Sircal Instruments (UK) Ltd

MP-2000

RARE GAS PURIFIER

OPERATING & SERVICING

MANUAL
Issued April 2011

LCD Display Model with Optional Pressure Sensor

Issue 1.3
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INDEX

SECTION PAGE NO.

INTRODUCTION 3

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS 6

INSTALLATION 8

HEATER BAKE OUT 10

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 10

REGENERATION OF MOLECULAR SIEVE TUBE 11

REPLACEMENT OF TITANIUM AND/OR COPPER 12

OXIDE TUBES

REPLACEMENT OF MOLECULAR SIEVE TUBE 14

GUIDE TO CALCULATING TUBE LIFE 16

FAULT CONDITION 17

ADVISORY WARNING: CHK TC1/TC2 POSN 17

IMPURE GAS 18

REPLACEMENT OF FURNACE HEATER 19

ELECTRONIC CONTROL PANEL 22

OPTIONAL FEATURES
Pressure Sensor, Particle Filter, Side Entry Kit 23, 24

WIRING DIAGRAM & CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS 25 - 28

WARRANTY AND SERVICE 29

SPARE PARTS LIST 30

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY FOR EC 31

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Introduction .
The MP-2000 Rare Gas Purifier is designed to purify rare gases. The Rare Gases
consist of helium, argon, neon, xenon and krypton. Most users will be using the
purifier to purify argon and the purifier is shipped after being run on argon, so is
ready for immediate use with this gas. Users wishing to run on another rare gas
must expect the outlet gas to be contaminated with argon until all the argon has
been purged out.

The purifier is capable of purifying impure argon at a typical impurity level of 10-50
vpm (volumes per million) down to less than 1 vpm total impurity. The maximum
flow rate recommended is 10 litres/minute. Higher purification efficiency will be
achieved at lower flow rates. The MP-2000 purifier will remove the common
impurities found in argon, that is: oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, moisture, carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons.

The purifier works by passing the rare gas through a heated bed of titanium
granules at 700°C which removes oxygen and nitrogen by chemical reaction. The
gas then passes through a heated bed of copper oxide which removes hydrogen and
hydrocarbons by oxidation to carbon dioxide and water. Residual moisture and
carbon dioxide is then removed by passing the gas through a bed of molecular sieve.

The titanium, copper oxide and molecular sieve are contained in stainless steel
tubes, referred to as the “titanium tube” the “copper oxide tube” and the “molecular
sieve tube”. Eventually the titanium and copper oxide material will be consumed and
the purification process will become inefficient. At this stage the user will need to
replace these tubes. Details on how to do this are given later in this manual. The
molecular sieve can be regenerated by heating to around 250°C. The molecular
sieve tube is equipped with band heaters to enable the process of regeneration to be
carried out. During the regeneration process impurities held on the molecular sieve
will be released. Therefore, during regeneration, rare gas must be passed through
the system to remove these impurities and the gas outlet from the purifier should be
diverted away from the downstream equipment

The molecular sieve can be regenerated many times, but eventually the regeneration
becomes less effective and the user may have to change this tube as well. Spare
tubes are available on an ex-stock basis from Sircal.

Fig. 1 overleaf shows the main parts of the purifier. Other features to note in the
diagram include the heat exchanger block and the “ready” relay contacts. The gas
passing out of the copper oxide tube is hot; if it passes directly to the molecular sieve
tube without cooling, the molecular sieve will heat up causing partial regeneration to
take place and impurities to be given off. For this reason the gas is passed through
a heat exchanger block which cools the gas to near ambient temperature before it
enters the molecular sieve tube.

The gas connections at the rear of the purifier are self-sealing, preventing ingress of
air while the purifier is disconnected from a gas supply.

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MODEL MP-2000 RARE GAS PURIFIER

COPPER OXIDE
E F GET T ER T UBE

T UBE FURNACE G
(Cover removed to show
internal details) MOLECULAR SIEVE
DRIER T UBE

T HERMOCOUPLES BAND HEAT ERS

(Mounted on
heatsink)

HEAT EXCHANGER
BLOCK

C
T IT ANIUM B
GET T ER T UBE A D

"READY" RELAY
CONT ACT S

Drg P1567-00

GAS INLET EMC FILT ER GAS OUT LET

Fig. 1 MP- 2000 Rare Gas Purifier

(Front Cover and Electronics Assembly Removed)

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The “ready” relay contacts are available at the rear of the purifier and can be used to
provide a remote confirmation that the purifier is switched on and is operating at the
correct temperature for purification.

The hot titanium will be rapidly consumed if exposed to high levels of oxygen or
nitrogen. It is very important that the user never turns the furnace on without the unit
being connected to a supply of rare gas. Never pass air, oxygen or nitrogen through
the purifier when the titanium is hot. The MP2000 may be fitted with an optional
pressure sensor. This will turn off power to the furnace if the pressure falls below 1
bar. This will act to let the hot titanium cool down and minimise the risk of hot
titanium being exposed to abnormal levels of oxygen and nitrogen.

The rate at which the titanium and copper oxide are used up will depend on impurity
level and flow rate. Further information about this is given later in the manual. As an
aid to the user the LCD display on the front panel indicates the number of hours the
furnace has run. This time, in conjunction with knowledge of the impurity level and
flow rate can be used to estimate the number of hours remaining before the tubes
should be changed.

The furnace heater is rated for continuous operation at 700°C. The heater element
is contained within an aluminium oxide powder contained within an outer metal tube,
If the purifier has been left in storage for many months, or if a replacement furnace
heater is installed at a later date, the aluminium oxide powder may have absorbed
some moisture. This trapped moisture is released suddenly when the heater is
turned on and can cause heater failure. To prevent this, the switches on the front
panel can be set to gently bake out the heater before full power is applied (heater
bake-out function).

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Front Panel Controls

Fig. 2 shows the location and function of the front panel controls and indicators.

COOL: LIGHTS GREEN WHEN POWER: LIGHTS GREEN TO INDICATE

FURNACE BELOW 250 °C MAINS POWER TURNED ON

WAIT: LIGHTS AMBER WHILE REGEN: FLASHES AMBER WHEN

FURNACE HEATING UP DRIER TUBE BEING
OR COOLING DOWN REGENERATED

HOT: LIGHTS GREEN WHEN

FURNACE AT OPERATING
TEMPERATURE PURE REGEN FAULT: LIGHTS RED AND
COOL POWER
AUDIBLE ALARM UNDER
WAIT REGEN FAULT CONDITION
HOT FAULT

PURE: TURN ON TO HEAT FURNACE UP LCD DISPLAY

REGEN: TURN ON TO START

DRIER REGENERATION

Fig. 2

Note that the main power switch is located at the rear of the purifier. When the main
power switch is turned on the power led will glow green. If neither the PURE switch
nor the REGEN switch is turned on the purifier is in a stand-by state. To bake out
the heater prior to applying full power, turn on both the REGEN and PURE switches
(only necessary after long-term storage or after replacing a heater element).

LCD Display Messages

During operation the LCD will display various messages indicating the status of the
purifier and giving any fault information. This and the following page shows the
messages the LCD will display in normal (non-fault operation). Refer to the relevant
section in this manual for further information.

Initial switch-on: The following two displays are shown for a few seconds after the
mains switch at the rear of the purifier is turned on:-

MP2000 v1.05
RARE GAS PURIFIER

USE ONLY WITH

ARGON OR HELIUM

The purifier could also be used with other rare gases such as neon, but this is a very
uncommon application.
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OK COLD
1250

This is the display when the mains on/off switch at the rear of the purifier is turned on and
the PURE and REGEN switches are off. The display also indicates that the furnace has
run for 1250 hours.
* * * * * * * * * * * *

OK HEATING
1250

This is the display after the PURE switch is turned on and shows that the furnace
is heating up. At the same time the WAIT led is on.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

OK AT TEMPERATURE
1250

This is the display when the furnace has reached temperature. At the same time
the HOT led is on.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

OK REGENERATION
1250

This is the display when the molecular sieve tube is being regenerated. Only the
REGEN switch is on and the REGEN led is flashing.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

OK BAKEOUT
1250

This is the display when both the REGEN and PURE switches are on. In this
mode the furnace heater is being baked out at low temperature. The REGEN led
will also be flashing as the drier regen heaters will be on.

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Installation

The following accessories are provided:

• 2 plug-in gas connectors for ¼” or 6mm tube (1/4” is standard, 6mm is an

alternative available at time of ordering)

• 1 mains lead

• 1 alternative fuse draw with neutral shorted

• 1 “Ready” socket connector

• 2 spare fuses

In addition, the following parts may be supplied with the purifier if ordered when
purchased:

• 2 6mm-1/4” adapters for use with 6mm tubing

• Spare titanium tube and/or copper oxide tube and/or molecular sieve drier
tube

• Gas Side Entry Kit

The tubes do not need to be fitted now as the purifier is supplied with these tubes
already fitted. The spare tubes should be kept safely for future use.

Wire up the mains lead to a suitable mains plug (Brown – Live, Blue – Neutral,
Green/Yellow – Earth)

If local electrical requirements stipulate that only the live line should be fused,
remove the existing fuse draw and fuse and replace with the alternative single-pole
fuse draw. The fuse draw is located below the mains switch at the rear of the
purifier. It may be removed by inserting a thin-bladed electrical screwdriver into the
horizontal slot on the fuse draw and levering slightly to release it, as indicated in the
diagram below. Due to the restricted access, a blade bent as shown below will be
most effective.

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Verify that the electrical supply matches the voltage requirement of the purifier.
Refer to the serial number label or the rear panel label to confirm the operating
voltage of the purifier.

Connect gas inlet and outlet lines to the purifier using metallic tubing (e.g. copper or
stainless steel). Do not use plastic tubing as air can diffuse through the plastic wall
and contaminate the gas. The tubing should be inserted fully into the gas fittings and
held securely while the nut is tightened up to swage the ferrules on to the wall of the
tube. The nut should be turned 1 ¼ turns from hand tight to ensure the correct
degree of ferrule compression. Ensure that the tube wall is free from surface
scratches to ensure no leak path can exist between the ferrule and tube.

If the “Ready” contacts are required for remote indication of purifier status, wire up
the plug with 2-core screened lead and ensure that the screen is connected to the
plug shroud. Note that the “Ready” relay contacts are rated at 50V dc 100mA max.
The relay contacts close when the purifier is at the correct temperature for
purification.

Before connecting the rare gas supply to the purifier allow some rare gas to flow to
sweep out any air in the tubing.

Ensure that the main power switch is turned off. Plug the mains lead and gas lines
into the purifier. The power switch can now be turned on, but ensure that both the
PURE and REGEN switches are in the off position. Regulate the gas supply
pressure to a maximum of 17 Bar (250 psig) and regulate the flow to the required
level, either with a down-stream valve or by adjusting the inlet pressure.

N.B. If a pressure sensor is fitted it will be necessary to maintain a pressure of

greater than 1 bar within the purifier. If the downstream equipment** provides
less than 1 bar back-pressure at the required flow rate it will be necessary to do
the following:-
• Raise the argon supply pressure to e.g. 2 bar or more
• Fit a flow control valve at the outlet of the purifier

** Also, during “REGEN” or heater bake out, when no downstream equipment is

fitted, a downstream flow restriction will be required to achieve greater than 1 bar
internal pressure.

If the heater has not been used for a long time, (say more than 3-4 months) we
recommend the heater element be ‘baked out’ prior to running at normal temperature
(see heater bake out below), otherwise proceed to the operating instructions
overleaf.

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Heater Bake Out

1. Turn on mains power

2. Set rare gas flow to a low flow rate and divert gas flow away from downstream
equipment

3. Set REGEN and PURE switches to on position and leave for 1½ hours

4. Switch off REGEN and PURE switches and leave gas flowing for further ½
hour.

5. Place purifier back into service and proceed to operating instructions overleaf

Operating Instructions
1. Purge gas lines before connection to purifier.

2. Set inlet pressure to a maximum of 17 Bar (250 psig) and set the flow rate to
no more than 10 litres/minute.

3. Turn on mains power switch at rear of purifier if not already on.

4. Allow rare gas to purge the purifier for 5 minutes and then press the PURE
switch to the on position.

5. While the furnace is heating up the amber WAIT led will illuminate.

6. The HOT led will light green to indicate the purifier is at the correct
temperature.

7. Purified rare gas should now be flowing from the outlet.

8. To turn the furnace off, press the PURE switch to the off position.

9. The amber WAIT led will illuminate and will extinguish when the furnace has
cooled down. At this stage the COOL led will illuminate green. At this stage
the gas supply can be shut down.

10. To ensure that the purifier remains filled with argon it is recommended that the
gas flow is stopped by shutting the outlet line while keeping the inlet gas line
pressurised. Alternatively the inlet and outlet gas lines may be disconnected
from the purifier by unplugging the gas connection.

11. To turn the purifier completely off turn the mains switch at the rear of the
purifier to the off position.

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Regeneration of Molecular Sieve Drier Tube

The drier tube can be regenerated many times. The user should expect to be able to
carry this out 500 – 1000 times before any reduction of drying capacity becomes
apparent. Follow the procedure below to carry this out.

1. Disconnect the outlet gas stream from the downstream equipment if you do
not want the equipment to be exposed to moisture and other impurities
released from the molecular sieve while it is being regenerated.

2. Turn off the furnace heater by pressing the PURE switch to the off position. It
is not necessary to wait for the furnace to cool down before proceeding to the
next step.

3. Adjust the rare gas flow rate to about 1 litre/minute.

4. Press the REGEN switch to the on position. The COOL or WAIT led will
extinguish and the REGEN led will start to flash amber

5. Wait a minimum of 3 hours for the impurities to be released

6. Press the REGEN switch to the off position. The REGEN led will extinguish
and the COOL led will light green. Wait a further 30 minutes while the drier
tube cools down.

7. Press the PURE switch to the on position and reconnect the outlet gas stream
to the downstream equipment.

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Instructions to Replace Titanium and/or Copper Oxide Tubes

1. Turn off the purifier and wait until it has cooled down as indicated by the
COOL led glowing green. The tubes may still be too hot to handle so wait a
little longer for the tubes to cool.

2. Disconnect the gas and electrical supplies.

3. Remove the top cover by releasing the screws H as indicated in Fig. 1

4. Remove the front cover of the purifier and disconnect the earth lead attached.

5. Refer to Fig. 3 overleaf.

6. Release the gas couplings A and B as indicated in Fig. 3. Use two spanners,
one to hold the lower wrench pad and to prevent any rotational torque being
applied to the bodies of the couplings.

7. Pull the titanium and copper oxide tubes upwards a little until the tubes
separate from the couplings. Place small pieces of adhesive tape over the
mouth of the couplings before pulling the tubes up any further. This is to
prevent any debris falling into the couplings from the furnace. Alternatively
operate with the purifier laying on its back so debris cannot fall into the
couplings.

8. Pull the tubes completely out of the purifier and separate them by undoing the
top couplings. Replace the tubes as required and reassemble using the steps
as described in reverse sequence. Do not remove the protective tapes until
the tubes are close to the couplings.

9. Tighten the couplings firmly, but avoid over-tightening.

10. Apply rare gas to the inlet to pressurise the purifier and check for any gas leak
using leak detector fluid. If no proprietary fluid is available, diluted detergent
will suffice. Use a strong light and a magnifying glass to inspect for small
bubbles which will indicate a leak.

11. Replace the top and front covers, not forgetting to re-install the earth lead on
the front cover.

12. Reconnect the purifier to the rare gas supply and electrical supply. Allow rare
gas to flow through the purifier for 5 minutes before turning on the power and
pressing the PURE switch.

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Step 3: LIFT TUBES OUT OF PURIFIER

Step 1: REMOVE TOP COVER

E F

C
B
Step 2: RELEASE A D
COUPLINGS A & B

Fig. 3 Replacement of Titanium and/or Copper Oxide Tube

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Instructions for replacing Molecular Sieve Drier Tube

1. Follow steps 1 to 4 as described above for changing the titanium and copper
oxide tubes, except the top cover need not be removed.

2. Refer to Fig. 4 overleaf.

3. Remove the two split rings retaining the drier tube within the clips by grasping
the clip with pliers and rotating the ring so that the clip goes between the split
part of the ring. By rotating 360° the ring will come free. These rings need
not be replaced unless the purifier is to be transported somewhere. The rings
prevent damage that may otherwise occur while in transit.

4. Unplug the band heaters from the wiring loom.

5. Undo the couplings C and D using two spanners, one to hold the lower
wrench pad and to prevent any rotational torque being applied to the bodies of
the couplings.

6. Slide the drier tube up to disengage the tubes from the couplings.

7. Pull the drier tube away from the clips and remove the drier tube assembly
from the purifier.

8. Remove the drier tube from the assembly and replace with a new drier tube.
Note the orientation of the band heaters on the tube and replace in the same
fashion.

9. Do not tighten up the coupling G at the other end of the tube until the
assembly has been installed back in the purifier.

10. Tighten the couplings C, D and G firmly, but avoid over-tightening.

11. Reconnect the band heaters to the wiring loom

12. Apply rare gas to the inlet to pressurise the purifier and check for any gas leak
using leak detector fluid. If no proprietary fluid is available, diluted detergent
will suffice. Use a strong light and a magnifying glass to inspect for small
bubbles that will indicate a leak.

13. Replace the front cover, not forgetting to re-install the earth lead on the front
cover.

14. Reconnect the rare gas and electrical supply. Allow rare gas to flow for 5
minutes before turning the purifier back on. To accelerate purging of the
molecular sieve tube it is recommended that the REGEN be used for around
30 minutes to accelerate desorption of air from the molecular sieve.

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E F

REMOVE SPLIT
G RINGS

C RELEASE
COUPLINGS
B
D C AND D
A

Fig. 4 Replacement of Molecular Sieve Drier Tube

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Guide to Calculating Purifier Tube Life

The lifetime of all three purifier tubes can be estimated by the following formula:

T = 100,000
Fx V

Where T = Lifetime in hours

F = Flow rate in litres/minute

For the titanium tube

V = Oxygen plus nitrogen impurity level in vpm (volumes per million)

For the copper oxide tube

V = Hydrogen plus carbon monoxide plus hydrocarbon impurity

level in vpm

For the molecular sieve drier tube

V = Hydrogen plus hydrocarbon plus moisture level in vpm

Example: F = 2 litres/minute
V = 15 vpm
T = 3333 hours

Assumptions:

Titanium tube:

The formula assumes a 50% consumption of the titanium and a 1:1 ratio for the chemical
reaction (worst case for nitrogen). This is a worst case scenario. In practice the tube life is
likely to be longer by up to 50% of this calculation.

Copper oxide tube:

The formula assumes a 50% consumption of the copper oxide and an average 2:1 ratio
(CuO:impurity) for the chemical reaction. The lifetime of the tube will probably be longer than
the calculation indicates, especially if the hydrocarbon impurity level is low.

Molecular sieve drier tube:

The formula assumes the molecular sieve has undergone a large number of regenerations
and as a result its capacity has reduced by 65%. A 25% safety margin is added also.

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Fault Condition
The front panel FAULT led will light red and the audible alarm will sound to indicate
any of the following problems:-

Furnace temperature has gone above normal operating temperature.

One of the thermocouples has gone open circuit.

Refer to the lcd display to determine the cause as indicated below:-

HEATER INHIBIT
OPEN CIRCUIT TC1

The display above indicates that the thermocouple TC1 is open circuit. This display
will be accompanied by an illuminated FAULT led and an audible warning if the
PURE switch is on. If the PURE switch is turned off, this display will remain, but the
FAULT led and the audible warning will be cancelled.

HEATER INHIBIT 760 C

OVER TEMP EVENT

The display above shows that the furnace has overheated. The FAULT led and the
audible alarm will be on. Even if the PURE switch is not turned off the furnace will
now cool down. When the temperature of the furnace drops to within normal
operating range the display will change to that shown below as the furnace continues
to cool down further.

ALARM
1250

Advisory warning: CHK TC1 POSN and CHK TC2 POSN

If one of the thermocouples has been mechanically displaced within the furnace it
can cause a false low average temperature signal to the controller. The controller
could then drive the furnace temperature above the alarm trigger point. To prevent
this the controller will ignore a thermocouple signal if it falls below the signal from the
other thermocouple by a pre-set margin. The controller will continue to function
normally, but display a warning message to check the thermocouple when next
convenient. The display below shows a message to check the thermocouple
labelled TC2.

OK AT TEMPERATURE
CHK TC2 POSN 1250

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Impure Gas
Impure gas is not necessarily a fault condition. It may indicate that one of the purifier
tubes may need changing. Impure gas may arise, however, under one of the
conditions listed below.

The REGEN switch has been pressed in error, causing the furnace to cool down
(equivalent to heater bake-out mode)

The REGEN switch has been pressed instead of the PURE switch. In this case the
drier will be regenerating and giving off impurities and the purifier furnace will be
cold.

The furnace heater has gone open circuit. In this case the WAIT led will still be on
and the HOT led will have failed to light. Check the furnace heater resistance to
confirm this. Note that the 230V model heater should measure around 65 ohms and
the 110V model heater should be around 14 ohms.

If none of these conditions apply, try using the REGEN facility to regenerate the
molecular sieve drier tube. If this fails to correct the situation, consider replacement
of the titanium and copper oxide tubes. If the molecular sieve drier tube has
undergone more than 500 regenerations, consider replacing this tube also.

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Replacement of Furnace Heater

The furnace heater has a finite life and the user can expect to have to change it at
some stage during the operational life of the purifier. The following instructions
describe how to do this.

(Refer to Fig. 5 overleaf while following these instructions. Also refer to the note
regarding heater electrical insulation at the end of these instructions.)

1. Turn off the purifier and wait for it to cool down if the furnace is still hot (it
probably will be cold as the heater will probably have failed – unless the
heater is being replaced as part of a preventative maintenance program)

2. Disconnect the gas and electrical supply to the purifier.

3. Remove the front cover.

4. Remove the control panel from the purifier by unscrewing the supporting
screws at the base of the purifier and disconnecting the connecting wiring
loom and earth wires.

5. Undo the 6 M6 nuts securing the purifier assembly to the enclosure.

(Labelled “X” in Fig .1)

6. Lift out the assembly.

7. Remove the titanium and copper oxide tubes as described in the procedure
for replacing these tubes. (steps 6 &7)

8. Unscrew the front face of the furnace (screws A in Fig. 5) and remove the
insulating panel and metal plate below. Remove several layers of the ceramic
fibre to expose the furnace heater.

9. Note: Use a dust mask and gloves when handling the ceramic fibre.

10. Unscrew the side face of the furnace that supports the heater and pull the
panel out from the body of the furnace.

11. Mount a new furnace heater on the side panel. Adjust the positions of the
thermocouples so they are in contact with the furnace heater, but do not come
into contact with the titanium tube.

12. Re-mount the side panel assembly.

13. Re-insert the titanium and copper oxide tubes and tighten up the gas
connections.

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14. Recheck that the thermocouples are in contact with the heater and then
replace the ceramic fibre insulation.

15. Replace the furnace top covers and reinstall the assembly within the
enclosure.

16. Re-install the control panel assembly and electrical connections.

17. Apply rare gas to the inlet to pressurise the purifier and check for any gas leak
using leak detector fluid. If no proprietary fluid is available, diluted detergent
will suffice. Use a strong light and a magnifying glass to inspect for small
bubbles which will indicate a leak.

18. Replace the enclosure front panel, not forgetting to re-install the earth lead on
the front cover.

19. Reconnect the rare gas and electrical supplies.

20. Set rare gas flowing at a slow rate (say 50-100 cc/min), with gas diverted
away from downstream equipment.

21. Press the PURE and the REGEN switches to the on position. This will bake
out the heater and release any moisture that may be trapped. Leave for 1½
hours. (Refer to Note 1 below.)

22. Switch REGEN and PURE switches to off position and allow gas to flow for a
further ½ hour.

23. Put purifier back into service.

Note 1: If the replacement heater has recently been obtained from your supplier it
should be pre-dried and have good electrical insulation and probably not require a
bake-out. But if it has been in storage for some time, some moisture may have been
absorbed onto the powder insulation inside the heater.

This can be measured if a high voltage insulation tester is available (e.g. “Megger”).
The insulation should ideally be better than 100 Mohm when tested at 250V or 500V.

If it is very low (less than 10 Mohm) it would be wise to bake the heater out in an
oven at 170 centigrade for around 6 hours. An oven bake-out should result in an
insulation figure of greater than 900 Mohms.

The alternative is to use the heater bake-out function in the MP2000 (step 21 in the
instructions above). An oven bake-out is preferable as no electrical stress is placed
on the insulation during the bake-out.

Installing a heater with poor electrical insulation can result in tripping of earth
leakage trips if installed in the mains supply, or in the worst case, electrical failure.

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REMOVE T IT ANIUM AND

COPPER OXIDE T UBES

UNSCREW 4 SCREWS 'A'

AND REMOVE COVER AND
MET AL COVER BELOW

F
A A

E
A A

COPPER OXIDE T UBE SLEEVE

REMOVE LAYERS OF
CERAMIC WOOL
INSULAT ION T O
EXPOSE FURNACE
HEAT ER &
T HERMOCOUPLES
(N.B. USE FACE MASK & GLOVES ! )

REMOVE 4 SCREWS ON SIDE FACE

T O RELEASE SIDE PANEL HOLDING
FURNACE HEAT ER

REMOVE FURNACE HEAT ER

ON SIDE PANEL

REMOVAL & REPLACEMENT

OF FURNACE HEAT ER

FIG. 5

Fig. 5 Replacement of Furnace Heater

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Electronic Control Panel

The control panel monitors the furnace temperature by measuring the signal
produced by two type K thermocouples. The signals from the thermocouples are
independently processed by two AD597 thermocouple amplifiers with built-in cold
junction compensation. The amplified and cold junction compensated signals are
digitised by a LTC2436 16 bit a/d converter. The digitised thermocouple signals are
then fed to an AT91SAM7S microcontroller over a 3-wire SPI interface.

The micro-controller performs all logic and control functions including controlling the
power delivered to the furnace heater via an opto-isolator type MOC 3061 and triac
type BTA16-600.

The power supply is conventional, producing +12V from a 7812 regulator Two
voltage converters types LM1117DT-5V0 and LM1117DT-3V3 produce +5V and
+3.3V lines.

The power supply can be switched between 230V and 110V using the voltage
selector switch SW3. A plug-in fuse mounted on the PCB protects the primary
windings of the transformer T1 in case 230V is applied when SW3 is set to 110V.
The value of this fuse is 100mA when SW3 is set to 230V and 160mA when SW3 is
set to 110V.

Note that the MP2000 purifier is not dual voltage as the furnace heater is either rated
at 110V or 230V. The 230V furnace heater has a cold dc resistance of about 64
ohms whereas the 110V heater has a cold dc resistance of about 13 ohms. A 110V
heater would burn out if operated at 230V.

The band heaters fitted to the molecular sieve drier tube are connected in series in a
230V purifier and in parallel in a 110V heater. This switching is performed by the
voltage selector switch SW2.

Two SPDT 12V 16A relays require to be latched on to provide power to the furnace
heater (RLY1) and the molecular sieve band heaters (RLY2). In the event of the
furnace overheating the controller will de-latch the relays preventing power being
delivered to the heaters.

RLY3 is energised when the furnace has reached operating temperature and the
resulting closed contacts on this relay are fed via plug PL3 to the “Ready Socket” at
the rear of the purifier.

An optional pressure sensor can be connected to PL6 on the PCB to provide

information on gas supply pressure and to turn off power to the furnace if the gas
pressure falls below 1 bar. PL5 is a legacy connector for old style pressure switches
which are now superseded by the pressure sensor connected to PL6.

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OPTIONAL FEATURES

Pressure Sensor

The purifier may be supplied with a pressure sensor which measures the pressure of
gas in the purifier and turns off the furnace if the gas pressure falls below 1 bar.

If a pressure sensor is fitted it will be necessary to maintain a pressure of greater

than 1 bar within the purifier. If the downstream equipment** provides less than
1 bar back-pressure at the required flow rate it will be necessary to do the
following:-

• Raise the argon supply pressure to e.g. 2 bar or more

• Fit a flow control valve at the outlet of the purifier

** Also, during “REGEN” or heater bake out, when no downstream equipment is

fitted, a downstream flow restriction will be required to achieve greater than 1 bar
internal pressure.

When pressure falls below 1.0 bar the purifier is placed in FAULT mode and power
to the furnace heater will be cut. The alarm will sound and the red FAULT led flash.
The display below shows a low pressure fault condition, in this example the pressure
has fallen to 0.4 bar and the furnace is still cooling down (it has reached 220
centigrade.)

HEATER INHIBIT 220 C

LOW PRESSURE 0.4 bar

If the pressure is above 1.0 bar the MP2000 purifier will display the operating
pressure. In the example below the pressure is 3.3 bar and the oven is at operating
temperature.

OK AT TEMPERATURE
3.3 bar 1250

It is possible for a customer to add a pressure sensor at a later date by ordering the
following parts:

Pressure sensor

Heat exchanger block (type P)

Viton bonded seal for pressure sensor

These are available as a kit (part no MP2000/PSENS/KIT/01)

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Particle Filter

If fitted it is mounted at the outlet of the molecular sieve drier tube. A customer can
fit this option at a later date by ordering the following parts:

Particle filter

C-DF link

These are available as a kit (part no MP2000/PF/KIT/01)

Gas Side Entry Kits

A gas side entry kit is available as an optional extra for users who have restricted
access to the rear of the purifier, or where on old version Sircal Rare Gas Purifier is
being replaced with the new MP2000 model and the user wants to use the gas inlet
and outlet pipes set up without any additional re-piping work.

Two versions of the kit are available. The Type C Side Entry Kit is designed for use
on a standard MP2000 purifier and can be fitted by the user at any time. The Type F
Side Entry Kit is only provided in combination with a special version of the MP2000
purifier (designated MP2000-SE). In the MP2000-SE the rear plug-in gas
connectors are replaced by simple inlet bulkhead connectors. In both types two
plug-in gas connectors are mounted on a bracket on the left hand side of the purifier.

The Type F kit has a lower profile than the Type C kit. The MP2000 with a Type F kit
can be placed almost flush against a rear wall, whereas the MP2000 fitted with a
type C kit will require an additional 50 mm of space to accommodate the bends of
the tubes.

The Type C is also the more expensive option as it entails the use of 4 plug-in gas
bulkhead connectors rather than two in the type F kit. The Type C kit has the
advantage, however, of being adaptable to the standard MP2000 purifier, whereas
the Type F kit can only be used on a specially ordered MP2000-SE purifier.

Side Entry Kit Type F Side Entry Kit Type C

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F URNACE HEATER
1
12

W
11
R=1 3 OHMS (1 1 0 V M ODEL)
G/Y 3 BAND HEATER
R=6 5 OHMS (2 3 0 V M ODEL)
BR3
10
G/Y

9
G/Y G/Y
BR2
8
10 12
BR1 1
7

6
1 3
3 BAND HEATER
W
5
PL1

BL2 E
3

BL1 L
2 L L
E F ILTER 2 3 0 V OR 1 1 0 V
BL3
1 N N N

M AINS F US E(S)
W=WHITE BL=BLUE BR=BROWN G/Y=GREEN/YELLOW
6 .3 A F F 2 3 0 V MODEL
1 6 A FF 1 1 0 V MODEL

NOTE: ANTI-S URGE F US ES F ITTED

TO EARLIER MODELS

S INGLE F US E OP TION:

MP2000 Wiring Diagram

M AINS S ELECTOR SWITCH S HORTING BAR ON N LINE
P L6 CONNECTS TO P L6
P RESS URE SENS OR

P L2 PL5
PL2 CONNECTS TO HOURS TIMER
P CB FUS E
(LEGACY CONNECTION)
P CB FUS E 1 0 0 mA (2 3 0 V MODEL)
P L3 1 6 0 mA (1 1 0 V MODEL)

P L5 CONNECTS TO P RESS URE SWITCH

(LEGACY CONNECTION) MAINS S ELECTOR S WITCH MP2 0 0 0 RARE GAS P URIF IER

P L3 CONNECTS TO "READY S OCKET" S ET TO 2 3 0 F OR 2 3 0 V MODEL WIRING DIAGRAM

S ET TO 1 1 5 F OR 1 1 0 V MODEL
DO NOT ALTER IN F IELD DRG P1 6 1 0 -0 2
WITHOUT CHANGING HEATER

P L1

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MP2000 Controller Circuit

Thermocouple / Pressure Sensor Input Section

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MP2000 Controller Circuit Power Supply Section

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MP2000 Controller Circuit Microcontroller Section

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Warranty and Service

Warranty

• Electronic control panel 12 months against electrical failure

• Band heaters 12 months against electrical failure

• Thermocouples 12 months against electrical failure

• Furnace heater 12 months against electrical failure

• Pressure sensor 12 months against electrical failure

• Titanium tube 12 months against leakage only

• Copper oxide tube 12 months against leakage only

• Molecular sieve tube 12 months against leakage only

The titanium, copper oxide and molecular sieve tube are consumable items. The
warranty on these tubes is restricted to physical integrity, i.e. leak tightness of
welded joints. Tube lifetime is excluded from the terms of the warranty as SIRCAL
has no control over their conditions of use.

SIRCAL undertakes to repair and return purifiers free of charge when the failed parts
are within the specified warranty periods listed above.

Service

Sircal Instruments may be contacted at the address below if you have any problems with the
use of this purifier:

SIRCAL INSTRUMENTS (UK) LTD TEL: +44 (0) 1342 335 309

UNIT 19 FAX: +44 (0) 1342 323 608

CHARLWOODS ROAD EMAIL: info@sircal.co.uk

EASY GRINSTEAD WEB: www.sircal.co.uk

W. SUSSEX

UNITED KINGDOM

RH19 2HL

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Spare Parts List

SPARE PART PART NO.

Titanium Tube P4003

Copper Oxide Tube P4004

Molecular Sieve Tube P4005

Furnace Heater 230V P3057

Furnace Heater 110V P3056

Band Heater P3042

Control Panel Assembly (LCD) 230v P4002

Thermocouple P3066

Mains Fuse (230V model) P3029

Mains Fuse (110V model) P3028

PCB Fuse (230v model) P3131

PCB Fuse (110V model) P3132

Male Quick-Connect Coupling (for ¼” tube) P3054

Gas Side Entry Kit Type F P4020 Note 1

Gas Side Entry Kit Type C P4021 Note 2

Particle Filter option kit P4031 Note 3

Pressure Sensor option kit P4030 Note 3, 4

Note 1 Factory fitted design – not for use in field on standard MP2000 purifier

Note 2 Designed for customer fitting to standard MP2000 purifier

Note 3 These kits are supplied for a customer who wants to upgrade a standard
MP2000

Note 4 Requires lcd Control Panel Assembly type P4002. It will not work with
Control Panel fitted with furnace hour meter (type MP2000/CPNL/01)

Always quote the serial number of the purifier when ordering spares.

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