperatures, Swagelok plugs are substituted.
Calibration Calibration panels (six gas inlets per panel) are used in conjunction
Gases with some inlet types to control calibration gas flow. A line pressure
of 1 bar(g) (adjustable for fine tuning) will give the required flow
rates, typically 150 cm3/min for Prima PRO instruments and 5 l/min
for Sentinel PRO instruments.
For some inlets (e.g. RMS and solenoid) flow is monitored internally
by the system. If the inlet configuration selected does not have this
feature external flow monitoring will be required.
Calibration gases lines connect to the panel via 1/8 or 1/4 or 6 mm
compression fittings, as defined in the order.
Calibration gases required for a given application are specified with
the quotation or application document. Contact the factory if this
document is not available.
Note: Depending on complexity and constituents, some calibration

gas mixtures may have long purchase lead times.
Calibration gases should be of the highest quality with a certificate of

analysis from the manufacturer giving a concentration tolerance for
each component. Helium gas (for instrument background
measurement) should be at least 99.995% pure.
Gas consumption will depend on specified use and gas type. Each
line selected during calibration will be required to flow for between
15 seconds and 5 minutes, depending on factors such as gas type,
line length, line integrity, etc.
In addition to calibration cycles, some gases may also be designated
for instrument test or check functions. The frequency and duration of
these additional duties need to be accounted for in establishing likely
consumption rates and to schedule the ordering of replacement
cylinders.
Site Requirements
Inlet Gas Connections
Note: The accuracy of analytical data produced by the instrument is

directly related to the accuracy, quality, and stability of the
calibration gases. In addition to the accuracy of certification,
attention should also be given to factors such as shelf life and storage
conditions (temperatures and bottle orientation, for example) that
could result in effects such as condensation, stratification, or
degradation, all of which could influence the quality of calibration.
Seek advice from your gas supplier.
Double stage regulators with 0-2 bar(g) (adjustable) output stages

and 40 bar (maximum) outlet pressure relief should be used with the
gas cylinders (pressure relief is not required if the cylinder pressure
is less than 40 bar). It is the user's responsibility to provide
calibration gas cylinders, regulators, and pipe work from each
cylinder to the calibration panel and safe venting of pressure relief
valves.
Caution! Regulators and line materials must be compatible with

the gases in question. The use of good quality regulators ensures
reliable calibration gas flow, especially for unattended operations.
It is the users responsibility to install sample lines to the

Sample Gases instruments inlet assembly. The line material must be compatible
with the sample gas stream composition and operating temperatures.
Caution!
Each sample stream should be reviewed with regard to

sample conditioning / filtering.
As a minimum, each line should be filtered to prevent
particulate contamination.
Even where dust levels in the sample gas are very low, it is
recommended that a 2 m particulate filter with a capacity
appropriate to the dust loading of the sample gas be fitted.
If significant quantities of dust particles < 2 m are present, a
smaller pore size filter should be used.
Precautions must be taken to prevent liquid in any form
(liquid condensate, foam, aerosols, etc.) from entering the
inlet system.
Suitable traps and / or heated lines, avoiding cold spots,
should be used.
Site Requirements
Exhaust Gas Connections
Sample flow must be regulated. Typical flows are:

0.5 l/min for Prima PRO
5 l/min for Sentinel PRO
Flows in the range 0.1to 10.0 l/min for Prima PRO and 2 to 10 l/min
for Sentinel PRO can exist in certain configurations / installations.
Consult the factory or the manual for the specific inlet type fitted.
Exhaust Gas
There are two gas outlets from the instrument that should exhaust
Connections outside the work area either to atmosphere or a suitable vent system.
Rotary pump exhaust: 1/2 hose connection (2 for some
applications).
Inlet system exhaust: Connection specific to the inlet type. 1.0"
OD tube stub for RMS, 1/4 or 6 mm for most other inlet types.
On Sentinel PRO, a sample pump is normally fitted to the
exhaust port of the RMS inlet. The inlet exhaust in this case is
that of the pump, typically a hose connection, size dependent on
the pump size.
Note: The following should be taken into account:
Exhaust temperature can reach 120C depending on inlet

type.
An exhaust line compatible with the gas composition and
temperatures must be used.
To avoid condensate returning to the inlet assembly, it may
be necessary to heat the line or fit a suitable liquid trap.
Fitting an exhaust line, angled downwards over its full length,
will aid in drainage of any condensate and in many instances
may be sufficient.
Users are responsible for assessing the composition and
physical characteristics of sample streams, the risks of
condensation, and taking appropriate measures to protect the
inlet system.
Caution!
An inert gas feed can be added to the inlet exhaust stream to

dilute corrosive, reactive, condensable, or hazardous (e.g.
explosive) gas mixtures.
In some instances explosive gas mixtures may form by
mixing different process gases in the common exhaust of
the inlet system.
Site Requirements
Power
In other cases, mixed streams can react together to form

condensable or polymeric materials.
The addition of an inert gas stream can reduce or avoid the
need for the use of special materials, heat tracing of the
exhaust line, etc.
Inert gas flow requirements will be application specific.
Assessing the suitability of an inert gas addition to the
exhaust stream, its provision, and monitoring are the
responsibility of the user.
Caution! Interconnection of the two exhaust lines, Rotary and

Inlet, MUST be avoided if at all possible. The rotary pump exhaust
contains oil mist that could result in serious contamination if allowed
to enter the RMS inlet and subsequently the mass spectrometer. If
interconnection is unavoidable, it should be positioned as far
downstream as possible and a guaranteed positive gas flow provided
to the RMS exhaust to reduce the chances of back flow (see above
statements on inert gas flow).
Refer to the chapter relating to the specific inlet system for further
details on the exhaust requirements.
It is the users responsibility to supply all the necessary pipe work to
connect the two exhaust outlets to a suitable location.
Power
This section provides details on the power requirements for the
instrument.
Voltage and A single phase power supply is required either 115 Vac ( 5 Vac)
Frequency or 230 Vac ( 10 Vac). Note that voltage and frequency are specified
at time of order.
Safe area systems will accept either 50 Hz or 60 Hz supplies.
Caution!
Ex rated systems for hazardous area operation will only

operate at a specific frequency.
Check that the ratings and supply are correct before installation.
Requirements
Site Requirements
Power
The instrument must be connected to a clean earth (ground) point

(see below).
For systems with a single rotary pump and an RMS inlet system, the
normal running average power consumptions for safe area and Ex
systems are 2.0 kVA and 2.5kVA respectively. Typical startup
current profiles (from cold) for these two configurations are shown in
Figure 31 and Figure 32.
Safe Area System Startup (240VAC)
35.0
30.0
Startup at 0.1s
Rotary pump start
25.0
RMS current (A)
20.0
15.0
10.0
RMS heater on
RMS heater cycle

5.0
0.0
0.0 4.0 8.0 12.0 16.0
Time (s)
Figure 31. Typical startup current profile for safe area system
(240 Vac)
Ex System Startup (240VAC)
35.0
Rotary pump start
30.0
25.0
Startup at 0.1s
RMS current (A)
20.0
15.0
10.0
RMS heater on
RMS heater cycle
5.0
0.0
0.0 4.0 8.0 12.0 16.0
Time (s)
Figure 32. Typical startup current profile for Ex system (240

Vac)
120 Vac systems will show approximately twice the above currents.
Site Requirements
Other Services
The incoming power supply must include an over-current protection

Over-current device rated at a maximum of 40 A continuous operation, but should
Protection be capable of withstanding the appropriate startup period as shown
above without operating. This normally requires the use of a slow-
blow fuse or a circuit breaker specified for motor starting.
Power Quality The system power should be free from supply drop-out over 1/2
cycle or more. If the local power supply is unreliable or noisy, then
power conditioning (e.g. uninterruptible power supply, constant
voltage transformer) of appropriate capacity should be installed.
Power Refer to Chapter 5: Installation & Interconnection for details.

Connection
Other
For all services, the connection type (fractional or metric) will
Services default to that supplied for the inlet system.
Safe Area
Systems
Dry Gas Vent

When the vacuum system shuts down, it automatically vents so that
the internal pressure rises up to ambient. Atmospheric air contains
water vapour which, if present in the vacuum chamber, will prolong
the time to pump down when the vacuum system is restarted.
A dry gas vent facility is provided to allow the system to vent with a
clean dry gas (most commonly nitrogen), which significantly reduces
the time required for the subsequent pump down.
Connection is 1/4 / 6 mm compression. Pressure should be in the
range 0.5 to 2 bar(g), minimal flow requirement. An onboard filter /
regulator reduces the delivered pressure to 0.2 bar(g). Nitrogen
supply can be from a cylinder or a plant nitrogen line.
Enclosure Purge To prevent a build-up of toxic or flammable gases in the enclosure in

the event of a sample leak, a facility is provided to purge the
enclosure with compressed air. For a system operating with an RMS
at an exhaust pressure of 0.2 bar(g), the maximum leakage rate into
the enclosure is 0.25 l/min (consult the factory for leakage rates for
other inlet types or operating conditions).
Site Requirements
Other Services
It is the responsibility of the user to determine the required flow of

compressed air for a given leakage rate and to provide a means of
monitoring the purge.
Instrument quality air must be used the air supply must be clean
and dry. Connection is 1/4 / 6 mm compression. A needle valve is
provided inside the unit for flow adjustment.
Hazardous Area
Systems
Warning! For further description of the operation of the following
supplies, see Appendix A: Hazardous Area Operation.
Dry Gas Vent Use of the dry gas vent facility is a requirement for ATEX/IECEX
systems.
Warning! For hazardous area systems, the dry gas vent is

connected and used in the same way as for safe area systems, but
serves an additional function. Filling and pressurizing the analyser
with a gas such as nitrogen ensures that hazardous gases cannot enter
the vacuum chamber and pumping lines while the system is switched
off. On startup there is then no possibility of gas in the analyser
volume being ignited (such an ignition could propagate outside the
instrument enclosure).
Rotary Pump Purge The following is applicable to Zone 1 (ATEX/IECEX) and Div. 1
applications.
Warning! Use of the rotary pump purge facility is a requirement

for ATEX, IECEx and Div. 1 systems.
To avoid the possibility of an explosive gas mixture igniting

during passage through the rotary pump, a nitrogen purge is
applied to the ballast port of the pump to suppress oxygen
levels below the ignition limit.
A flow of 0.6 Nl/min is required.
This supply is shared with the dry gas vent and hence has the
same pressure requirements. Failure of the supply will result
in power to the pump being switched off.
If nitrogen is to be supplied from a cylinder, ensure that
backups and automatic changeover functions are in place.
Site Requirements
Other Services
Where this feature is used, the onboard pressure

regulator is set to 0.4 bar(g).
Nitrogen or inert gas must be used. Air is not acceptable.
Compressed Air A compressed air supply is required for the following two functions.
Requirements
Cabinet purge: Requires a continuous flow of 100 Nl/min.
Failure of the air supply will result in power to the instrument
being cut on all purge options other than z-purge. Reliability of
the air supply is therefore critical to ensure uninterrupted
operation.
Air conditioner: A continuous flow of up to 300 Nl/min is
required to operate the air amplifiers that provide air flow for the
air conditioner condenser coil. The compressed air supply must
be in the pressure range of 4.0 to 6.9 bar(g).
Note:
There is an option for operation at pressures up to 10 bar(g).

The selected option will be indicated on the instrument label.
This must be adhered to.
If the pressure is likely to exceed the specified maximum,
additional regulation and pressure relief must be installed in
the incoming line.
The supply must be capable of delivering the total required flow, i.e.
400 Nl/min. Instrument quality air must be used the air supply
must be clean and dry. Filter / regulator units are fitted for each of
these functions. These filters should be considered as a final stage
backup, not as active devices, and any problems with particulates,
water, or oil entering these filters should be rectified upstream of this
point.
The air inlet connection is 1/2 or 12 mm compression (location
shown on the appropriate installation drawing). A single connection
point is provided, except where remote or dual RMS systems are
involved, in which case there may be two connection points. Note
that the required minimum pressure is the pressure delivered to the
connection point, at the specified flow rate. Consideration should be
given to the pressure in the supply main and pressure drops in the
supply line (due to line length and diameter).
Site Requirements
Options
Warning!
Both of the above compressed air supplies vent to atmosphere

at the analyser.
Due to the risk of asphyxiation, inert gases such as nitrogen
should not be used instead of compressed air. There is no
facility in either case to pipe away the spent gas.
Options
Pump Purge Gas
Some, or all, of the following pump purge gas options may have
been ordered, depending upon the instrument application. These are
normally only necessary for applications involving condensable,
corrosive, or toxic sample gases. The purge gas is normally nitrogen,
though in some cases instrument air may be acceptable. All
connections are 1/4 or 6 mm compression.
Rotary Oil Box Purge A rotary oil box purge may be required to ensure a positive flow of
purge gas through the rotary pump oil box to dilute and sweep the
gases out into the rotary pump exhaust line. The purge gas flow
should be controllable up to 1 l/min (by means of an external control
valve and flow meter).
Rotary Pump Ballast A rotary pump ballast purge primarily prevents formation of liquids
from any potentially condensable vapours being pumped, but it also
provides a general purge for the pump oil. The purge gas flow should
be controllable up to 5 l/min (by means of an external control valve
and flow meter).
Turbo Pump Bearing A turbo pump bearing purge is used to protect the turbo pump
Purge bearing when highly corrosive gases are being pumped. The flow
requirement is very low and is internally regulated. Nitrogen is the
preferred purge gas in this case.
Site Requirements
Options
Various options are available to handle I/O that is not available

within the main instrument enclosure. Typically, this is for larger
External I/O Unit
quantities of discrete I/O (analogue and / or digital) but may also be
used for protocol converters. Such units are generally stand-alone,
requiring a mains power supply. The unit can be located remotely
from the main instrument enclosure, connecting via a serial link
(most commonly RS422). The exception is Ex I/O units, which are
local to and powered from the main instrument enclosure.
Separate documentation will be provided for this type of unit.
Chapter 4
Handling & Storage
Receiving the
Instrument Note: Thermo Scientific instruments are shipped by carriers who
specialize in the handling of precision equipment. In the unlikely
event that equipment is inadvertently damaged in transit, follow the
instructions below to protect yourself and your company from any
possible loss or liability.
On receipt, inspect for any obvious damage or evidence of rough

handling, including triggering of the shock indicator and tilt labels.
If external damage is apparent:
Do not refuse shipment. Instead, make a note of any damage on
the receiving documents, and leave the instruments in their
original packaging.
Request inspection from the carrier within 15 days of delivery (3
days for international), and contact Thermo Fisher Scientific to
report the damage.
Move the cartons to a protected location, preferably the
installation site.
Leave the boxes as complete as possible, and do not unpack or
open the boxes without a representative from Thermo Fisher
present or express instruction to do so by a Thermo Fisher
employee. Doing so may void your warranty or order.
If there is no visible damage to the packaging the instrument should
be unpacked if installation is imminent (see next section Unpacking
the Instrument). If it is likely that installation will not take place
within 8 weeks of receipt, it is recommended that the instrument be
left in its original packaging and stored in a protected environment
(see Storing the Instrument).
Handling & Storage
Unpacking the Instrument
The instrument should be unpacked following the directions marked

Unpacking the on the packaging itself. Should there be any visible signs of damage
Instrument to the instrument once removed from its shipping packaging, contact
Thermo Fisher with details.
It is recommended that any peripherals packed within the crate, or
shipped separately, are left sealed in their own packaging until ready
for use.
Storing the
Whether for an extended period or for a period prior to installation,
Instrument the instrument should be stored in the following manner:
In a secure location.
In original packaging, upright or horizontal.
Dry (protected from standing and falling water, etc.).
Between 5C and 40C (40F and 105F).
90% maximum humidity, non-condensing.
All packages together.
Chapter 5
Installation &
Interconnection
This section covers the work to be carried out before startup of the
Introduction instrument. Before continuing, review Handling & Storage
(Chapter 4).
All aspects addressed in Chapter 3: Site Requirements should be in
place or provided for before continuing.
Note: The instrument must be positioned upright and stationary for

at least 24 hours before applying power.
Positioning The site should meet the environmental specifications detailed in

Chapter 3: Site Requirements.
the Instrument
The instrument should be positioned to allow service access through
the cabinet door, to the inlet system, and to the air conditioning unit.
Caution! The instrument should be positioned so as not to obstruct

or impede easy access to the isolation switch. Refer to the relevant
site installation drawings for detailed information.
The instrument is mounted to a frame suitable for floor / wall fixing.

See the appropriate installation drawing for details of fixing points
and recommended clearances.
Cable
Connections
General
A grounded, blank, gland plate is supplied in the enclosure base. This
Requirements is the only place where drilling the enclosure for user cable entries is
allowed. Wherever possible, the outer screen or armour of cable
entering at this point should be grounded to the enclosure.
Safe Area Systems Any cable glands compatible with the cable / conduit type being used
are acceptable providing that the enclosure integrity is maintained.
Installation & Interconnection
Cable Connections
Hazardous Area
Systems Warning! No user electrical connections (power or signal) are
made within the instrument enclosure. Any such connection may
cause a hazard and will invalidate the hazardous area
certification of the instrument. All electrical connections are to be
made to the flameproof box above the main enclosure (or to
additional flameproof boxes in the case of extended I/O). See
Appendix A: Hazardous Area Operation for further details.
Warning!
If fibre optic communications links have been ordered, the

fibre connection point is within the enclosure and is the only
situation where cable entry to the purged enclosure is
permitted.
To maintain the factory tested enclosure integrity, the cable
gland(s) used must be Exe or of metal construction and a
minimum IP rating of IP65.
If conduit or loose core cable is used, a seal must be created
at the gland to prevent loss of purge gas down the conduit /
cable.
The fibre optic cable should pass through the enclosure wall
and connect directly to the fibre optic converter within the
enclosure.
Do not use bulkhead connections in the gland plate.
The installer should maintain a record of the size of the hole
and gland type used so that correct replacements can be
provided should this become necessary at any point.
Further details of the fibre optic cable requirements are given
in Chapter 3: Site Requirements.
Power Consult Chapter 3: Site Requirements for details of the power supply
Connection requirements. The power supply cable must be compatible with the
supply current and the relevant local electrical regulations.
Safe Area Systems The mains power cable should be brought into the enclosure via the
bottom gland plate. Live (hot) and neutral conductors are to be
connected to the isolation switch MAINS IN terminals L1 and L2/N
respectively (see Figure 51). The earth conductor MUST be
attached to the Primary Earth stud adjacent to the isolation switch,
identified by the symbol: .
Cable Connections
No other connection may be made to this terminal.
Figure 51. MAINS IN terminal (safe area system)
Hazardous Area Power is connected directly to terminals in the flameproof enclosure

Systems (which contains the power isolation device). The entry port in this
box is M25 (an adapter to 3/4 NPT is also supplied).
Warning! The cable / conduit entry gland used must be Exd

certified in order to maintain the flameproof integrity of the
enclosure. Incoming cables must be rated for >80C.
Live (hot) and neutral conductors are to be connected to the MAINS

IN terminals labelled 1 and 2 respectively. The earth conductor
MUST be attached to the internal or external Primary Earth,
identified by the symbol: .
No other connection may be made to these terminals.
Mains IN Primary Earth (internal)
Signal
connections
Figure 52. MAINS IN terminal (hazardous area systems)
Gas Connections
Sentinel PRO Sample A separate 3-phase supply is normally required for this option.
Pump Power Refer to the manual supplied for the specific pump.
Connection
Signal Cables used should be compatible with local electrical regulations.

Connection Cabling should be kept as short as possible from cable entry to
connection point.
Cables should be tied down or neatly bundled together and MUST be
kept separate from existing electrical and electronic items (including
cables) in the enclosure.
Cable screens should be terminated at the point of entry.
Safe Area Systems All external serial connections are made to the local I/O board in the
instrument enclosure. See Figure 53. Further details are in
Appendix D: Local I/O.
Safe area systems may be fitted with optional discrete analogue I/O.
Connection are made directly to the individual I/O modules.
Hazardous Area
Systems Warning!
Signal cables are connected directly to terminals on the

isolation PCB in the flameproof enclosure (see Figure 52).
The entry ports in this enclosure are 5 M20 (adapters to 1/2
NPT are also supplied).
The cable / conduit entry gland used must be Exd certified in
order to maintain the flameproof integrity of the enclosure.
Gas
Sample gas, calibration gas, and exhaust gas connections should be
Connections made as specified in Chapter 3: Site Requirements.
Pipe runs should not restrict service access to the instrument.
All gas lines should be leak checked after installation.
Where heat tracing of lines is required, this should be fully tested.
Other
Certain options may require additional services (e.g. compressed air,
Services nitrogen). These are specified in Chapter 3: Site Requirements.
As stated above, care should be taken with tubing / pipe runs to avoid
restricting service access.
Computer System
A separate mains power feed is required for the PC.

Computer
The Prima PRO system is connected to a Windows-based computer
System running the Thermo Scientific GasWorks software. The host port of
the instrument (see Figure 53) connects to a serial port on the
computer. If necessary, the latter can be provided via a USB-to-serial
adapter.
Figure 53. Serial communication and digital I/O terminal identification for safe area Prima PRO
analyser
Chapter 6
Commissioning
Initial startup of the instrument will normally be carried out by a
General trained engineer and is typically included as part of the purchase
contract. The full startup and configuration procedure is detailed and
can be complex for some applications. It is therefore recommended
that initial startup should not be attempted by the user, unless they
have significant experience with the instrument on the specific
application.
When commissioning is requested, a confirmation of site readiness
will be required. This will normally be in the form of the Site
Requirements Checklist, which is to be returned to the office
organizing the work. The user must complete this form to confirm
that the installation site is ready before the engineer will be allowed
to travel to site.
Procedure
The procedure followed by the commissioning engineer will include
the following steps.
Note: User and or site personnel may be required for some of these
steps. The schedule, content, and availability of user and or site
personnel should be agreed before work commences.
1. Verification of Site
A brief inspection will be carried out to ensure that the site has
been prepared and all site services are available in accordance
with the site requirements detailed in Chapter 3.
2. Verification of Hardware
An inspection of the hardware will be carried out to verify that no
visible transit damage has occurred. The delivered hardware will
also be checked with the user to verify that it is consistent with
the order.
Commissioning
Procedure
3. Startup
The instrument must have been in position, upright and stationary
for at least 24 hours before startup.
The instrument will be powered up. A number of tests will be
carried out to verify that the instrument is working correctly.
These tests are the same for all instruments, regardless of
application.
4. Application Configuration
The software database will be configured for the application and
the specific installation. This includes:
a. Setting up the analysis method for the gases involved in
process mixture(s).
b. Configuring the sample streams.
c. Setting up the calibration method(s).
5. Application Verification
The above configuration will be functionally tested by running a
full calibration, followed by analysis of process gas mixtures.
Performance testing will be carried out by analyzing a calibration
gas (typically the mixed gas, which will generally be similar to
the process gas in composition) over a period of time. Other
standard gas mixtures may also be used if they fall within the
concentration limits defined in the performance specification. In
some cases, achieving a particular performance during testing on
a specific mixture or mixtures will be part of an agreed
acceptance criterion.
6. Communications and I/O (where applicable)

Communications will be configured and tested. Wherever
possible, initial testing will be to a PC running a test program
appropriate for the protocol in question (e.g. the installation
engineers laptop PC or the GasWorks PC). Subsequently, testing
of the full link to the DCS will take place.
Suitably qualified personnel must be available to check the
DCS end of the link.
Any discrete I/O will also be configured and tested as above.
Suitably qualified personnel must be available to check the
DCS end of the link.
Commissioning
Procedure
7. Training
Approximately two days of the commissioning will be allocated
to operator training. The schedule, content, and availability of
personnel should be agreed before work begins.
More detailed training courses are available and should be
considered when some experience has been gained with the
instrument. For further details and a quotation, contact the local
Thermo Fisher Scientific office or representative.
8. Acceptance
At the end of a successful startup, unless the contract indicates
otherwise, a formal acceptance of the system will be required. A
standard Thermo Fisher Scientific acceptance document will be
used.
Chapter 7
Startup & Shutdown
These procedures assume that the system has been installed and
Startup commissioned as earlier in this manual.
Procedure
The startup procedure for the instrument is as follows:
1. Ensure that the rotary pump is filled with oil to a point just below
the upper marker on the oil level window. Ensure that the pump
outlet is not obstructed.
2. Check that the Main Electrical ISOLATOR is switched OFF:

For safe area systems, red / yellow rotary switch on lower left
side of cabinet, OFF = HORIZONTAL.
For hazardous area systems, red E-Stop switch on left side of top
mounted flameproof enclosure pressed in.
All the internal circuit breakers should be switched to OFF
(breaker to down position).
Check that the TURBO RUN toggle switch (middle of the front
of the PDU) is in the OFF position (OFF = switch UP!).
3. Apply mains power to the instrument and switch the Mains

Electrical ISOLATOR to ON:
For safe area systems, red rotary switch ON = VERTICAL.
For hazardous area systems, E-Stop switch ON = OUT (rotate to
reset, key required).
In the case of an Ex system, an initial purge cycle will need to be
completed (automatic or manual, depending on area
classification) before mains power is switched to the instrument
cabinet.
4. Switch the circuit breakers to ON (breaker to UP position):

CABINET, INLET, ROTARY 1 (and ROTARY 2, if applicable),
and COOLING.
5. Turn the TURBO RUN toggle switch to ON (ON = switch

DOWN!).
Startup & Shutdown
Procedure
6. At this point, both the rotary and the turbo pumps will operate.
7. Switch on the PC (monitor and printer where applicable).

Double-click on the GasWorks icon. GasWorks may have been
configured to automatically connect to the instrument CPU (this
will have been set by checking connect automatically on
startup under GasWorks Session > Preferences >
Instrument).
If it has not been configured to connect automatically, click on
the Connect icon ( ) to connect to the instrument CPU (Figure
71).
Figure 71. Connect to GasWorks

The instrument status light in the bottom toolbar will indicate
when the instrument vacuum is at the correct level and filament
emission is achieved. The instrument status light is an
acknowledgeable alarm indicator. It should be GREEN,
indicating a go condition, where all the measured instrument
parameters are within their configured alarm thresholds. If any
measured instrument parameter is outside its configured alarm
threshold, then the instrument status light will be shown in RED,
indicating a no-go condition. If the instrument status light is
shown UNCOLOURED (GREY), either a complete cycle of
instrument parameter measurements has not been completed or
the host PC has not connected to the instrument CPU.
If the pressure is not below the vacuum gauge trip level then the
emission will not switch on and the ion energy will remain at
zero.
Note that a single mouse click on the Instrument Status toolbar
button will open the instrument status window (Figure 72),
Startup & Shutdown
Procedure
which shows the alarm status of each of the instrument

parameters.
Figure 72. Instrument Status window

A click on a particular parameter status light will show the
current value, alarm limits, and alarm acknowledgement button
(Figure 73). If all parameters are within limits but the status
light is red, clicking on the Acknowledge All button will change
the instrument status light to green.
Wait until all parameters are within limits (the status light is
green), before starting scheduled analysis.
Figure 73. Parameter status window
Startup & Shutdown
Procedure
Before the filament (and ion energy) can be switched on, the pressure
in the vacuum chamber must be less than the vacuum gauge high
Vacuum Gauge
pressure trip level (normally set to 3.2 x 10-5 mbar) and also higher
Trip Level than the vacuum gauge low pressure trip level (1 x 10-7 mbar).
On initial switching it is quite normal for the filament to outgas
slightly as it heats up. This will result in an increase in the measured
pressure of the vacuum system. The trip logic therefore has a limited
amount of hysteresis to accommodate the pressure rise. To prevent
the trip circuit from immediately switching the filament off again,
the off trip is set higher than the on trip so a pressure reading
above the set point is normal.
Starting Click on the Traffic Lights button ( ) to start a scheduled

Scheduled analysis. Each enabled stream will be selected according to its
Analysis sequence, the concentrations measured, and output via data
communications to an I/O unit or other host computer. If the numeric
display window is selected, the concentrations will be displayed on
the host PC monitor (Figure 74). Similarly, if a trend display has
been configured and is selected, concentration trends with time can
be viewed (Figure 75).
Figure 74. Numeric trend window
Startup & Shutdown
Procedure
Figure 75. Trend display
Checking For a detailed description of instrument tuning parameters and mass

Instrument alignment please refer to Chapter 8: Status & Tuning Parameters.
Tuning and Mass
Alignment Note: Control Centre should not be opened whilst Schedule is
running. Before running Control Centre, ensure Schedule is stopped.
A single click on the Control Centre button ( ) will open the

Control Centre window (Figure 76), which has the following tabs:
Emission
Peak shape
Sensitivity
Detectors
Mass alignment
Heaters
Startup & Shutdown
Procedure
Figure 76. Control Centre window

Each tab groups a set of adjustable instrument parameters and
associated system readings.
Each adjustable parameter is displayed with a value and slider bar.
Each parameter can be adjusted in one of three ways:
By typing in the required setting and pressing Enter.
By clicking on either the left or right arrow to change to a lower
or higher setting respectively.
By dragging the position indicator along the adjustment bar.
Several tuning regimes can be configured in which different sets of
tuning settings can be grouped. In practice there is a default tuning
regime for all masses above a certain cut-off in the range of 5 to 19
and a low resolution tuning regime for all masses below this cut-
off.
Emission The first tab is by default Emission. This tab allows the following:
Switching the filament on and off.
Changing the selection of either filament 1 or filament 2.
Adjusting the trap current.
Peak Shape The Peak Shape tab displays the ion intensity over a defined mass
window (Figure 77).
Startup & Shutdown
Procedure
Figure 77. Peak Shape tab

Once a suitable peak has been located, the peak shape (height and
width, extent of flat top, and steepness of peak sides) may be
optimized by adjusting the following parameters:
Trap Current
Quadrupole Lens
Resolution
Repeller Voltage
Focus Voltage
Deflection Voltage
Sensitivity The effect on ion intensity at a selected mass (default mass 28.0) of
changing the repeller, focus, deflection and resolution voltages can
be viewed on the Sensitivity tab (Figure 78). Each parameter can be
selected in turn from the Function drop down list, and a graph of
peak intensity versus voltage produced. A cursor can be selected, set
at the optimum position on the graph, and the associated tuning
parameter setting stored using the Set DAC button.
Startup & Shutdown
Procedure
Figure 78. Sensitivity tab
Detectors The Detectors tab (Figure 78) is only available for dual detector
systems with both Faraday and Secondary Emission Multiplier
(SEM) detectors.
As both detectors are off-axis, a deflection voltage is applied to
divert the ion beam into the selected detector. Deflector voltage
settings for both detectors are optimized on this tab.
The SEM voltage can be adjusted (i.e. calibrated) to set a specified
gain (typically 103 or 104).
Figure 79. Detectors tab
Mass Alignment
Startup & Shutdown
Procedure
The Mass Alignment tab (Figure 710) is used to display peaks over
a defined mass range in a similar way to that used on the Peak Shape
tab. In this instance, a cursor is used to assign mass numbers to
identified peaks. Typically, two or three masses need to be locked
over the mass range of interest.
Figure 710. Mass Alignment tab

The Prima PRO mass position is related to magnetic field by the
following equation
mass = km x field2+cm
where km is a constant of proportionality and cm is an offset, with

both of these constants having a slight mass dependency. Values of
km and cm are determined for adjacent pairs of locked masses; at
masses beyond the locked mass range, the values of km and cm are
taken from the closest locked mass pair. If an incorrect mass
assignment is made the mass table can be deleted and the process
repeated.
Since the Prima PRO instrument is a magnetic sector mass
spectrometer, which produces a focused ion beam at the detector, the
peak shape obtained is flat-topped, i.e. uniform response is
observed over a finite mass width, e.g. 0.3 amu at mass 28. Provided
the measurement taken at the mass of interest is on the peaks flat
top, high precision analysis will be observed. If masses are aligned
within the central 2/3 of the flat top region, this is normally sufficient
to guard against any drift in the mass scale.
Startup & Shutdown
Procedure
The Heaters tab (Figure 711) allows for adjustment and setting of
the source temperature, inlet probe heater power, RMS body
Heaters
temperature, and RMS sample tube temperature.
Figure 711. Heaters tab
Checking Open the Instrument Status window (see Figure 72). The tabs and
Instrument the readings displayed under each tab are listed below.
Status Analyser tab
Parameters Cabinet temperature: Within the range 10C to 35C.
Electronics temperature: Within the range 10C to 45C.
System pressure: Typically 5 x 10-6 mbar, but application
dependent. Refer to installation records for setting of
optimum pressure.
Source tab
Ion energy: Approximately 1000 V (for 150 amu mass range)
or 800 V (for 200 amu mass range).
Electron energy: Typically set to 70 V.
Filament current: Depends on filament type:
2.4-2.9 A for a Thoria coated iridium filament
1.5-2.5 A for a W/ThO coiled filament
3.0- 3.8 A for a Re filament
Note If filament is close to zero, check that Trap Current is

set to at least 20 A and EE is at least 50 V.
Startup & Shutdown
Shutdown
Trap Current: Within the range 10 A to 100 A.

Source Current: Within 2 to 15 times the value of Trap
Current.
Repeller Voltage: Normally within the range of 0 V to 10 V.
Power Tab
Magnet Current: With 1000 V ion energy for any mass, the
magnet current is given approximately by 2.3 x (mass/28)0.5.
Shutdown
Introduction The shutdown procedure will vary slightly depending on application
and on what the system is doing at the time of shutdown.
In general, it is better to leave the instrument running rather than
repeatedly shutting down for periods of inactivity. This is true even if
the instrument will be unused for several weeks. However,
shutdowns will be required for routine maintenance, etc.
The emergency shutdown procedure (later in this chapter) should
also be followed in the event of a power failure.
Shutdown The following steps should be carried out in sequence.

Procedure
1. Shut off all sample gas flows.
When the system shuts down, all the heaters will go off and gas
handling parts of the system will begin to cool. Where there is a
risk of residual sample gases condensing, it is recommended that
the inlet system be purged with a suitable inert gas such as
nitrogen before power is removed.
2. Switch OFF the filament on the Emission tab of the Control

Centre software.
3. Switch the TURBO RUN micro switch to OFF (OFF = switch

UP).
4. Disconnect GasWorks software with the icon.
5. Switch OFF the Mains Electrical ISOLATOR (see Startup

earlier in this chapter) to de-energize the system electronics.
Isolate power externally to fully de-energize the system.
Startup & Shutdown
Shutdown
Following is the emergency shutdown procedure.

Emergency
Shutdown 1. Switch off power, either at the Mains Electrical ISOLATOR (see
Startup earlier in this chapter) or at an external power isolation
device (the latter is equivalent to a power cut or, in the case of an
Ex system, the purge controller switching off the power).
2. The system heaters will now be de-energized and gas handling

parts of the system will be cooling down.
All sample gas flows should be switched off as soon as possible.
Where there is a risk that residual sample gases will begin to
condense, the inlet system should be purged with a suitable inert
gas such as nitrogen as soon as possible.
Chapter 8
Status & Tuning Parameters
Instrument status and tuning parameter values may be checked by
Instrument clicking on the Instrument Status button in the GasWorks software.
Status Parameters are grouped under separate tabs according to the
following headings from bottom to top:
Source
Analyser
Inlet
Collector
Power
Comms
Figure 81. Instrument Status window
Source Tab
Source Tab
Electron Energy This supply provides the energy to accelerate electrons (produced by
the filament) through to the ion source. Electrons subsequently
interact with molecules of the sample gases to create ions, a process
referred to as ionization.
The electron energy can be adjusted through on the Sensitivity tab of
Control Centre; however it is typically set between 40 and 70 V.
The main effect of varying the Electron Energy parameter is to vary
the types and ratios of ions, the fragmentation pattern produced by
electron impact of the sample molecules.
In addition to dislodging one or more electrons from the sample
molecule (to produce singly or multiply charged positive ions), the
electron impact can also break molecular bonds to generate smaller
fragments. Lower electron energy tends to give a lower abundance of
fragment and multiply charged ions, which in certain applications
can help reduce the extent of component overlap and therefore
analytical complexity.
Emission The Emission status is a composite status channel that shows when
all related parameters are within limits.
Filament Current When the emission is switched on, the current through the filament
will be approximately 2.4 to 2.8 A when fitted with Thoria filaments.
When fitted with non standard Tungsten filaments, the current will
be closer to 3.7 A.
If the Filament Current value is close to zero, access Control Centre,
and check that the Trap Current setting (from Emission tab) is at
least 10 A and the electron energy setting is at least 40 V.
Filament Current Filament Current Limit is provided to protect the filament from being
Limit overdriven and can be adjusted in Control Centre.
The current limits for common filaments are shown in the table
below.
Table 81. Current limits for common filaments
Filament Current Limit (Amps)
Thoriated iridium 3.1
Tungsten / ThO alloy 3.0
Source Tab
If the limit is set too low, then the filament may take some time to
regulate when it is first switched on, or may fail to emit at all.
If the value is too high, then there is a danger that the filament might
blow, burn out, due to excess current.
When switched on, filaments will run in limit for a short period until
the surface attains temperature and the required level of electron
emission is reached. Ideally, current limits are set about 0.4 A higher
than the normal running current.
Filament Integrity Filament integrity will indicate OK when the filament circuit is
continuous and Failed when open circuit, normally indicating a
filament failure. If maintenance has just been performed on the
instrument check that all cable harnesses have been reconnected
before assuming a filament failure.
Filament selection between filaments 1 and 2 is made in Control
Centre from the Emission tab.
If the first running filament fails, consideration should be given to
scheduling a routine source change. This is particularly important
where analytical data is critical and an unscheduled shutdown caused
by failure of a second filament could have additional consequences.
Half Plate 1 and 2 Two 1/2 plates positioned after the source block are used to focus
Output Voltages and steer the ion beam. The potential difference between the two
plates represents the deflection voltage and can be varied in the range
-100 V to +100 V by adjusting the Deflection Voltage setting on the
Peak Shape tab in Control Centre.
The mean voltage for the 1/2 plates represents the focus potential and
can be varied in the range 0 V to 960 V by adjusting the Focus
Voltage on the Peak Shape tab in Control Centre.
In Current Limit In Current Limit indicates that the filament current is in limit and that
emission control is not yet established. This is normal for a few
seconds while the filament heats up after switching on.
OK indicates that emission control has been attained and the
filament is NOT in current limit.
Ion Energy This supply provides the energy to accelerate the ionized sample
molecules out of the source and into the magnetic field where they
will separate according to their respective mass / charge ratio. The
Ion Energy value is nominally 1000 V for 150 amu mass range
Source Tab
instruments and is set in on the Mass Alignment tab of Control

Centre.
A lower voltage setting will achieve a higher mass range as the mass
range is inversely proportional to ion energy. See Appendix B:
Technical Description: for more detail.
The mass range is therefore about 200 amu at an ion energy setting
of 750 V.
Note All the tuning parameters need to be re-optimized and mass

scale recalibrated if the ion energy setting is changed.
The ion repeller is an electrode within the source block that ensures
Repeller Voltage ions move towards the ionization chamber exit slit. The voltage
applied to this plate affects sensitivity and may influence the peak
shape, linearity, and stability. The voltage applied to the ion repeller
is usually in the range 2 to 10 V, although it can be adjusted over the
range -10 V to +20 V.
Source Current The Source Current parameter represents the electrons emitted by the
filament that do not traverse the source to be collected at the trap
electrode. The proportion of the electrons traversing the source to the
trap electrode normally results in a source current 2 to 5 times greater
than that of the trap.
A source current ten times or greater than that of the trap suggests
that the filament may either be poorly aligned, have become
distorted, or the ion source has become contaminated, affecting the
number of electrons which can reach the trap.
Stability and linearity tend to be worse at higher source current / trap
current ratios.
Source The ion source is heated by a cartridge heater in the ion source block,
Temperature and temperature is monitored by a platinum resistance thermometer
(PRT).
Source temperature is normally set within the range of 140C to
200C on the Heaters tab of Control Centre but can be application
dependant. Limits will be set accordingly.
Trap Current The trap electrode is used to regulate and control the electron
emission through a control loop to the filament current drive.
Increasing this parameter will increase sensitivity, but care must be
taken to ensure that the biggest peaks can still be measured on the
lowest amplifier gain range.
As a guide, mass 28 should not be much set greater than 7 x 10-10 A
Analyser Tab
with air in the inlet. This is usually achieved with trap currents in the
range 20 A to 100 A.
Analyser Tab
ASU Controller A value of 1 in the ASU (analyser supplies unit) Controller Status
Status field indicates the ASU to be operating within normal limits.
Other status conditions are as follows.
Table 81. ASU Controller Status conditions
Status Value
No Communications -1
Uninitialised 0
OK 1
Flashover Detected 3
Power Supply Low 4
Cabinet
The temperature in the cabinet is monitored by a sensor located near
Temperature the turbo molecular pump and should read less than 35C.
Electronics The temperature in the electronics is monitored by a sensor and

Temperature should read less than 50C.
Magnet A value of 1 in the Magnet Controller Status field indicates this unit
Controller Status is operating within normal limits. Other status conditions are as
follows.
Table 82. Magnet Controller Status conditions
Status Value
No communications -1
Magnet out of control 0 Until first initialisation after
power up.
Magnet in control 1 Ready for use.
Magnet out of range 2 Last request was out of range.
Magnet not available 3 Unknown.
Magnet zero required 4 Requires initialisation.
Magnet field busy 5 Settling last requested field.
Magnet frequency 6 Integrating VFC.
busy
Magnet zeroing busy 7 Zeroing the sense coil.
Analyser Tab
Status Value
Magnet temp busy 8 Measuring the magnet
temperature.
Magnet failure 9 Controller or circuit failure.
Magnet pulse busy 10 Busy driving the magnet.
Magnet field init busy 11 Initialising the system (about 60
s)
Mass Filter
The approximate magnetic field setting, in Tesla, is indicated by the
Mass Filter parameter. The value for Mass 28 with 1000 V ion
energy is typically 0.4 Tesla.
The relationship between mass and magnetic field and ion energy is
given by:
Mass (magnetic field)2 /ion energy
A four times increase in magnetic field strength therefore doubles the

mass detected.
Pressure Set At pressures above the value set in the Pressure Set Point parameter,
Point power is removed from the filament supply, source heater, SEM
supply, and source high voltage supplies to protect the analyser from
damage which may result if run at high pressure.
System Pressure The System Pressure value indicates the pressure as reported by a
Penning vacuum gauge head that is mounted on the top right of the
vacuum chamber and is a measure of the high vacuum produced by
the turbo molecular pump.
The pressure, as measured by the Penning gauge, is a combination of
the amount of sample gas leaking into the chamber via the capillary /
leak arrangement and gas that evolves from the internal surfaces of
the vacuum system. This is known as out-gassing.
When the inlet is blocked, the vacuum falls to its background level,
which is usually in the region of 10-7 mbar. When the inlet is open,
the operating vacuum should be in the region of 1 - 10 x 10-6 mbar.
This varies slightly from instrument to instrument and on the gas
being sampled.
The upper limit of pressure that can be displayed by the Penning
gauge is about 1 x 10-2 mbar. A stable reading at this level indicates
that the pressure may be too high to be measured by the gauge and
that there is either a significant system leak or a pumping fault.
Check that the turbo molecular pump is up to speed (indicated as
Turbo Revs on the Instrument Status window). Check that the rotary
pump is functioning correctly.
Analyser Tab
Note that it is detrimental to the gauge to leave it running for an

extended period (e.g. more than a few hours) while measuring
pressures greater than 10-3 mbar. Excessive ion burns on the gauge
will occur, resulting in reduced gauge accuracy. This can only be
recovered by cleaning the gauge electrodes.
Ions are produced as a result of a discharge formed in the high
voltage field between the anode and cathode of the gauge head. As
the pressure in the system falls, the number of ions in the discharge
reduces and this can be directly associated with the pressure of the
chamber.
The analyser is protected from damage due to excess pressure by two
trip points based on the Penning gauge reading. The Penning gauge
gives a voltage output related to the pressure reading according to:
p = 10U-10.5
Alternatively, the pressure / signal relationship can be expressed as

U = 10.5 + log10P
The high pressure trip (see Pressure Set Point earlier in this
chapter) prevents operation of the emission circuit, ion energy,
multiplier, and source heater as described above.
A low pressure trip protects the same devices and is a level indicative
of a potential gauge failure.
The threshold values for these two trips are equivalent to:
High Pressure Trip = 3 x 10-5 mbar (approximately)

Low Pressure Trip = 1 x 10-7 mbar (approximately)
Hysteresis is built into the high pressure trip to allow for the pressure
rise that occurs when the filament begins to heat and outgas.
System Pressure System Pressure Trip will indicate OK if the system pressure is
Trip below the Pressure Set Point and Fail if the system pressure is above
the Pressure Set Point.
Turbo Motor The Turbo Motor Current is the current drawn by the turbo
Current molecular pump motor.
Turbo Operating The Turbo Operating Hours field indicates the running hours for the
Hours turbo molecular pump. See the pump manufacturers
recommendations on service intervals.
Turbo Speed Turbo Speed is the speed as a percentage of full speed of rotation.
100% is full speed.
Inlet
OK is indicated in the Turbo Speed Interlock field when the turbo

molecular is at speed and under normal operation.
Turbo Speed
Interlock
Vacuum OK is indicated in the Vacuum field when the system has reached
normal operating levels.
Vent Valve Off is indicated in the Vent Valve field when the turbo molecular in
under normal operation.
Inlet
Pressure Raw Pressure Raw is the raw output from the inlet differential pressure
transducer and flow sensor as a DAC reading. This is fitted to RMS
and solenoid assemblies only.
RMS Ambient The RMS Ambient Temperature is the temperature recorded on the
Temperature inlet controller electronics. It is typically approximately 45C.
RMS Body Temp The RMS Body Temperature as monitored by thermocouple in the
RMS block is normally set in the range of 50 to 120C depending on
the application.
RMS Controller The RMS Controller Status indicates a value of 1 when the unit is
Status operating within normal limits.
RMS Sample The RMS Sample Flow Sensor is the calibrated output of the inlet
Flow Sensor flow sensor (differential pressure transducer). It is displayed in cc per
minute.
RMS Flow Zero The RMS Flow Zero is the zero flow output from the analogue flow
sensor.
RMS Position The RMS Position is the RMS rotary arm position.
Sample Tube The RMS Sample Tube Current is the RMS sample tube heater
Current current.
Collector Tab
The RMS Sample Tube Temperature is the RMS sample tube heater
temperature set point and control.
Sample Tube
Temperature
Collector Tab
Faraday The Faraday Deflector parameter is the voltage applied to the
Deflector deflector electrode that directs the ion beam into the Faraday
collector. The Faraday detector is mounted off-axis on both Faraday
only and
Faraday / SEM dual detector systems.
Multiplier The Multiple Deflector parameter is the voltage applied to the

Deflector deflector that directs the ion beam into the SEM.
This is an optional micro channel plate (MCP) used to increase the
dynamic range of the instrument to permit measurement of species at
low (ppm and lower) concentrations.
Multiplier Voltage The Multiplier Voltage controls the gain of the SEM (Prima PRO
analyser uses an MCP). Varying the voltage output can vary the gain
of this detector from x10 to approximately x10000. Typically, the
gain is set to 2000 for a standard single MCP SEM and 10000 for a
dual MCP SEM.
Negative and In conventional sector mass spectrometers, compensation for errors

Positive Quad in analyser geometry, magnet fringing field effects, and beam
Lens Voltages aberrations, resulting from localized, contamination induced charge
effects, is achieved with difficulty by adjusting the magnet position.
The Prima PRO analyser overcomes this by fixing the position of the
magnet and providing a quadrupole lens (quad lens) to compensate
for and adjust the position of the refocused beam image. A
complicated impractical series of magnet adjustments is therefore
replaced with a single voltage adjustment of the quad lens.
The quad lens DAC voltage can be varied from -25 V to +25 V but,
in practice, a variation of a few volts positive or negative is usually
sufficient to achieve a symmetrical, flat-topped peak that provides
good, long-term precision from the analyser.
Resolution The Resolution Deflector electrode provides Z plane deflection of

the ion beam through one of two available resolving slits. The
Power
electrode is part of the detector assembly and is positioned between

the quad lens and the detector.
The use of two resolving slits permits the selection of a very wide
resolving slit when low mass peaks are being measured. This feature
results in the production of broad, flat-topped peaks all the way down
to mass 1.
In conventional mass spectrometers, the resolving slit size is chosen
so as to resolve adjacent peaks at the high mass end of the scale
(peaks get closer together with increasing mass). The disadvantage to
having high resolution is that low mass hydrogen and helium peaks
become very narrow and therefore prone to drift when these peaks
are to be measured.
The high resolution slit is on-axis and for peaks above the switching
point, normally greater than mass 5, the voltage for the resolution
deflector will be close to zero.
Below the switch point, the voltage will be around 250 V, for
systems with 1000 V ion energy, deflecting the beam through the
broader low resolution slit.
Note: On the Sentinel PRO analyser, a different combination of

collector slits is used, and the switching point is typically set to mass
100. At lower masses the nominal resolution is approximately 85 and
at higher masses the nominal resolution approximately 135.
Power
Amplifier +24V The Amplifier +24V parameter is the 24 V PDU output for the
amplifier.
Analyser The Analyser Supplies +24V parameter is the 24 V PDU output

Supplies +24V analyser electronics (ASU).
Instrument CPU The Instrument CPU 24V parameter is the 24 V PDU output for the
24V CPU card.
Fan 24V The Fan 24V parameter is the 24 V power PDU output for the air
conditioner condenser fan (safe area only). Failure can also indicate
an alarm condition within the A/C.
Inlet Probe The Inlet Probe Current parameter is the current through the inlet
Current probe cartridge heater.
Communications
Current passing through the electromagnet coils can be used to give

an approximate indication of the current mass number. The
Magnet Supply
approximate current to mass relationship is 4 [I2] for systems with
Current 1000 V ion energy.
Mass 100 therefore requires roughly 5 A through the coils. This
relationship is very approximate. If the mass table has not yet been
generated (or has been corrupted), this relationship can be used to
check whether or not the magnet controls circuitry is operating.
Magnet Sync AC The Magnet Sync AC parameter is an AC power synchronization

signal to the magnet driver card, which improves precision and
reduces mains frequency induced noise.
Power Controller The Power Controller Status parameter indicates a value of 1 when
Status unit is operating within normal limits.
Turbo 24V The Turbo 24V parameter is the 24 V PDU output for the turbo
molecular pump drive electronics.
User IO 24V The User IO 24V parameter is the 24 V PDU output for the user I/O.
Vent Valve 24V The Vent Valve 24V parameter is the 24 V PDU power supply for
the turbo molecular pump vent valve.
Communications
Host Comms The Host Comms Quiet parameter checks for a break in
Quiet communications between the host PC and the Prima PRO analyser.
User I/O 0 If configured (within GasWorks Hardware Configuration), the User

Comms Quiet I/O 0 Comms Quiet status is checking for a break in communications
between the user I/O card port 0 and a user device.

between the user I/O card I/O 1 port and a user device.

Checking Mass Alignment
If configured (within GasWorks Hardware Configuration), the User

I/O 3 Comms Quiet status is checking for a break in communications
User I/O 3
Comms Quiet
VGiNet The VGiNet status checks for breaks in the internal VGiNet
communications.
Checking
Use this procedure to check that peaks are being produced and that
Mass they are correctly identified and aligned with the mass scale.
Alignment e.g. Mass 28 for N2 in Air
On the GasWorks toolbar click the icon to open Control Centre.

If the system has not been tuned previously, use the Peak Shape and
Sensitivity tabs to do so. Type in the required value for each
parameter and press Enter to set the parameters as follows:
Trap current = 20
Quad lens = 0
Resolution DAC = 0
Repeller Voltage = 5
Focus Voltage = 450
Deflection Voltage: = 0
Select Mass Alignment. Set the Start and End masses (typically
beginning with start mass 0, end mass 50), mass Increment (e.g.
0.03), Integration (e.g. 10), measurement Range (e.g. 10), and inlet
Stream (e.g. air or N2) parameters. Click on the Start Scan button.
Check that peaks are produced and that they are correctly aligned
with the mass scale markers.
Figure 82. Mass Alignment tab
To display minor peaks, increase the gain range by clicking on the

down arrow button next to the intensity axis. For an air sample, the
principle peak will be at mass 28 due to 78.08% of nitrogen (N2 = 2 x
14, where 14 is the atomic weight of nitrogen), and the second
biggest peak will be at mass 32 (oxygen at 20.95% O2 = 2 x 16).
There should also be a peak at mass 14; this is produced by both
atomic nitrogen (N)+ and doubly-charged nitrogen ions (N2)++. The
mass spectrometer separates the sample ions according to their mass
/ charge ratios and some molecular fragmentation occurs in the ion
source together with ionization of the gas molecules.
Further peaks of interest include 16, 17, and 18 (due to O+ from
oxygen and water, OH+ and H2O+ from water), 40 (0.94% Argon),
and 44 (350 ppm CO2 12 + 2 x 16).
If alignment is poor, the simplest approach is to delete the locked
peak table by stopping the scan and clicking on the Delete Locked
Peak Table button: .
To create a new mass table, add a cursor to the display using the
following button: .
Position the cursor on mass 14 peak and lock this as mass 14.00.
Click the Peak Lock button: .
Enter 14.00 in the Peak Locking dialogue box (Figure 83).
Figure 83. Peak Locking dialogue box

The value shown in the marked peak window is the Cursor position.
Reposition the scan to mass 44 by changing the scan start and stop
values and lock this peak to mass 44.00 as before.
The zoom-in facility can greatly facilitate accurate mass setting.
If a gas (or gases) other than air are used, knowledge of its
composition will be needed to correctly identify which peaks are
which masses.
The approach is as above and should use two or three masses which
span the required analysis range.
For example, in an ethylene cracker application it is necessary to

align the peaks only at masses 2 (H2) and 78 (C6H6) to give accurate
mass alignment throughout the 2 to 100 amu mass range.
Chapter 9
Fault Diagnosis
This chapter provides information on basic fault diagnosis that
Introduction should only be undertaken by an experienced technician trained in
the maintenance of high voltage electronic equipment. The
information provided is not exhaustive, and normal diagnostic
procedures should be followed where specific details are not given.
Alarm
The status of the instrument is indicated in GasWorks software by
Conditions the status window display. Any out of limit condition for any
parameter is indicated by an alarm condition (normally indicated in
red). Typical values, limits, and causes of alarm conditions are
indicated in the table below.
Table 91. Diagnosing alarm conditions
Device Typical Set Point Set Point Typical Cause
Reading Low High
Electron Energy 70.10 volts 30.00 volts 95.00 volts ASU failure
Emission 1 0.5 1.5 Power parameters in
alarm
Filament Current 2.60 amps 1.50 amps 3.50 amps Still pumping down or
filament failure
Filament Current Limit 3.06 amps
Filament Integrity (OK)
Half Plate 1 Output 448.0 volts 300.0 volts 950.0 volts ASU failure
Voltage
Half Plate 2 Output 431.0 volts 300.0 volts 950.0 volts ASU failure
Voltage
In Current Limit (OK) (OK) Ion source fault
Ion Energy 998.0 volts 750.0 volts 1050.0 ASU failure
volts
Repeller Voltage 6.96 volts -10.00 10.00 volts ASU failure
volts
Source Current 85.0 1000.0 Faulty filament
amps amps
Source Temperature 140.1C 138.0C 142.0C Still warming up or
source heater failure
Trap Current 29.9 10.0 100.0 Filament failure
amps amps amps
Fault Diagnosis
Alarm Conditions

Reading Low High
ASU Controller Status 1 0.5 1.5 ASU failure
Cabinet Temperature 24.00C 10.00C 35.00C AC fault or AC fan failed /
blocked
Electronics 28.20C 10.00C 55.00C Ambient temperature or
Temperature cabinet filter blocked
Magnet Controller 1 0.5 7 Magnet busy or failure
Status
Mass Filter 0.45690
Tesla
Pressure Set Point 3.44e-05
mbar
System Pressure 3.13e-06 2.00e-07 2.50e-05 Still pumping or leak or
mbar mbar mbar pump failure
System Pressure Trip (OK) (OK) Still pumping or leak or
pump failure
Turbo Disable (Off) (Off) Turbo switched to stop
on PDC
Turbo Motor Current 0.62 amps 0.01 amps 4.00 amps Turbo adjustment or
failure
Turbo Operating 7264 hours
Hours
Turbo Speed 100% 95% Still pumping or leak or
pump failure
Turbo Speed Interlock (OK) Still pumping or leak or
pump failure
Vacuum (OK) (OK) Still pumping or leak or
pump failure
Vent Valve Off (Off)
RMS Body Temp 59C 30C 100C Still heating up or heater
failure
RMS Ambient 42C
Temperature
RMS Controller Status 1 0.5 1.5 RMS electronics failure
RMS Digital Input 2 (Fail)
RMS Digital Input 3 (Fail)
RMS H1 Current 245.0 mA 50.0 mA Heater failure
RMS Sample Tube 350.0 mA 50.0 mA Heater failure
Current
RMS Flow Sensor (OK) (OK) Low sample flow
RMS Position 31 0.5 Optical sensor / detector
needs cleaning
Fault Diagnosis
Alarm Conditions

Reading Low High
Faraday Deflection 559.0 volts
Multiplier Deflection 0.0 volts
Multiplier Voltage 828.0 volts
Negative Quad Lens -5.38 volts
Voltage
Positive Quad Lens 5.33 volts
Voltage
Resolution 0.0 volts
Amplifier +24V 14.9 volts 14.0 volts 16.0 volts PDC or switch mode ps
Analyser Supplies 24V 23.9 volts 22.5 volts 25.5 volts PDC (fuse) or switch
mode ps
Fans 24V 24.0 volts 22.5 volts 25.5 volts PDC (fuse) or switch
mode ps
Instrument CPU 5V 4.8 volts 4.8 volts 5.3 volts PDC (fuse) or switch
mode ps
Magnet AC 38.8 volts 12.0 volts 50.0 volts PDC or switch mode ps
Magnet Current 2.84 amps 0.10 amps 10.00 Magnet drive or magnet
amps controller
Power Controller State 1 0.5 1.5 PDC or switch mode ps
Turbo 24V 24.2 volts 22.5 volts 25.5 volts PDC (fuse) or switch
mode ps
User IO 24V 24.2 volts 22.5 volts 25.5 volts PDC or switch mode ps
Vent Valve 24V 24.1 volts 22.5 volts 25.5 volts PDC or switch mode ps
Host Comms Quiet 0 seconds
User I/O 0 Comms 0 seconds 300 Turbo controller
Quiet seconds
User I/O 1 Comms 0 seconds
Quiet
Quiet
Quiet
VGiNet / Opto22 0 seconds 20 seconds Cable fault
Comms Quiet
Fault Diagnosis
Leak Detection
Leak
Detection Warning! High Voltages! To avoid flash over, exercise extreme
caution when probing with helium in the vicinity of the ion source
feed through. Helium is extremely susceptible to break down when
exposed to high electric fields.
Abnormally high atmospheric peaks and a slight rise in the

background pressure, as displayed by the Penning gauge reading,
may indicate a small leak in the instrument. In general, the most
convenient method for leak detection is to use the extreme sensitivity
of the instrument itself. Tune the mass spectrometer to a suitable gas
(helium, mass 4, is particularly effective). Then probe around the
vacuum chamber using a fine collimated stream of the same gas. A
sharp increase in the ion current of the monitored peak indicates that
the search gas has entered the vacuum system. Finer gas flows may
be required to help pinpoint the exact location of the leak.
Leaks may sometimes occur at elastomer seals, particularly after they
have been disturbed. First check that the seal fixings are not loose. If
they are, tightening may cure the problem; however, care should be
taken not to over tighten as damage to the seal or fixings may result.
In most instances, this is due to contamination of the sealing surface
by dust, other particulates, or fibres. These can normally be removed
by use of a clean, filtered compressed gas or wiping the surface with
a clean, lint free cloth. A small amount of solvent, such as IPA,
applied to the cloth may assist in the process.
A larger leak which results in a pressure rise above 3 x 10-5 mbar will
cause the emission to trip or prevent the system from attaining the
trip pressure on pumping down from atmosphere. This would prevent
switch on of the mass spectrometer. In this case, the leak can
potentially be located by probing around the vacuum system with
helium and looking for slight changes in the Penning gauge reading.
Fault Diagnosis
Mass Spectrometer Faults
The complete loss of mass peaks or a loss of resolution / peak shape

Mass or sensitivity indicates the majority of faults. The following sections
Spectrometer are a list of possible causes of the above conditions.
Faults
Warning! High Voltages! Voltages of up to 1 kV are present!
Exercise extreme caution at all times.
If there are no mass peaks, complete the following:

No Peaks
Check that the electronics are powered and that all leads are
connected and that all fuses are intact.
Check the Instrument Status light is green.
Check for satisfactory electron emission, filament current, source
current, trap current, and electron energy on the GasWorks Status
Window. If filament is short circuit the filament current will be at
filament limit with no trap current.
In Control Centre, set the Ion Energy and Focus Voltages to
zero. Disconnect the socket from the source flange plug.
Check each pin on the source flange plug to all others and earth
(see Figure 91). Continuity should only be found between:
7 and 12 Filament 1
4 and 8 Filament 2
9 and 16 PRT
10 and 11 Source Heater
A plate in the source or collector assemblies may be disconnected
and / or charging up. This can only be confirmed by examining
the individual assemblies, which requires a full instrument
shutdown and removal of the assemblies from the vacuum
chamber.
Access the GasWorks Instrument Status window and check that
the magnet current is approximately 2.5 amps with mass 28
selected in Control Centre.
If the noise displayed on the computer screen does not increase
as the gain is increased, it is likely that the detector system is
inoperative.
Fault Diagnosis
Poor Sensitivity For low or unstable sensitivity and / or poor peak shape:
Ensure that the source and lens tuning is optimized.
Check for contamination of the source or lens. If necessary,
remove and clean.
Ensure that an electrode in the source or collector assembly is not
disconnected and / or charging up. Normally, in this condition,
no peaks are observed.
Try the second filament. Sensitivity can be degraded after a
filament has been in use for a long period, often due to
contamination or physical movement of the filament wire.
Check that the Penning gauge pressure reading is normal.
An extremely low pressure may indicate blockage of the inlet
blocked RMS and / or screen filter and / or capillary and / or
glass leak.
Poor Stability on There are a number of factors that influence the initial stabilization
Startup (settling) of the mass spectrometer following startup or restart.
Filament emission characteristics are altered by reactions with the
sample gas and depend on the specific chemistry of the gas. Different
gas mixtures will have differing effects on the filament. Gas mixtures
that have a net oxidizing effect tend to be the reverse of mixtures that
are net reducing. Where an instrument has either been idle or
analyzing a radically different sample stream, there will be an initial
stabilization in the filament characteristics as they adjust to the
average composition of the samples. This will normally result in an
overall general drift in absolute peak heights. From cold startup,
there will be other factors contributing to this effect such as out-
gassing from the enclosure and various system elements as they
come up to working temperature.
If there is a very large change in the average gas composition with
time, for example from one day to the next, then it may be necessary
to recalibrate on a daily basis to maintain system accuracy within an
acceptable bandwidth. Most processes, however, involve a stable
average composition of process gas samples.
Reactions between the sample gases and filament result in changes in
the electron work function of the filament emissive material. The
electron flux through the ionization region is regulated by control of
the trap current, which will adjust filament current to affect any
necessary compensation. This in turn changes the filament
temperature and could affect the temperature distribution of the ion
source, even though the overall source temperature may be regulated
to 0.1C by a source temperature controller.
Fault Diagnosis
There can also be changes to the spatial distribution of electron

trajectories and in the electron energies following impact with the
sample gas molecules. The nature and efficiency of ionization, as
well as the energies and trajectories of ions exiting the source, can all
be affected. As a result of all these effects, there can be changes in
the absolute sensitivities, relative sensitivities, and cracking patterns.
The magnitude of the effects depends very much on the types of
gases being analyzed the more overlaps or the greater the variation
in ion types (e.g. mass and multiplicity of charges) the greater the
potential impact.
Contamination can result in sample reacting with or being absorbed
on the walls of the ionization chamber, which can modify the surface
potentials due to localized charging effects.
Poor Results Check the calibration method has been correctly configured. The
Following general rules for configuring calibration gases are as follows:
Calibration Fragmentation: Can only be selected when there are no overlaps
in the spectra of the gas component, at the selected masses, with
those of any other gas in the cylinder.
Background: Enable for background measurement only when
there are no contributions at any of the selected peaks in the
cracking pattern for the gas component in the calibration
cylinder.
Sensitivity: Can be calibrated only when there are no
overlaps at the principle peak.
Linearity: Can always be calibrated provided the component is
present at a significant and accurately known level in a gas
mixture.
Check that there is flow when the calibration gases are selected. If a
non-hazardous calibration gas is selected and no hazardous sample
gases are flowing through the RMS, removal of the RMS cover
allows for verification that the RMS is selecting the correct
calibration gas stream.
Check that the Penning pressure reading is consistent with that
obtained during original installation. Depending on the molecular
leak type used, the Penning pressures for nitrogen or air are typically:
70 micron pinhole leak ca. 5 x 10-6 mbar
Note these pressure readings are gas dependent.
Fault Diagnosis
Filament Failure
A good test for system integrity is to introduce helium, which will

typically give the following pressure readings:
The above is only a rough guide but can be used to establish if the
micro capillary is blocked, significantly lower readings, or there is a
gross leak, significantly higher readings.
If the capillary is blocked or the ion source is contaminated, the
linearity factors obtained during calibration will depart greatly from
unity; typically they are close to 1 (e.g. 0.7 to 1.3) but in the event of
a blockage or contamination, could be as low as 0.3 or as high as 3.0.
Ion Source and After prolonged operation of the unit (typically between six months
Magnet Pole and two years) a build-up of contamination may occur on the ion
Pieces Assembly source electrodes, the magnet pole pieces, and Z-restrictor. This can
result in the build-up of insulating films on metal surfaces, which in
turn can charge up and disturb the local field potentials. This usually
results in a reduction in sensitivity and / or a distorted peak shape. In
this event, it will be necessary to clean the source, pole pieces, and
the Z-restrictor. Refer to Chapter 10: Maintenance for cleaning
procedures.
Filament
Typical filament lifetime is six months to two years. The instrument
Failure status flags indicate filament failure. Filament current, trap current,
and source current will all be zero. Filament failure can be checked
(after setting the ion energy and focus voltages to zero), by testing
the source flange plug for continuity between pins 7 and 9 for the
case of filament 1 or pins 16 and 17 for the case of filament 2 on the
source plug. However, since the source is the dual filament type then,
provided one filament is still intact, one can simply switch operation
to the other filament. Filament replacement can then be carried out at
any convenient time, such as during a routine preventive
maintenance service.
Note: The filament current will be switched off if the Penning

pressure rises above its set point. This should be checked before
dismantling the system to change the filament.
Fault Diagnosis
Filament Failure
Figure 91. Source plug pinout (external feed-through)
Chapter 10
Maintenance
Caution! Before commencing any maintenance work on this
instrument, refer to instructions in Chapter 2: Safety Information.
Maintenance The maintenance schedule is summarized in the table below.

Schedule Table 101. Maintenance schedule
Frequency* Item Task
Weekly Rotary pumps Check oil level, and replenish if
necessary.
Monthly Air conditioner Check external air circulation, and
clean as required.
Every 6 Rotary pumps Change oil.
months
Every 3 years Turbo molecular Service pump.
pump
* May vary depending on application and environment.
Caution! Additional maintenance is required for Ex systems with

purge equipment. Refer to additional documentation.
Procedures
Rotary Pump Oil
Level
Warning! Hazardous Substance!
Pump oil must not be ingested.

Protective clothing must be worn when replenishing the oil in
the rotary pumps.
Keep away from skin, especially open wounds. Pump oil is a
possible irritant.
Waste oil is to be disposed of in an environmentally
responsible manner.
Maintenance
Procedures
Warning! High Temperatures!
Rotary pumps run hot during operation.

Allow pumps to cool before draining oil.
The oil level in the rotary pump should be checked in accordance

with the maintenance schedule and replenished if necessary. If a
significant loss of oil has occurred, this should be investigated
according to instructions provided by the pump manufacturer
(manual supplied).
Routine oil changes are not required for rotary pumps filled with
Fomblin oil.
Drain plug
Figure 101. Rotary pump drain plug
Cleaning the To maintain adequate cooling of the instrument, ensure that the fan
Cooling Fans covers, air intake, and condenser coil are free of dust. Clean as
required.
Fan cover guard
Figure 102. Fan cover guard
Maintenance
Dismantling and Cleaning Procedures
Lubricating the
Turbo Molecular
Pump Warning! Lethal Voltages! Lethal voltages are present in the
vicinity of the turbo molecular pump. Isolate the mains electrical
supply before attempting any maintenance activity on the pump.
Maintenance procedures for the turbo molecular pump are given in

the instructions provided by the pump manufacturer (manuals
supplied). The procedures are quite involved and, in general, it is
preferable to return the pump for maintenance.
Dismantling
and Cleaning
Procedures
Warning! Lethal Voltages! Lethal voltages are present within the
Prima PRO enclosure. Isolate the mains electrical supply before
attempting any maintenance activity on the pump.
Filament
Warning! Hazardous Substance!
The filament contains hazardous substances and must not be
ingested.
Protective clothing (gloves) must be worn when handling the
filament.
Note: All parts are clean assemblies and gloves should be worn
during the following procedure.
To remove the filament, proceed as follows.
1. Using Control Centre, switch off the filament.
2. Switch off the electrical power. Wait approximately five minutes

for the turbo molecular pump to slow down and vent the system
to atmospheric pressure.
Maintenance
3. Remove the source connector and 4 x M6 nuts shown in Figure

103.
Source
connector
4 x M6 nuts that secure
the source flange to the
source housing.
Figure 103. Removing the source connector and 4 x M6

nuts
4. Carefully lift the source flange complete from the analyser

chamber.
5. Remove the 3 x M3 cap heads that secure the source connection

ring in the analyser housing and carefully withdraw the source.
Note: The filaments are positioned against a stop on one side

and are hooked over the anodized aluminium insulating plates.
They are secured by slotted knurled nuts. The filament supply
and trap leads are connected to the filament assembly pins by
gold socket connectors. Note the position of the three connectors.
6. Remove the socket connectors from the failed filament assembly

and the knurled nut. See Figure 104.
Socket
connectors
Knurled nut
Figure 104. Removing the failed filament
7. Using tweezers, withdraw the filament.
Maintenance
Note: The anodized aluminium insulating plate is left in place.

This must be reused or replaced when replacing the filament.
To replace the filament, proceed as follows.
1. Position the filament as shown in Figure 104 and fix in place

with the knurled nut.
Note: The alignment of the filament in the plane of the ion
beam is preset.
2. Reconnect the supply leads (socket connectors shown in Figure 10

4).
3. Check the filament connections for continuity.
4. Check the filament to ion source and trap to ion source and
ensure these are open circuit (> 50 M).
5. Refit the source connection ring in the analyser housing and

secure with 3 x M3 cap head screws. A dowel pin in the analyser
housing ensures the correct orientation.
6. Refit the source flange and tighten the M6 nuts evenly.
Ion Source
Caution!
This operation should only be undertaken by trained

personnel with knowledge of the requirements for the
cleanliness of vacuum components.
This operation should ONLY be performed in a dust free,
clean environment. Failure to observe this requirement could
result in contamination of the assembly with particulates, and
/ or materials, which could degrade or prevent subsequent
operation of the source.
Magnetic particulates will easily attach to the collimating
magnets and will be very difficult to remove.
To dismantle the ion source, follow the procedure below.
Maintenance
1. Remove the ion source as previously described in the previous

section.
2. Disconnect the source wiring leads from the feed-through.
3. Remove the filaments as described in an earlier section titled

Filament.
4. The source assembly is built on four ceramic rods secured by a

clamp.
Caution!
The electron beam collimating magnets are fixed to the

bracket at the top of the assembly nearest the connection ring.
These magnets should NOT be removed.
Care must be taken to prevent contact between magnetic
materials (e.g. a screwdriver) and the magnets.
These magnets have a high field strength but are very brittle
and easily damaged if subject to impact.
5. Disconnect all leads from the source assembly, not the

connection ring.
6. Remove the insulating rod clamp furthest from the connection

ring. See Figure 105.
Insulating rod clamp

furthest from connection
ring
Figure 105. Removing the insulating rod
7. Take careful note of the sequence and orientation of the

components. Detail changes to the exploded view below (Figure
106) may occur in special applications.
8. Remove the source component items in sequence.
Maintenance
9. Metal electrode surfaces can be cleaned with a fine abrasive such

as diamond paste. Aim to remove discolourations and achieve a
shiny finish. Ceramics can be cleaned with suitable detergent
or acid.
10. Final clean as follows. If possible, use of an ultrasonic bath is

recommended.
a. Wash off all traces of abrasive pastes according to type. Use
deionised water for water soluble pastes or recommended
solvents as per manufacturers instructions.
b. Final rinse with clean isopropyl alcohol or a similar solvent.
c. Dry thoroughly, preferably in an oven at 100C for one hour.
11. Reassemble the source assembly and refit to the analyser flange
in reverse order.
12. Once reassembled, ensure that all plates are parallel. Check that
the two focus half plates are aligned with each other.
Figure 106. Source assembly
Maintenance
Magnet Pole To clean the magnet pole pieces, proceed as follows.

Piece Assembly
1. Disconnect the wiring for the electromagnet coils from the
magnet power and control PCAs, top RH side of the enclosure
(Figure 107). Note the wiring sequence of the main coils to the
power PCA. The electromagnet will fail to operate if these are
not refitted in the correct sequence.
Figure 107. Disconnecting the wiring
2. Using two 19 mm ratchet ring spanners, jack up the coils and

yoke assembly until it clears the pole pieces (Figure 108).
Ensure that the bolts are unscrewed evenly to avoid unnecessary
strain to the threads. The bolts will now be free from the threaded
hex pillars.
Figure 108. Jacking up the coils and yoke assembly
3. Lift out the coil assembly (Figure 109).
Maintenance
Caution! Heavy!
The electromagnet assembly weighs approximately 16 kg.
Protective footwear should be worn when performing this
action.
Figure 109. Lift out coil assembly
4. Unscrew the four pole piece locating screws and remove the front
magnet pole piece (Figure 1010).
Locating screw
Figure 1010. Removing the front magnet pole piece
5. The Z-restrictor is a thin aperture plate positioned at the beam

entrance to the electromagnet, left hand, source side, of the
magnet assembly and held in place by the pole pieces. When the
front pole piece is removed, slide out the Z-restrictor plate before
removing the rear pole piece.
Maintenance
6. Use diamond or other suitable abrasive paste to polish the

surfaces of the magnet pole pieces and the Z-restrictor. Pay
particular attention to the rectangular slot in the Z-restrictor.
7. Final clean as follows. If possible, use of an ultrasonic bath is

recommended.
a. Wash off all traces of abrasive pastes according to type.
b. Use deionised water for water soluble pastes or recommended
solvents as per manufacturers instructions.
c. Final rinse with clean isopropyl alcohol or a similar solvent.
d. Dry thoroughly, preferably in an oven at 100C for one hour.
8. Visually inspect the magnet pole pieces for any remaining

contamination, and repeat steps 6 and 7 if necessary.
9. Refit the rear magnet pole piece and Z-restrictor.
10. Refit the front magnet pole piece, taking care not to dislodge the
Z-restrictor.
11. Lift the magnet / coil yoke assembly back into position. Engage
the threaded bolts into the threaded hex pillars, and use the
ratchet spanners to evenly jack down the assembly.
12. Reconnect the coil and search coil wires to the magnet power and
control PCAs.
Fuses
Maintenance Hazard! Qualified Personnel Only! Before
changing a fuse, isolate the instrument from the mains power supply
and read the safety instructions provided in Chapter 2.
Fuses fitted are one of two body types. See Figure 1011 and Figure
1012.
Figure 1011. ATO (low voltage DC supplies only)
Maintenance
Figure 1012. 5 x 20 mm ceramic (mains supplies)
Table 102. Power distribution unit fuses

Fuse Supplied Voltage Rating Type Manufacture
Number Unit
F1 Magnet 30 V 10 A ATO Littelfuse 257 010
F2 Probe heater 24 V 2A ATO Littelfuse 257 002
F3 Auxiliary 24 V 2A ATO Littelfuse 257 002
heater
F4 Inlet power 24 V 4A ATO Littelfuse 257
004
F5 Amplifier 24 V 1A ATO Littelfuse 257 001
F6 Turbo pump 24 V 4A ATO Littelfuse 257 004
F7 Vent valve 24 V 1A ATO Littelfuse 257 001
F8 Aircon fan 24 V 2A ATO Littelfuse 257 002
F9 CPU carrier 24 V 1A ATO Littelfuse 257 001
F10 User I/O 24 V 4A ATO Littelfuse 257 004
F11 Analyser 24 V 2A ATO Littelfuse 257 002
Table 103. CPU and user I/O carrier fuses

Fuse Supplied Voltage Rating Type Manufacture
Number Unit(s)
F1 Digital O/Ps 24 V 2A ATO Littelfuse 257 002
(non-volt-
free)
F2 Digital I/Ps 24 V 2A ATO Littelfuse 257 002
(non-volt-
free)
F3 to Digital O/Ps, 24 V 1A ATO Littelfuse 257 001
F14 Individual
Table 104. Inlet control fuses

Fuse Supplied Voltage Rating Type
Number Unit(s)
F1 Mains heater 115/230 V 5A 5 x 20 mm FF
F2 Solenoid 24 V 1A ATO
valves
Maintenance
Fuse Supplied Voltage Rating Type

Number Unit(s)
F3 Inlet control 24 V 4A ATO
and RMS drive
Table 105. Ex isolation box (Ex systems only)

Fuse Supplied Unit Voltage Rating Type
Number
F1 PSU 115/230 V 1A 5 x 20 mm FF
F2 PSU 115/230 V 1A 5 x 20 mm FF
F3 Purge 24 V 500 mA 5 x 20 mm FF
controller
F4 Purge 24 V 500 mA 5 x 20 mm FF
controller
Appendix A
Hazardous Area Operation
A hazardous area is defined as an area where there is a risk of fire or
Introduction explosion due to ignition of flammable gases, vapours, dusts, or
fibres. Due to this risk, it is not possible to use standard electrical
equipment in such an area without providing some form of additional
protection to prevent ignition.
This manual covers operation of the explosion protection features of
the Prima PRO Ex and Sentinel PRO Ex systems. These instruments
are essentially safe area systems. Explosion protection is achieved by
pressurizing and purging the instrument enclosure to prevent ingress
and build-up of flammable gas. The purge control equipment and any
electrical apparatus outside the purged envelope (e.g. mechanical
pumps) are protected by other methods as outlined below. Detailed
operation of the purge control equipment used on a particular system
is given in the respective manuals for that equipment, and these
should be read in conjunction with this manual.
Warning!
The specific points raised in this section should be carefully

noted before carrying out any installation, commissioning,
maintenance, troubleshooting, or upgrade work on an Ex
system. This applies to ALL aspects of the work to be carried
out, not just with regard to the hazardous area specific parts.
These points should be applied in addition to any national or
local site regulations.
Failure to comply has the potential to cause a major site hazard.
Caution!
There are other safety considerations related to working on

Prima PRO and Sentinel PRO instrumentation regardless of
the nature of the operating environment (safe or hazardous).
Specific safety issues are highlighted and covered in other
chapters of this manual and should be taken into account in
addition to any points raised below.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide A-1
Introduction
Before installing this equipment, verify that it complies with

standards appropriate to the specific hazardous area.
Installation
Compressed air requirements: Supply pressure should be in the
range 4 to 6.9 bar(g) (10 bar(g) if specified in order). Regulators
are provided for each of the two compressed air functions. See
Table A6 for air flow requirements. The supply must be
capable of maintaining the total required air flow at the above
pressure. Failure to do so will result in power trips and / or
alarms. The supply connection is 1/2 or 12 mm compression.
Tubing of this diameter (minimum) should be used for a
maximum run of 5 meters. Larger diameter tube / pipe should be
used for longer runs. The exact requirements will depend on the
supply pressure and line length.
Note the maximum allowable sample / exhaust pressure (see Table
A6).
Note the requirements of Other Hazardous Area
Considerations later in this appendix.
External enclosure materials are carbon steel (epoxy powder
painted) and stainless steel. The enclosure should not be exposed
to an environment that might cause significant degradation to any
of these materials.
Warning!
Power and / or electrical data cables are NOT to be

terminated in the purged instrument enclosure. All power and
data cables must terminate in an external flameproof box (or
boxes).
The main power supply, serial cables, and a limited amount
of digital I/O connect to the flameproof box attached to the
top of the main instrument enclosure.
Additional (wall mounted) flameproof boxes will be provided
where I/O beyond that available in the base configuration is
used.
Flameproof barrier glands (cable or conduit) must be used when
making connections into flameproof boxes. Separate entries are
provided for power and signal connections. Refer to Chapter 5:
Installation & Interconnection for further details.
Data communication can be via fibre optic cables that are
terminated direct within the instrument enclosure. When
installing such cables through the user gland plate, suitable
glands and cables must be used. See Chapter 3: Site
Requirements and Chapter 5: Installation & Interconnection.
A-2 Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Introduction
General Before starting work, check with the appropriate site authority.
Hazardous Area Permits to carry out live or hot work in the hazardous area may
Work be required.
Work must be carried out by suitably trained personnel.
Before opening any electrical enclosures or using any electrical
test equipment (test meter, laptop computer, etc.), ensure that the
area has been verified as currently non hazardous. Continuous
monitoring may be required.
Commissioning
and Maintenance Do not attempt to adjust any purge pressures, flow rates, or
pressure set points unless appropriate test equipment is available.
These have all been factory preset to give a safe operating
condition.
Never use purge flow rates or timings other than those specified
on the instrument label or in this document.
Do not attempt to modify the purge control equipment in any
way. Doing so will void hazardous area certifications. If there is
any evidence of modifications, the person on site with overall
responsibility for hazardous area safety must be informed,
preferably in writing. The factory should also be consulted.
Do not modify any part of the purged enclosure or the apparatus
within the enclosure without first contacting the factory for
written authorization because:
a. There are other features of the system that are required for
safe hazardous area operation over and above the enclosure
purge.
b. It cannot be assumed that any item of safe area electrical

apparatus can be safely used in the purged enclosure.
Modifications could invalidate any hazardous area
certifications and make the system unsafe.
When carrying out any work that involves breaking the analyser
vacuum system, ensure that the area is verified safe for the entire
duration that the vacuum system is open. This is necessary so as
to avoid trapping hazardous gas inside the vacuum system that
could be ignited on startup.
On completion of any work, ensure that where appropriate the
system is returned to full purge protected condition (i.e. not in
override). Ensure that covers are replaced on all electrical
enclosures.
Hazardous Area General
When replacing any Thermo Scientific manufactured electrical

assembly, ensure that the replacement assembly is of an issue
level greater than or equal to the original.
When discussing spares, upgrades, etc. with the factory, make it
clear that this is a hazardous area (Ex) system.
Routine Checks
Verify correct operation of the purge control equipment on a six
monthly basis (see Purge Operation and Testing).
Inspect and / or test the sample containment system on a six
monthly basis (see Inspection and Testing).
Check correct operation of the RMS heater on a routine basis
(see Temperature).
Hazardous
Area This section gives a brief outline of the general principles of
hazardous areas and operation of equipment in these areas, with
General comparison between European and North American terminology.
Only hazards due to flammable gases and vapours will be
considered. The presence of dusts and fibres may also cause an area
to be defined as hazardous but will not be considered as the
Prima PRO Ex and Sentinel PRO Ex are not approved for operation
in such areas.
Area Area classification specifies the probability of a hazard being present

Classification in a defined physical area. Under ATEX (Europe) and IECEx
regulations, equipment is categorised based on the level of protection
offered. Particular categories of equipment are allowed in particular
areas. The areas and categories are summarized in Table A1.
Table A1. Areas and equipment categories
Hazard Type* ATEX (Europe) and IECEx North
American
Allowed
Area
Area Equipment
Category
Continuous or nearly
Zone 0 1
continuous hazard
Division 1
Intermittent hazard Zone 1 1 and 2
Hazard only in fault

Zone 2 1, 2 and 3 Division 2
conditions
*Refer to the appropriate standard for exact definition.
Table A2 categorises the gases that may be present in hazardous

areas.
Gas
Classification Table A2. Gas classification
Typical Gas* Europe North America
Propane / methane Group II A Class 1, Group D
Ethylene Group II B Class 1, Group C
Hydrogen Group II C Class 1, Group B
Acetylene Group II C Class 1, Group A
*Refer to the appropriate standard for a full listing of the gases in each group.
Methods of
Most methods of protection rely on removing the source of ignition or
Protection separating it from the flammable gas. Hot surfaces represent a
potential source of ignition and surface temperatures are classified as
in Table A3.
Table A3. Surface temperature classification
Maximum Surface Temperature T Class
450C T1
300C T2
200C T3
135C T4
100C T5
85C T6
The T class for electrical apparatus represents the maximum surface

temperature that can occur in normal operation or, if appropriate, a
fault condition, and is normally determined as part of the
certification process. A given hazardous area will have a
specification for the T class for apparatus allowed to be used in that
area.
There are a number of methods of protection used to protect against
ignition of flammable gases by sparks. Only those relevant to the
Prima PRO Ex and Sentinel PRO Ex are considered here.
Purge / This method allows a safe area electrical apparatus to be used in a

Pressurisation hazardous area by placing that apparatus in an enclosure pressurised
with clean air or an inert gas. The positive pressure in the enclosure
ensures that any flammable gas external to the enclosure cannot enter
the enclosure and be ignited by sparks, hot surfaces, etc. Depending
on the area classification, it may be necessary to interlock the
enclosure power to the enclosure pressure, i.e. if the pressure falls,
the power will be switched off.
When purge protected apparatus is initially switched on, it is

necessary to ensure that that there is no residual hazardous
atmosphere in the purged enclosure. For this reason the enclosure is
purged for a set time before the power is switched on. This time is
the time (determined during apparatus certification) to purge the
volume in the enclosure, including any partially trapped volumes.
Again, depending on area classification, it may be necessary to
automatically time this initial purge. Power is not allowed to be
switched on until this phase is complete.
Where the protected apparatus is an analyser, for example, it will be
necessary to introduce sample gases into the enclosure. Typically,
this gas is fully contained and would not enter the pressurised
volume of the enclosure. If the sample gas is hazardous in nature
then the possibility of leakage from this containment system into the
enclosure must be considered. The simple enclosure pressurisation
then becomes a continuous purge and the purge flow rate must be
such that the worst-case internal leak is diluted to a safe level.
A summary of the different purge types is given below.
Table A4. Purge types
ATEX (Europe)/IECEx North America
Area Purge Purge Area Purge Purge
Type Characteristics Type Characteristics
Zone 1, Exp Automatic power Div. X- Automatic power
2 interlock and 1 purge interlock and purge
purge timing timing
Div. Z- Manual power

2 purge interlock and purge
timing,
pressurisation
alarm
The point at which purge gas exits the enclosure must be protected
by a spark arrestor to prevent any sparks potentially generated by
apparatus in the enclosure from getting into the hazardous area.
Apparatus used to provide the required purge interlocking must
remain powered even when the purge gas supply is off. Hence, the
purge protection apparatus must use an alternative method of
protection.
Purge / pressurisation is the main method of protection used for the
Prima PRO Ex and Sentinel PRO Ex systems, and detailed operation
of these purge protection schemes is covered in later sections.
Flameproof (Europe) This method does not attempt to prevent sparks or to isolate
or Explosion Proof flammable gas from any potential source of ignition, and as such
(North America)
ignition could in fact occur. The apparatus is, however, enclosed in a

flameproof (or explosion proof) enclosure, which is rated to contain
any combustion products such that:
a. The enclosure remains intact.
b. Hot gases cannot escape and propagate the combustion
beyond the enclosure.
Flameproof enclosures are hence very robust, typically of cast iron or
cast aluminium construction. Flanges, etc. are designed so as to
provide a long, well defined path length for hot gases to follow if
they are to exit the enclosure. As a result, gases are sufficiently cool
when they reach the outside (hazardous) environment so that further
flame propagation does not occur. As a result of the nature of this
protection, a particular flameproof enclosure is only certified for use
with a particular set of gas groups (see above for gas group
definitions). Flameproof enclosures may additionally be fitted with
some form of weatherproofing seal, but this does not form part of the
protection method.
Cable entries to the enclosure must be of a type certified to maintain
the flameproof integrity of the enclosure. This might involve some
form of potting (with an epoxy compound) of the cable into a cable
gland and may also restrict the type of cable that can be used (e.g.
solid single core wires).
On the Prima PRO Ex and Sentinel PRO Ex systems, flameproof
protection is used for the electrical isolation enclosure(s) and the
rotary pump motor.
Increased Safety This is a non-sparking method of protection. It relies on methods

of construction of the electrical apparatus that eliminate any
possibility of sparking in normal operation. For example, screw
terminals must be of a certified type that will not vibrate loose in
service. The apparatus must be enclosed in a weatherproof enclosure
(e.g. IP65) to prevent the ingress of conductive dusts or liquids that
could cause sparks.
This method is used for the purge controller / monitor unit.
Non-Electrical Where possible, the use of non-electrical apparatus is an obvious

way of avoiding electrical sparks. However, it should be noted this
does not exclude the possibility of non-electrical sources of ignition
such as mechanical sparks, hot surfaces due to friction heating, and
static discharge.
Commonly, this involves the use of pneumatics as an alternative and
can be simpler than using protected electrical apparatus.
Interconnection and servicing may also be simplified.
Purge Operation
In Europe, the ATEX directive encompasses non-electrical (as well

as electrical) ignition sources and this must be considered when
using pneumatic or other non-electrical apparatus in hazardous areas.
Purge
Operation
The general principles of operation of a purge protected system have
Purge Overview been outlined above. This section details how purge protection
relates to the Prima PRO Ex and Sentinel PRO Ex systems.
The enclosure is pressurised / purged with compressed air. For
obvious reasons, the compressed air must be from a non-hazardous
area source and free from contaminants such as oil and water.
Typically, instrument grade air is used.
Danger of Asphyxiation!
An inert gas such as nitrogen should not be used for the purge
system.
There is no facility to duct away vented purge gas so the
asphyxiation hazard is considerable if operated in a confined
or poorly ventilated position.
The standard instrument consists of a single enclosure, and purge air
flows into the top of this main enclosure. A purge monitor unit
located at the bottom left of the main enclosure allows the air to exit
while also maintaining a back pressure in the enclosure.
A continuous dilution and pressurisation (CDP) purge flow is
required to dilute any internal sample leakage and maintain the
internal enclosure pressure. The required flow has been determined
(see below). As noted previously, an initial enclosure purge is
required to remove any possible residual hazardous gas before power
is switched on.
The features of, and differences among, the three purge controller
types used are outlined in the following table.
Purge Operation
Table A5. Types of purge controllers

Exp X-purge Z-purge
Power switch Electrical contactor Electrical contactor Electrical contactor
interlocked to purge interlocked to purge interlocked to e-
status and e-stop status and e-stop stop button
button button
Purge initialisation Automatic, following Automatic, following Manual
initial enclosure initial enclosure
pressurisation pressurisation
Purge timer Electronic Electronic Manual
Action on purge fail 4-second warning, 4-second warning, Alarm generated
then automatic then automatic
power switch off power switch off
Purge fail override Controller function Controller function N/A
(password protected) (password protected)
Purge Operation
The following tables specify the purge and air supply parameters
Requirements required to ensure safe operation of the instrument.
Table A6. Parameter values and air requirements
PRO Ex + remote
Sentinel PRO Ex
Prima / Sentinel
Prima / Sentinel
Prima / Sentinel
PRO (non-Ex) +
remote RMS
+ dual RMS
RMS, and
(purged)
PRO Ex
Enclosure Internal Free Volume 190 L 235 L 45 L

Initial Purge Flow Rate 100 Nl/min 100 Nl/min 100 Nl/min
Minimum Purge Time 11 minutes 15 minutes 3 minutes
Minimum Quantity of Protective
1100 L 1500 L 300 L
Gas Required
Continuous Dilution and
100 NL/min 100 NL/min 100 NL/min
Pressurisation Flow Rate
Purge Operation
High Pressure
Standard
Option*
Minimum Supply Pressure 4 bar 4 bar
Maximum Supply Pressure 6.9 bar 10 bar
Maximum Enclosure
15 mbar 25 mbar
Overpressure
Regulator Set Pressure 3.0 bar 3.0 bar
NOTE: The High Pressure Option must be specified in the instrument order. A
Standard or High Pressure Option system can be operated at a higher line pressure,
provided that an additional regulator and pressure relief device (set to 6.9 bar or 10 bar
maximum respectively) are placed in the incoming air line.
All purge parameters are detailed on the instrument label and must
be adhered to. The parameters will have been set during factory
testing. The CDP flow rate should be sufficient to pressurise the
enclosure to a minimum of 1 mbar overpressure, but typically the
operating pressure is greater than this the set point of the enclosure
pressure switch will have been adjusted to suit.
Parameter In the event of any problems (or suspected problems) with the purge
Measurement control equipment, or when certain part of that equipment is
replaced, it may be necessary to set or check any of the above
parameters. Before attempting this, suitable test equipment must be
available.
The requirements are as follows.
a. Calibrated pressure gauge (0 to 20 mbar) for enclosure
pressure measurement. If such a gauge is not available, a
water manometer is acceptable (assume 10 mm of water
column is 1.0 mbar). The pressure can be measured at any
point on the main enclosure, but avoid points close to the air
inlet. There may be a spare blanked port that can be adapted
for this purpose.
b. Calibrated flow meter for measurement of purge flow rates.
Additionally, a pressure gauge should be used to measure the
pressure at the flow meter inlet so the flow reading can be
corrected for pressure. The pressure correction is given by:
Flow = flow meter reading (pressure reading (bar abs))
c. Stopwatch for verifying purge timing.
Purge Operation
Sample
Containment
System
Definition and The sample containment system is that part of the sample gas
Description handling that runs inside the main enclosure and which therefore has
the potential to leak into the enclosure. Once the sample passes into
the vacuum system of the analyser, the pressure is sufficiently low
that a leak into the purged enclosure cannot occur. For a
Prima PRO Ex, the vacuum system can be considered as anywhere
downstream of (and including) the inlet transfer line. For a
Sentinel PRO Ex, it is anywhere after the membrane inlet.
Any joint or seal in the sample containment system is considered as a
potential source of internal release. It is necessary therefore to
identify and quantify these potential sources and to do this, the
maximum pressure within the sample containment system must be
defined (see below). This is governed by pressure in both the sample
and exhaust lines, and it is a user responsibility to maintain the value
below the defined maxima for the instrument.
Parameters Maximum pressure in sample containment system (maximum

pressure in sample inlets / exhaust) for Prima PRO Ex:
0.2 bar(g)*
Maximum pressure in sample containment system (maximum
pressure in sample inlets / exhaust) for Sentinel PRO Ex:
< 0.0 bar(g)
Maximum leakage from sample containment system (Prima PRO
Ex): 0.25 Nl/min
Note:
*It is a user responsibility to maintain this pressure and ensure it is

not exceeded.
Pressure is maintained by use of a sample vacuum pump. See

details below.
Prima PRO Ex
Leakage Handling
The sample containment system is limited to a sample loop contained
within the inlet stream selector, (RMS) valve, where physical joints
have been kept to an absolute minimum. The worst leak occurs if the
pressure transducer for the flow sensing fails mechanically or
becomes disconnected. This is the maximum leakage (0.25 Nl/min)
from sample containment system defined above.
Purge Operation
Combining this figure with the CDP flow rate shows that any such
leak will be diluted to 0.25%, which satisfies the dilution ratio
requirement. This is, however, the overall dilution ratio in the
enclosure, and close to the leak point there is region where the leak
must be considered as not fully diluted. As there are electrical items
in close proximity to the point of release, it is necessary to treat these
as potential sources of ignition, and additional precautions must be
taken.
A vacuum ejector pump, driven by a small fixed fraction of the purge
air inlet, generates a suction flow that is connected to a port on the
RMS sample tube bracket. This is arranged such that suction, the
flow is > 5 l/min, is applied between the sample tube bracket and the
pressure transducer PCB, and any leakage from the pressure
transducer is drawn into the ejector airflow and diluted.
The suction flow from the ejector is also used to assist in the initial
purging of some internal volumes within the enclosure, specifically
the turbo pump controller, the signal amplifier box, cold cathode
gauge, and RMS stepper motor.
Sentinel PRO Ex
In the Sentinel PRO Ex, the situation is different in that flow through
the sample loop (the sample containment system) is much higher
compared to the Prima PRO Ex (typically 5 l/min), and there are
connections within the loop that must be considered as potential
leaks. It would require an unacceptably large flow of purge air to
dilute any such leak to a safe level. The sample flow on a Sentinel
PRO Ex system is induced by an external sample (suction) pump,
connected to the common exhaust of the multi-stream inlet system
(RMS). As a result, the sample loop is actually maintained under
negative pressure and therefore, in normal operation, there can be no
leakage out of the loop into the purged enclosure.
In the event of a break in the sample loop, connection with the pump
will be lost and sample will no longer be drawn down the sample line
to the pump. It is necessary to consider that the sample line could be
in a zone that is pressurised and could continue to drive sample down
the line to the break in the sample loop (albeit at a much reduced
flow rate). To provide protection, the sample loop is monitored by a
pair (for redundancy) of vacuum switches that will detect either a
break in the sample loop or a failure of the sample pump. Both result
in a pressure rise.
Note:
In the event of a loss of vacuum in the sample loop, the RMS

drives immediately to the designated safe inlet, Port 1.
Purge Operation
Port 1 must have a non hazardous and pressurised sample

(e.g. instrument air) permanently connected so that the
containment system is rapidly purged with this non hazardous
gas. The operator is informed via an alarm that the action has
taken place and normal sampling will have ceased. When the
fault is corrected and vacuum re-established, normal
sampling can resume.
Due to the reduced pressure in the sample loop a connection from the
vacuum ejector to the flow sensor bracket (as used on the Prima PRO
Ex) is no longer necessary. However, this suction flow is still used to
assist in the initial purging of internal volumes in the turbo pump
controller, signal amplifier box, cold cathode gauge, and RMS
stepper motor.
Inspection and The purge system and sample containment system have been fully
Testing factory tested and should not require adjustment during the initial
commissioning period. In order to maintain safe operation of the
overall system, however, the integrity of the sample containment
system should be checked periodically, at least annually, as part of a
general preventative maintenance procedure.
Leakage Dilution Test (Prima PRO Ex)
The suction flow rate generated by the vacuum ejector should be
checked. Disconnect the red tube (suction line) from the
connector on the side of the RMS sample tube bracket. Check the
suction flow rate at the free end of the tube using a suitable flow
meter. The flow rate should be > 5 l/min.
Vacuum Switch Test (Sentinel PRO Ex)
The vacuum switch should be tested by disconnecting a line in
the sample loop at the point where the loop exits the RMS
(flowing towards the inlet probe assembly). Verify that the RMS
switches to the safe inlet.
Inspection
The RMS rotary seals should be removed for inspection. It is
recommended that spare seals are available in the event that the
old ones are damaged before or during removal. Follow the
instructions in Appendix C: Technical Description: Inlet. Note
that the sample return seal is not important from a safety point of
view failure would only result in an inaccurate sample flow
reading.
Leak Testing
Purge Operation
The above inspection procedure should always be carried out

prior to leak testing. Testing will not, for example, detect a
failure of one of the back to back sample tube seals.
Warning!
This test involves pressurizing the RMS and appropriate

precautions should be taken to avoid over pressurisation.
Correct fittings and blanks must be used.
Read this section in full and ensure that all the required parts
are available before commencing.
Remove the transfer line and blank the port with a 1/8 Swagelok
plug. The RMS exhaust and all but one of the inlet ports must be
blanked. If shutoff valves have been fitted in the sample lines
these may be used if the pressure rating is appropriate.
Otherwise, the individual ports must be blanked. Check that all
the main RMS cover plate bolts are in place and tight.
Connect a supply of a clean gas (e.g. nitrogen or helium) to the
remaining RMS port via a suitable shutoff valve. Also, fit a
pressure gauge (0 to 1 bar(g)) between this valve and the RMS
(or use another blanked inlet port if this is easier). Pressurise the
assembly to 0.5 bar(g). Close the isolation valve and disconnect
the gas supply. Monitor the pressure. The test is passed if the
pressure falls by no more than 0.05 bar in one hour. If a leak is
suspected, search with a leak detector such as Snoop.
Enclosure Leak If it is suspected that leaks have developed in the enclosure, a search
Testing can be carried out during normal CPD operation. The enclosure
pressure should be checked to verify that there is at least 2 mbar of
over pressure; otherwise leaks will be difficult to locate. If required,
the enclosure pressure can be increased by carefully restricting the
purge vent from the system. Avoid pressures above 30 mbar as this
can cause distortion of the enclosure and cause leaks that would not
otherwise be present. Do not adjust the purge air inlet pressure or
flow as a way of increasing enclosure pressure; this requires
calibrated test equipment to allow it to be reset.
External leaks can be located either by feel in the case of major
leaks, or by using a bubble type leak detector such as Snoop.
At the end of this test, remember to remove any purge outlet
restriction.
Purge Operation
This section provides further details on the operation and testing of

the different purge types. The manufacturers operation and
Purge Operation
maintenance manuals for the purge controllers should also be
and Testing consulted. If there are any doubts about any part of the following,
consult the factory for further information.
All System Types Power and signal switch box

The flameproof enclosure mounted on top of the main enclosure
contains the 24 Vdc power supply for the purge controller and
the main power contactor. The contactor (and hence power to the
instrument) can be switched off manually by the emergency stop
switch on the side of the flameproof box (all purge types) or
automatically (in the case of ATEX, IECEx and X-purge
systems). It also contains the comms isolation PCB that provides
relay isolation of the serial ports and a limited number of discrete
digital signals in the event that the main power is shut off either
manually or by the purge controller.
Purge air inlet

The unit contains a pressure regulator and needle valve to set the
purge flow rate to the required level. Air flow into the enclosure
is split to allow better distribution within the enclosure and flow
is constant throughout the initial purge and CDP phases.
ATEX, IECEx and The purge outlet / monitor unit is powered by 24 Vdc and handles all
X-Purge Systems the purge control logic, timing, etc. and monitors the enclosure
pressure and outlet flow rate. Pressure and flow set points are
adjusted using controls within the unit that also provide the signal to
operate the enclosure power control contactor (located in the power
switch box, see above). The air exhaust incorporates a spark
suppresser to ensure safe operation in the event of a serious internal
enclosure problem.
The purge controller includes an override function (password
required) that enables the system to operate with the door to the
purged enclosure open for maintenance purposes. A digital output
from the purge controller provides an indication of the purge
override status through the control interface software GasWorks and
hence remotely via the available communication channels.
To test the purge functionality, start with the system operating in full
purge mode with the override off. Open an enclosure door the
instrument should be powered down at this point. Close the
enclosure door to start the purge process. Use a stopwatch to check
the initial purge time. Verify that at the end of the purge cycle the
Other Hazardous Area Considerations
instrument power is restored. Switch the system into override and off
again, and check that this is correctly indicated in GasWorks.
Z-Purge Systems The purge outlet / monitor unit is powered by 24 Vdc and handles all
the purge monitoring and logic. The enclosure pressure is measured
and the pressure set point adjusted using controls within this unit.
Spent purge air exits the enclosure through the unit that also
maintains the system backpressure. A spark suppressor is
incorporated in the exhaust to ensure safe operation in the event of a
serious internal problem in the purged enclosure.
A digital output is available from the purge controller and provides
an indication of purge status through the control interface software
GasWorks and hence remotely via the available communication
channels.
To test the purge functionality, open the enclosure door to simulate a
purge failure and verify that the purge controller indicates this
correctly. Check also that Z-Purge Status is indicated to be in the
alarm condition in the system software. When the door is closed, the
enclosure should pressurise, and after a few seconds the purge
controller should indicate that the pressure is OK and the Z-Purge
Status alarm will clear.
Other
Hazardous
Area
Considerations
Hazardous atmospheres are prevented from entering the enclosure by
means of the purge protection system. However, consideration also
Temperature has to be given to the possibility that part of the system could be
heated beyond the maximum temperature for the T class of the
instrument. If this part is external, the hazardous atmosphere around
the enclosure is then directly exposed to a hot, ignition capable
surface. Similarly, if an internal component was to overheat, a
potentially hazardous situation could arise if the enclosure door was
opened before the component had cooled, even though power may
have removed from the system.
Over-Temperature Most of the heated assemblies in the system are designed so that if
Protection full power is applied to the heaters a hazardous condition will not
result. The exception to this is the main RMS body heater. Although
this uses a controller to regulate temperature (up to 120C), in a fault
(runaway) condition certain regions could exceed the limits for the T
class. Part of the heated body of the inlet is exposed to the external
atmosphere and the thermal mass is such that internal parts would
take a significant time to cool after power is switched off. To protect
the system from a controller failure a pair of independent thermal

cutout switches (140C) is fitted to the RMS body.
The inlet temperature alarm (GasWorks software interface) should be
monitored as this will give an indication that the thermal switches
have tripped. Also, the temperature will oscillate in the 120C to
140C region.
The enclosure temperature is monitored by the air conditioner, which
generates an alarm when the temperature is outside the control
window, and an independent temperature sensor, which triggers an
alarm at 40C.
Batteries There are two batteries fitted within the instrument enclosure.
Table A7. Battery types within the instrument enclosure
Processor Assembly Lithium thionyl chloride (Li/SOCl2)
(Thermo Scientific supply) Type AA
Nominal 1.2Ah
capacity
Nominal voltage 3.6V
Turbo Molecular Pump Lithium manganese dioxide (Li/MnO2)
(3rd party supply) Type Coin cell
Nominal 48mAh
capacity
Nominal voltage 3V
Warning!
Neither of these batteries is likely to need replacement during
the lifetime of the instrument or pump respectively.
If a problem occurs, the complete assembly should be
replaced.
No attempt should be made to replace the batteries.
See also the Battery Warning label on the inside of the
instrument door.
Dry Gas Vent All Prima PRO and Sentinel PRO systems have a dry gas vent
connection. Nitrogen (other inert dry gases could be used) is
connected to the vent port on the vacuum system (via a regulator).
When the vacuum system shuts down, it fills with the dry gas (rather
than ambient air). This facilitates a much faster subsequent pump
down.
For hazardous area systems, the dry gas vent has an additional
function. While the system is shut down it is possible for hazardous
gas to enter the analyser vacuum system, either through the vent port
if open to ambient air, or through the inlet system, if hazardous gases
are still present. On restarting the pumps, it is feasible that the turbo
molecular pump could cause ignition of the atmosphere with the
analyser and that this combusting gas could propagate ignition to an
external explosive atmosphere.
Note:
Filling the analyser with nitrogen or other inert dry gas and
maintaining a small positive pressure during any shutdown
period prevents the possible ingress of flammable gases into
the analyser.
Use of this inert gas vent is a requirement of the
ATEX/IECEx certification of the system.
Rotary Vacuum
Pump
General Power for the pump (or pumps) is switched from within the main
enclosure, although the pump is located externally and is
independently protected for hazardous area operation. If the pump
requires replacement, it should be noted that both the voltage and
frequency of the pump need to be specified. Care must be taken to
correctly reinstall the flameproof gland onto the replacement pump.
Thermal Trip The pump motor includes a thermal trip connected to the Ex Pump
Thermal Trip on the instrument power distribution unit (PDU). In the
event of an over-temperature condition, power to the pump will be
tripped followed by a vacuum system shut down shortly after. This
trip does not automatically reset; the Thermal Trip Reset button on
the PDU must be pressed when the over-temperature condition has
been removed. Note that the trip circuit contains a latching relay,
such that the trip status is remembered through instrument power
cycles.
For testing purposes, the functionality of the trip circuit can be
checked by disconnecting the trip cable from the PDU and verifying
that the pump switches off. The pump should not restart until the
cable is reconnected and the reset button pressed.
Purge Although the pump is certified for use in an external hazardous

atmosphere, the internal flow path is not certified for pumping
hazardous gas. For Zone 1 / Div. 1 applications, an inert gas
(typically nitrogen) purge is connected to the ballast port on the

pump. The purge flow rate is selected so that in normal operation the
oxygen content of gas passing through the pump is diluted to a level
where ignition cannot occur. A flow of 0.6 l/min is required.
A pair of flow switches is used to monitor the nitrogen flow (two
switches are required to give redundancy). In the event of loss of
flow, power to the pump is switched off, which will cause a full
vacuum system shut down to take place shortly afterwards.
Note that the pump purge shares the inert gas inlet connection with
the dry gas vent.
The flow interlock can be tested by turning off the nitrogen supply
and checking that the pump switches off. The pump should restart
when the nitrogen supply is restored. The flow switches have clear
acrylic bodies to allow easy inspection of the devices. Check that the
flow path is clean and the floats move up and down at more or less
the same time when the nitrogen flow rate is adjusted.
Calibration The calibration panels are based on safe area solenoid valve
Panels manifolds. These are made acceptable for hazardous area use by
mounting through the wall of the Exp enclosure, such that the valve
bodies are outside the enclosure, which avoids possible leakage
inside the enclosure. The solenoid coils are inside the enclosure and
are therefore protected by the enclosure purge.
Requirements of the assembly are that:
a. The valve plunger assemblies, which contain gas and
protrude into the enclosure, must be high integrity. The type
of valve used has a welded plunger assembly, which is a
requirement of the ATEX/IECEx certification of the system.
Testing of the integrity of the plunger assembly is carried out
in the factory where the welded assembly is tested as
infallible. This is a requirement of ATEX/IECEx
certification and has to be performed on each assembly prior
to fitting to an instrument or making available as a spare.
b. Substitute parts must not be used.
c. The gasket seal between the valve manifold body and the
mounting plate is designed to maintain the enclosure integrity
and prevent calibration gas seeping into the enclosure in the
event of a leak on the plunger-to-manifold O-ring. Care must
be taken to correctly reassemble this gasket. It is
recommended that this gasket is replaced should it prove
necessary to strip down the assembly for maintenance
purposes.
The air conditioner is made suitable for hazardous area operation by

locating ignition capable parts of the system within the purged
Air Conditioner
enclosure. The only parts exposed to hazardous atmospheres are the
condenser coil and the air circulation associated with this.
Air circulation over the condenser coil is achieved by use of air
amplifiers as fans, suitable for all area classifications were
considered inappropriate, principally due to size. Air amplifiers are
non-electrical and have no moving parts.
Three air amplifiers are used in parallel to ensure good air
distribution over the condenser coil. The compressed air requirement
is 100 to 300 Nl/min, dependent on ambient temperature conditions,
and controlled by the onboard regulator.
Remote / Dual The remote RMS (or second RMS in a dual valve configuration) is
RMS housed in its own enclosure. This additional enclosure also requires
pressurising and purging to enable it to be used in a hazardous area.
There are two variants.
RMS and Instrument The remote RMS enclosure is linked to the main enclosure via a 32
in Hazardous Area mm conduit that carries all the required connecting cables and pipe
work, and an additional 16 mm conduit, which is deliberately empty.
Two conduits are required to ensure there is an unobstructed path for
purge air to flow from the remote to main enclosure (obstruction of
this path could result in an overpressure condition in the remote
enclosure).
Serial purging of the enclosures is used where compressed air is
connected to the remote RMS enclosure via a regulator and is ducted
to the main enclosure through the interconnecting conduit.
Compressed air will also be required at the instrument enclosure, to
operate the air conditioner air amplifiers, so there are two
compressed air connection points to instruments with this
configuration. Compressed purge air will then exit the main
enclosure through the purge controller as normal. As the air flows
into the remote RMS enclosure first this will be at a higher pressure
than the main enclosure. Providing the pressure and flow rate
detected by the purge controller in the main enclosure are within
required limits, then the purge status of the remote RMS enclosure
must also be OK.
RMS in Hazardous In the case that RMS is in a hazardous area and the instrument in a
Area and Instrument safe area, the remote RMS is a self-contained purged unit with purge
in Safe Area controller and compressed air regulator mounted on the side. Rather
than use an Exd enclosure for power isolation, the appropriate
components are located in the main instrument enclosure,
communicating with the purge controller via a cable in the 32 mm
Service Replacement Items
conduit. To maintain the purge integrity of the RMS enclosure, the

conduit is internally sealed. Due to the complexity of isolating all the
signal and power lines to the RMS enclosure, in the event of loss of
purge (ATEX, IECEx and X-Purge systems) power to the whole
instrument is switched off.
The purge requirements for these two cases are different and are also
different to the standard (local RMS) case. Details of the purge
parameters are given earlier in Purge Operation Requirements.
The previous section (RMS and Instrument in Hazardous Area) is
also valid for the purge arrangement of a dual RMS Sentinel PRO
Ex. A dual RMS Prima PRO Ex is not an allowable configuration
due to the difficulty of handling the gas line from the second, remote
RMS within the purged enclosure.
Sample Pump The pump in Sentinel PRO applications is powered independently of

(Sentinel PRO the instrument and will, in general, require 3-phase power. The pump
Applications) will need to be hazardous area protected in its own right. Note that
the pump might be exposed to explosive gases via both the external
atmosphere and the internal flow path. The requirements in the case
of the latter will vary depending on the local regulations in force and
the area classification.
Fibre Optic Note that systems using fibre optic require a different ATEX/IECEx
Communications certification code compared to the standard systems (see Figure A2
through Figure A9). Adding fibre optics might therefore require a
change to the instrument label. Only fibre optic converters supplied
from the factory should be used.
Information on the type of fibre optic cable allowed and how to
connect is given in Chapter 3: Site Requirements and Chapter 5:
Installation & Interconnection.
Service
In order to maintain the system safe for hazardous area use and to
Replacement maintain its certification, it is essential to replace any faulty item
Items with an identical model, part, etc. Similar versions might possess
subtle differences that could adversely affect safe operation. If in
doubt, consult the factory.
A number of items, such as turbo molecular pump electronics,
Penning gauge, RMS stepper motor, and signal amplifier have been
adapted to ensure internal volumes are purged by means of suction
from a vacuum ejector (see Leakage Handling). In the case of third
party supplied components, these have not been physically modified
but have had fixing screws, or similar, replaced with a special hollow
adapters to allow for connection to the ejector circuit.
Service Replacement Items
Caution!
In the event that one of these third party items has to be
replaced, the purge adapter screw(s) must be removed and
retained.
Refit the adapter(s) to the replacement item before refitting.
Reconnect the ejector lines before putting back into service.
The original screws are stored within the enclosure. These can be
fitted to the faulty item if it is being returned for servicing,
investigation, etc.
In the event that any cable gland in the enclosure need replacement,
it is important that the correct size and type of gland are used. See
Figure A1 for identification of these glands.
Size: M32 Size: M20

Type: Exd into Type: Exe
isolation box. IP40
into enclosure Size: M20 ext, 1/4 BSP
int
Type: Nickel plated
brass, pipe bulkhead
Rotary pump cable (rear

corner)
Size: M20
Size: M32
Type: Exd
Type: Exe
2nd rotary pump

(where used)
Size: M20 Size: M16
Type: Exe blank (no Type: Exe
pump) or Exd (pump
fitted)
Size: M16
Glands specified as Exe
Type: Exe with internal Size: M20 must be either Exe
seal around cable Type: Exe certified or metal,
minimum IP40.
Figure A1. Enclosure cable glands
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
This section provides a brief guide to identifying the cause of some
common problems that may be encountered. It should be noted that
the majority of problems are due to air supply faults or enclosure
leakage and that problems with purge control equipment are rare.
Ensure that Safety Information (Chapter 2) has been read and
observed before starting any work.
Check that the correct test equipment is available before making any
adjustments that cannot be reversed. Manufacturers documentation
should be consulted in parallel with this document.
Table A8. Troubleshooting
Symptom* Possible Cause Action
1. Purge sequence fails to a. Air supply pressure low or Check pressure at
start, enclosure power off, line capacity inadequate. instrument. Increase line
purge timer does not run. capacity (bigger diameter
line, shorter line length, or
different air source).
b. Enclosure leaky. Cannot Check enclosure pressure.
be sufficiently pressurised. Check recently removed
panels, and inspect door
seals.
Carry out enclosure leak
check procedure.
c. Air inlet filter blocked. Filter may block after
extended operation period
or due to oil or debris in the
air supply. Remove and
clean.
Note: A contaminated air
supply can cause problems
to the instrument in the
main enclosure. Rectify
fault and clean lines before
restarting.
d. Power off to purge Check power supply to
controller. controller Note: Fuses in
main power switch box.
e. Pressure sense faulty or Check for contamination
set point incorrectly around vent (internal sense
adjusted. port could be blocked).
Check enclosure pressure,
set point function, and
adjustment.
f. Other controller fault. Refer to manufacturers
documentation or consult
factory.
Troubleshooting
Symptom* Possible Cause Action

2. Purge timer starts but a. Purge flow depletes Check pressure at
resets, or enclosure power supply and causes pressure instrument. Increase line
not switched on at end of drop. capacity (bigger diameter
purge. line, shorter line length, or
different air source).
3. Initial purge generally a. Intermittent air supply Check for other equipment
correct, but controller fault. using the same air supply,
occasionally trips out which may cause pressure
enclosure power / alarm. drops.
Monitor air supply
pressure. Check air supply
capacity is not marginal.
Modify air supply as
required.
b. Enclosure pressure too Treat as possible causes
close to set point. (b), (c), and (e) listed for
symptom 1.
Adjust pressure set point
only after carrying out other
checks.
c. Intermittent controller fault. Treat as possible cause (e)
for symptom 1 and possible
cause (a) for symptom 2.
Purge actual time not as set. Timer faulty. Contact factory.
*Note: The description of the symptom applies to European and X-Purge systems.
In the case of Z-Purge systems, some of the points are not applicable, and the
following points should be noted.
The enclosure power trip is replaced by a purge fail alarm.
There is no automatic initial purge. The indicators should be observed to
find out if the enclosure pressurisation has been sensed or the safe purge
detected.
Standards Conformance
The Prima PRO Ex and Sentinel PRO Ex instruments are approved

Standards to ATEX (Europe) and IECEx standards (depending on the model of
Conformance purge controller, flameproof switchbox and external rotary pump
fitted) as shown below:
ATEX EN 60079-0:2012 + A11:2013
EN60079-2:2014
IEC IEC 60079-0:2011 6th Ed,
IEC 60079-2:2014 6th Ed
IEC 60079-28:2015 2nd Ed
Figure A2 to Figure A9 show the instrument labels and give the
full certification details for the Prima PRO Ex and Sentinel PRO Ex
respectively. Refer to the completed labels fitted to a specific
instrument to determine whether it is ATEX and/or IECEx approved.
For applications in areas using North American standards, the
Prima PRO Ex and Sentinel PRO Ex are designed to comply with
NFPA 496.
Figure A2. Prima PRO Ex instrument label
Figure A3. Prima PRO Ex with fibre optics instrument label
Figure A4. RMS enclosure label (Prima PRO Ex with remote

RMS)
Figure A5. RMS enclosure label (Prima PRO Ex with remote

RMS and fibre optics)
Figure A6. Sentinel PRO Ex instrument label
Figure A7. Sentinel PRO Ex with fibre optics instrument label
Figure A8. RMS enclosure label (Sentinel PRO Ex with

remote RMS)
Figure A9. RMS enclosure label (Sentinel PRO Ex with

remote RMS and fibre optics)
Appendix B
Technical Description:
System
The Prima PRO instrument is an industrial process analyser based on
Introduction a scanning magnetic-sector mass spectrometer with a 6 cm radius.
to the The variable magnetic field is produced by an electromagnet with a
laminated core that enables rapid and extremely stable analysis of
Prima PRO multiple user defined gases.
Hardware The instrument is designed for continuous operation in a process
environment and is configured for ease of maintenance and
simplicity of operation. With the exception of the host PC, all
components are mounted either within or on the instrument enclosure
and are modular for ease of replacement.
Main The main components are provided in the following table.

Components Table B1. Prima PRO hardware - Main components
Component Description
Data system Control of all the Prima PRO functions is via an
integral embedded processor in the instrument
enclosure.
This processor also handles communication with
the host PC, DCS, etc.
Electronics Provides the required power supplies, etc. for the
mass spectrometer.
Analyser Comprises ion source housing, magnet assembly,
and detector housing (collector area).
Rotary pump Provide backing pressure for evacuating the
analyser and also provides inlet pumping.
High vacuum Turbo molecular pump and controller.
pump
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide B-1
Technical Description: System
Principle of Operation
Magnet control
RMS valve
Electromagnet
Inlet probe
Vacuum gauge
Amplifier & detectors

Inlet controller
A/C unit
Source assembly AC power distribution
Vacuum housing
DC power distribution
Turbo molecular pump Analyser supplies
Embedded controller
Digital & serial I/O
Figure B1. Hardware components
Principle of
Sample gas is ionised by electron impact in the source. Ions injected
Operation into a magnetic field will describe a circular orbit where the radius is
dependent on the initial velocity of the ion, its mass, charge and the
strength of the magnetic field.
This relationship is described in Equation 1:
MVx constant
R2
H2 z
Equation 1.
Where:
R = radius of orbit
M = mass of the particle
V = voltage applied to the particle to accelerate it to velocity v
H = magnetic field
z = charge on the ion
B-2 Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Principle of Operation
For a fixed radius, the equation reduces to Equation 2:

MV
constant
H2
Equation 2.
Figure B2. Separation of ions through the magnetic sector

For an electromagnet with a fixed accelerating voltage the equation
can be reduced to Equation 3:
M H2
Equation 3.
This is the basic mass spectrometer equation used by Prima PRO
instrument.
If a fixed position ion detector is placed at the exit from the
electromagnet, the mass of the ion arriving at the detector can be
selected by varying the magnetic field. Refer to Figure B2. The ion
signal measured at the detector is then proportional to the
concentration of the corresponding component in the sample gas.
This enables the mass spectrometer to be used as a compositional gas
analyser. The constant of proportionality is determined by calibration
against known gas standards.
Analysis and calibration may be complicated by overlapping mass
spectra as a result of the sample gas mixture. Methods to make such
overlaps less convoluted are discussed later.
Vacuum System
The Prima PRO vacuum system consists of the listed in the

Vacuum following table.
System Table B2. Prima PRO vacuum system components
Analyser assembly The chamber that contains the ion source, the
magnetic sector flight-tube, and collector assembly.
Turbo molecular A mechanical pump capable of producing and
pump sustaining ultra high vacuum (hydrocarbon-free) in a
relatively short period. The pump is mounted
vertically below the main analyser vacuum housing.
All turbo molecular pumps must be used in
conjunction with a mechanical rotary pump that
maintains the backing pressure in the molecular
flow regime required for the turbo molecular pump
to operate.
3 -1
Rotary pump An 8m h two-stage rotary pump is fitted below the
analyser enclosure. The turbo molecular pump and
inlet bypass are backed by both stages of the rotary
pump. The Sentinel PRO does not have an inlet
bypass arrangement.
Penning gauge A glow discharge device that operates within the
pressure range
-5 -7
5 x 10 mbar to 1 x 10 mbar and monitors the
pressure in the analyser vacuum chamber. The
gauge is controlled by the ASU and the output
relayed to the control PC for display on the user
interface status page. The primary function is to
interlock the ion source filament and analyser high
voltages supplies in the event of accidental vacuum
loss or high pressure.
Air admit valve To prevent migration and loss of bearing lubricant,
the turbo molecular pump should always be held at
atmospheric pressure when switched off. To ensure
this happens, the pump is fitted with a valve that
automatically vents to atmosphere when the pump
is switched off or power is lost to the system. The
vent line is protected by a filter which protects the
valve from contamination and throttles venting rate.
The vent line opens into the compression stages of
the turbo molecular pump so that the gas is
distributed evenly to the high vacuum and backing
pressure vacuum sides.
A dry gas vent connection, 1/4 / 6 mm Swagelok
fitting, is provided on the left hand side of the
enclosure above the isolation switch (safe area
instruments) or purge control unit (hazardous area
instruments).
Ion Source
Foreline trap Sentinel PRO systems include a foreline trap fitted
immediately above the mechanical rotary pump to
prevent oil vapour back-streaming due to low
backing line pressures. On Prima PRO systems this
is not required due to the viscous flow of sample
gas into the rotary pump, from the inlet bypass line,
which suppresses vapour back-streaming.
Ion Source
Atoms or molecules of gas must carry an electrical charge before
they can be analysed, i.e. they must be ionised. Ionisation takes place
in the ion source where a beam of electrons is passed through the
sample gas. Electrons that either collide with or pass in close
proximity to the sample gas molecules cause electrons to become
detached from or adhere to the molecule. In the former case, the ion
formed will be positively charged; in the latter, negatively charged.
Positive ions are used exclusively for the analysis.
The electron beam is derived from a hot wire filament and is focused
magnetically through the ion source. The effect of the magnetic field
on the electron beam is similar to that experienced by ions in the
magnetic sector and they will describe a circular path. Due to the
smaller mass of the electron, however, the paths have a much smaller
radius and the beam tends to spiral along the lines of magnetic field.
Ion Source
Source magnets
Filament
assembly
Electron
beam
Sample inlet
Figure B3. Ion source

Figure B3 illustrates the ion source. The electrons are drawn to the
source by a positive potential and then pass through the source via
apertures on either side. They are collected on an electrode, referred
to as the electron trap, on the opposite side of the source. The ribbon
of electrons interacts with some of the molecules of the sample
stream and forms a cloud of ions in the source cavity.
A single exit slit from the source is positioned close to the path of the
electron beam, and therefore the ionisation region. By creating a
negative potential difference between the source block and an
additional electrode, the source slit, positive ions are drawn out of
the ion source. The ion source is held at a potential above ground
termed the ion energy: for the Prima PRO this is 1 kV.
Ions leaving the source through the exit slit pass between two half
plates which focus and steer the beam. The potential difference
between the two plates is varied to steer the beam on to the source
slit. The voltage difference between the mean half plate voltage and
the ion source block is varied to focus the ion beam. The ion beam
leaves the source assembly via the alpha slit, which trims the beam
height prior to injection into the sector.
Inside the ion source an additional electrode, referred to as the
repeller, is positioned directly opposite the ion exit slit. Operating at
Ion Source
a positive potential relative to the ion source helps move positive

ions out of the source and improves the ion extraction efficiency.
The number of ions formed depends upon both the quantity of
molecules in the ion source and the electron current. The electron
current is monitored on the trap electrode and a feedback circuit in
the analyser supplies unit (ASU) adjusts the filament current so that
electron flux is maintained at a constant level.
The electron beam and ion exit apertures are the only openings in the
ion source which is otherwise fully enclosed. Introduction of a
sample gas to this enclosure results in a higher pressure environment
inside the source enclosure compared with that of the surrounding
vacuum chamber where the filament assemblies are positioned and
operate. This pressure differential helps suppress instrument
backgrounds, inherent in the vacuum chamber, and reduce effects
due to sample / (hot) filament interactions.
Figure B4 illustrates the arrangement of the Prima PRO ion source
assembly. This is of the Nier type, in which ionisation is achieved by
collision of the sample molecules with a collimated electron beam;
the source materials are primarily ceramic (alumina) and stainless
steel. All the source components are aligned by four precision-
ground ceramic rods fixed to the source mounting flange and the
assembly is held in place by the source clamp.
Source mounting flange
Source block
Source slit
Z-Restrictor
Ion exit plate

Source clamp
Half plates
Alpha slit
Figure B4. Prima PRO ion source assembly
Filaments Selection of a filament

There are two commonly used filament materials on the Prima
PRO (others may occasionally be used for special applications).
Ion Source
Thoriated Iridium
The emissive material is a thoria (thorium oxide) coating on an
iridium wire support. This has a lower work function than other
common filament materials such as tungsten and rhenium.
Thoriated iridium filaments are recommended for operation at
low pressures and low pumping speeds since less out gassing
occurs due to the lower working temperature of the filament.
This also makes the filament more tolerant of operation under
conditions of overpressure and is less likely to burn out and
fail. Thoriated iridium filaments are used for the majority of
applications on the Prima PRO and Sentinel PRO.
Tungsten Thoria Alloy
This material is a 1% ThO / 99% W alloy and is formed into a
coiled wire, which gives prolonged life for hydrocarbon
applications, particularly where there is greater than 20% of
hydrocarbon compounds of molecular weight higher than 40.
Filament Current Limit

The filament current limits for each of these materials are given
in the table below.
Table B3. Filament current limits
Filament Current Limit (Amps)
Thoriated iridium 3.1
Tungsten / ThO alloy 3.0
Figure B5 shows how the filament is mounted to the source

block.
Figure B5. Mounting of the filament onto source block
Mass Analyser
Refer to Figure B6.

Mass
For a given magnetic field (i.e. a given magnet current), only ions of
Analyser a specific mass to charge ratio will reach the mass spectrometers
collector. Masses that are lighter than that for which the instrument
has been tuned will be deflected more and masses that are heavier
deflected less. Therefore, the higher the mass of ions to be detected
the higher the magnetic field and consequently the higher the magnet
current.
H Im
Equation 5.
Where:
Im = magnet current
H = field created by the electromagnet
Figure B6. Separation of ions through the magnetic sector
Collector
Two detectors are available in the collector assembly (the Faraday
detector and the optional MCP, the operation of which are described
below.
In conventional sector mass spectrometers, compensation for errors
in analyser geometry, magnet fringing field effects and beam
aberrations, resulting from localized, contamination induced charge
effects is achieved by adjusting the magnet position. In the
Prima PRO instrument, this is addressed by fixing the position of the
magnet and using a quad lens positioned before the collector to
compensate for and adjust the position of the refocused beam image.
This lens is capable of producing either a converging or diverging
beam profile as required to adjust the effective focal length of the
instrument and thereby trim minor changes electronically. The
Ion Detection
voltages applied to the two pairs of quadrupole rods are equal and
opposite.
The quad lens DAC voltage can be varied from -25 V to +25 V but,
in practice, a variation of a few volts positive or negative is usually
sufficient to achieve a symmetrical, flat-topped, peak that provides
good, long-term precision from the analyser.
The deflector lens is used to divert the ion beam through one of two
resolving slits. The size of the slit is generally chosen so the
instrument can resolve adjacent peaks at the high mass end of the
scale. The higher the mass, the wider the peaks become. A
disadvantage of using a single slot is that low mass peaks are, in
comparison, very narrow making these peaks more susceptible to
drift in mass scale. On the Prima PRO instrument, two resolving slits
are fitted one for low mass peaks (e.g. typically below mass 20 for
the Prima PRO and below mass 100 for the Sentinel PRO) and one
for high mass peaks. The normal resolving powers used are 20 and
60 for the Prima PRO and 85 and 140 for the Sentinel PRO.
The Faraday / multiplier deflectors divert the ion beam onto either
the Faraday or optional MCP detector. With a positive voltage
applied to the Faraday deflector (F-def) and the multiplier deflector
(M-def) grounded, the beam is diverted into the Faraday detector.
When a positive voltage is applied to (M-def) and (F-def) is
grounded, the beam diverts on to the MCP detector.
The resolving stack and detector assemblies are illustrated in Figure
B7.
Quad lens
MCP assembly
Deflector
electrodes
Detector
connections
Faraday assembly
Figure B7. Resolving stack and detector assemblies
Ion Detection
MCP Detector The output of the MCP detector assembly is an electron current with
Assembly a magnitude 103 or 104 times that of the ion current striking the plate
Ion Detection
and depends on the voltage applied. Operation of the MCP is

described below. Electron current exiting the MCP is picked up on
the detector electrode which connects directly to the amplifier
mounted on the front right face of the vacuum housing.
Figure B9 illustrates an MCP that consists of an array of millions
of glass capillaries, each of which acts as secondary electron
multipliers to form a large secondary electron multiplier array.
Each channel has an internal diameter of 25 m and are fused
together to form a thin disk 0.8 mm thick. The inside wall of each
channel is coated with an electron emissive material the ends of each
channel is covered with a thin metal film to form an electrode. Each
channel is therefore an independent secondary electron multiplier.
When a voltage is applied across the ends of the capillaries, an

electric field is generated along the axis of each channel. When an
ion strikes the entrance wall of the channel, secondary electrons are
produced. The secondary electrons are accelerated by the electric
field and travel along the parabolic trajectories determined by their
initial velocity. When these electrons strike the opposite wall of the
channel, additional secondary electrons are produced. This process is
repeated many times along the channel and as a result, the electron
current increases exponentially towards the output of the channel.
The capillary bundles are sliced into thin disks with a slice angle
chosen to ensure that primary electrons cannot pass through the
channel without subsequently colliding with the channel wall.
MCP Operation The MCP should not normally be operated at voltages exceeding
1200 V. Optimum results are normally obtained at a gain setting of
1000. At this value detector noise is negligible and the life of the
MCP assembly is prolonged.
Caution! Damage to the MCP!
Ion currents in excess of 1 x 10-12 A should never be applied to the MCP

as irreversible damage, requiring replacement of the MCP, will occur.
For normal analysis the MCP should only be used for peaks less than
100 ppm.
Calibration of the MCP requires that the voltage needed to produce a

certain gain is established. This is achieved by measuring the ratio of
peak intensity on the Faraday and MCP array as follows.
Ion Detection
1. From the Instrument Control Panel, select the Detectors tab and
Multiplier Calibration from the drop down function box (Figure
B8).
Figure B8. Multiplier Calibration
2. Choose a suitable mass with a peak height in the range of 1 to 8 x

10-13 amps on the Faraday detector. Start the scan (by clicking on
the Start Scan button) and observe the multiplier gain as a
function of the multiplier voltage.
3. Click on the Add Cursor button and set the cursor to the
required gain.
4. Click on the Set DAC button to set the voltage to give the
required gain.
Figure B9. Micro channel plate
Introduction of a Gas Sample
Ions collected in the Faraday bucket result in a current that is sensed

and then amplified to a suitable level in the instrument amplifier. The
Faraday Detector
Faraday bucket is light tight and coated with colloidal graphite to
reduce emission of secondary electrons that would otherwise cause a
false indication of ion current. Further suppression is provided at the
entrance to the detector by a suppressor plate, biased at
approximately -40 volts and magnets that create a field around the
bucket to ensure any electrons emitted remain confined.
Introduction
Gas samples are introduced into the ion source through the inlet
of a Gas probe assembly. For a Prima PRO, gas is sampled through a micro
Sample capillary in the stream selector assembly (RMS, solenoid, or single
point), passes along a transfer line, into the inlet probe, and finally
down a bypass line to the rotary vacuum pump. In the inlet probe, a
small portion of the gas flowing through the assembly passes through
a further leak element into the ion source.
The flow of gas through the capillary and inlet probe is viscous in
nature. It is desirable that the flow through the leak element should
be molecular, i.e. of the same characteristics as the flow out of the
ion source. Failure to achieve this can result in a distortion to the
composition of the gas as presented to the source, specifically a
depletion of light gases with respect to heavier gases. The leak
elements used are typically a pinhole type (commonly 70 m
diameter, but other diameters may be used depending on
application). For leaks of this diameter, flow is predominately
molecular if the pressure of gas at the leak is around 1 mbar. The
length and diameter of the bypass line are chosen such that this
pressure is achieved. The leak element therefore forms the transition
point between viscous and molecular flow.
The flow through the capillary is 7 to 10 ml/min, while the flow rate
through the leak element is around 5 10-4 mbar l/s, i.e. only a small
fraction (<1%) of the gas entering the system through the capillary
passes to the ion source, the bulk of the sample passes to exhaust
through the rotary pump. The flow path through the capillary,
transfer line, inlet probe, and bypass line to the pump can be
considered as a fast loop, so that changes in sample gas composition
are rapidly transmitted to the inlet probe.
A typical arrangement (in the case of an RMS inlet system) is shown
in the following figure.
Introduction of a Gas Sample
To bypass line
and vacuum
pump
Transfer
line
Figure B10. Typical arrangement of RMS inlet system

The Sentinel PRO introduces the gas sample directly from
atmospheric pressure via a membrane inlet. The dimethylsilicone
membrane is fitted to the end of an inlet probe, which replaces the
leak element in the Prima PRO assembly. The end of this stainless
steel inlet probe locates onto the ion source and is insulated by a
ceramic end piece.
The selected sample gas flows from the stream selector, RMS, to the
inlet probe and membrane, and then returns to the stream selector to
be exhausted. This loop operates at a reduced pressure, typically
approximately 0.8 bar(a), generated by a large capacity circulator
pump attached to the RMS valve to draw sample to the instrument.
The membrane inlet is used as this provides preferential transmission
of organic compounds compared with the principle air constituents.
The concentration of organic compounds entering the ion source is
increased by a factor of between 10 and 100, which gives
significantly improved detection limits for these components,
compared with a standard capillary inlet.
Mass Spectrometer Parameters
Mass
Spectrometer
Parameters
Sensitivity Whenever the instrument completes a calibration, a calibration report
is produced that details the sensitivity and relative sensitivity of each
analyte. The sensitivity indicates the ion current as measured at the
collector and is proportional to the percentage of a particular analyte
in the gas used for calibration. Equal pressures of different gases in
the ion source do not necessarily produce an equal ion current. This
is due partly to differences in molecular ionisation cross-sectional
area, those with a larger area being more easily ionized, and in part
due to the different transmission efficiency of the analyser for ions of
different mass. Consequently a sensitivity factor, relative to a
reference analyte, is calculated. This factor is known as the relative
sensitivity.
For the calibration report, relative sensitivity is calculated as being
the sensitivity of the analyte relative to the base gas defined in the
gas database. For example, if the relative sensitivity of nitrogen
measured by the instrument is 1.0 and helium measured by the
instrument is 0.2, for equal quantities of nitrogen and helium in the
ion source the ion current measured for nitrogen will be five times
that of helium.
Resolution The resolving power or resolution indicates the highest adjacent

mass numbers that a particular instrument can separate. The
definition used is known as the 10% Valley definition. This states
that the resolving power of a mass spectrometer is the highest mass
number at which peaks of adjacent molecular weight and equal
heights have a valley between them of 10% of the peak height.
Figure B11 shows the appearance of two such mass peaks. The
intensity of the two peaks is additive, and if each contribute 5% at
the midpoint between them, then the net effect is a 10% valley.
For example: If an instrument has a resolving power of 100 by this
definition then, if peaks of equal height could be formed at mass 100
and mass 101, the valley between them would be 10% of the height
of either peak. At lower masses, the valley between adjacent masses
is reduced, and at higher mass numbers, the valley between adjacent
masses increases.
Mass Spectrometer Parameters
Figure B11. Two mass peaks of adjacent molecular weight

and equal heights
A 5% Peak Height definition is exactly the same as the 10% Valley
definition and is illustrated in Figure B12. This is an easier
definition to apply in practice since the peak width at 5% level of the
peak height can be easily measured. For example, in air when
examining the nitrogen 28 peak, the peak width at the 5% height can
be measured and related to the difference between mass 28 and mass
29. If the 5% width proved to be equal to 0.7 of the distance between
mass 28 and mass 29 (assuming the peak is centred exactly on 28),
then the resolving power is given by 28/0.7 = 40. This indicates that
the 10% Valley definition would apply to peaks of equal height at
masses 40 and 41.
Figure B12. Comparison of 5% Peak Height definition and

10% Valley definition
Cracking Patterns
The sequence of peaks representing a particular gas species is a

Cracking direct result of how that species reacts under electron impact in the
Patterns source. Depending on the species, the molecules can undergo a
variety of reactions within the ion source, and the resultant set of
peaks is referred to as the cracking pattern.
A single gas species may produce a variety of different ions giving
rise to several peaks of different mass-to-charge ratio and intensity.
The relative intensities of these various peaks are characteristic of the
gas species in question, although the peak intensities may be affected
by changes in source conditions (such as electron energy). The
relative intensities of the different peaks can be used to de-convolute
the composition of a gas stream containing components of the same
molecular weight.
Ion Types Some of the different types of ions that can be produced within the
ion source are described below.
Molecular Ion This is the simplest reaction to understand and results from the gas
molecule acquiring a single positive charge as a result of electron
impact in the source. An example of this type of ion would be the
14
N2+ ion for nitrogen at m/e 28 amu.
The molecular ion peak may not always be the peak with the highest
intensity in the mass spectrum for a given component. This is
especially true for hydrocarbons, where the fragment peaks are
usually statistically more likely to occur than the molecular ion.
Isotope Ions Isotope ions are produced when one or more of the atoms that
comprise a molecule are of a different isotope from that most
commonly found. The relative intensities of these ions are defined by
the relative abundance of the different isotopic species for the
component atoms in question. The relative intensities of isotope
peaks are not normally affected by changes in source conditions.
An example of an isotope peak is the m/e 29 amu peak observed in
the nitrogen mass spectrum. This peak results from a single charge
on a nitrogen molecule where one of the two nitrogen atoms is the
15
N isotope. The relative intensity of this peak to the molecular ion at
m/e 28 amu is twice the natural abundance of the 15N atom (since the
15
N atom could be either of the two atoms).
Cracking Patterns
These ions result from fragmentation of the molecule under electron

impact in the ion source. In hydrocarbon species these ions are
Fragment Ions
normally the most abundant since longer chain molecules are
statistically more likely to be broken. The relative intensities of
fragment peaks are dependent on the flux of electrons within the ion
source (trap current) and the energy of the electrons from the
filament (electron energy).
An example of a fragmentation ion would be the m/e 27 amu peak in
ethylene. The molecular ion for ethylene has a mass of 28 amu. The
27 amu ion arises from the loss of a hydrogen atom from the
molecule.
Multiple-Charged Ions These ions result from the sample gas molecule losing more than one
electron during the ionization process which gives rise to multiple
positive charges. The relative intensities of multiple-charged ions
depend upon the energy of the electrons from the filament. It should
be noted that multiple-charged isotope and fragment peaks can also
occur further complicating the spectrum. An example of a multiple-
charged ion peak is the 40Ar++ ion at m/e 20 amu.
In some species it is possible to produce ion peaks that are a
combination of multiple-charged ions and fragment ions. An
example of this would be the m/e 14 amu peak for nitrogen, where
the peak is produced from a combination of 14N2++ ions and 14N+
ions. Since the multiple-charged ions have a different energy from
the singly charged ions, the observed peak shape resulting from
combinations of the two types may be slightly degraded.
Rearrangement and These peaks arise from a variety of causes, such as ion-molecule
Recombination Peaks interactions within the ion source. The product ions can appear to
have strange (and perhaps seemingly impossible) chemical
structures. The relative intensities of these ions are usually very low
since they normally result from collisions within the ion source
between molecules in the gas stream. Relative intensities are very
strongly dependent on the partial pressure of the different gas species
present, and on the total gas pressure within the ion source. The
intensities of these peaks are usually unstable in time and should be
avoided for quantitative analytical work.
Examples of these types of ions are the m/e 30 amu peak observed in
air due to the interaction of nitrogen and oxygen within the ion
source to produce NO and the m/e 29 peak observed in methane
produced by the interaction of a methane ion with another methane
molecule to give a C2H5+ ion at m/e 29 amu.
Cracking Patterns
Definitions The following definitions are commonly used when defining

cracking patterns for a gas species.
Base or parent peak: The ion that exhibits the most intense peak
in the mass spectrum for that gas species.
Cracking fragment: The cracking fragment is given by:
Intensity of the peak for ions of the required m/e
C 100%
Intensity of the base peak for the gas component
These are normally expressed in percentages, though some
references normalize to 1000. Although this is the most common
definition used, the intensities are normalized to the molecular ion
rather than to the base peak in some text books and library reference
sources.
On dual detector systems it is possible that different cracking
patterns are observed on the two detectors (and consequently two
different cracking patterns stored in the software gas database).
These different patterns result from the mass and energy-selective
characteristics of the secondary electron multiplier, i.e. the detector
has a different gain for ions of different masses and charges.
In cases where more than one ion peak is required to identify a
component in a mixture with others that have overlapping peaks in
their spectra, there is no real alternative to measuring the individual
cracking patterns.
If a single peak can be used to uniquely identify a species in a
mixture then there is little point in measuring a cracking pattern.
The system configuration can be set to measure the cracking pattern
for a gas species in a given calibration gas bottle by ticking the
Fragmentation box for that gas in that bottle (see the Calibration
Parameters menu in the software). The cracking pattern for a gas
should only be measured in a calibration mixture for which the
required ion peaks are unique for the gas species of interest. This is
known as a non-overlapping mixture.
Cracking Patterns
Table B4. Example of a cracking pattern for ethylene (C2H4)

Relative Intensity
Mass (m/e)
(%)
2 0.06
12 0.51
13 0.87
14 2.09
15 0.25
24 2.27
25 7.77
26 52.85
27 62.65
28 100.00
29 2.31
It is neither necessary nor recommended to include all of the peaks

for a particular gas component. Users should employ the minimum
possible number of peaks within the gas database that results in the
best conditioning of the sensitivity matrix discussed in the software
manual.
Examples of application specific calibration gas mixtures and a
recommended cracking pattern matrix are normally provided with
quotation.
Appendix C
Technical Description: Inlet
Rapid Multi-
Stream
Sampler
Introduction The Rapid Multi-Stream Sampler (RMS) inlet system has been used
successfully with a range of Prima and Sentinel gas analysers. The
unit selects a single gas stream from a number of incoming sample or
calibration gas streams, and some of the selected gas stream is then
delivered to the mass spectrometer for analysis.
Safety
Warning! The notes below must be considered in addition to safety
notes elsewhere in this manual covering the system as a whole.
Depending on the nature of the gases in use (sample and calibration

gases), precautions may need to be taken to avoid inhalation of,
contact with, or ignition of these gases. In general, these precautions
are as follows.
Always use the correct tubing size for the fittings supplied and
the correct nut / ferrule assembly.
Do not exceed the pressure and flow specifications detailed
below.
Leak check all external pipe work, and recheck periodically.
Leak check inlet system periodically, as defined in this manual.
Before opening up any gas handling part of the system, it may be
necessary to purge the system with a suitable inert or non-
hazardous gas. Gas lines and the exhaust line should be isolated.
Consideration should be given to the possibility and implications
of failure of the isolation mechanism used.
Warning! It is the responsibility of the instrument user to assess the

potential hazards involved in working on any gas handling parts of
the system.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide C-1
Rapid Multi-Stream Sampler
Warning! Before working on the inlet assembly the following

points should be noted.
The inlet is heated at temperatures up to 120C. Care must be

taken to avoid burns.
The inlet contains moving mechanical parts. Movement could
start unexpectedly.
Mains voltages exist in the supply to the main heater.
The remainder of the inlet (including the sample tube heater
and stepper motor) is driven from a 24 Vdc supply.
In general, it is recommended that the inlet is switched off,
the mains and 24 Vdc cables disconnected, and the unit be
allowed to cool before carrying out any service work.
Inlet The following table summarizes the specifications for this inlet
Specification system. Detailed discussion can be found in following sections.
Table C1. Inlet system specification
Number of inlets 32 or 64
Gas inlet connection (compression type tube
1/4, 1/8, or 6 mm
fittings)
2 m
(1)
Sample / calibration gas filtration requirement
Sample gas inlet flow rate (regulated Prima PRO
externally) Typical: 0.5 Nl/min
Range: 0.1 to 5.0
(2)
Nl/min
Sentintel PRO
Typical: 5.0 Nl/min
Range: 2.0 to 10.0
Nl/min
(3)
Sample gas inlet pressure. Maximum, exhaust 0.2 bar(g)
blocked to give above typical flow. Prima PRO: <0.1 bar
(4)
Sentintel PRO: 0.8

bar(abs)
(5)
Maximum sample gas / line temperature 200C
Maximum operating temperature 120C

Exhaust requirements Pressure range: 0.8 -
(3)
1.2 bar(abs)
Stability: 3 mbar/min
(6)
Exhaust connection 1" O.D. tube stub
Materials exposed to sample gas Stainless steel, Viton,

PTFE / graphite
C-2 Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
composites
Number of calibration inlets drives (max) 24

Flushing time required (t99.9% decay time, non-
5 seconds
polar gases)
Notes:
1
Gas must be free from liquids or materials that will condense at the operating
temperature of the inlet.
2
The total sample flow (i.e. total over all streams) should be considered with respect
to the exhaust line, such that back pressure is within the exhaust pressure limits
specified above.
3
Limit is to prevent over-pressurisation of and possible degradation in performance
of the mass spectrometer.
Warning!
Prima PRO Ex applications: The 0.2 bar(g) pressure limit is a requirement
of the ATEX/IECEx certification of the instrument and must not be
exceeded.
Sentinel PRO Ex applications: The inlets and exhaust must be maintained
below atmospheric pressure by using a suction pump connected to the
RMS exhaust port. This is a requirement of the ATEX/IECEx certification
of the instrument.
4
Pressure relative to exhaust pressure.
5
Higher temperatures may be possible. Consult factory.
6
Suitable for hose or compression fitting, depending on application.
Inlet Operation
General Description Gas samples connected to the inlet ports are allowed to flow into the
common exhaust chamber of the RMS. Process gas samples are
typically allowed to flow continuously to minimize the gas response
time between the process sample point and the RMS. Calibration
gases normally only flow when required (see below).
The sample gas streams pass through the inlet ports and enter the
RMS common exhaust chamber via a series of holes (connected to
the inlet ports) in the RMS main body, or stator (see Figure C4). A
rotary sample arm diverts the flow of one of these sample (or
calibration) gases through the sample arm and along an axial sample
tube (outer part) to the sample tube main body, which is on the inside
of the instrument enclosure. A 2m screen filter is built into the
sample arm (Prima PRO only), so that the selected gas stream is
filtered before passing on to the analyser. It should be noted,
however, that this is not intended as an active filter, and is only a
backup to the main gas conditioning filters installed elsewhere
(upstream). It is useful for trapping any debris that may be left over
from initial fitting of sample lines.
The inlet assembly is attached to a mounting plate, which in turn
forms part of the instrument enclosure wall. All of the gas
connections are on the outside of the cabinet. All electrical,

electronic, and moving mechanical parts are internal.
Connection to the In the case of the Prima PRO, the selected gas flows around a loop
Mass Spectrometer contained entirely within the sample tube body and returns to the
main RMS exhaust chamber via the inner tube of the sample tube
assembly. A small fraction of the gas in the loop is sampled by the
system capillary, which is built in to the sample tube body, and flows
on to the mass spectrometer inlet probe via the transfer line. Flow
through the capillary is in the range 7 to 10 atm cm3/min, and the
pressure in the transfer line is approximately 1 mbar. Compared to
the quantity of gas in the sample tube, the flow rate is very high,
resulting in a rapid response to sample gas composition changes.
Temperature control of the sample tube assembly (see Heating
later in this chapter) means that flow through the capillary is very
stable with minimal dependence on ambient temperature.
In the Sentinel PRO, all of the selected gas flows from a port on the
sample tube body to the inlet probe where the gas is sampled through
a membrane assembly. The excess gas returns to a second port on the
sample tube body and is returned to the common exhaust chamber
via the inner tube of the sample tube assembly.
In both cases, the returning gas passes through an orifice that
generates a small pressure difference. A differential pressure sensor
is used to measure this difference and thereby give an indication of
the gas flow rate. The flow measurement can be used from within
GasWorks to generate alarms that can alert to low flow conditions in
either sample or calibration gas supplies.
Seals The seal between the stator and the sample arm (at the point where
the selected sample gas is collected) consists of a spring loaded seal.
The spring loading of the seal means that wear is not a significant
issue, and no degradation of performance is expected over a period
of several years. Furthermore, the flow of the selected gas through
the filter, sample arm, sample tube, and pressure sensing orifice
generates a slight overpressure within the sample arm. As a result,
any leakage at this seal will be out from the sample arm and into the
common exhaust. Cross contamination of the selected gas from other
streams is thus avoided.
The main drive shaft for the sample arm is sealed through the stator
by standard rotary shaft seals. These seals have integral spring
loading for wear compensation and will give many years of service.
The sample tube is sealed within the main shaft by similar (smaller)
seals.
The sample arm is driven by a stepper motor connected via toothed

pulleys and drive belt. The pulleys are positively mechanically
Inlet Selection
attached to their respective shafts so that slippage is negligible. Inlet
position indexing is achieved by optical encoding. An encoder disc is
attached to the main drive pulley on the RMS. The encoder is a
stainless steel disc with a series of holes close to its circumference,
one for each inlet position (the encoder disc has 64 of these holes so,
on a 32-way inlet, moving over one inlet position corresponds to
moving over two encoder holes). An additional hole (located on a
slightly greater circumference) identifies inlet position #1. A pair of
optical transmitter / receiver sets is used to sense the individual inlet
positions and the inlet #1 position respectively.
This type of encoder does not give absolute position indexing. On
startup, the main shaft is rotated slowly so that position #1 can be
located. To move to other inlets, the controller steps the drive motor
to the calculated correct position. At the same time, the second
sensor counts the number of inlet positions moved. If there is a
mismatch, an error is flagged and the position #1 alignment
procedure is repeated. The motion is always clockwise, and position
#1 is checked each time the inlet rotates through this point. This
procedure has been found to give an extremely high reliability in
terms of the accuracy of inlet selection.
Calibration Gas Calibration gases are expensive and required on a relatively

Control infrequent basis. It would clearly be wasteful to have these gases
flowing continuously so additional gas control is required in the
calibration gas lines.
The main control element is a solenoid valve (24 Vdc, normally
closed), located in the calibration gas line before the RMS. The valve
is energized (and the gas allowed to flow) by the inlet controller only
when the gas is required.
The solenoid valves are in manifolds of six valves, the common port
from each manifold connecting to a port on the RMS. This means
that up to six calibration gases can be handled through one port on
the RMS. The manifolds are fitted to the side of the instrument
enclosure (up to 4 six way modules as required). This minimizes
the line length between the panel(s) and the RMS, which in turn
minimizes the flushing time requirement when sampling a calibration
gas. The default connection is for calibration gas #1 through #6 to be
connected to RMS port 32 (or 64), #7 through #12 to port 31 (or 63),
etc. This keeps the low number ports free for sample gas connection
(Sample Line #1 can connect to Port #1, etc.). The tubing material
used for this connection is FEP. This has excellent chemical
resistance and mechanical properties, is non-porous, and has very
favourable adsorption and permeation properties.
A restriction element (an orifice) is built into each six-way assembly

such that a line pressure of 1.0 bar(g) will give a flow around
150 cm3/min (Prima PRO) or 5 l/min (Sentinel PRO). Fine
adjustment of flow is achieved by adjustment of line pressure at the
calibration bottle regulator.
The incoming calibration gases connect to compression fittings on
the bottom of the calibration manifolds(s). By default, the fittings
will be the same size / type as fitted to the main RMS body.
Gas Connection Sample gases are connected directly to the RMS ports. The
connections are compression type. The standard types are 1/4, 1/8,
and 6 mm Swagelok, but other options may be available. The lines
may need to be heated, depending on the gas mixtures to be used.
Sample gas flow / pressure should be regulated externally to values
within the range indicated in Inlet Gas Connections in Chapter 3
(the total flow should also be considered when selecting the exhaust
line size). Since the pressure required is quite low, it is preferable to
regulate the flow rather than the pressure. In the event of a flow
failure, the gas mixture in the common exhaust will diffuse back into
that port, and this will be the measured gas if that port is sampled. In
order to avoid this (and the possible reporting of false results), the
built-in flow sensor is used to verify that flow is within acceptable
limits (see Connection to the Mass Spectrometer), but note that
this can only be used to check the flow of the selected sample stream,
i.e. the flow can only be checked when that stream is sampled.
External flow monitoring (as part of a sample conditioning system)
can also be used and has the advantage that all streams can be
continuously monitored, but does require a flow monitor for each
sample line.
Gases must also be conditioned to remove particulate material down
to
2 m. Liquids or materials that could condense at the operating
temperature of the RMS should also be removed. Consideration
should be given to fault conditions that may occur in the process or
sample lines and maximum and minimum ambient temperatures to
which the sample lines and RMS may be exposed.
The exhaust connection is a 1" O.D. tube stub, suitable for a simple
hose connection or a compression fitting depending on application. It
Exhaust Connection
may be required to heat the exhaust line. This can be just as critical
as the sample lines but is often neglected. Alternatively, the exhaust
line can be configured with a continuous downward slope so that any
condensate will drain away from the valve. If this is not possible, a
trap should be installed to prevent condensate draining back to the
RMS.
The exhaust line size should be selected, giving consideration to the
maximum total sample gas flow, and the length of the line. The
requirement is to generate a negligible back pressure, as any such
back pressure will be flow dependant and may result in variable
conditions at the analyser. For an application where there are a
limited number of sample lines or the lines are all low flow, it may
be possible to reduce the line size to 1/2 for example. At the other
flow extreme, it may be necessary to adapt up to a line size greater
than 1".
The pressure at the exhaust should be within the values specified in
Inlet Specification. Any pressure variation will result in a variation
at the analyser, so the pressure stability should also be within
specified limits. Longer term variations outside this range may be
acceptable but will require more frequent instrument calibration. The
easiest way to achieve the required stability is to use a direct
atmospheric vent. However, this is not always possible depending on
the nature of the gas mixture, local environmental regulations, etc.
An alternative, such as a line to a flare, may be used if the above
conditions can be met.
If the exhaust line is shared with other equipment, consideration
should be given to pressure fluctuations that might be caused by that
equipment. In conditions where all sample streams to the RMS are
off, the possibility of back diffusion of gases from the exhaust must
also be considered. For this reason, extreme care must be taken if the
analyser rotary pump is vented to the same exhaust system. The
pump exhaust will contain oil vapour that could contaminate the
RMS and subsequently the mass spectrometer. Where possible, it is
preferable to avoid such a connection.
In some cases, it may be necessary to use a pump to produce a
negative pressure at the RMS exhaust to induce flow in the sample
lines particularly when sample points are at low pressures. This is the
normal operating mode for the Sentinel PRO. Clearly, the pressure
(vacuum) generated by any such pump should conform to the above
requirements.
It is important to remember that all sample gases are mixed in the
common exhaust. There may be situations where combustible or
reactive mixtures are generated. To avoid problems of this nature, a
diluting gas (commonly nitrogen) can be added to the exhaust line or
via spare RMS ports (the latter may be more convenient if spare
ports are available).
Heating The inlet assembly can be heated to 120C to avoid condensation,

polymerization, etc. of sample gas mixtures. Two heaters are
required to heat the main body and peripheral parts of the inlet as
follows. Control of the heaters is discussed later in this chapter.
Main Body Heater
The bulk of the inlet body is maintained at the required
temperature by the use of one of two possible types of heater:
a. A ring heater clamped to the RMS stator on the enclosure
side. The heater has two windings with a common
connection, such that a three-wire connection is required.
b. Cartridge heaters (4-off) located in bores in the stator itself.
The four heaters are wired to mimic case (a), i.e. effectively a
twin element assembly, with a three-wire connection.
The three-wire connection allows for series or parallel connection
for 230 V or 115 V applications respectively, selected by a
switch on the inlet controller PCB. Insulation is provided to
minimize heat loss into the enclosure.
A K-type thermocouple is used to measure and thereby control
the temperature of the valve body via the control electronics. A
thermal switch assembly trips off the heater at a body
temperature of 140C in the event of a runaway condition.
Sample Tube Heater
The sample tube body carries the selected gas stream flow and so
also requires heating.
A 30 W, 24 V cartridge heater heats the sample tube body, and a
PRT is provided for measurement and control. Typically, this
assembly is set to the same temperature as the main body.
Additional temperature limiting is not required as the heater
power is insufficient to take the assembly to a dangerous
temperature. The actual sample tube between the sample tube
body and the valve body is clad in copper, which greatly
improves the thermal conductivity and helps maintain a uniform
temperature along its length.
Gas Flow versus Temperature

The above heaters were specified assuming that the incoming
sample gases are heated to a temperature similar to that set for
the RMS. However, there may be situations where this is not the
case. For instance, all streams may be cold (a common situation

for Sentinel PRO applications), or there may be a combination of
hot and cold streams. Consideration must be given to the possible
general cooling of the RMS body or to localized cooling for
example, the cooling effect of a cold gas flow on an adjacent port
or the cooling of the common flow regions (sample tube, etc.).
The latter could be important if a cold stream is sampled
immediately prior to sampling a temperature critical hot stream.
The following examples illustrate the limits of cold gas flows
(the cold gas streams are assumed to be air or nitrogen at a
temperature of 20C).
a. To maintain a body temperature of 80C, the maximum cold
gas flow is 500 Nl/min.
b. To maintain a body temperature of 120C, the maximum cold
gas flow is 250 Nl/min.
c. A cold gas flow of 10 Nl/min on a single port (the maximum
allowed) will cool an adjacent port by approximately 4C.
d. A cold gas flow of 10 Nl/min on a single port (the maximum
allowed) will cool the sample tube by approximately 10C
(over a period of several minutes). Similarly, the temperature
takes several minutes to recover. This situation can be
avoided by reducing the cold gas flow rate or bypassing
approximately 80% of the cold stream to a spare (non-
sampled) RMS port.
Potential problems can be minimized by careful selection of
which ports hot and cold gas streams are connected to and the
sequence of sampling of these ports.
Hazardous Area Details of the protection methods used for hazardous area operation,
Systems both for the system as a whole and specifically for the RMS, are
given in Appendix A: Hazardous Area Operation.
An important point relating to hazardous area operation of the RMS
is that it must be possible to predict in a fault condition the maximum
leak rate of any sample into the enclosure. The sample pressure
therefore defines the flow rate through any leak, and the upper
pressure limit for the Prima PRO Ex of 0.2 bar(g) must be strictly
adhered to and forms part of the hazardous area certification for the
instrument. For the Sentinel PRO Ex, samples are maintained under
reduced pressure by virtue of the sample pump, which in turn
prevents any possible leakage into the enclosure.
Inlet Controller
General The inlet controller handles all the control functions required for the
RMS and its associated calibration panels. The controller PCA is
mounted on the left hand side of the enclosure below the inlet
assembly. Most connections are via pluggable screw terminals.
The RMS sampling head drive is unidirectional and indexed at port 1
every rotation (see Inlet Operation). The controller drives the
sample arm to port 1, which is indicated by both the red and the
green LED being illuminated on the sensor PCB. If the reference
aperture cannot be found, the controller will stop searching after 60
seconds. The sample arm completes any port to port transit in less
than two seconds. Positioning failure (due to mechanical or
electronic failure) is communicated to the inlet controller and the unit
will re-index on the next commanded move.
The controller is powered from the main enclosure power supply (24
Vdc). Mains power is required for the main body heater (see below).
Fuses (all on PCB):
F1: 5 A (mains)
F2: 1 A (24 Vdc, calibration gas valves). Supply OK indicated by
green LED D2.
F3: 4 A (24 Vdc, all other functions). Supply OK indicated by
green LED D19.
A watchdog function is used to show that the processor is active (red
LED D6).
Calibration Valve There are 24 outputs, individually addressable with up to 4 switched

Drives on at any one time (limited in software). Each is designed to deliver
up to
300 mA at 24 Vdc and is intended to drive a single calibration gas
control solenoid valve.
Main Body Heater Mains power is connected to J18 along with the heater(s) and over-
temperature thermal switch. This allows 115 Vac or 230 Vac
operation to be selected by means of a switch on the PCB.
Unplugging J18 or switching off the Inlet circuit breaker in the main
enclosure will remove mains power from the PCB.
Warning! Removal of F1 will only break the L/L1 line. Power

might still be on the assembly from the N/L2 line.
The main body thermocouple connects to J13. Power to the heater is

switched via a solid state relay on the PCB, giving a control
precision of 1C, accuracy 3C. A red LED (D25, adjacent to the
solid state relay) flashes when the RMS body heater is driven on (if
the heater is not driven on at all, i.e. the RMS body temperature is
above the set point, the LED alone is driven on for 10 ms every
second).
Sample Tube Heater The sample tube PRT connects to J15 and the heater output (24 Vdc)
to J16. Control precision is 1C, accuracy 3C. A red LED (D24)
flashes when the sample tube heater is driven on.
Flow Sensor Connect the flow sensor to J17.
Digital Inputs Four opto-isolated digital inputs are available (J5, J6, J9, J10).
Generally, these are used for internal monitoring of inlet functions
(e.g. sample vacuum sensor for the Sentinel PRO). They can be
configured as requiring 24 Vdc or voltage free contact input by
means of jumpers on the PCB. A red LED adjacent to each connector
indicates the status of the input.
VGiNet The red LED adjacent to the VGiNET sockets (D3) indicates data
received by the unit (not necessarily for it or processed by it) and the
green LED (D4) indicates data transmitted from it. When the unit
detects a message intended for it, it will respond with a reply
message and so a full message cycle will appear as a red flash
followed quickly by a green flash as the reply is transmitted.
Testing of the inlet system may be required in order to confirm

correct performance, in the event of unexpected analytical results,
Inlet Testing
suspected contamination, or following a major service. The areas to
be checked are as follows. It is advisable to switch off the inlet
heaters before starting any work.
Caution!
Before starting any work, switch off all gas lines.

If required, the system should be purged with a suitable inert,
safe gas and the system exhaust isolated.
It is the responsibility of the user to assess the hazard
involved in breaking into any gas handling part of the system.
Functional Testing Inlet Alignment

Remove the stator cover from the RMS body.
Warning!
Possible gas hazard. See Chapter 2: Safety Information.

Moving mechanical parts exposed. Movement could start
unexpectedly.
Hot surfaces. Check RMS temperature settings before starting
work. Adjust as required.
Select a port using GasWorks (Control Centre > Analogue
Scan, etc.). Check that the sample arm moves to the correct
physical port and check that the sample arm is aligned over that
port. It should be (visually) equally spaced between the two
adjacent ports. A slight misalignment can be corrected by
loosening the four screws retaining the sample arm to the main
shaft and moving the arm to the correct position before re-
tightening. Check several ports, including #1, in this way.
The probability of the inlet operating with no reported errors but
giving significant mechanical misalignment is extremely low as
all parts are mechanically keyed together. Check that the main
pulley is secure on the drive shaft and that the sample arm is
aligned with the position #1 cutout on the encoder disc (incorrect
reassembly after servicing could result in 90, 180, or 270
misalignment).
If the controller reports positional errors, check if position #1 can
be located correctly. If it can, but subsequent inlets are showing
errors, there may be a motor or driver fault (or, very unlikely, a

mechanical fault making the shaft difficult to rotate).
If position #1 cannot be located (the motor drives slowly as it
searches for position #1) then the most likely cause is a problem
with the optical encoder. There are two LEDs on the encoder
PCB. The green one is lit whenever the RMS is on an inlet.
The red LED indicates position #1 (i.e. both LEDs will be lit at
position #1). For ease of checking the functionality of the optical
sensors, the RMS can be rotated by hand: switch off the
controller, unplug the motor connector, and switch back on. If
there appears to be a problem, check that there is no dust around
the holes in the disc and around the optical transmitters /
receivers. If there is no activity, remove the screws fixing the
encoder disc to the pulley (note the orientation). Both LEDs now
should be lit. Slide a piece of paper between the optical
transmitters and receivers, and both LEDs should be off.
If it appears that the LEDs (and hence the optical sensors) are
working correctly, then the bracket holding these sensors may
need adjustment. Refit the encoder disc. Loosen the nuts holding
the bracket in place and adjust until both LEDs are on at position
#1 (Adjustment will affect the alignment of the sample arm with
the port. Remember that the arm position can be adjusted
slightly, as noted above). Switch off, reconnect the motor, and
switch on. Check that alignment is still OK when the motor is
driven. Check a selection of other ports.
Heating
If there is a reported fault, the following checks can be carried
out.
Main Heater
Warning!
Mains voltages present.

Switch off at the Inlet circuit breaker before removing the
inlet controller PCA cover or disconnecting any heaters.
Verify that the temperature readout is correct. Use an
independent temperature measurement if required. Check F1 on
the controller and then check that the controller is delivering
power to the heater connections on the controller (J18) (This may
not be a continuous supply if the controller is attempting to
control. See also Main Body Heater).
Check the status of the heater and thermal trip by disconnecting

at J18. The wires (1-5) from the heaters and trip are:
Wire 1: Heater 1
Wire 2: Heater common
Wire 3: Heater 2
Wire 4 & 5: Thermal trip
The electrical resistance between wires 4 and 5 should be
approximately 0 , unless the RMS body is over temperature or
the thermal trip is faulty. The resistance between wires 1 and 2
and between 2 and 3 should be the same around 140 for a
system with cartridge heaters, either 70 or 35 (depending on
type) for a ring heater system.
Sample Tube Heater
Verify that the temperature readout is correct. Use an
independent temperature measurement if required. Unplug the
heater and check the heater resistance. The standard heater
should be approximately 19 . Reconnect the heater, and switch
on the voltage across the heater. It should be 24 Vdc. Check fuses
if required voltage is not present.
Cross Port This test should be carried out with the stator cover fitted.
Leakage Set up a continuous flow of air on one or more ports (flow within the
specified limits) and a helium flow on another port. (The helium flow
does not need to be a continuous flow and can be a calibration port.
Helium should flow at typical calibration gas flow rates.) Sample the
air inlet and measure the mass 32 peak height. Next, sample the
helium inlet and check that the mass 32 peak height drops by the
required factor (for a Prima PRO the factor is system pressure (mbar)
108, and for a Sentinel PRO the factor is 200).
If it is not possible to introduce air into the system, the test should be
carried out with process gas flowing. Measure the peak heights of
masses in the analysis and check against historic values (e.g. from a
calibration report from when the instrument was initially installed).
Backgrounds should be similar to the original values.
If the inlet fails to meet specification, follow the procedures for
inspection and / or replacement of seals detailed later in
Maintenance.
A limited amount of leak checking can be carried out with process

gasses connected and flowing e.g. leak checking of external
External Leakage
connections using a proprietary bubble type leak detector, such as
Snoop. It should be noted that the pressure in the RMS body may be
low or below ambient and it is very difficult to test rotary seals by
this method.
The best method involves a positive pressure test. Isolate or
disconnect / plug all sample lines and the exhaust line (<see the note
at the beginning of this appendix). Disconnect the transfer line
(Prima PRO) or sample line (Sentinel PRO) from the RMS, and plug
the RMS port(s). The RMS body should now be pressurised to
0.5 bar(g) with a clean inert gas (e.g. nitrogen) via one of the inlet
ports. The RMS body pressure should be monitored via one of the
unused inlet ports.
Once pressurised, isolate from the gas supply, and monitor the RMS
pressure as a function of time. The test is passed if the pressure falls
by no more than 0.05 bar in a 1 hour period.
If the test fails, leak check the accessible parts of the system while
still under pressure, including any external connections which may
also be pressurised. If the leak cannot be found, follow the
procedures for inspection and / or replacement of seals detailed in
Maintenance.
Maintenance Little maintenance is required on the system providing that the

incoming gases are correctly conditioned. The system will require
attention if there is a failure of the gas conditioning system resulting
in excessive liquid or particulate contamination.
The seals in hazardous area systems should be inspected on a six
monthly basis.
Caution!

If required, the system should be purged with a suitable inert,
safe gas and the system exhaust isolated.
Liquid or solid contaminants might be encountered within the
RMS assembly during maintenance operations. The likely
composition of any such contaminants should be determined
so that appropriate safety measures can be put in place before
further work is carried out.
It is the responsibility of the user to assess the hazard
involved in breaking into any gas handling part of the system.
It is also recommended that the inlet is fully switched off and

allowed to cool.
Routine Maintenance Capillary Replacement (Prima PRO)

To replace the capillary assembly, the vacuum system will need
to be shut down so that the transfer line can be disconnected from
the sample tube.
Unscrew the transfer line fitting from the sample tube to expose
the capillary assembly. The capillary can be removed using a
3mm hexagon key.
Figure C1. Capillary assembly

Note that the capillary assembly has a small o-ring seal fitted to
the inner face. This may remain behind in the sample tube when
the capillary is removed. Carefully remove the o-ring prior to
fitting a new capillary assembly taking care not to scratch the
sealing surface in the bottom of the bore.
When replacing the capillary, take care to locate the o-ring on the
end of the assembly, and keep it in place during the refitting
process. Reinstall the transfer line fitting and the transfer line.
Filter Replacement
Remove the stator cover to reveal the sample arm. Note the
position of the sample arm (check which port it is positioned
over, and that it is central over that port). Remove the two screws
holding the sample return seal retainer in place and then carefully
remove the seal. Undo the four screws fixing the sample arm to
the main shaft and carefully pull off the sample arm.
Note:
The seal in the end of the sample arm is spring loaded and
could drop out when the sample arm is removed.
Loss or damage to this seal and or spring will render the
sampler unusable.
Exercise care when removing the sample arm and ensure the
spring and seal are set aside for refitting later.
The above procedure exposes the double rotary seals, two back-
to-back seals on the main axis, between the sample arm and the
sample tube / main shaft. Typically, one of the seals is retained in

the sample arm assembly and the other remains on the sample
tube / main shaft assembly. In some instances both seals may
remain on the sample tube / main shaft and can be left in place as
long as they are firmly seated.
Removal of the spring-loaded seal from the sample arm exposes
the
2 m stainless steel mesh screen which acts as the filter. The
filter can be removed with a pointed tool but will be destroyed or
irreparably damaged in this process therefore ensure a spare is
available before removal. Care should be taken to avoid
damaging or scratching of the sample arm.
Press the new filter into place, a flat ended piece of 1/4 / 6 mm
diameter rod serves as a suitable tool, so that it is well seated in
the bottom of the hole. Replace the spring / seal assembly and
position the sample arm over the main body assembly in
approximately the correct orientation. Push into place. Ensure the
seal remains in place during this operation. Refit the four
retaining screws ensuring the head is correctly positioned over
the inlet port it was on when removed. Refit the sample return
seal and cover and finally, refit the stator cover.
General Inspection
Remove the stator cover. A good impression of the cleanliness of
the system can be made by inspection of the common exhaust
chamber and the inside of the stator cover. If there is evidence of
dust, liquid, or other residues then it may be advisable to inspect
the RMS further as detailed in the following sections. It is often
possible to determine which inlet ports are the source of any
contamination, particularly in the case of liquid residues. Check
the gas conditioning for any suspect streams.
Seal Inspection and Replacement
The rotary seals are difficult to remove, and could be damaged in
the process. It is advised that spares are available before starting
work.
Sample Arm Seal
Follow the instructions in Filter Replacement above to the
point where the sample arm is removed. Inspect the sealing edge
of the sample arm seal and if there is serious scoring or other
damage the seal should be replaced. Note that the design of the
inlet means that it is tolerant of leakage at this point and any
leakage would be in the cross port sense. There is no danger of an
ambient leak.
Filter
Sample arm seal
Sample tube rotary

seal (1 of 2)
Sample return seal
Figure C2. Sample arm

To reassemble, follow instructions in Filter Replacement
above.
Sample Tube Seals
As noted in above, removal of the sample arm exposes the
sample tube rotary seals. If the sample tube is to be removed for
any reason, this should be done as it is then easier to remove
these seals for inspection. Remove the seals being careful not to
distort them in the process and check their condition.
A polished region should be visible in the central bore, where the
sample tube has been running. No other signs of wear should be
evident. Also check the surface of the sample tube which
protrudes out of the end of the main shaft. There may be some
slight deposit on the sealing surface due to material worn from
the seals. This can be wiped off with a tissue moistened with
isopropanol. The surface should appear highly polished. Replace
any worn or damaged parts. Reassembly is the reverse of
disassembly.
Main Shaft Seals
Follow the procedure above to point of removal of the sample
arm.
Remove the six screws holding the main shaft seal retaining ring
in place (the six screws can be seen when looking into the RMS
exhaust chamber), and withdraw the retaining ring. The seal is
now visible.
Note:
There are two possible orientations for the shaft seal either
facing in or out depending on application.
If a plain black surface is revealed then the seal is configured
for negative pressure applications (typically Sentinel PRO
applications).
If the lips of the seal and its internal spring can be seen, the
seal is configured for positive pressure applications (most
Prima PRO applications).
If seals are removed and or replaced ensure the seals are
refitted in the correct orientation for the application
If a change of application is anticipated, adding a sample
pump to a Prima PRO configuration for example, consult the
factory before changing the seal orientation.
Prize out and inspect the seal and the sealing surface of the main
shaft as for the sample tube seal.
Replace any worn or damaged parts.
Reassembly is the reverse of disassembly.
Sample Tube The sample tube connects to the rotating sample arm and conducts
Removal the selected sample down the main shaft axis out of the sampler
assembly and on to a connection point in the instrument enclosure. If
any contamination was noted in other parts of the inlet while
performing the above procedures, it is recommended that the sample
tube is also removed for inspection and / or cleaning.
In the event that the differential pressure sensor has to be replaced,
the sample tube will need to be removed.
Disconnect the transfer line / sample

lines from the sample tube inside the
cabinet.
Disconnect the heater, temperature

sensor, and flow sensor cables.
Remove the bracket split pin and

hinge pin holding the sample tube in
place. The sample tube can now be
withdrawn. The white PTFE bush is a
fairly loose fit and care should be
taken to avoid mislaying it.
Remove the flow sensor PCB

assembly.
The sealing surface at the tip of the

tube can be easily cleaned / inspected
now. Further cleaning can be carried
out as per the instructions below. It is
advisable to remove the capillary
before any such cleaning.
Figure C3. Removing the flow sensor PCB assembly
To reassemble the flow sensor, first locate the o-rings in the recess in
the sample tube body. Then refit the bracket but leave the screws
quite loose at this point. Fit the flow sensor PCB assembly to the
bracket. Tighten down the PCB retaining screws and finally the
bracket retaining screws (via the holes in the PCB). This procedure
ensures the o-rings are correctly centred on the pressure transducer
tubes.
To refit the sample tube into the RMS, first remove the sample arm
so that the various seals can be assembled on to the end of the sample
tube without damage. Otherwise, reassembly is the reverse of
disassembly
Inlet Ports The gas inlet fittings are screwed into the main body. The thread type
is 1/8" BSPP (alternatively G1/8, or ISO 228/1). This is a parallel
thread, so a gasket type seal is used between the fitting and the RMS
body, and not formed on the thread itself.
Caution! Alternative threads such as 1/8 NPT or 1/8 BSPT are

similar but not identical. Damage WILL result if these are used.
A fitting may need to be removed in the event of damage to the

compression faces of the fitting, or in the event of contamination (a
pocket of contaminants may reside behind the fitting even after
flushing through).
Unscrew the fitting and replace / clean as required. The seal is
generally reusable but replace if in doubt.
Cleaning The above procedures will have exposed all areas that can be wetted
Procedure by sample gas, and no further disassembly is required for complete
cleaning.
The RMS stator should be cleaned in situ.
Particulate contamination should be removed initially by blowing
with a clean inert gas, such as nitrogen. More stubborn
contamination can be removed by wiping with a tissue moistened
with clean isopropanol (specifically, free from non-volatile
impurities) or another suitable solvent. Difficult to access regions
may require cleaning in an ultrasonic bath. The ports in the main
body should be flushed through, working from the top downwards.
Solvents in pressurised (aerosol) containers are convenient for this
providing they meet the above requirements.
Do not use excessive solvent for cleaning elastomeric seals as it can
cause the seal to harden and subsequently fail or leak. All metallic
parts can be cleaned with solvents.
To remove contamination from process fluids, some knowledge of

the contaminant is required, both from a safety point of view and for
choice of a suitable solvent or cleaning agent. Accessible areas can
be mechanically cleaned, providing sealing surfaces are not
damaged.
Final cleaning should always involve the use of a clean solvent (such
as isopropanol as above) to remove any cleaning residues, grease,
etc. Excess solvent should be blown from the inlet components using
an inert gas. If possible, components should be dried in an oven at
temperatures up to 80C.
Clean, or replace if necessary, external pipe work and gas
conditioning equipment to avoid recontamination. In cases of severe
contamination, it is possible for lines not directly responsible as
sources of contamination to have become contaminated. This can
include calibration lines.
The cause of the contamination should be investigated and rectified.
Inlet Options
Remote Mounting In some cases it is either undesirable or impractical to bring a large
number of sample lines to the analyser due to possible leakage, for
example if gases are toxic or flammable. In the latter case, this might
change the classification of the analyser room from a safe area to a
hazardous area. To avoid this, a remote mounting option is available.
The RMS is mounted in its own enclosure which can be positioned
outside the analyser room. This keeps the bulk gas handling parts of
the RMS outside, while only the relatively small selected sample
flow is introduced into the analyser / analyser room. The remote
RMS enclosure contains the control electronics for the RMS and the
calibration panel assemblies so that calibration gas is also kept
remote.
The RMS enclosure links to the main instrument enclosure via a 32
mm flexible conduit that carries all the required services for the RMS
(including the appropriate gas line(s)). This conduit can be sealed
through the wall at installation if required. The standard conduit
length is 1.5 m, but a shorter length may have been specified when
ordering.
Refer to the appropriate installation drawing to assess the layout of
the conduit run.
In the case of a full hazardous area system, a second smaller conduit
is fitted in parallel with the main services conduit. This is
deliberately empty and provided to ensure purge integrity is
guaranteed.
If the RMS enclosure is being mounted on an external wall, a degree
of weather protection is required. This is particularly true if
temperature is critical for the application. The RMS heater is not

designed to maintain temperature (at the maximum setting) in
ambient temperatures below 12C, strong wind or with water (rain)
flowing over the RMS body.
In cases where the main instrument enclosure is in a safe area but the
RMS enclosure is in a hazardous area, a purge controller will be
mounted on the RMS box. This must be protected from water ingress
on to the purge vent spark arrestor assembly.
As an absolute minimum, a sloping cover extending from the wall on
which the enclosure is mounted and sufficiently large to carry
rainwater clear of the enclosure is required. Depending on location
and anticipated weather conditions the shelter may require sides to
provide protection from blown rain or cold. Service access to the
valve and enclosure must be accounted for.
For systems with the remote RMS located in a hazardous area, refer
to Appendix A: Hazardous Area Operation for details of the purging
requirements.
Dual RMS In some applications there are insufficient ports on a 64-way RMS
and a second unit is connected to increase the number of ports
available. The selected gas stream from the second RMS connects to
a port on the first RMS so that two 64-way units will provide a total
of 127 ports.
The second RMS uses the same enclosure as the remote option
above. In this case, the enclosure is wall mounted adjacent to the
main enclosure. Calibration panel assemblies are fitted to the second
RMS enclosure, rather than to the main instrument enclosure.
For hazardous areas, dual RMS configurations are available for
Sentinel PRO Ex systems only. A dual conduit arrangement is used
(as per the remote RMS hazardous area system, see above). Refer to
the Appendix A: Hazardous Area Operation for details of the purging
requirements.
Stator
Inlet ports
Exhaust Stepper
chamber motor
Stator cover Pressure transducer

Orifice
Sample tube Sample tube
seal body
Return seal Transfer line
Main shaft
seal
Capillary
Sample arm
Seal / spring /
filter
Inlet ports
Figure C4. RMS assembly (32-way Prima PRO)
D2
D3
D4
D6
D19
D24
D25
Figure C5. Controller PCB
Table C1. List of service replacement parts

Quantity Description Part number
1 Sample arm seal 203-217-013
1 Sample arm seal o-ring 201-120-197
1 Sample arm seal spring 201-135-085
1 Filter (2m) 201-110-292
1 Shaft seal 201-110-200
2 Shaft bearings 201-106-019
1 Sample tube bearing (PTFE) 203-217-020
2 Sample tube seal 201-110-199
1 Return seal 201-110-489
1 Sample tube (Prima PRO) 204-764-002
1 Sample tube (Sentinel PRO) 204-764-007
1 Sample tube heater 202-310-075
32/64 1/4 compression fitting 201-110-219
32/64 1/8" compression fitting 201-110-245
32/64 6 mm compression fitting 201-110-725
32/64 Seal ring PTFE 201-120-138
32/64 Seal ring stainless steel 201-120-137
1 Thermal switch (140C) 202-190-013
1 Thermocouple 203-217-120
1 Opto encoder PCB 204-766-009
1 Controller PCB 204-766-007
1 Ring heater 202-320-017
4 Cartridge heater 202-310-067
Solenoid Inlet
Solenoid Inlet
Introduction The solenoid inlet is a sample gas selector that can be used in place
of the RMS valve assembly on applications with a limited number of
sample inlets.
There are several bulk gas handling components and connections
inside the instrument enclosure, and therefore this inlet cannot be
used with hazardous area systems.
The stream selector assembly is available in two sample line
configurations with either a 6-port manifold or fast response single
stream inlet. Each version comes with 6 calibration gas ports as
standard, though additional calibration ports can be added, in banks
of 5, as an optional extra. The inlet uses the same micro capillary
assembly and transfer line technology as fitted to other inlet systems.
Gas flow (sample and calibration) is monitored with a differential
pressure flow sensor, similar to the RMS.
Safety
Warning! The following must be considered in addition to all
safety notes elsewhere in this manual covering the system as a
whole.
Depending on the nature of the gases in use (sample and calibration

gases), precautions may need to be taken to avoid inhalation of,
contact with, or ignition of these gases. In general, these precautions
are as follows.
Always use the correct tubing size for the fittings supplied
and the correct nut / ferrule assembly.
Do not exceed the pressure and flow specifications detailed
below.
Leak check all external pipe work and recheck periodically.
Leak check inlet system periodically, as defined in this
manual.
Before opening up any gas handling part of the system, it
may be necessary to purge the system with a suitable inert or
non-hazardous gas. Gas lines and the exhaust line should be
isolated. Consideration should be given to the possibility and
implications of failure of the isolation mechanism used.
Warning! It is the responsibility of the instrument user to assess the

potential hazards involved in working on any gas handling parts of
the system.
Solenoid Inlet
Table C2. Solenoid inlet system specification

Number of inlets (sample) 1 or 6 (options)
Number of inlet (calibration) 6 (standard)

Sample / calibration gas filtration
2 m
(1)
requirement
Sample gas inlet flow rate (regulated 0.1 to 2.0 l/min
externally)
(2)
Sample gas inlet pressure. Maximum, 0.2 bar(g)
exhaust blocked to give above typical < 0.1 bar
(3)
flow.
Maximum sample gas / line
60C
temperature
Calibration gas flow (regulated 0.1 to 0.25 l/min
externally)
Calibration gas pressure 0.5 to 2.0 bar(g)
Exhaust requirements Pressure range: 0.8 - 1.2 bar(g)

Stability: 3 mbar/min
Gas connection 1/4 or 6 mm
Solenoid valve drive 24 Vdc, 7 W

Flushing time required (t99.9% decay Sample inlet (1 inlet option): 5
time) seconds
Sample inlet (6 inlet option): 20
seconds
Calibration inlet: 45 seconds
Notes:
1
Gas must be free from liquids or materials that will condense at the operating
temperature of the inlet.
2
Limit is to prevent over-pressurisation of the mass spectrometer.
3
Pressure relative to exhaust pressure.
Inlet Operation
Refer to Figure C6.
The principle element of the inlet is the micro capillary block
assembly that incorporates a 3/2 selector valve, micro capillary, and
flow sensor. The 3/2 valve selects gas from either the sample inlet
section or the calibration inlet section, to flow across the micro
capillary and through the flow sensor.
In the six inlet stream configuration a six-way manifold of 3/2
solenoid valves provides sample stream selection, sample gases
being connected directly to ports on this manifold. The normally
open ports of all six valves are connected to a common exhaust that
provides for continuous flow of sample even when not selected.
Solenoid Inlet
When a valve is actuated, sample gas from that port is directed

through the manifold to the above 3/2 selector valve and hence to the
capillary assembly for sampling.
In the single inlet stream version, the six-way manifold is omitted
and the sample stream connects directly to the selector valve.
Warning!
All unused inlets must be fitted with blanks and sealed.

Gases from the manifold exhaust can enter the local
environment from an unsealed inlet port and will pose a
safety risk if the sample is toxic, corrosive, or an asphyxiant.
COMMON
NO NO NO NO NO NO EXHAUST
6 5 4 3 2 1
NC NC NC NC NC NC
6-WAY SAMPLE MANIFOLD

SELECTOR
NC
VALVE
SAMPLE INLET FLOW

PORTS 1-6
NO SENSOR
6-Way Sample Inlet Option MICRO CAPILLARY

BLOCK
ASSEMBLY MICRO CAPILLARY
FROM TO INLET
CALIBRATION PROBE
PANEL
SAMPLE INLET PORT
NC
SELECTOR FLOW
EXHAUST
Single Sample Inlet Option VALVE SENSOR
NO
MICRO CAPILLARY
BLOCK
ASSEMBLY MICRO CAPILLARY
FROM TO INLET
CALIBRATION PROBE
PANEL
Figure C6. Solenoid inlet schematics

Calibration gases are required on a relatively infrequent basis and
can be costly. To avoid unnecessary usage, the calibration valve
assemblies are fitted with 2/2 valves such that calibration gas will
only flow when a valve is energized. The calibration assembly is a
manifold of six solenoid valves with the common outlet port
connected to the normally open port of the solenoid inlet selector
valve. The tubing material used for this connection is FEP which has
excellent chemical resistance and mechanical properties, is non-
porous and has very favourable adsorption and permeation
properties. The calibration manifold is fitted to the left-hand side of
Solenoid Inlet
the instrument enclosure. A single calibration manifold is supplied

with either configuration of the solenoid inlet although additional
calibration lines can be added. (Consult factory for details.)
A restriction element (orifice) is built into each six-way manifold

assembly, such that a line pressure of 1.0 bar(g) will give a flow
around 150 cm3/min (Prima PRO). Fine adjustment of flow is
achieved by adjustment of line pressure at the calibration bottle
regulator.
The incoming calibration gases connect to compression fittings on
the bottom of the calibration panel(s). By default, the fittings will be
the same size / type as specified for the solenoid inlet assembly.
Note: The calibration panels are identical to those used with the
RMS inlet system.
In order to provide the best possible dynamic response to sample

gases, a selector valve with a very low internal volume (< 0.1ml) is
used. Sample streams connect to the normally closed port, calibration
streams to the normally open port. To further optimize the response
time of the system, both the calibration and sample manifolds are
fitted with an internal flow splitter to ensure that the entire length of
the manifold is dynamically flushed regardless of which inlet is
selected.
PR
T
Connection for line to inlet
probe (micro capillary located
beneath fitting)
Flow sensor PCB
assembly Heater
Exhaust (to common

Selector valve exhaust / exhaust
port)
Figure C7. Micro capillary block assembly
Valve Operation All valves are 24 Vdc solenoid actuated and are driven directly from
the inlet control PCA mounted below the inlet assembly in the top
left of the instrument enclosure.
Capillary Connection
Solenoid Inlet
A small fraction (7 to 10 cm3min-1) of the selected gas stream is

sampled by the micro capillary (and subsequently by the mass
spectrometer). Excess gas flows to the common exhaust.
For a detailed description of the gas transfer system into the Prima
PRO mass spectrometer refer to
Introduction of a Gas Sample in Appendix B.
Heating Heating of the system is split into two parts, the micro capillary
block assembly and the six-way sample manifold. In the case of a
single sample inlet system, the six-way manifold is not used and an
adaptor block of the same dimensions is fitted in its place, such that
this can be heated in exactly the same way. The capillary block and
manifold (or adaptor block) can be heated up to 60C.
The micro capillary assembly is heated by means of a 24 V 30 W (19
) cartridge heater. Temperature is monitored using a PRT. See
Figure C7.
The valve manifold (or adaptor block) is heated by means of a heater
block fixed along one side. The heater block has two cartridge
heaters embedded in it, operating at mains voltage. The heaters are
connected in parallel or series to allow 115 Vac or 230 Vac operation
respectively (see Inlet Controller below). The total power
dissipated is 50 W. Individual heaters are 576 .
The heater block contains a thermocouple to allow temperature
monitoring. A thermal switch is also attached to the heater block
(fixed set point of 70C) to provide a heater cut-out in the event of a
controller fault (runaway condition).
Inlet Controller
General The inlet controller handles all the control functions required for the
solenoid inlet and its associated calibration panels. The controller
PCA is mounted on the left side of the enclosure below the inlet
assembly. Most connections are via pluggable screw terminals. The
controller PCA is the same as that used for other inlet systems, such
as the RMS.
The controller is powered from the main enclosure power supply (24
Vdc). Mains power is required for the main body heater (see below).
Fuses (all on PCB):
F1: 5 A (mains)
F2: 1 A (24 Vdc, calibration gas valves). Supply OK indicated by
green LED D2.
Solenoid Inlet
F3: 4 A (24 Vdc, all other functions). Supply OK indicated by

green LED D19.
A watchdog function is used to show that the processor is active (red
LED D6).
Valve Drives There are 24 outputs, individually addressable with up to 4 switched

on at any one time (limited in software). Each is designed to deliver
up to 300 mA at 24 Vdc and is intended to drive a single gas control
solenoid valve. For the six-way inlet version, when a sample inlet is
selected the controller will energize the specific inlet valve as well as
the selector valve.
Manifold Heater Mains power is connected to J18 along with the heaters and over-
temperature thermal switch. This allows 115 Vac or 230 Vac
operation to be selected by means of a switch on the PCB.
Unplugging J18 or switching off the Inlet circuit breaker in the main
enclosure will remove mains power from the PCB.
Warning! Removal of F1 will only break the L/L1 line. Power

might still be on the assembly from the N/L2 line.
The heater block thermocouple connects to J13. Power to the heater

is switched via a solid state relay on the PCB, giving a control
precision of 1C, accuracy 3C. A red LED (D25, adjacent to the
solid state relay) flashes when the heater is driven on (if the heater is
not driven on at all, i.e. the temperature is above the set point, the
LED alone is driven on for 10 ms every second).
Micro Capillary Block The micro capillary block PRT connects to J15 and the heater output
Heater (24 Vdc) to J16. Control precision is 1C, accuracy 3C. A red
LED (D24) flashes when the sample tube heater is driven on.
Flow Sensor Connect the flow sensor to J17.
Digital Inputs Four opto-isolated digital inputs are available (J5, J6, J9, J10). They
can be configured as requiring 24 Vdc or voltage free contact input
by means of jumpers on the PCB. A red LED adjacent to each
connector indicates the status of the input.
Solenoid Inlet
VGiNet The red LED adjacent to the VGiNET sockets (D3) indicates data
received by the unit (not necessarily for it or processed by it) and the
green LED (D4) indicates data transmitted from it. When the unit
detects a message intended for it, it will respond with a reply
message and so a full message cycle will appear as a red flash
followed quickly by a green flash as the reply is transmitted.
Testing Testing of the inlet system may be required in order to confirm

correct performance, in the event of unexpected analytical results,
suspected contamination or following a major service. The areas to
be checked are as follows (it is advisable to switch off the inlet
heater before starting work). If any valves have been stripped down,
or had parts replaced, the valve should be operated a number of times
before carrying out any test work.
Warning!
It is advisable to switch off the manifold heater before

performing work on the assembly.
The manifold heaters are Mains voltages rated and should be
isolated from the inlet control PCA prior to exist in the
supply to the main heater.
The remainder of the inlet (including the capillary assembly
heater) is driven from a 24 Vdc supply.
Capillary Testing To test the micro capillary assembly, set the inlet to calibration mode
or power down the inlet by removing 24 V from the inlet controller
PCA. As noted above, either disconnect the mains heaters from the
PCA or switch off the inlet breaker on the mains distribution DIN
rail. Disconnect the transfer tube from the calibration manifold at the
CALIBRATION INLET fitting where it enters the solenoid
assembly. The micro capillary will now effectively be open to room
air. Select a suitable display mode in the system software (e.g.
Control Centre or MIM) and display the mass 32 peak or a
measurement of the mass 32 peak height. Make a note of the mass 32
peak height value (air).
If possible, helium should be used for the next step. Adjust the
cylinder regulator to give a gentle flow of helium at the open end of
the line (approximately 0.5 to 1.0 lmin-1) and connect the cylinder to
the CALIBRATION INLET fitting on the front panel of the solenoid
assembly. The mass 32 peak height reading should now drop as
helium passes over the micro capillary. The reading should change
by a factor of 10-8/pressure (air) within 7seconds, i.e. if the system
Solenoid Inlet
pressure reading in air was 10-5mbar, the mass 32 peak height should
drop by a factor of 1000. If this is not achieved, it may be necessary
to leak check the analyser itself.
When complete reconnect the calibration manifold line to the
CALIBRATION INLET on the front panel of the solenoid assembly.
Valve Function The following checks are to ascertain that each solenoid valve is
being driven correctly and that the correct gas is being sampled. It
should be noted that if any particular solenoid valve does not operate
correctly the system will sample the gas mixture in the common
exhaust. This condition may not be easy to detect if the composition
of the sample gases on the manifold are similar.
For the calibration inlets, select calibration gas inlet #1 from the
system software. A flow should be indicated on the flow sensor.
Verify that if the gas supply is switched off externally the indicated
flow drops to zero (allowing for the line to depressurise). Repeat for
all (used) calibration inlets.
For a sample inlet, connect a distinctive gas (e.g. helium), set to a
typical flow rate, to the inlet and monitor the system in Histogram
Scan mode 0-50 amu. When the helium inlet is switched in the
spectrum of helium (mass 4 only, plus a few background peaks)
should be visible. As with the calibration inlets the flow sensor
should also register a reading. Purge with air or nitrogen and then
repeat the process for the remaining inlets.
If there appears to be a problem, check that there are no external
blockages. Remember that, for sample inlets, the selector valve must
be driven in addition to the individual inlet valve. Possible failure of
either the selector valve or inlet manifold valve must be considered.
If any given valve fails to operate, first check the 24 V drive signal to
that valve. If there is a problem trace this back, as far as the inlet
controller PCA if required. If the drive signal is present, check the
solenoid coil. The resistance should be approximately 115 .
If there is still a problem, there may have been some contamination
causing a valve to stick. Follow the maintenance procedures in
Chapter 10 for cleaning / replacement.
Cross Seat Leakage Cross seat leakage can result from contamination on the valve seat
(as a result of inadequate gas filtering) or simply following
prolonged use resulting in minor deformation of the valve seat. As a
result a valve may not shut off fully, resulting in cross contamination
of samples or loss of valuable calibration gas if this occurs on a
calibration manifold valve.
Solenoid Inlet
Switch off all calibration and sample gases, and depressurise, the
lines.
Ensure the inlet is powered off, i.e. no valves selected. Connect
helium to each port on the calibration manifold in turn and pressurise
the line to normal operating pressure. Set the mass spectrometer to
monitor mass 4 and look for traces of helium. If the valve seat is
good there should be no increase in the signal level at mass 4.
To check the sample valves the inlet needs to be powered and any
external sample lines removed. Select an inlet and set the mass
spectrometer to mass 4 as above. Blank the selected inlet and then
connect the helium supply to the remaining, unselected, inlets in turn
and pressurise each to the normal operating pressure. A change in
mass 4 would indicate a cross seat leakage. Blank off one of the
tested inlets and select it through the system software. Connect the
helium to the previously blanked inlet to check it for cross seat
leakage.
To check the selector valve couple the helium to the
CALIBRATION INLET port on the solenoid inlet front panel while
the blanked sample inlet is still selected. Pressurise to normal
operating pressure and monitor for changes in mass 4 signal. Any
change would indicate a cross seat leakage of the selector valve into
the sample stream.
If there is a change in signal in any of the above tests, check that it is
reversible and repeatable, and check that the inlet is not being
pressurised beyond normal operating conditions. If a change is
confirmed, the valve may be faulty and require cleaning or
replacement. See Chapter 10.
External Leakage A leak of this type involves gas leaking into the atmosphere, and is
only likely to occur following disassembly of the system. The
significance of such a leak will depend on the nature of the gas
involved. External leakage may give rise to contamination of gas
samples with air, but is unlikely as the system normally runs at a
slight positive pressure.
Warning!
It is advisable to switch off the manifold heater before

performing work on the assembly.
The manifold heaters are Mains voltages rated and should be
isolated from the inlet control PCA. Switch off the mains
inlet breaker on the power distribution DIN rail assembly to
isolate the supply.
Solenoid Inlet
The remainder of the inlet (including the capillary assembly

heater) is driven from a 24 Vdc supply.
In general, it is recommended that the inlet is switched off,
the mains and 24 Vdc cables disconnected, and the unit be
allowed to cool before carrying out any service work.
Maintenance No routine maintenance is required on the system providing that the

incoming gases are correctly conditioned. The system will require
attention if there is a failure of the gas conditioning system resulting
in excessive liquid or particulate contamination. The system should
be tested periodically as indicated in the previous section to identify
issues that could compromise analytical performance.
In general it will be necessary to strip down the inlet system to clean
or replace affected part or parts. There are different procedures to
follow depending on whether a calibration or sample inlet is
involved. See below.
Caution!

If required, the system should be purged with a suitable inert
gas, and the system exhaust isolated.
Liquid or solid contaminants might be encountered within the
inlet assembly during maintenance operations. The likely
composition of any such contaminants should be determined
so that appropriate safety measures can be put in place before
further work is carried out.
It is the responsibility of the user to assess the hazards
involved in breaking into any gas handling part of the system
based on knowledge of the sample and calibration gases used.
Calibration Inlet On calibration manifolds, the solenoid actuator is assembled through

the mounting plate so that operationally the electrical coil is inside
the instrument enclosure and gas handling parts of the manifold are
outside. A consequence of this is that it is not possible to remove and
inspect the solenoid valve assemblies of the calibration manifold
individually. When the mounting plate is removed all six actuator
assemblies will be exposed. The actuators are spring loaded and once
the manifold and mounting plate are separated they can detach from
the manifold body. Take care to ensure that parts are not lost or
contaminated. Work on a clear, clean work surface.
Solenoid Inlet
1. Disconnect the cable from the inlet controller PCA (ribbon

cable).
2. Disconnect the common line from the calibration manifold that

runs to the solenoid inlet assembly Calibration Inlet port.
3. Disconnect the external calibration gas lines.
4. Unscrew the mounting plate from the enclosure and remove the
assembly from the system. Ensure the sealing gasket is not
damaged or discarded. Replace if necessary.
5. Unscrew the knurled nuts from the six actuator coils. The coils
and the connection PCB to which they are attached can be
removed as one piece.
Knurled nut
Figure C8. Knurled nut
6. To remove the manifold from the plate, unscrew the 12 M3

countersunk screws that are now exposed. Note that when the
plate is removed the actuator bodies are free to detach from the
manifold body. Care must be exercised to ensure these do not
spring loose and parts are lost, damaged, or contaminated.
7. Inspect the sealing gasket positioned between the manifold block

and the mounting plate. If this is damaged in any way it must be
replaced.
8. Carefully pull out the actuator body from the manifold and
inspect the valve parts, particularly the sealing surfaces. Clean or
replace as required before reassembly.
9. Reverse the above procedure to reassemble the system. Always

leak check the system after reassembly.
Solenoid Inlet
Sample Inlet The following description only applies to the six-way manifold
version of the solenoid inlet assembly. As this operation will require
the transfer line from the micro capillary to the inlet probe to be
disconnected, it will be necessary to shut down and vent the
instrument vacuum system.
1. Switch off the mains heater supply at the DIN rail mounted inlet
breaker.
2. Disconnect the heater, sensor, and valve cables from the inlet
controller PCA. Take carful note of cable / plug positions to aid
in reassembly.
3. Disconnect the transfer tube from the micro capillary assembly to

the mass spectrometer inlet probe assembly.
4. Disconnect the external sample gas line, calibration gas inlet, and
the exhaust line.
5. The assembly can now be removed from the system. Unscrew the
eight M6 nuts holding the mounting plate in place and carefully
remove from the enclosure.
6. To remove the exhaust manifold disconnect the 4 mm FEP tube

from the push in connector in the exhaust manifold block.
7. Unscrew the Exhaust fixing on the front panel. Retain the sealing
ring.
8. Unscrew the six screws below the manifold to release the

manifold from the valve assemblies. Take great care not to lose
the o-rings that are on both sides of the manifold.
9. Unscrew the knurled rings on the end of the solenoid coil

assemblies to release the coils and connection PCB. Remove to
expose the actuator assemblies.
10. To inspect individual valves unscrew the valve actuator from the
manifold using a suitable spanner. Take care to avoid dropping
the valve plunger / spring assembly as the actuator is withdrawn.
11. Inspect the valve parts, particularly the sealing surfaces, clean as
required, replacing any damaged seals.
Solenoid Inlet
12. Reverse the above procedure to reassemble the system. Always

leak check the system after reassembly.
13. If there is any sign of contamination in the valve manifold it is

advisable to remove all valves from the manifold to enable full
cleaning. Keep the valve assemblies separate and in sequence, so
that the valves can be replaced into the same manifold ports.
Cleaning Procedure Particulate contamination should be removed initially by blowing

with a clean inert gas such as nitrogen. More stubborn contamination
can be removed by wiping with a tissue moistened with clean
isopropanol (specifically, free from non-volatile impurities) or
another suitable solvent. Difficult to access regions may require
cleaning in an ultrasonic bath. Do not use this procedure for cleaning
elastomer seals as it can cause the seal to harden. All metallic parts
can be solvent cleaned.
To remove contamination by process fluids, some knowledge of the
contaminant is required, from both a safety perspective and in order
to choose a suitable solvent or cleaning fluid. Accessible areas can be
mechanically cleaned, providing sealing surfaces are not damaged.
Final cleaning should always involve the use of a clean solvent
(isopropanol etc., as above) to remove any cleaning residues, grease,
etc. Excess solvent should be blown from the inlet components using
an inert gas. If possible, components should be dried in an oven at
temperatures up to 60C.
Remember to clean external pipe work and gas conditioning
equipment to avoid recontamination. The cause of the contamination
should be investigated and rectified before putting back into service.
Appendix D
Local I/O
The Prima PRO has a number of channels of both serial I/O and
Introduction discrete I/O built in to the instrument to allow connection to external
equipment.
Refer to the instrument specific installation drawing for location and
connection details of all local I/O. Note that connection details and
the location of the interface are different for safe area (inside the
instrument enclosure) and Ex systems (flameproof box or boxes).
Serial I/O
Five channels of serial I/O are available.
One channel marked HOST is specifically for connection to a PC
running GasWorks software.
The other four, channels I/O 0 through I/O 3, are available for
communication to external expansion I/O systems (where I/O
requirements cannot be accommodated by the onboard I/O described
below), a plant DCS, or other external data gathering or control
equipment.
A number of protocols are available for communication to the latter
items, including Modbus and simple ASCII data logging. Other
(optional) protocols (e.g. Profibus) are implemented using third-party
converters, typically converting from Modbus RTU to the required
protocol. Converters for fibre optic data communication are also
available as options (see below).
Serial Link Type Individual serial channels can be configured as RS232, RS422 (i.e.
Selection full duplex) or RS485 (i.e. half duplex, not available for the HOST
link) by jumpers on the I/O CPU board. See table below.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide D-1
Local I/O
Serial I/O
Table D1. Serial communication jumpers
Jumper I/O Port Jumper ID Jumper Fitted ( = fitted)

Function I/O 0 I/O 1 I/O 2 I/O 3 HOST RS232 RS422 RS4852
1
Tx+ pull up W1 W6 W11 W16 W23
1
Tx- pull down W2 W7 W12 W17 W21
No 1 1
Rx- pull down W3 W8 W13 W18 W22
jumpers
1 1
Rx+ pull up W4 W9 W14 W19 W24 fitted
RS422/485
W5 W10 W15 W20 W25
select
1
These links typically not required. In some cases (for example, long line lengths), some
combination of pull up and pull down jumpers might be required, and/or a termination resistor
(typically 120) fitted to the terminal block. Exact requirements will depend on the
characteristics of the line, whether the connection is point-to-point or multi-drop, and the
configuration of other devices on the link.
2
Not available for HOST. For RS485, Rx+ must be linked to Tx+ and Rx- must be linked to Tx-
(the links should be fitted at the connection terminal block). If pull up or pull down jumpers are
required (see 1 above), only one set should be fitted (as shown).
Indicators
Each serial I/O port has a set of four LEDs to indicate activity on that
port. For each port, the top pair of LEDs (one green, one red) is
associated with transmitted data and the bottom pair (again, one
green, one red) is associated with received data.
For either transmit or receive lines:
For RS232 communication, the green LED in each line is
normally on, and will toggle to the red LED when data is
flowing.
For RS422/485 communication, both LEDs are normally off and
the red LED will be on when data is flowing. Note that for
RS485, since transmit and receive lines are linked together (see
above), the transmit and receive LEDs should behave identically.
Fibre Optic Serial Fibre optic serial connection is available as an option for each of the
Connection available serial ports (availability depends on the total amount of I/O
installed in the instrument enclosure). This allows extended
transmission distances compared to electrical serial connections.
Refer to Sections 3 and 5 (and Appendix A1 for hazardous areas) of
this manual for requirements and details of the fibre connections.
Refer also to the manufacturers data sheets for the fibre optic
converters.
For each fibre optic link, one fibre optic converter is installed in the
instrument enclosure and will be connected to a particular serial port
(different ports can be selected simply by unplugging the serial cable
D-2 Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Local I/O
Serial I/O
and connecting to the required port, which should be configured as

RS232). A second converter is supplied for conversion back to an
electrical signal at the other end of the link (25-pin D-type socket,
DCE connection). If connecting to a PC (typically for the host PC
connection), a 25 9 pin reducer and serial-to-USB converter are
supplied. For other connections (e.g. DCS connection), a DIN rail
terminal block connection can be more convenient and an adaptor is
supplied for this purpose. The terminal block pin numbering is
identical to that of the 25-pin connector.
The converter requires a 12VDC power supply. The item supplied
includes internationally compatible mains connections, and the DC
supply plugs in to the connector on the device. If preferred, an
alternative 12VDC supply can be delivered via the 25-way terminal
block (where used) refer to the manufacturers data sheet for
connection details.
The external fibre optic converter will be supplied configured for
RS232 operation. However, it can also provide RS422 and RS485
connections if required/applicable (see Table D-1). Refer to the
manufacturers data sheet for details of how to change the settings.
Note that there is no need to change the configuration of the
converter in the instrument this can remain as RS232.
Local I/O
Discrete I/O
This provides digital and (as an option) analogue connectivity for a

Discrete I/O wide variety of functions.
Table D2. Discrete I/O
I/O Type Function Number of I/O Channels
Digital output Instrument fail* 1
Digital output Alarms, status etc 12
Digital input Control functions 13 (12 for Ex systems)
4-20 mA or 0-10 V
Analogue I/O 16 (8 2-channel modules,
(option) Inputs and / or module types can be mixed)
outputs
*
Instrument fail will go into the alarm state if any hardware alarm is on or if the
processor watchdog is in the failed state.
If the required quantity of I/O exceeds that listed above, an external

I/O unit may be used. This is documented elsewhere.
All I/O is provided with full isolation (at least 1kV) between the
instrument and the user connection points.
Supplying Power Digital output channels can be configured as voltage free contact or
to the External 24 Vdc output. Similarly, digital inputs can be configured to require
I/O Circuit either an external voltage free contact or an external 24 4 Vdc.
Configuration is by means of jumpers on the I/O CPU board. Fitting
the jumper labelled VF makes the input or output voltage free,
requiring an external supply. Fitting the two jumpers labelled V
gives internally powered 24 V operation. Each channel is
individually configured (powered or non-powered channels can be
mixed).
Note that outputs are fused at 1 A. For internally powered outputs,
the total current available from the onboard 24 V supply can be
between 0.65 and 2.0 A depending on which other I/O options are
present and making demands on the 24 V supply. This is shared
between the active output channels. Consult the factory if more detail
is required, or use an external power supply.
Indicators All digital channels have an associated LED showing the state of the
output or input. When an output channel is driven on, the LED is on
and the output contact is closed. When an input is energized (24 V
applied), the LED and the input channel are on. Note that the logic of
each I/O channel (positive or negative) can be readily changed in the
software configuration, but the LED will always indicate the state of
the input or output circuit.
D-4 Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Local I/O
Discrete I/O
Analogue I/O Analogue I/O is provided by means of an Opto 22 SNAP series

assembly. This communicates with the instrument CPU via an
RS422 link. I/O connections are made directly to the modules (or via
an isolation unit in the case of Ex systems). Refer to the appropriate
installation drawing and the Opto 22 datasheets (supplied) for the
module type for further details. etails.
Appendix E
Air Conditioner
This section applies to the Stulz air conditioner used on Prima PRO
Introduction and Sentinel PRO instruments. The manufacturers documentation
must be consulted along with these notes.
The air conditioner is responsible both for cooling and maintaining a

constant temperature within the instrument enclosure.
Warning! The following potential hazards are present within the air
conditioner enclosure:
mains voltages (some exposed terminals)

fan (no guard) may start unexpectedly
The basic operation of the air conditioner is fairly conventional. The

Normal refrigerant fluid is compressed and passed through a condenser
Operation section where excess heat is allowed to dissipate to ambient air
resulting in a liquid. The liquid is then allowed to vaporise in an
evaporator section within the enclosure to provide cooling, before
being returned to the compressor. There are a number of points to
note about the operation of the unit.
1. Internal air circulation over the evaporator and through the

instrument enclosure is provided by a fan (mains voltage) that
operates continuously.
2. The compressor is located within the envelope of the instrument
enclosure (not externally, as is more common). For hazardous
area operation, this allows the electrical parts of the compressor
and associated wiring to be protected by the enclosure purge,
removing the need for a hazardous area rated compressor.
3. Temperature control of the instrument enclosure is not achieved
by switching the compressor on/off - in normal operation the
compressor runs continuously. Instead, a valve in the refrigerant
circuit is used to bypass the condenser section, i.e. when the
valve is energised (open) the cooling function of the unit is
turned off. As the valve can be switched relatively rapidly, very
good temperature control can be achieved (typically better than
1C with a cycle time less than two minutes). Normally, a
click can be heard as the valve operates.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide E-1
Air Conditioner
Fault Conditions
4. Ambient air circulation over the condenser section is required

to allow dissipation of heat from the system. For safe area
systems, this is provided by a fan (24VDC). For ambient
temperatures below 28C, a series resistor (supplied) can be
used to reduce fan speed/noise.
5. For hazardous area systems, a bank of three air amplifiers is
used to provide a completely non-electrical, no moving parts
air circulation method. Air flow is determined by the air
regulator setting up to 3 bar for ambient temperature up to
40C.
6. The 24VDC supply originates from the Power Distribution
Unit (PDU) within the instrument and, in addition to driving
the external fan, provides power for some of the internal
control logic for the air conditioner and provides an alarm
feedback to the PDU. To operate, the air conditioner requires
both mains power from the Cooling breaker in the main
enclosure and the 24VDC supply. The connection at the PDU
(3-pin) is as follows:
Pin 1 (top) 24V (-)

Pin 2 (middle) 24V alarm return
Pin 3 (bottom) 24V (+)
The following parameters should be monitored on a continuous basis

Fault to help diagnose any suspected malfunction of the air conditioner, or
Conditions the reason for a malfunction. Additionally, simple functional
observations (external air flow and temperature, internal air flow,
valve clicking) can be useful. Measuring the mains current drawn
by the air conditioner (using a clamp meter around the live or neutral
supply wires) can give a useful indication of which parts are running.
Cabinet temperature - if the user is familiar with the normal pattern

of temperature cycling (frequency and span), or has this data
recorded, it is straightforward to see when a change has occurred.
Air conditioner 24VDC alarm the frequency and duration of any

alarms should be monitored, as well as the actual voltage reading.
The 24VDC passes through three sets of series contacts before
returning to the PDU. Any one (or more) of these contacts being
open, or a fault in the 24VDC supply itself, could cause an alarm.
The three alarm contacts are:

a) Refrigerant low pressure
b) Refrigerant high pressure
c) Temperature controller alarm (temperature more than 2C
from set point)
E-2 Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Air Conditioner
Fault Diagnosis
To determine if alarm c) is causing the general alarm, open the

enclosure door and quickly check the temperature reading on the air
conditioner controller (the temperature will start to change as soon as
the door is opened, so it is important to do this quickly). If the
temperature is more than 2C from the set point, alarm c) will be
on (remember that other alarm conditions may also exist). The
default set point is 28C press the P button on the controller to
check the actual setting.
The only way to distinguish between alarms a) and b) is to check

within the unit using a DVM refer to the manufacturers wiring
schematic. Since the unit will not run normally with any panels
removed or the door open, this is likely to require connecting test
leads and closing the door/panels to carry out measurements.
Fault Table E1 gives a guide to diagnosing possible air conditioner faults.

It gives the likely symptoms (including alarms) that could result from
Diagnosis failure of specific components within the system. It is unlikely to be
a comprehensive list there could be failure modes that have not
been encountered previously or considered (including the possibility
of multiple faults).
Once diagnosed, some faults can be straightforward to rectify, e.g.

replacement of electrical or electronic component. Anything
requiring repair or replacement of items within the refrigeration
circuit itself should only be attempted by a trained air conditioning
engineer, or by factory repair / replacement of the whole unit.
Table E1. Air Conditioner Fault Diagnosis

Symptom Alarm Possible Action/further
cause checks/comments
Cabinet All Air con mains Check supply / breaker.
temperature failure
not cycling
and reading a, b & c OK, 24VDC supply Check 24V reading via
high but fault Gasworks and DVM - PDU
GasWorks 3-pin connector pin 1 to pin 3
alarm shown Alarm read- (see details above).
back circuit Link pin 2 to pin 3 to bypass air
fault con alarms to check if PDU is
functioning correctly.
b+c External air Check air flow (by feel).
flow low Set fan to full speed (safe area)
or increase air amplifier supply
pressure to maximum
(hazardous areas).
Inspect condenser fins, clean as
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide E-3
Air Conditioner
Fault Diagnosis
required.
Ambient System designed for
temperature temperatures up to 40C max.
high
Pressure switch Check status when powered off
fault & cool. If still in alarm, this
suggests a pressure switch fault.
a+c Refrigerant Check for leaks. Refill, as per
charge low specification on air conditioner
label.
Pressure switch
fault
c Internal fan Check internal fan should be
failure running continuously. If not,
check supply and if fan can be
rotated freely.
Compressor Check compressor operation
failure (e.g. vibration, total current
drawn).
Discrepancy Possible c Fault in air con Check mounting of sensors to
(>3C sensor or air con grille.
)between controller Check sensor connections.
Gasworks & Fault in Check response of sensors to
air con instrument forced temperature changes e.g.
temperature sensor or read- hand heat.
readouts, not back via ASU Use an independent temperature
controlling measuring device to determine
which is correct.
Cabinet c Cooling Check operation of temperature
temperature continuously, controller output contacts
not cycling not regulating these may not be switching
and reading correctly.
low Check bypass valve coil
resistance (not open circuit) and
supply (should be on when
temperature below set point)
Cycling time Possible c Bypass timeout Check if compressor is
>6 minutes (intermittent) operating switching off in each cycle.
Possible temperature controller
fault.
Liquid None Air con being Switch off air conditioner when
(water) in operated with door is open for any significant
condensate enclosure door time (depends on ambient
drain tube to open humidity).
instrument Enclosure purge Use instrument grade air with a
enclosure air has too high suitable known dew point.
water content
E-4 Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Appendix F
Regulatory
Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference
FCC Statement.
Information to the user:
Warning! This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules.

Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and

(2) This device must accept any interference received, including
interference that might cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in
a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which
case the user will be required to correct the interference at their
expense.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide F-1
Regulatory
WEEE
European Union Waste Electronic & Electronic Equipment

WEEE Directive.
This product is required to comply with the European Unions Waste
Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC
and is marked with the following symbol:
This product contains electronic parts and assemblies and should be

disposed of at end of useful life in an appropriate and responsible
manner.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has contracted with one or more recycling /
disposal agencies in each EU Member State, and this product should
be disposed of or recycled through them. For further information,
contact your distributer or reseller in the country of use. In the UK,
contact Thermo Fisher Scientific, Ion Path, Road Three, Winsford,
CW7 3GA.
F-2 Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific
Regulatory
China RoHS
China RoHS
Toxic & Hazardous Substances Table Prima PRO / Sentinel PRO
(Safe Area & Ex).
For Chinese Regulation: Administrative Measure on the Control of
Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products.
Names and Content of Toxic and Hazardous Substances or Elements.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide F-3
Regulatory
China RoHS
F-4 Prima PRO & Sentinel PRO Mass Spectrometers User Guide Thermo Fisher Scientific

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Prima PRO / Sentinel PRO

Part of Thermo Fisher Scientific

Chapter 1 Introduction......................................................................... 1-1

Chapter 2 Safety Information .............................................................. 2-1

Chapter 3 Site Requirements .............................................................. 3-1

Power Quality .......................................................................... 3-10

Chapter 4 Handling & Storage ............................................................ 4-1

Chapter 5 Installation & Interconnection ........................................... 5-1

Chapter 6 Commissioning .................................................................. 6-1

Chapter 7 Startup & Shutdown ........................................................... 7-1

Starting Scheduled Analysis ...................................................... 7-4

Chapter 8 Status & Tuning Parameters .............................................. 8-1

RMS Sample Flow Sensor ......................................................... 8-8

Chapter 9 Fault Diagnosis................................................................... 9-1

Chapter 10 Maintenance...................................................................... 10-1

Lubricating the Turbo Molecular Pump .................................. 10-3

Appendix A Hazardous Area Operation ............................................... A-1

Sample Pump (Sentinel PRO Applications) ........................... A-21

Appendix B Technical Description: Hardware ......................................B-1

Appendix C Technical Description: Inlet...............................................C-1

Calibration Valve Drives ..................................................... C-10

Appendix D Local I/O ............................................................................. D-1

Discrete I/O .................................................................................. D-4

Appendix E Air Conditioner ................................................................... E-1

Appendix F Regulatory........................................................................... F-1

Note: The name Prima PRO will be used exclusively in subsequent

Inlet: A membrane assembly replaces the Prima PRO

Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa

Warning / Danger statements notify users of procedures, practices,

These statements explicitly PROHIBIT an action. Ignoring an

Cautions notify users of operating procedures, practices, conditions,

Statements accompanied by this caution symbol explicitly require

Notes emphasize important or essential information or a statement of

The information in this manual is designed to aid personnel to

Warning! Deviation from the instructions may result in equipment

Read this manual before operating the instrument! In particular,

Caution! Never disregard any cautionary or warning instructions.

Caution! Failure to operate the instrument as specified could

Hazards exist within the instrument enclosure, and the remainder of

Check that the mains supply satisfies the requirements

Repair & When performing repair or maintenance on the instrument:

Warning! Before attempting to carry out repairs or maintenance,

Caution! Maintenance should be carried out by qualified personnel

Rapid Multi-Stream Sampler (RMS) and Single Point Inlet

Warning! All gases flowing into multi-stream inlets (e.g. RMS)

Changing rotary pump oil: Safety glasses, overalls and rubber

Thoria filaments: Thoria is naturally radioactive and should

For Ex systems, the instructions in Appendix A: Hazardous

If the installation is in an environment where ambient temperatures

Physical The instrument comprises a single enclosure fixed to a mounting

The dimensions of the system vary, depending on the options

No user electrical connections (power or signal) are made

Warning! On Ex systems, connection is made to an equivalent set

A number of serial formats are possible:

The remote fibre optic converter (i.e. not installed in the

The operating temperature should be between 12C and 40C.

Humidity Relative humidity should be 90% maximum, non-condensing.

Where necessary, the instrument should be isolated from sources of

Where possible, the instrument should be positioned in an

Inspect the condition of the heat exchanger fins on a regular

Altitude Altitude must be less than 2000 m.

Note: Depending on complexity and constituents, some calibration

Calibration gases should be of the highest quality with a certificate of

Note: The accuracy of analytical data produced by the instrument is