Induction Coil Maintenance - Agilent Technologies 700 Series User Manual

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Induction Coil Maintenance

The induction coil transfers energy from the RF generator to the
plasma. A deformed coil will distribute the RF energy unevenly to the
plasma and may cause the torch or torch clamp to melt. If you
suspect the coil has been damaged, you should arrange a service call
to replace the coil.
Due to the specialized expertise needed for the proper service of induction coils,
NOTE
it is strongly recommended that the induction coil be serviced only by an Agilent
field service engineer. In addition to the safety hazards identified below, improper
service may cause performance degradation and may invalidate your warranty.
WARNING Fire Hazard
Operating your Agilent ICP-OES instrument with a deformed induction coil
could cause the torch and/or torch lamp to overheat, which could create a
risk of fire. Failure to ensure the induction coil is properly maintained and
positioned could therefore result in personal injury or damage to the
instruments and/or other property.
WARNING Hot surfaces
The torch and torch compartment become extremely hot during instrument
operation and remain hot for some time after the plasma has been
extinguished. Allow the torch and torch compartment to cool for at least five
minutes before inspecting the induction coil. Wear heat-resistant gloves.
Take care not to touch the induction coil when installing torches or the snout
CAUTION
(Agilent 715/725 ICP-OES radial instruments only).
For a uniform RF field, and to ensure the best performance from
your spectrometer, the torch should be positioned in the middle of
the induction coil and the coils should be uniformly spaced around
the torch.
46 Agilent 700 Series ICP Optical Emission Spectrometers User's Guide