Hydrogen Safety - Agilent Technologies 5977B Series Operating Manual

Combustible materials (or flammable/nonflammable wicking material) placed
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under, over, or around the foreline (roughing) pump constitutes a fire hazard. Keep
the pan clean, and do not leave absorbent material such as paper towels in it.

Hydrogen Safety

The use of hydrogen as a GC carrier gas, detector fuel gas, or in the optional
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JetClean system, is potentially dangerous.
When using hydrogen (H
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can flow into the GC oven and create an explosion hazard. Therefore, ensure that the
supply is turned off until all connections are made and that the inlet and detector
column fittings are either connected to a column or capped when hydrogen is
supplied to the instrument.
Hydrogen is flammable. Leaks, when confined in an enclosed space, may create a
fire or explosion hazard. In any application using hydrogen, leak test all
connections, lines, and valves before operating the instrument. Always turn off the
hydrogen supply at its source before working on the instrument.
Hydrogen is a commonly used GC carrier gas. Hydrogen is potentially
explosive and has other dangerous characteristics:
• Hydrogen is combustible over a wide range of concentrations. At
• Hydrogen has the highest burning velocity of any gas.
• Hydrogen has a very low ignition energy.
• Hydrogen that is allowed to expand rapidly from high pressure can
• Hydrogen burns with a nonluminous flame which can be invisible under
5977B Series MSD Operating Manual
atmospheric pressure, hydrogen is combustible at concentrations from 4%
to 74.2% by volume.
self-ignite.
bright light.
) as the carrier gas or fuel gas, be aware that hydrogen
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Introduction 1
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