Device Type

Gas chromatograph

Device Driver:

Thermo Scientific: Trace Gas Chromatograph
(tested for firmware version 4.01)

Hardware Options
Supported:

The driver provides support for the following GC models:

• ThermoQuest TRACE

• Thermo TRACE / TRACE 2000 / TRACE Ultra

In addition, the following features are supported:

• Up to 2 Inlets
  Options:
  - Purged Packed Column Injector (PPKD)
  - Packed Column
  - Split/Splitless Injector (SSL)
  - On Column Inlet (OCI)
  - Programmable Temperature Vaporizing Inlet (PTV)
  - Large Volume On Column Inlet (LVOCI)

• Column Oven
  - Normal temperature column oven (450°C max.)
  - High-temperature column oven (500°C)
  - Ultra-fast oven
  - Nitrogen cooling
  - Carbon dioxide cooling

• Up to 3 Detectors with digital or analog data acquisition:
  - Flame Ionization Detector (FID)
  - Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD)
  - Nitrogen Phosphorous Detector (NPD)
  - Flame Photometric Detector (FPD)
  - Electron Capture Detector (ECD)
  - Photoionization Detector (PID)
  - Pulsed Discharge Detector (PDD)
  - Flame Ionization Detector - autoranging (FID-ar)
  - For all other detector types digital data acquisition only

• Electronic pressure/flow control
  - Column and inlet: DPFC (Digital Pressure Flow Control)
  - Detector: DGFC (Digital Gas Flow Control)

• Up to 8 Valves and external events
  Supported valve types:
  - Gas sampling valves (GSV)
  - External events (External)

• Auxiliary Temperature Zones to allow configuration of additional thermal devices.

License:

Timebase Class 1

Connection:

There are two possible types of communication between the Chromeleon Server PC and the GC: Ethernet (LAN) or serial (RS-232) communication default setting.

Ethernet (LAN):

A free Ethernet port and the following cable are required:

• Ethernet LAN cable to connect the module to the network via an Ethernet hub or switch.

 Note:

The IP address assigned to the instrument must be a static (permanently assigned) address. If you intend to connect your system to your site’s network, each piece of equipment must have a unique, fixed (static) IP address assigned to it.

Serial (RS-232):

A free COM port and the following cable are required:

• Special cable for the connection to the PC (Dionex part no. 8914.0148); refer to  ThermoQuest/Fisons Cable.

• Cable for the connection to the autosampler, depending on the autosampler type. (For information, refer to the operating instructions for the autosampler.) For the AS2000 autosampler, the following cable is required:  ThermoQuest AS2000/TRACE GC Cable.

Hardware
Prerequisites:

For digital data acquisition:

A free RS-232 port is required or a network port as described above.

For analog data acquisition (optional, not recommended)

An A/D converter is required for data acquisition. A UCI Universal Chromatography Interface, a Dionex UI20 (Dionex part no. 46017), or any other A/D converter supported by Chromeleon (for example, PE Nelson Boxes), including the appropriate signal cables, may be used. (An A/D converter is not required for digital data acquisition.)

Also, an A/D cable, depending on the A/D converter is required.

Control Panel:

To control the instrument, use the TraceGC.pan from the
Dionex Templates\Panels\GC folder in the Browser. (You may have to adapt the panel to the device configuration.)

Device Connection:

To connect the GC with the Chromeleon Server PC

There are two possible types of communication between the Chromeleon Server PC and the GC: Ethernet (LAN) for communication via TCP/IP or serial via RS-232 communication.

1. Ethernet (LAN) communication

 The TRACE GC uses a static IP address. The default IP address is as follows:

To establish LAN communication, proceed as follows:

Establish the LAN connection between GC and Server PC by connecting the instrument to an Ethernet switch or hub using the standard Ethernet LAN cable shipped with the instrument.

Alternatively, you can use a Standard crossover cable to connect the GC directly to the Server PC.

In order to connect an autosampler, use the appropriate cable for the respective autosampler. (For information about which cable is required, refer to the autosampler manual.)

Tip:

For better reliability, Thermo Scientific recommends connecting the GC to a separate device LAN and not to the Office LAN. Note that an additional network card is required when using a device LAN.

For information about how to set up the TCP/IP connection, also refer to Connect Modules via TCP/IP (LAN) and the related subtopics.

2. Serial (RS-232) communication

As an option, serial communication via RS-232 can be set up for the GC.

The communication settings must be as follows:

(Also, refer to the installation instructions shipped with the instrument.)

Special cables are required for the connection to the PC and the ThermoQuest AS2000 Autosampler. (For more information, refer to  ThermoQuest/Fisons Cable (Dionex part no. 8914.0148) and  ThermoQuest AS2000/TRACE GC Cable.) To connect an autosampler other than the AS2000, use the appropriate cable for this autosampler. (For information about which cable is required, refer to the autosampler manual.)

In addition, an A/D cable may be required for analog data acquisition, depending on the used A/D converter, for example a UCI.

Device Settings:

PrepRun Timeout

Since the GC can be started only when it is in Ready To Inject mode, select a PrepRun Timeout that is long enough to ensure that the injection takes place within this time. The PrepRun Timeout can be set at the GC keyboard [Config] [Oven] [PR Timeout].

Setting Property Values to 'Infinite'

On the GC keypad, you can set the StopPurgeTime, PurgeTime, SecCoolingTime, SVEDuration, and StopAuxPurgeTime properties manually to infinite:

• Disconnect Chromeleon from the GC.

• Select the settings.

• Reconnect Chromeleon to the GC.

Restrictions:

• When acquiring digital data on several channels, make sure that data acquisition starts at the same time on all channels. Otherwise, an error message appears during the Ready Check.

• No manual control of inlet purge or split valve for service or calibration purposes

• No control of the inlet purge or split valves during a run using timed events

• Setting the default value of a gas sampling valve (GSV) can only be performed using the GC display.