Waters Alliance 2690(D)/2695(D) HPLC Modules: Commands and Tips

Commands and Tips for Third-Party Devices
Waters Alliance 2690(D)/2695(D) HPLC Modules: Commands and Tips

In addition to the standard commands (refer to Practical Tips for Device Control Pump and Flow Control), the Waters 2690(D)/2695(D) Separation Module device driver supports the following commands and properties (please note that the display Filter level determines which commands and properties are displayed):

Pump Commands and Properties

Property

Min

Max

Description

BubbleDetection²,

Off

Checks the System for gas bubbles in the flow path, can return an error message and perform a bubble reduction procedure.

The following settings are required on the instrument: In the Default method, set the Alarms/Bubble detect field to Alert User, Stop Funct, or StopFlow as described in the instrument's manual on page 1 (Mobile Phase).

Curve

convex

concave

Gradient Curve (Default: linear).

When using the Alliance Separation module with either a 2489 or a 2998 detector, the Waters ICS/Empower software must be installed. Nevertheless, you have to configure the Curve settings in Chromeleon. The curve values used to describe the gradient curve shape in Chromeleon differ from the values used in the Waters ICS/Empower software.

The table below shows how the Chromeleon curve values 1–9 are mapped to the Waters ICS values 1–11:

Chromeleon		Empower
n/a	–>	1
1	–>	2 (convex)
2	–>	3 (convex)
3	–>	4 (convex)
4	–>	5 (convex)
5	–>	6 (linear, default)
6	–>	7 (concave)
7	–>	8 (concave)
8	–>	9 (concave)
9	–>	10 (concave)
n/a	–>	11

(No equivalences for Empower values 1 and 11 in Chromeleon).

Tip:

If the gradient defined by Curve is steeper than the one defined by the MaxAcceleration parameter, the actually performed gradient can be different from the gradient defined here. In this case, a warning appears. This is always the case for step gradients.

MaxAcceleration²

0.01 min

30.00 min

Sets the time needed by the pump to reach the maximum flow rate of 10 ml/min. The property serves to protect the column from major pressure changes.

It is connected with the MaximumFlowRamp property:

MaxAcceleration =
10 / MaximumFlowRamp

(Default: 0.01 min. The property is visible only on the Advanced level.)

MaximumFlowRamp

0.34

1000.00

Sets the maximum flow rate increase in [ml/min²]. The property serves to protect the column from major pressure changes.

It is connected with the MaxAcceleration property:

MaximumFlowRamp =
10 / MaxAcceleration

(Default: 1000.00 ml/min². The property is visible only on the Advanced level.)

Pressure.LowerLimit
Pressure.UpperLimit²

0.0 bar

344.70 bar
(= 5000 psi)

Upper and lower pressure limits.

For the pressure limits to take effect, the following setting is required on the instrument: In the Default method, set the Alarms/Min. and Alarms/Max fields to Alert User, Stop Funct, or StopFlow as described in the instrument's manual on page 1 (Mobile Phase). The limits entered last in Chromeleon are valid (not the values set on the instrument).

Note:

The instrument checks the lower pressure limit only during injection.

PrimaryPressure

-3.45 bar

380 bar

Shows the pressure after the first piston chamber. (The property is read-only and visible only on the Expert level.)

StrokeVolume²

Auto; 25 µl;
50 µl; 100 µl

Sets the volume delivered with each piston stroke. (Default: Auto. The property is visible only on the Advanced level. )

StopFlow, Continue

When using these commands for the pump of the Alliance system, please note: When the Stop command is executed while a gradient program is running, the Continue command does not restart the gradient. Instead, the pump is started with constant solvent composition and constant flow rate.

Tip:

² It is not possible to change the property during an injection, during gradient runs, or at negative retention times.

Note:

As described in the instrument's manual, negative pressure readings are possible for the pressure behind the first piston chamber (PrimaryPressure property).

Degasser Commands and Properties

The standard degasser of the Waters Alliance 2690(D)/2695(D) HPLC module is a Helium degasser. Select the following property to specify which solvent reservoirs shall be helium sparged and set the sparge rate for each reservoir:

Property	Min	Max	Default	Description
HeliumSparge_A to HeliumSparge_D²	0	100	0	If the sparge rate is set to 100% for a specific reservoir, the solvent in this reservoir is helium sparged all the time. If the sparge rate is less than 100%, the corresponding valve turns on and off according to the specified percentage.

The standard degasser of the Waters Alliance 2690/2695 XE HPLC modules is a vacuum degasser (In-Line Degasser). Specify the degassing mode:

Property	Value	Default	Description
Degasser Mode²	Normal Continuous Off	Off	Normal: The degasser turns on and off, depending on the pressure. Continuous: The degasser is always on. Off: The degasser is always off.

Tip:

² It is not possible to change the setting during an injection, during gradient runs, or at negative retention times.

The Pressure property indicates the current pressure:

Property	Min	Max	Description
Degasser Pressure	-1.0	1.0	Indicates the pressure (in bar) measured by the degasser. (The property is read-only.)

Injector Commands and Properties

For information about the standard autosampler commands, refer to Control Dionex Autosampler.

In addition, the Waters 2690(D)/2695(D) Separation Module device driver supports the following commands and properties (please note that the display Filter level determines which commands and properties are displayed):

Property	Min	Max	Description
InjectWaitTime	0	1E+7	Indicates the time in seconds between the inject command from Chromeleon and the inject response from the autosampler to Chromeleon (read-only)
LoopPressure	-3.45	380	Indicates the pressure (in bar) in the sample loop (The property is read-only and visible only on the Expert level.)
NeedleWashType	Normal, Double, Extended		Specifies the method for washing the needle during sample run.
Purge			Purges the sample loop and injection syringe with mobile phase. Also, see PurgeTime. The Purge command cannot be used in programs.
PurgeTime	6.5	15.0	Specifies for how long (in min) purging of the sample loop and injection syringe is performed.
Ready	NotReady	Ready	Indicates the state of the autosampler. (It depends on the state of the sample temperature control if WaitForTemperature = Yes).
SampleHeight²	0.0 mm	20.0 mm	Indicates the distance of the needle tip from the bottom of the sample vial (default: 0.0 mm).
SyringeSpeed²,	Fast (5.0 µl/s) Normal (2.5 µl/s) Slow (1.0 µl/s)		Defines the drawing speed of the syringe. The speed depends on the installed syringe type. The values correspond to a standard 250 µl syringe. Note for firmware versions < 2.00: The syringe speed settings Slow and Normal may be interchanged. Verify that the syringe uses the correct speed during operation. PGMs that were created with Chromeleon 6.80 SR9 or previous may have to be adapted (change Normal to Slow or vice versa).
WaitForTemperature²	No	Yes	Specifies whether the autosampler waits for the sample temperature control.

Tip:

² It is not possible to change the setting during an injection, during gradient runs, or at negative retention times.

Note:

As described in the instrument's manual, negative pressure readings are possible for the sample loop pressure (LoopPressure property).

Column Heater and Sample Temperature Control Commands and Properties

For information about the standard commands for temperature control, refer to Temperature Control.

In addition, the following properties allow you to determine, e.g., the maximum allowed deviation of the actual temperature from the expected temperature:

Property	Min	Max	Default	Description
MaxTempDeviation²	0°C	10°C	5°C	If the actual column temperature deviates from the expected temperature by more than the set value, an error message appears. The following setting is required on the instrument: Follow the description in the instrument's manual to set the Column Temperature/On error field to Alert User, Stop Funct, or StopFlow. For the column oven, this setting is made on page 4 (Column); for sample temperature control, it is made on page 2 (Sample).
Ready²	NotReady	Ready	Ready	Indicates the state of the column heater. The heater is Ready: when temperature control (TempCtrl) is Off or when the difference between the actual temperature and the target temperature is equal or less than 2°C for at least 30 minutes.
TempCtrl²	Off	On	Off	Sets the state of the temperature control. (Temperature control is active only if TempCtrl = On.)
Temperature.Nominal²	20°C (4°C)	60°C (40°C)	20°C	Sets the target operating temperature (sample temperature control). The temperature must be at least 5°C above ambient.
Temperature.Value²	0°C	80°C		Indicates the actual temperature. (The property is read-only.)

Note:

For better understanding, [°C] is used as unit, even though [K] would be correct to indicate temperature differences.

Tip:

² The temperature control commands of the column oven can be used only if an injection is made. In all other cases, e.g. for Blank Run Samples, an error message appears.

It is not possible to change the MaxTempDeviation setting during an injection, during gradient runs, or at negative retention times.

The standard relay commands are available to control the relays of the Waters Alliance 2690(D) and 2695(D) HPLC modules (refer to Practical Tips for Device Control Relay, TTL, and Remote Input Commands).

For information about how to install the Waters Alliance 2690(D) and 2695(D) HPLC modules, refer to Hardware Installation Waters Alliance 2690(D)/2695(D) HPLC Modules: Installation.