Precautions - Agilent Technologies 5975C TAD VL MSD Troubleshooting And Maintenance Manual

Once hydrogen has accumulated in a mass spectrometer, extreme caution must be
WARNING
used when removing it. Incorrect startup of a mass spectrometer filled with
hydrogen can cause an explosion.
After a power failure, the mass spectrometer may start up and begin the pumpdown
WARNING
process by itself. This does not guarantee that all hydrogen has been removed from
the system or that the explosion hazard has been removed.

Precautions

Take the following precautions when operating a GC/MSD system with
hydrogen carrier gas.
Equipment precaution
You MUST make sure the front side-plate thumbscrew is fastened finger-tight.
Do not overtighten the thumbscrew; it can cause air leaks.
Failure to secure your MSD as described above greatly increases the chance of
WARNING
personal injury in the event of an explosion.
You must remove the plastic cover over the glass window on the front of a 5975
MSD. In the unlikely event of an explosion, this cover may dislodge.
General laboratory precautions
• Avoid leaks in the carrier gas lines. Use leak-checking equipment to
• Eliminate from your laboratory as many ignition sources as possible (open
• Do not allow hydrogen from a high pressure cylinder to vent directly to
• Use a hydrogen generator instead of bottled hydrogen.
5975 Series MSD Troubleshooting and Maintenance Manual
periodically check for hydrogen leaks.
flames, devices that can spark, sources of static electricity, etc.).
atmosphere (danger of self-ignition).
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Introduction
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