ACQUITY Solvent Manager Error: Degasser vacuum h/w failure (1) - WKB20487

SYMPTOMS

• "Degasser vacuum h/w failure (1)" error in console upon ACQUITY Solvent Manager power-on initialization
  • Degasser error code 1 indicates that it took more than three minutes for the vacuum pressure to fall below 0.909 psi
• Fault occurs when turning the system back on after the instrument had been shut down
  • Upon initialization, the degasser pump is unable draw down to effective vacuum pressure at the sensor

ENVIRONMENT

• ACQUITY UPLC Binary Solvent Manager (BSM)
• ACQUITY H-Class Quaternary Solvent Manager (QSM)
• ACQUITY I-Class Binary Solvent Manager
• ACQUITY Systems Driver Pack 4 SR1
• ACQUITY Systems Driver Pack 2017 Release 1

CAUSE

ACQUITY solvent managers pull down a vacuum for only three minutes upon initialization. This amount of time can sometimes be insufficient to effectively purge solvent vapor from the degasser tubing for all mobile phases.

• Teflon AF tubing within the degasser chamber bleeds during periods of downtime.
• Common solvents such as acetonitrile and methanol condense over time as vapor escapes the Teflon AF tubing within the degasser chambers
• Solvent vapor pressure rises, making it difficult to avoid degasser faults when turning on the instrument after an overnight or weekend idle period.

FIX or WORKAROUND

Power-cycle instrument to restart the three-minute pump-down cycle on the degasser.

• It may take several cycles to purge the vacuum lines of excess solvent vapors.
• This will effectively purge degasser lines of excess solvent vapors and pull down to suitable vacuum.
• Purge Solvent Channel with aqueous solvent can accelerate the elimination of vapors from Teflon AF tubing.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION