Parker Hannifin

Pneutronics Division
New Jersey Operations
45 Route 46
Pine Brook, NJ 07058
Tel: 973-575-4844
http://www.parker.com/pneutronics

NJ Mailing Address:
PO Box 778
Pine Brook, NJ 07058

Critical Leak Requirements in

GC/MS, LC/MS and Analytical Instruments

By Aman Sharafi, Product Engineering Supervisor

6/01/06
 Contents Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
(GC/MS) and Liquid Chromatography/Mass
Introduction 2 Spectrometry (LC/MS) are analytical
What's in a Valve? 3 techniques used for chemical analysis. The
properties of a sample are first separated
Parker Hannifin Solution 5
using chromatography and then identified
Summary 5 with the mass spectrometer. The equipment
used for chromatography consists of an
injection port at one end of a metal column
packed with substrate material and a
detector at the other end. A carrier gas
propels the sample down the column while
flow meters and pressure gauges in the
instrument maintain a constant flow. In GC,
the sample is injected into an inert gas where
the separation occurs (Figure 1). In LC,
separation takes place in a solvent.

Introduction
Gas and liquid multimedia valves are used
for flow path selection and calibration in
analytical instruments such as GC/MS and
LC/MS. Original Equipment Manufacturers
(OEMs) who select valves for their
equipment according to cheapest price often
find themselves combating equipment
failures due to high leak rates and low
repeatability. When instrument
specifications call for leak rates in parts per
trillion and the selected valves are producing
a yield of 50 percent, OEMs must contend
with wasted time and effort in their business
processes. What should they look for in a
multimedia valve and in a vendor to
eliminate this frustration?

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Figure 1: GC System using
Multimedia Valves
What's in a Valve?
All valves are not created equal.
Analytical instruments require
components that can withstand high
speed, high flow, and repeated
operations while offering precision
control to ensure accurate test
results. The valves for GC and LC
control the flow of the sample and
carrier, which are critical in setting
the ideal conditions for analysis. An
inferior valve will produce unreliable
test results. Before selecting a
solution to meet equipment
specification, OEMs should do their
homework and compare valves on
leak rates, reliability, types of
materials used, and subsystem
availability.
1. Leak Rates
Valves often fail in analytical
equipment because their leak
rates do not meet equipment
specifications. OEMs should
check leak rates to ensure the
valve can withstand the
necessary pressures and
temperatures. Particularly
with valves used in GC, LC,
and MS, the valve should be
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tested using a helium mass
spectrometer to check for porosity
and permeability of the seat and seal.
The valve type, seal, wattage, and
spring force all play a role in
determining minimum leak rates.
Factors to consider that directly
affect leak rates include:
• Pressure
Examine the operating pressures
for the valve. Generally
speaking, system pressure will
directly affect leak rate. The
higher the system pressure, the
higher the potential leak rate.
Valves with higher pressure
ratings will have better leak rate.
• Surface Finishes
Sealing surface has a very large
effect on leak rate. Elastomers,
have specific leak rate limits due
to material porosity (permeation).
• Seat and Seal Load
Seat and seal load are determined
by the system forces and sealing
surface quality. The relationship
between valve forces and leak
rate is described in Diagram 1.
• Wattage
Coil wattage typically translates
to coil force, meaning the higher
the wattage, the higher the coil
force. This, in turn, determines
the spring force and pressure that
can be applied to the valve.
When comparing valves with the
same wattage, you should
recognize that the design of
valves, orifice size, and magnetic
materials used affect the leak
rates.
 3. Types of Materials
Wetted materials often play a big
role in determining leak rate,
chemical compatibility, and out
gassing. Questions you should ask
your vendor about the valve include:

• What are the permeation rates?

• Is the material compatible with fluids
used?
• What potential out gassing could
occur?

4. Subsystem Availability.
In some cases, it makes sense for
Diagram 1: Pressure, Seal, Coil OEMs to order pre-assembled kits
and Spring Forces at Work that include tubing, fittings,
in the Valve regulator, valves on a manifold, and
other accessories (See Figure 2 and
The diagram above shows that the Figure 3). The benefits of using a
Coil Force must be greater than the subsystem include:
Spring Force (Fc > Fs) for the valve
to function and energize (non- • Eliminating multiple vendors and
pressure dependent case). reducing the Bill of Material
• Ensuring integration between
Similarly, the Spring Force must be components
greater than the total of the Pressure • Consolidating support and
and Sealing Forces for the valve to customer service
seal completely (Fs > Fp + Fsl). The • Saving costs due to decreased
larger the difference in force, the assembly and labor time and
tighter the seal and the lower the leak reduced purchase orders
rate. • Eliminating kitting
• Reducing overall ownership
2. Reliability and costs and risks
Repeatability
Extreme repeatability, long
cycle life, high yield rates,
and proven track record are
key components to consider
when selecting a valve.
Design, quality of material
used, and manufacturing
processes and controls all
play a role in determining the
reliability of a valve.

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Figure 2: Multimedia Valve Kit
Figure 3: Multimedia Valve Kit
Parker Hannifin Solution
Parker Hannifin's Pneutronics
Division recently worked with a Gas
Chromatography instrument builder
to help it overcome low yields from
an inferior (non-Parker) multimedia
valve. Parker used its Series 4, 9, and
99 extreme performance valves to
meet the company's needs and
created a pre-assembled subsystem
that reduced time and costs, while
dramatically increasing yield rate.
Parker multimedia valves offer high
speed with a typical response time of
less than 5msec. They remain leak-
tight to 1 x 10-7 cc/sec/atm Helium
and are configurable at pressures up
to 1250 psi. These valves offer
repeatability and consistency and are
www.parker.com/pneutronics
constructed of non-corrosive stainless steel
to prevent unwanted leakage. These valves
work in a range of analytical equipment and
OEMs have the ability to customize them
with a variety of ports, seals, and voltages.
The relationship between Parker Hannifin
and the OEM was critical to the success of
the implementation. Able to communicate
on an engineer-to-engineer level and
understand the instrument specifications,
Parker and the customer moved rapidly
through the prototyping process and the
OEM is now working with 100% yields and
reliable, leak-free valves.
In this instance, using cheap valves did not
save money and resulted in decreased
instrument value and added frustration on
the customer side. By selecting a
knowledgeable vendor with experience and
expertise in analytical instrumentation, the
OEM streamlined business processes and
reduced its risks and total costs of
ownership.
Summary
When choosing the right valve, OEMs must
look beyond the price category and see the
real costs of integrating cheaply made and
often ineffective valves. Manufacturers
develop quality products with time, money,
and experience. This does not mean valves
must be expensive, it simply requires OEMs
to carefully examine the long-term costs of
choosing a vendor.
Leak Reliability Types of Subsystems
Rate Material

Pressure Type of What are Vendor

rating materials the wetted capabilities
materials?

Surface How is it being What are Experience

finishes Manufactured? the
permeation
rates?

Seat & What type of Chemical Limitations

Seal controls compatibility
loads

Wattage Types of Potential out Testing

existing gassing capabilities
applications

Multimedia Valves: What to Look For…

What should an GC/LC/MS

instrument builder look for in a valve
manufacturer? The OEM should first
understand its own needs and
equipment specification as much as
possible. Next, it should find a
vendor that understands these needs
and can add their expertise to the
collaboration. The vendor should
also have:
• Proven track record
• Quality product (client
references, case studies,
breadth of product in
application)
• Reliable customer service

Working alongside a quality fluidics

manufacturer, such as Parker
Hannifin, allows instrument builders
to integrate solutions that streamline
business processes and result in
superior end-products.

www.parker.com/pneutronics