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Gambro Renal Products

Technical Assistance Services
http://tech.usa-gambro.com 800/525-2623 303/232-6800

Technical Update PH,TR,11012 – 7/2005

TROUBLESHOOTING
Equipment Type: Phoenix Dialysis System

Subject: Phoenix Deaeration Issues

From: Don O’Connell

To prepare dialysate it is necessary to remove as much air as possible from the

water. This process is referred to as “degassing” or “deaeration”. The Phoenix
accomplishes this through a combination of heating the water and subjecting it to
negative pressure.

The PC pump pulls the water through a restrictor (OR1). This creates a negative
pressure of about –650 mmHg (at sea level) that tends to make the air come out
of solution. Drawing the air/water mixture through the heater further aids the
separation process. Once the water and air enter the BTP bubble trap, the
lighter air accumulates in the top of the chamber. When there is enough air for
the LP level sensor to see air, valve EVP is commanded open and the water
pressure generated by PC fills the chamber with more water pushing the
accumulated air out the top of the bubble trap. The air is forced through EVP,
OW3, OR2, and F7 and ultimately through EVHE and down the drain. When the
water level rises to the point that LP sees water, EVP is commanded closed and
the process repeats.

Bubble trap BT1 and level sensor LD1 after the concentrate proportioning section
allow the Phoenix to get rid of air which enters the system when connecting
concentrates or from small air leaks. BT2 and LD2 vent air that enters the
system from the dialyzer or its connectors.

Problems associated with the degassing system fall into four general categories.

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 Pressures in the circuit are not calibrated correctly (R1, R2, PC).
Hardware failures (e.g. valves, sensors, pump).
Too much air enters the loop and the machine can’t get rid of it fast
enough.
A restriction prevents the air from being vented to drain.

Alarms associated with the degassing system include:

33 LD1 Sensor Error
34 LD2 Sensor Error
35 LP Sensor Error
83 Low Level In UF Vessel
84 Low Flow In Degasser
268 LD2 Level Sensor Failure (associated with “Flow Balance Error”
alarms)
299 LD1 Level Sensor Failure

When investigating degassing problems, first verify that R1, R2 and PC are
properly calibrated for the altitude at which the machine is operating. If R1 is set
too low there may not be enough pressure available to force the air from the
bubble trap when the valve opens. R2 and PC work together to develop the
negative pressure that causes the air to come out of solution. PC is calibrated
such that it provides the desired negative pressure. Once calibrated, PC runs at
a constant speed (delivering ≈ 1500 mL/min). P1 takes whatever volume of
dialysate that it is commanded to provide to the UF system (e.g. 800 mL/min).
The remainder; in this case around 700 mL/min, is recirculated back through LFP
and OR1 by PC. The additional 800 mL/min required to provide the 1500 mL/min
comes through R2. If PC fails to push enough water back through LFP (200
mL/min) a “Low Flow In Degasser” alarm occurs. (Note that EVDeg is closed in
normal operation. A leaky EVDeg could result in less flow through LFP, resulting
in alarm #84). The status of LFP is seen on Status screen 2, column A, number
23: DEG Flow. The reading however is the opposite of what you would expect.
“ON” means no flow (the sensor is down); “OFF” means there is flow through
LFP (the flow is lifting the sensor).

Hardware failures (unless intermittent) should be relatively easy to identify. If

EVP fails to open, a level sensor fails or gets dirty, or PC cannot be calibrated,
troubleshooting is straightforward. Level sensors are easily tested by dipping
them in a cup of water and checking the Status screen. Valves can be tested by
making use of the Valve Test feature in CALIBRATION. Check valves clogged
or stuck closed (e.g. OW3, OW4, or OW5) or a blocked OR2 restrictor can also
prevent the air from leaving the circuit. The pressure map on page 2-27 of the
current Service Manual shows typical pressures for a properly functioning
machine. (Note that this tool is a guide, not a specification).

Excessive air entering the flow path may be more difficult to eliminate. A leak at
the water hookup can allow the machine to suck air. A leak at inlet water filter

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FH2O or its connectors (particularly the filter not designed for use with the CWP)
is another possibility. For alarms associated with LD1, look for leaks in the
BiCart housing, the concentrate connectors, the concentrate pumps, cells or the
F4 filter.

Finally, remember that the air has to exit the machine through the drain line.
Adding a quick connect to the drain line may cause enough of a restriction to not
allow the air to get out. A distorted or damaged Y connector that joins the two
drains will do the same thing. Adding a drain line extension or using a drain that
is too high will also. (The specification for maximum drain line length is 3 meters;
the maximum height above floor level is 1 meter). When using a portable RO, do
not plumb the Phoenix and RO drains together. With drain line restrictions the
higher the dialysate flow the more pronounced the machine symptoms. Lowering
dialysate flow may help alarms to clear.

When a RINSE is initiated, it is not unusual for an LD2 Sensor Error alarm to
occur in phase 6 (a minute or less into the Rinse). This probably won’t clear. It’s
easiest to just close out of the Rinse and start it over.