How to defrost the sample compartment for ACQUITY UPLC, H-Class and I-Class Sample Manager - WKB2920

OBJECTIVE or GOAL

 Defrost the sample compartment when:

• Frost or ice accumulates on the sample chamber engine assembly heat sink when operating low sample compartment temperature (near or at 4 °C) in high humidity environments.
• Recovering instrument performance within sample compartment temperature specification.

ENVIRONMENT

• ACQUITY UPLC Sample Manager
• ACQUITY H-Class SM-FTN
• ACQUITY I-Class SM-FTN
• ACQUITY I-Class SM-FL

PROCEDURE

Passive defrost: Passively warming the compartment to reach the temperature of the ambient environment without active control of the heat sink.

1. Remove all sample vials and well plates.
2. Set the Heater/Cooler engine to Off ( Same as setting the Sample Manager temperature compartment as Off in the Console)
3. Leave the SM-FTN powered-on.
4. Ensure that the door remains closed. 
   • The circulating fan inside the sample chamber continues running and blowing air across the engine heat sink and melts the ice faster.
5. After an hour, the unit should be fully defrosted and ready to resume operation.

Active defrost: If passive recovery of the sample compartment temperature was not successful, perform an active defrost.

1. Set the sample compartment temperature to 30°C and wait until the sample temperature >20°C.
2. When sample temperature reaches room temperature, the engine's heat sink should be fully defrosted and ready to resume operation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION