Shimadzu Advanced Flow Technology:

Backflush Software

User Manual

.
NOTICE
(1) All rights are reserved, including those to reproduce this
publication or parts there of in any form without permission in
writing from Shimadzu Corporation.
(2) Information in this publication is subject to change without
notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of the
vendor.
(3) Any errors or omissions which may have occurred in this
publication despite the utmost care taken in its production will
be corrected as soon as possible, but not necessarily immediately
upon detection.
(4) Repair and maintenance parts of this model are supplied until
seven years pass from stopping production of this model. After
that, those parts cannot be supplied. Please be forewarned.
However, except incorrupt parts of Shimadzu Corporation, other
corporation produces those parts and decides the length of
provision.
(5) Copyright © 2009 Shimadzu Corporation

Notice
The equipment may be different from the parts or figures of this manual for
production improvement. And the parts in this manual are not all maintenance
and repair parts.
This manual contains technical know-how about this equipment. Bring this
manual back necessarily after installing or fixing the equipment.

System Requirements
GCsolution (Ver.2.32 or later) or GCMSsolution (Ver.2.53 or later) is required for
loading GCsolution or GCMSsolution method files and data files on this software.
1.Overview

To reduce the analysis time and increase productivity, this backflush system reverses
the career gas flow of the precolumn after elution of the compounds of interest. It
enables the user to reduce analysis time and increase productivity.
Later eluting compounds of no interest are removed through the split vent by
reversing the career gas flow through the first column. In this manner, the “Backflush
System” prevents column contamination and retention time shifts.

2.Overview of Software

2.1 Specification for PC

This software is for Windows XP Professional,Vista Business.

The following specification is necessary.
CPU:Intel Pentium dual core processor
RAM:1GB，
HDD:80GB，
Drive：DVD-ROM&CD-R/RW，

2.2 Function of the software

Shimadzu Backflush module controls the outlet pressure of the column, and during
the backflush mode the module reverses the carrier gas.
The module and detector are connected to a restrictor.
The dimension of the restrictor is ID 0.15mm x 50cm.
The Backflush module always adds carrier gas pressure to the outlet of the column.
The software facilitates the operation of the backflush hardware by integrating
the pressure set points, pressure program timing and monitors the column outlet and
split vent gas flows.
All parameters set in this module will be downloaded to GCsolution or GCMSsolution
method files.
2.3 Launching of the software

Double-click on the file to open it Shimadu AFT.

Program launcher appears, and double-clicks the launcher.

2.4 Construction of the software

This software consists of three program windows.

１．Simple Mode Window

Convert to the advanced

Open the solution method

Set the start time of the

backflush(min)

Download to the solution method file.

２．Detail Mode Window

Area for parameters

Area for
chromatograph

Area for program

３．Property Window

Select GCsolution or
GCMSsolution

Set the dimension of the

restrictor.

Set the pressure value for

backflush mode
3. Operation
(Assuming GC solution or GCMS solution is previously installed on the PC.)

There are two modes when GC solution or GC MS solution is installed in the PC. The
modes are “Simple Mode” and “Advanced Mode”.

First of all, Backflush module must be installed in GC.

3.1 Analysis in advanced mode

3.1.1 Procedure of Analysis

Summary of procedure of analysis is the following.

１）Change the configuration of the solution method file.

２）Opening the method file
３）Checking the method file
４）Analysis without Backflush Mode
５）Develop a Backflush Program
６）Analysis using the Backflush Mode

3.1.2 Configuration

Add APC to the configuration of GCsolution or GCMSsolution. Then, close GC

solution or GCMS solution software.
Then, please start the Backflush Software. First, select GCsolution or GCMSsolution
in configuration of backflush software. (Advanced mode)

Input the initial value of Restrictor dimension this is usually the actual
dimensions of the attached restrictor provided with the Shimadzu Backflush Unit.
The initial values for the pressure of the inlet and APC are recommended as shown.
The parameters of Restrictor and the pressure of Backflush can be changed in this
screen.

Note
・ Do not set the APC pressure too high. It may cause that detector flame becomes
unstable. It may cause some trouble of the vacuum pump of the MS detector.
Therefore, it is recommended to set the pressure under 200kPa(for FID) and
100kPa(MS) when the attached restrictor is used.
・ Do not set the inlet pressure too low. It may cause that there is no purge flow.
Therefore, it is recommended to set the pressure under XXX Pa in general case.
 3.1.3 Open the method file

Open the method file of GC/GCMS solution. Click the Open button in menu bar.

Open the method file

Note: After opening the method file, the original parameter (gas type, dimension
of the column) are locked and colored in light blue. Please change the parameter in
GC/GCMS solution.

When a method file which has no Backflush information is opened for the first time,
“APC pressure” is 0kPa and “Column Temperature” is the initial temperature of
the column. Please input 50kPa in “APC pressure”. Carrier gas parameters such as
“Pressure”, “Column Flow”, and so on are changed automatically.
3.1.4 Check the method parameters

Please set the linear velocity of carrier gas, split ratio, column temperature and
so on in parameter setting area. Column Flow when Backflush is activated can be checked
to click “Backflush” button.

Backflush button

Indicate the dead time

 Finally, click “Save” button on tool bar to save parameters.

The characters “-Backflush” are automatically added to the original file name
in save dialog. When checkbox “overwrite save” is checked, the file is overwritten.
(“-Backflush”is not added) To save a file with other name is also available.

3.1.5 Analysis without Backflush Mode

Analyze with the method file which was made in 3.1.4. It is not necessary to use
this Backflush software for this analysis. Please close Backflush Software and start
GC/GCMS solution. Then, open this method file in GC/GCMS Solution and use it.
After the analysis, check the method and the result, and confirm optimized method.
[Caution]
For Backflush analysis with the linear velocity mode ,the linear velocity is not correct.
It ha has some error from the correct value.(10-30%)
 3.1.6 Set Backflush Program

Please open a method file which was made in 3.1.5 by Backflush software. The
procedure is the same with 3.1.3. And, open the chromatogram which was acquired in
3.1.5. The chromatogram is displayed in the chromatogram area.

Chromatograph is displayed

Double click the point where the Backflush Mode is ON in this chromatogram area.
The pressure program is automatically generated. The peaks with diagonal lines are
reverse to the column inlet by Backflush Mode.

Double click

In general, the start time of the Backflush Mode is later than the time when column
temperature is reached to the final temperature.
・ By pushing “Backflush” button, the dead time is displayed. It is the time for the
carrier gas reaches to the SPL from Backflush Unit. In general case, 1.5 times of
this dead time is needed to eject the remaining substances in column when the
column temperature is enough high.
・ Dead time is calculated by using the column temperature when the Backflush
Mode is started. If the start time of the Backflush Mode is set during a
temperature program, the column flow is decreasing with temperature program.
Therefore, the substances may be remained in column. In this case, set Backflush
time for a longer time than 1.5 times of the dead time.
・ Hold time which is automatically generated by Backflush software is calculated by
as the following.
Case I: When the start time of the Backflush Mode is set during the temperature
is final(A min), sum of the temperature program is automatically set to (A + 1.5 x
dead time)min.
Case II: When the start time of the Backflush Mode is set during a temperature
program, hold time of the temperature program is automatically set to (1.5 x dead
time)min.
・ For prolong the temperature program, change the hold time of the APC program
in area for program. Column temperature program and inlet pressure program are
automatically generated.

Save the method with the same process 3.1.4 at the last.

3.1.7 Backflush analysis

For Backflush analysis this backflush software is not used.Close this backflush
software and open the method made in 3.1.6 with GC/GCMS solution, and start
analysis.
3.2 Simple mode
Simple mode is only for changing the start time of the backflush mode easily.
Please refer to 3.1“Analysis in advanced mode” to set the detailed parameter.

Click the button to change the mode from advanced mode to simple mode.

Set the start time of the backflush mode and save the method.

Set the backflush timing

4. Backflush calculator
(With the PC without GCsolution、GCMSsolution)

This backflush software can be used as a calculator with the PC GC/GCMS solution is
not installed.
In this case simple mode can not be used. The area for chromatograph and the area
for program are not available

4.1 Process of setting backflush method

Please check the parameter in the following process.

1) Configuration setting
2) Parameter setting and checking

4.2 Configuration setting

Open the Backflush software and select GCsolution or GCMSsolution.
For GS analysis, select GCsolution. For GCMS analysis select GCMSsolution.

Select GCsolution for GC.

Select GCMSsolution for GCMS
An initial value of Restrictor dimension is the attached restrictor’s in Shimadzu
Backflush Unit.
And, the initial values of the pressure of the inlet and APC are the recommended
values.
The parameters of Restrictor and the pressure of Backflush can be changed in this
screen.

Note
・ Do not set the APC pressure too high. It may cause that detector flame becomes
unstable. It may cause some trouble of the vacuum pump of the MS detector.
Therefore, it is recommended to set the pressure under 200kPa(for FID) and
100kPa(MS) when the attached restrictor is used.
・ Do not set the inlet pressure too low. It may cause that there is no purge flow.
Therefore, it is recommended to set the pressure under XXX Pa in general case.
4.3 Parameter setting and checking

Please set the linear velocity of carrier gas, split ratio, column temperature and
so on in parameter setting area. Column Flow when Backflush is activated can be checked
to click “Backflush” button. It is not necessary to open method file.
 Backflush button

Indicate the dead time

By pushing “Backflush” button, the dead time is displayed. It is the time for the
carrier gas reaches to the SPL from Backflush Unit. In general case, 1.5 times of
this dead time is needed to eject the remaining substances in column when the column
temperature is enough high.
4．Error message

The back pressure is set too low.

Set the APC pressure to higher pressure value.

When the APC pressure is higher than the inlet pressure, this message is displayed.
Set the APC pressure to a lower value or set the inlet pressure to the higher value.

When the backflush pressure (APC pressure) is too high, this message is displayed.
It may cause that detector flame becomes unstable. It may cause some trouble of the
vacuum pump of the MS detector.
 The following figure is the flow rate with pressure.
This figure is calculated with the attached restrictor dimension（0.15mm×0.5m）

Flow and Pressure

35.0

30.0

25.0
GC-50degrees
(ml/min)

20.0
GC-300degrees
15.0 ＭＳ-50degrees
MS-300degrees
10.0

5.0

0.0
0 50 100 150 200 250
(kPa)

This error message is for Shimadzu FID or MS detector.

Please refer to the each GC or GCMS maker manual.

The backflush pressure is lower than the inlet pressure.

Please set backflush pressure: APC pressure to the higher value in configuration.