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DESIGNED & OPTIMISED EXCLUSIVELY FOR
FOURIER TRANSFORM
RAMAN SPECTROMETERS

CATALYSIS CELL OPTIMISED
FOR BRUKER INSTRUMENTS
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The cell consists of a horizontal borosilicate glass tube 8mm in diameter, heated by an oven. The tube can be evacuated or have gases/vapours passed through it.

UNPACKING

Remove the loose foam and discard.

The silver case contains the D Series Universal Power Supply, a supply lead and a cable to connect it to your PC. See separate operating instructions for the Power Supply.

The blue case contains the cell unit to the left and a set of supplies and spares in the centre. Two hexagonal drive screwdrivers are also enclosed.

Remove the cell carefully from the box.

The glass sample tube, its end fittings and the oven are all mounted on an assembly that pivots about a horizontal stainless steel rod.

The vertical position of the tube is controlled by a miniature motor/gearbox and an eccentric.

MOUNTING THE CELL IN THE
BRUKER SPECTROMETER

  1. Remove the standard Bruker sample holder. This will reveal 4 off M3 threaded screw holes in the translation stage.
  2. Adjust the translation stage to the centre of its travel.
  3. Lift the tube/oven unit of the cell to reveal two lines of countersunk holes.
  4. Place the cell base on the Bruker translation stage and select 4 suitable holes.
  5. Use the 4 M3 screws provided to fit the cell base.


    6. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE SCREWS.

  6. Check you have used the correct holes and that the oven will ALMOST touch the prism holder.
  7. Plug the motor unit into the Universal Power Supply.
  8. Switch on and start the motor.The tube and oven will rise and fall.
  9. Check that the amplitude is suitable for your application.
  10. Remove the cell

FITTING CAPILLARY TUBES,
ADJUSTING AND LOADING THE CELL

    Find the two lengths of steel capillary tubing.

  1. Cut to length. Make a tube to tube connection at one end of each tube.
  2. Insert the plain ends of the tubes into the end fittings as far as they will go
    (about 8mm) and pull them back (about 1mm).
  3. With the cell on the bench, positioned as though it were in the spectrometer, the tubes enter holes 1.7mm in diameter AWAY from you.
  4. Tighten the retaining screws.The stainless steel tubing will be held firmly but will be free to rotate.


    5. DO NOT REMOVE THE TUBES AS A ROUTINE PROCEDURE.

  5. Disconnect at the tube to tube connection.
  6. Using the small black plastic tool, remove the brass end plugs.
  7. Load the tube with a pad of glass or silica wool. Enter the sample. Seal with a second glass pad.
  8. Ensure the sample lies in the centre of the oven.
  9. Replace the end plugs. Two positive pressure retainers each held by an M3 countersunk screw are provided. If the cell hits the lid when it is fitted with the retainers DO NOT use them. Contact Ventacon for advice.

ADJUSTING THE CELL AMPLITUDE

  1. Turn the cell towards you. Beneath the oven is a vertical translation mechanism. A stainless steel M3 cap screw is located beneath the oven. It can be fitted in one of several holes.
  2. Move the screw to the left to decrease the amplitude.

OPERATION OF THE CELL

The cell can be heated to 300° C. HOWEVER THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE OUTSIDE THE SPECTROMETER. Thus you can activate a catalyst on the bench but NOT in situ.

  1. Fit the cell into your spectrometer.
  2. Check for clearance and freedom of movement.
  3. Connect up the stainless steel capillaries. In flow system INPUT is at the right hand end, exhaust at the left hand end.
  4. Adjust the spectrometer focus.
  5. Connect the heater to the Universal Power Supply.
  6. Connect the thermocouple to the Universal Power Supply. Use the K type socket*.

    Note*. Later cells use Rtd sensing and control through the HOT socket in the Universal Power Supply.
TIPS

Vertical movement reduces sample burning. It does not prevent it.
If your catalyst is coloured and absorbs the laser emission REDUCE POWER. This reduces sample heating. It is beneficial to increase movement and amplitude.

CHANGING THE SAMPLE

  1. Remove both end plugs and push the sample and glass pad out of the tube with a glass rod.
  2. Blow any loose fibre and powder out of the tube with compressed air.
  3. Refill the tube in the normal way.

CHANGING THE BOROSILICATE GLASS TUBE

    Two spare ‘O’ rings and tubes are supplied.

  1. Release the clamp screws by about 1 turn.
  2. Remove the stainless steel capillary tubing.


    3. Looking from the oven towards the end pieces you will see two screws holding a brass disc.

  3. Remove the screws and release the ‘O’ rings at both end pieces.
  4. The glass tube should now be loose enough to slide out. If the tube will not move, carefully remove one end piece by removing the two screws in the top plate.

REASSEMBLY

This is the exact reverse of the disassembly procedure. Always use new ’O’ rings when you reassemble the system.

TIP

Ensure the glass tube is centrally mounted. It might appear that there is no path for gases to flow from the stainless steel tubes into the glass tubes. However the bore in the end pieces has been selected to allow adequate flow.


[Catalysis Cell]

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