Guidelines for Installation, Debugging, and Calibration of TGA Thermogravimetric Analyzer

TGA thermogravimetric analyzerAs a core thermal analysis instrument in the fields of materials science, pharmaceuticals, chemical engineering, etc., its installation quality directly affects the accuracy of test data, equipment stability, and service life.

1、 Installation process of TGA thermogravimetric analyzer

1. Preparation before installation

Venue confirmation: Plan in advance the installation area that meets the requirements (it is recommended to have an independent laboratory corner to avoid crowded areas), reserve equipment operation space (front, back, left, right ≥ 50cm) and maintenance channels, and ensure that there are no obstacles blocking.

Environmental pretreatment: Adjust the laboratory temperature to 23 ± 5 ℃, relative humidity ≤ 60%, and turn on the air conditioning and dehumidifier 24 hours in advance to stabilize the environment; Check the flatness of the ground (horizontal error ≤ 0.2mm/m). If the ground is uneven, install shock-absorbing pads or adjust the anchor bolts.

Resource allocation: Confirm that the power supply system meets the requirements (single-phase AC220V ± 10%, 50Hz, grounding resistance ≤ 4 Ω), and separately configure dedicated sockets of 16A or above (avoid sharing circuits with high-power equipment); If the equipment requires inert gases (such as nitrogen and argon), gas pipelines (diameter ≥ 6mm) should be laid in advance, and pressure reducing valves and filters (filtration accuracy ≤ 0.1 μ m) should be installed to ensure gas purity ≥ 99.99%.

2. Equipment unboxing and inspection

Open box inspection: Check whether the equipment body, heating furnace, sample tray, crucible, gas pipeline, power cord, data cable, calibration standard substance (such as alumina, nickel) and other accessories are complete according to the packing list, and confirm that there is no transportation damage (such as shell deformation, glass component rupture, loose joints).

Initial inspection of appearance and function: Check the surface of the equipment for scratches and paint peeling, the inner wall of the heating furnace for stains and oxide layers, and the sample holder for deformation; Test the power and data cable interfaces for looseness, and ensure that the buttons and display screen light up normally.

Problem feedback: If missing accessories or damaged equipment are found, please take photos immediately and contact us for replacement or replacement. It is strictly prohibited to disassemble the equipment without authorization.

3. Positioning and fixation of TGA thermogravimetric analyzer

Handling and placement: Use a forklift or transport vehicle (usually weighing 200-500kg) to slowly move the equipment, avoiding severe vibrations; Place the device in the preset position, ensuring that the center of gravity of the device is stable and not tilted.

Horizontal calibration: Place the level on the equipment workbench and the top of the heating furnace. Adjust the bottom anchor bolts of the equipment to calibrate the level (horizontal errors in the front, back, left, and right directions are ≤ 0.1mm/m). After calibration, tighten the anchor bolts and fix them.

4. Pipeline and circuit connection

Gas pipeline connection: Connect the inert gas/reactive gas cylinder to the equipment inlet through the pipeline, wrap PTFE sealing tape around the interface (to avoid air leakage), and use a gas leak detector to test the sealing of the interface after connection (apply soap water to the interface, and if no bubbles are produced, it is qualified); Adjust the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve to 0.2-0.4MPa to ensure stable gas flow (the default flow rate of the equipment is usually 20-50mL/min).

Circuit connection: Insert the power cord into a dedicated socket and confirm good grounding; Connect the data cable to the computer and install the device's accompanying software (follow the instructions in the manual to ensure that the software matches the device model).

Safety inspection: Use a multimeter to check whether the power supply voltage and grounding resistance meet the requirements. After confirming that there is no short circuit or leakage in the circuit connection, power can be turned on.

5. Equipment debugging and calibration

Power on preheating: Turn on the device power, start the software, set the preheating parameters (usually preheating for 30-60 minutes), observe whether the device display screen and software interface are normal, whether the heating furnace heats up smoothly, and whether there are no abnormal noises or errors.

Hardware debugging: Check the lifting function of the sample holder (smooth lifting without jamming), the sealing of the furnace door switch (no gaps after closing), and the gas flow control system (flow error ≤± 2%).

Calibration operation:

Weight calibration: Use the standard weights provided by the manufacturer, place them in the sample tray, and perform weight calibration through software to ensure a weight error of ≤± 0.01mg.

Temperature calibration: Using standard substances (such as the melting point of nickel at 1455 ℃ and the thermal stability of alumina), setting a heating program (such as heating up to 1500 ℃ at 10 ℃/min), comparing the test results with the standard value, the temperature error is ≤± 2 ℃. If it exceeds the error range, it can be corrected through software or hardware adjustment.

6. Acceptance and Training

Trial operation test: After calibration is completed, select typical samples (such as polymers with known thermal decomposition temperatures) for 3-5 repeated tests to check the repeatability of the test data (relative standard deviation RSD ≤ 0.5%) and the smoothness of the curve (no impurity peaks, baseline drift ≤ 0.05mg/h).

Acceptance confirmation: According to the acceptance standards provided by the manufacturer, confirm that all indicators of the equipment (weight accuracy, temperature accuracy, heating rate range, gas control accuracy) meet the requirements, and sign the acceptance report.

Operation training: The manufacturer's technical personnel provide operation training to users, including software operation, sample preparation, equipment maintenance, common fault handling, etc., to ensure that users master core operation skills and complete installation and delivery.

2、 Installation Core Precautions

1. Environmental requirements (key factors affecting test accuracy)

Avoid placing equipment near heat sources (such as ovens and electric furnaces), cold sources (such as air conditioning vents), strong electromagnetic fields (such as nuclear magnetic resonance machines and high-voltage transformers), and vibration sources (such as centrifuges and water pumps), with vibration ≤ 0.005g (if necessary, install shock absorbers).

The laboratory needs to be kept clean, free of dust and corrosive gases (such as hydrochloric acid and ammonia), to avoid cross contamination of samples and corrosion of equipment components; It is prohibited to store flammable and explosive materials near the equipment.

The ambient temperature fluctuation is ≤ 2 ℃/h. Avoid direct sunlight on the equipment and install blackout curtains or place them in a dark area.

2. Safety operation standards

When handling equipment, it is necessary to lift and place it gently to avoid colliding with precision components such as heating furnaces and sample supports; During installation, it is prohibited to touch the inner wall of the heating furnace (high temperature risk) and circuit interfaces (electric shock risk).

The gas pipeline connection must be firm, and leak detection must be carried out after installation. Gas leakage is strictly prohibited (inert gas leakage may cause oxygen deficiency, and reactive gas leakage poses safety hazards); Regularly replace the gas filter to prevent impurities from entering the interior of the equipment.

Before powering on, it is necessary to confirm the power supply voltage and grounding situation again, and illegal wiring is strictly prohibited; When the equipment is running, it is forbidden to forcefully open the furnace door after it is closed. Wait for the heating furnace to cool to room temperature (≤ 50 ℃) before replacing or maintaining the sample.

3. Key points for accuracy assurance

Horizontal calibration is key: equipment that is not level can cause uneven force on the sample, affecting the accuracy of weight testing. After installation and each time the equipment is moved, the level needs to be recalibrated.

Gas purity and flow control: Insufficient purity of inert gases can lead to sample oxidation, affecting the accuracy of thermogravimetric curves; Unstable flow can cause baseline drift, and it is necessary to regularly check the pressure of the steel cylinder (replace it in a timely manner when the residual pressure is ≥ 0.5MPa) and the flow sensor.

Calibration operation cannot be omitted: weight and temperature calibration must be performed after installation, and recalibration is required every 6-12 months thereafter (or in case of abnormal test data). Calibration standard materials must be properly stored (in a dry, dark environment).