Frequently Asked Questions

A: Replace the 200cc fuel restrictor with a 30cc, p/n R-598.​

A: Press the Enter Key​

A: Press both the Up and Down keys at the same time.​

A: When the flame goes out, the unit tries to reignite and does not give any system failure alarm. After 5 tries, the system failure alarm will activate. The system alarm is failsafe.

A: System failure alarm is de-energized under 3 circumstances; inability to re-ignite, when performing a zero calibration and the signal is too high, or if the system loses power. ​

A: The oxygen background must use 40% H2 / 60% N2; all others applications are optional to use this fuel, and H2 does not require this fuel. ​

A: All applications except O2 and H2.

A: When the background is H2, then we use the sample, span, and zero gases as fuel and the N2 connecting to the fuel port to dilute the H2. ​

A: No modifications are needed. You only need to recalibrate the unit. ​

A: It is always necessary to Recalibrate / Re-standardize the analyzer when the fuel or air supply gases are changed. Refer to the manu​al​ for specifics.

A: 

A: Cold Start Procedures

Caution: This procedure deletes all previously stored data and test results, and resets the user selectable parameters to their default values.

The Cold Start procedure can be a useful tool. It resets the instrument to factory set conditions when the instrument is operating in an undesirable manner due to erroneous input or electronic conditions. This procedure will also erase the password.

Model 4020 FID analyzer:

Power down (or place in Standby).

Power up, and immediately press the Up & Down arrow keys simultaneously.

Observe the display prompting for "Really cold boot".

Press Enter to acknowledge, and wait for routine to end.

A: 

1) 4020 with H2 fuel coming from sample:

Air: approximately 300ccm

N2: 30 ccm

2) 4020 using 60/40 fuel:

Fuel: 200ccm

Air: approximately 300ccm

3) 4020 using H2 fuel:

Fuel: 30 ccm

Air: approximately 300ccm​

A: No. Only a re-calibration on a standard is required (standard cylinders of span and zero gases). ​

A: To change the range from 0-1, 0-10, 0-100 to 0-10, 0-100, 0-1000 ppm, you must change out the electrometer board.​

A: No, the range doesn't have to be in decades as long as the minimum range is 10 and the maximum is 1000. For example, the low range can be adjusted anywhere from 10 to 90 and the next range can be 0 to 100 and tje highest range can be 0 to 500.​

A: The operator must manually change the pressure setting when backgrounds are changed.

1. Introduce the span gas with an Air background,

2. Increase the fuel 2 psig over the setting specified in the manu​al.

3. Increase the fuel 3 psig over the setting specified in the manu​al.

4. Let it run for 20 minutes, then span the analyzer.

5. After the span gas, introduce zero gas (Air) and let it run for 15 minutes to zero the analyzer.

6. Record the air, fuel, and sample pressure for future use.

7. Introduce zero gas (N2) and let it run for 15 to 20 minutes. When the reading stabilizes, select the zero menu and enter the zero ​value's opposite with the value display.

example: if the reading is -1ppm then enter the zero value is +1ppm

8. Introduce span gas with N2 background and let it run for 15 to 20 minutes. Then increase the sample pressure until the reading displays span gas value. Record the fuel and pressure value for future use. With this method, the operator will have to calibrate zero and span on one background Air and need to change the pressure when backgrounds are changed. ​

A: The 4020 has a function called 'ANALOG - OUT ADJUST' that lets you calibrate the 4 - 20 maDC output.

- Connect a DVM configured as an ammeter to the output of the analyzer.

- Use the Up/Down keys to bring up the main menu. Use the Up/Down key to navigate and find the 'ANALOG-OUT ADJUST' function and press the Enter key. You should see the following screen:

-> 4-20 ma Offset: 0

4-20 ma Gain: 0

- The arrow should be pointing to the Offset setting. The number on the right represents the position of the slider of a digital potentiometer. Zero indicates the slider is in the middle of this digital potentiometer. The number can be adjusted up and down from -500 to 500 by pressing the Enter key and the using the Up and Down keys. This will have an effect on the 4-20 maDC output. Adjust until the reading on the DVM is as close to 4.00 maDC as possible. When done, press the enter key one more time.

- Use the Down arrow key to select the Gain adjustment, then press the Enter key. The number on the right again represents the slider of a digital potentiometer. Adjust this number using the Up/Down keys till the output of the DVM reads 20.00 maDC. Press Enter one more time when done.

- The output is now calibrated. Use Escape to return to the analyzer screen. ​

A: Maximum pressure for the regulator in a Model 4020 are 50PSIG inlet ​

A: The 4-20ma modules are supplied on of two ways: 

as a component from Analog Device, Part Number 1b-22 AN

(device with the white label) or

as a separate circuit board mounted on the top.​

A: These have been supplied in two main versions -- a low pressure version in which the sample pressure applied to the unit must be over 5psi, and a normal unit in which the sample pressure applied to the unit must be over 10psi. Internal at the detector, sample pressure must be controlled tightly due to the effect of flow and pressure changes on the output of the FID detector.

It is for this reason that TAI has supplied this unit with pressure regulators inside the unit for Air, Fuel and Sample. Small changes above the minimum pressure required for regulation have a negligible effect on the reading of the unit. If the pressure falls under the minimum required, readings can change quite a bit as the sample regulator in the unit will not have sufficient headroom to operate and therefore will not regulate properly.

Data was taken on quantity four units set up to measure THC in O2 and is shown in the table below :

A: Absolutely not. Plant air is never sufficiently hydrocarbon or contaminant free to be used in the FID. Never use it. Only use air from a zero air generator or a certified hydrocarbon free cylinder.​

A: When the analyzer starts and is showing the version, press the UP & DOWN keys at the same time. The analyzer will prompt you to confirm the cold start. Press ENTER to continue. ​

A: All the commands are the same for each unit but there are a couple of unique items. For 4020 there is special message: the third least significant bit of byte in address 27 (0x1B) is used to indicate that the analyzer flame is out and unit is re-starting the flame. It flame does not ignite after 5 tries, you get the regular second LSBt in address 30 to indicate analyzer failure. 

There is a similar warning on the GFC7000. Any warning from the GFC7000 (you will note the red light on the front of the GFC7000 and a message on the display) will trigger the same bit in address 27 as an indication of a warning. It is not a failure. We decided not to treat the warnings as failure because these warnings may not stop the unit from working. For example, after power up, you get a warning just because the unit was just powered up. Somebody is got to come and reset the warning and do correction if needed. 

For example the power up warning, only requires people to come and reset the fault. But other warnings such as low purge pressure, may need attention. Analyzer is working fine, it only needs somebody to adjust the purge pressure. ​

A: Per testing on a sample unit the average power consumption is 113 VAC x 0.93 A = 106 W ​

A: Please see attached drawing to modify for 220VAC.

C81366-0-P2.pdf

The modification kit is our p/n C-81366.​

A: The power consumption is 2 Amps, however normally about 1 Amp​

A: Yes it is. All readings and zero and spanning should be done at the same bypass flow rate​

A: The analyzers ship from here without auto-cal valves, the valve selection is set for defeated in the software 

To control the valves externally use down key. Scroll down to VALVE SELECTION, press ENTER then the UP key to change from DEFEAT to DEFAULT then press ENTER, then press ESCAPE a couple of times to go back to analyze mode.​

A: Please refer to the following document: 4020_electronic_zero_adjust small.doc ​

A: With no sample, the flame is still on, and the reading is zero due to no sample, unless the fuel also is off during this time. You can leave the analyzer running with all support gases on, and the analyzer will read zero until the sample is introduced. ​

A: The following is an explanation of the error codes for the self-test: 4020_4080_error_codes.pdf

Please note the comment that the preamp results for the self-test are only valid at startup, before the FID has been actuated. It is possible to manually deplete the fuel to the FID, allow it to cool and perform a self-test during run time however. ​

A: Generally we recommend a 40 60 mix of H2 and N2, except for pure O2 

In pure O2 excess water will be formed if H2 fuel is used and the flame will go out frequently, the output will be noisy, etc. 

The unit must be set up for the individual background gases, however, properly. You can't calibrate the unit for instance on pure O2 and then THC span gas in O2, and then inject a sample of He or N2O or N2 and expect accurate results. ​

A: Here is some test data. The analyzer was not fully warmed up, so the analyzer is drifting somewhat. 

The analyzer is calibrated with Air background. 

Gases used: 

80.04ppm CH4 balance N2

80.41ppm CH4 balance Air 

Ultra- high purity grade N2

Zero-grade Air

Zero reading: 

Air: 3.6ppm

N2: 1.5ppm 

Zero reading difference : 2.1ppm

Span reading:

Air: 77.8ppm

N2: 66,8ppm

Span reading difference : 9.2ppm​

A: If we assume ¼” tubing from the process to the analyzer (best case), the sample travel time is: 

100 m * [3.28 ft/m] * [5 cc/ft ¼” tube] * [26 cc @ 1 bar/cc @ 26 bar] / [1000 cc/min bypass] = 42.65 min. 

This unacceptably long transport time is why we never transport high pressure samples. The proper solution is to drop the sample pressure with a regulator at the takeoff to ~1 bar g. This will decrease the sample travel time to 1-2 min.​

A: The fuel solenoid valve needs 110vac. The problem is most likely a failure in the flame guard/ ignition circuit board. You will need to replace the p.c.b. The part number is B74671 (Anode power supply, flame guard pcb). 

4020 electrical drawing is available here.

A: The settings are stored in the EEprom on the main cpu board. This memory is retained after power loss. 

Unless the "cold start" procedure was done, which will cause the analyzer to return to factory default setting. Cold start is done by pressing both up & down Keys at power-up. This procedure is useful to clear garbage from memory, and zero preamp circuit. But when done the settings must be re-entered., And will be retained even after power loss. 

Regarding the drift, this can occur if the flame need to be adjusted. This is done by adjusting the fuel and sample gas pressure settings. Monitor the output while on zero gas to check stability. Drift should not exceed 2% of the full-scale range. Note the recommended start-up pressure settings are on a sticker in the analyzer and written in the manual. 

Other reason for drift is temperature​ control. 

Problem. Is the amber lamp on ​the analyzer. blinking? The lamp should be blinking on and off when the temp is being controlled.​