Replacing the Ignitor on a GC FPD Detector

Answer

This Information Applies To: Agilent 6890, 6850, 7890, 8890, 8860, Intuvo 9000 GC systems.

Issue

The exchange of the ignitor in a Flame Photometric Detector (FPD) may be required in the following scenarios:

• Preventive or periodic maintenance.
• Resolving performance issues of the detector:
  
  • Baseline slightly rising.
  • Problems to ignite the flame.

Items Required

• T10 or T20 Torx driver
• 5/16” wrench or nut driver.
• For Standard FPD
  Igniter replacement kit (p/n 19256-60800). 
• For FPD+
  Ignitor for FPD+ (p/n 19256-60750)

Steps to Follow

Caution: Wear clean powder-free gloves when working on FPD components in order to prevent contamination.

Warning: Cool the FPD and shut off the high voltage before any proceeding. The detector may be hot enough to cause burns. If the detector is hot, wear heat-resistant gloves to protect your hands.

There are two FPD detector types available and the procedure is slightly different:

• Standard FPD
• FPD+

Standard FPD 

1. Loosen the Collet Screw using a TORX driver. Remove the Collet and cable assembly.

   
   Figure 1. View on the standard FPD and the collet screw.
   
   

2. Remove the ignitor.

   
   
   Figure 2. View on the standard FPD
   1. O-ring, 2. Ignitor
   
   

3. The O-ring seal usually stays in the block. Remove it carefully. Make sure that no fragment falls into the emission block. 
4. Put the spacer, then the O-ring on the ignitor threading it into the block.

   
   
   Figure 3. View on the block
   1. O-ring, 2. Spacer
   
   

5. Reinstall the Collet Screw

FPD+

1. Loosen the Collet screw that holds the cable assembly to the ignitor. Remove the collet and cable assembly

   
   
   Figure 4. View on the FPD+ and the collet screw
   
   

2.  Unscrew the ignitor.

    

   Tips: Use a 5/16” nut driver, a wrench will not fit.

    

3. Remove and replace the ignitor. No copper washer, spacer, or O-ring seal is required for FPD+. 

Learn how to effectively maintain your Agilent GC system:  Agilent 8890 GC with OpenLab CDS eLearning path available from Agilent education