6850/6890 Thermal Conductivity

Detector
Theory of Operation
May 4, 2003
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 2
6850/90 TCD - Comparison to Other GC
Detectors
MSD
IRD
PID
FPD
(S)
NPD
(P)
NPD
(N)
ECD
FID
TCD
AED
grams
10 10 10 10 10
-15 -12 -9 -6 -3
fg pg ng ug mg
1ppt 1ppb 1ppm 0.1% 100%
Sensitivity
(SIM)
(SCAN)
ELCD
(X)
ELCD (SorN)
TCD
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 3
6850/90 THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
DETECTOR
Thermal Conductivity Values of Common Gases/Solvents
Compound Relative Thermal Conductivity
Carbon Tetrachloride 0.05
Benzene 0.11
Hexane 0.12
Argon 0.12
Methanol 0.13
Nitrogen 0.17
Helium 1.00
Hydrogen 1.28
Thermal Conductivity Relative to Helium
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 4
6850/90 TCD - Theory of Operation -
Traditional Bridge Design
V
Filament
Drive
Voltage
Four Identical Filaments
Matched Reference/Sample Flows
Result - Balanced Bridge
Equal Voltages
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 5
6850/90 TCD - Theory of Operation -
Traditional Bridge Design
V
Filament
Drive
Voltage
Sample Crosses S1 and S2
S1 and S2 Resistance Increases
V1 Increases - V2 Decreases
Result - Peak Detected
V1
V2
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 6
6850/90 TCD - Theory of Operation -
Single Filament Detector
Thermal ConductivityTheory
Step1:Carrieronly
Filament
Step2:Carrierandsample
Filament
Increasedtemperature
Increasedresistance
Filament
Constanttemperature
Constantresistance
Thermal Conductivitydetectionscheme.
Instep1. thecarriergaspassingoverthefilamentmaintainsaconstanttemperature
andthereforeconstantresistanceinthefilament. Instep2, theadditionofsample
moleculeswiththecarriergasresultsinincreasedtemperatureandincreased
filamentresistance.
Thischangeismeasuredandrecorded.
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 7
6850/90 TCD - Theory of Operation -
Single Filament Detector
F
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246
VENT
(60
ml/min)
36
24
30ml/min
Column
flow
30ml/min
Reference
flow
F
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C
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636
36
24
VENT
(60
ml/min)
30ml/min
Column
flow
30ml/min
Reference
flow
FilamentMeasures
COLUMNFLOW
FilamentMeasures
REFERENCEFLOW
5Hz
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 8
6850/90 TCD - EPC Flow Manifold
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 9
6850/90 TCD -
5 Hertz Pneumatic Switching
2.51 2.52 2.53 2.54 2.49 2.56
One Second -
0.0167 Minutes
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 10
6850/90 TCD -
Filament Drive - Delta T Sensor
See Service Note G1530A-19
TCD Upgrade Kit Available
Upgrade if no connections for PRT
sensor on the TCD electronics board.
Filament
wires
PRT sensor
wires (new units only)

Filament
Temp C
Detector Temp (body temp) C
500
400
300
200
100
Response
100 200 300 400
D
T 50C
D
T135C
Detector response vs. detector temperature
Filament Temperature vs. Block Temperature
100 200 300 400
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 11
6850/90 TCD - Theory of Operation
Column
Second Delta T Sensor
for Filament Drive
Control:

The filament current is
set to keep the filament
at a fixed temperature
above the block
temperature
Constant
Current
Supply
Reference
Filament
Filament
Drive -
Microvolts
(Typically
250-500 uV)
Heater/Sensor for Block
Temperature Control
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 12
6850/90 TCD - Theory of Operation
Column
Constant
Current
Supply
Reference
Filament
Filament
Drive -
Microvolts
As a peak elutes, the
filament heats up and the
resistance increases -
Filament drive voltage is
increased to keep current
constant
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 13
6850/90 TCD - Component Identification
Makeup and Reference
Gas Lines
Block Heater/Sensor
Connection
EPC Flow Manifold
TCD Switching Valve
TCD Filament Wires
Delta T Sensor for
Filament Drive
TCD Filament Block
Assembly
TCD Electronics Board
Title of Presentation
Date
Agilent Restricted Page 14
6850/90 TCD - Component Identification
Block Heater/Sensor
Connection
TCD Switching Valve
Connection to
Electronics Board
TCD Filament Wires
Delta T Sensor for
Filament Drive
TCD Electronics Board
TCD Filament Block
Assembly