Diagnostics (UltiMate 3000 Series)
Calibrating Solvents (NCP-3200RS/NCS-3500RS) - ProFlow Flowmeter

The following information applies only to NC pumps equipped with a ProFlow flowmeter.

In order to use a certain solvent with the NC pump of the NCP-3200RS or NCS-3500RS, the intended solvent must be calibrated beforehand for every NC pump unit. This ensures that the NC pump delivers exact flow rates and gradients.

The most frequently used solvents are already pre-calibrated in Chromeleon (100% water, 100% acetonitrile, 80% acetonitrile/20% water, 100% methanol). Up to 25 additional solvents can be configured by the user. The solvents can be selected  in the Commands dialog box for the NC pump under %A_Solvent and %B_Solvent.

If the solvent that you are using is not yet available in the list, follow the steps below to add additional solvents to the list. This is especially useful, if you change solvents frequently and want to have viscosity values readily available when you need them.

Tip:

The solvent calibration coefficients are saved in the flowmeter. The coefficients are individual and valid only for the specific flowmeter and pump block channel that has been used for the calibration. It is not possible to transfer the calibration coefficients to another ProFlow flowmeter or to a different block channel of the flowmeter.

Calibrate Solvents

Tip:

Pump block and flowmeter have to be purged before and after the calibration procedure to make sure that air is removed from the U-tubes.

1. In the Chromeleon Client, open and connect a control panel to your timebase.

2. On the Control menu, select Diagnostics. The Diagnostics dialog box lists the installed instruments and available diagnostic tests. Select a line on the list to view details about the test type and purpose, as well as the required materials and estimated duration.

3. Double-click the Solvent Calibration test. (As an alternative, select the test and confirm with OK.) A wizard will guide you through the test steps.

4. The first wizard page provides information about the installed pump and how to prepare the pump for the test. Clicking Next> takes you to the next test step(s).

 Tip: 

If the Next> button is not active on the first test page, the instrument is not connected to Chromeleon or is in Standby mode. Connect the instrument to Chromeleon before you continue by selecting the Connected check box. If the instrument is in Standby mode, clear the Standby check box.

5. After you have completed the pump preparation steps, click Next and follow the instructions of the test wizard. All further information needed to perform the procedure is then provided on the respective wizard pages. After each finished user interaction, click the button to proceed to the next step of the calibration procedure.

6. During the procedure, a table with the currently available solvents is displayed. Use this table to add new entries or modify existing entries:

7. To add a new entry, select the appropriate row number and enter the name of the calibrated solvent in the empty cell next to the number.

8. To modify an existing entry, select the entry and overwrite the data with the new information.

7. Click Finish to complete the calibration procedure.

   Solvent calibration includes also diagnostics. Thus, the last wizard page can show the following results:

   ♦ Success – Solvent calibration has been successful. The calibration coefficients have been saved in the flowmeter.

   ♦ Failed oder Aborted – The solvent calibration has been failed or aborted. Follow the instructions

   provided by the wizard and repeat the procedure.

8. Return to the Chromeleon Server Configuration and open the configuration for the NC pump or NCS system, respectively.

9. On the Flowmeter tab page, click Update... to update the solvent list also in the Chromeleon configuration.

10. Finally, purge the pump and flowmeter to remove trapped air and solvent residues from the system.

Sumary:

• A maximum of 25 solvents can be calibrated and saved in a list. The first 5 solvents in the list are pre-configured by Thermo Fisher Scientific and can not be deleted or edited. The remaining 25 rows in the list can be used to specify additional solvents.

• The solvent name must be unique for a pump block (left/right).

• Previously created entries can be overwritten during calibration (exception: solvents pre-calibrated by Thermo Fisher Scientific).

• To modify existing solvent entries, you have to recalibrate the solvent and modify the data at the end of the calibration procedure as described in step 6 above (section Calibrate Solvents). It is not possible to edit solvent entries directly in the solvent list after calibration of the solvent is complete.

• Already calibrated solvents from the list can be deleted through the Commands dialog box. For more information, see section Remove Solvents from the List further below.

Removing Solvents from the List

Note: It is necessary to purge the pump after solvent calibration to remove air

1. Press F8 to open the Commands dialog box.

2. In the device list, select NC_Pump_Wellness_LeftBlock or NC_Pump_Wellness_RightBlock.

3. Select the DeleteSolventIndex property. Click the arrow to display the DeleteSolventIndex drop-down list. Select the entry that you want to remove from the list.

4. Select the DeleteProFlowSolventEntry command to remove the entry you have previously selected under DeleteSolventIndex.

5. Return to the Chromeleon Server Configuration and open the configuration for the NC pump or NCS system, respectively.

6. On the Flowmeter tab page, click Update... to update the solvent list also in the Chromeleon configuration.

 Tip: 

Entries 1-5 are pre-calibrated by Thermo Fisher Scientific and cannot be deleted.

For further information about the ProFlow flowmeter, also refer to the Operating Instructions of the NC pump /NCS system shipped with the instrument.

UltiMate 3000 Series NCP-3200RS/NCS-3500RS: Overview

For general information, refer to

 Diagnostics (UltiMate 3000 Series) and

Diagnostic Tests for UltiMate 3000 Instruments

Also refer to the Operating Instructions of the NC pump / NCS system shipped with the instrument.