Chromatography Forum

I start with google* but think its better to ask here where specialists help newbies like me.
In your laboratory you use: compressors+generator or dewar ?
Which producer would you recommend ?

We have jun-air compressor in our laboratory coupled with parker N-generator (for Agilent 6410) - works fine.
Few months ago we get demo of Agilent 6490 with Peak compressor and generator (in one box) broken now.

Iam curious if its possible to use such thing like "PSA nitrogen generator"
http://www.angstrom-advanced.com/index. ... itrogenpsa
http://www.besseling-group.com/psa.htm

I will watch this thread with interest. I've used a Parker/Jun-air combination, fairly successful (we stopped using it for reasons completely unconnected with its quality). I'm now on a Domnick Hunter generator (no problem whatsoever). I've tried Peak, with catastrophic results. Peak have, I believe, a Queen's award for industry. My only explanation is that Her Majesty has little experience of nitrogen generation.

Whether you use a boil-off nitrogen system or a generator probably depends on local pricing and politics. If you don't have to pay for the liquid nitrogen supply, the dewar might be quite good. If you do pay for liquid N2, and if you have the cash to buy a generator, a good generator is a good option. Manufacturers should be able to offer generators from other suppliers.

Hi,

could you share the issues you had with the Peak generator? We have a Peak compressor-generator (which has been working fine so far, about 1.5 year) and this may help us if issues start to occur.

Thanks

I'm a bit nervous of being too specific in a message-board, but subject to the provisos that this is a personal opinion (not necessarily endorsed by my employer) and is a single observation and therefore not necessarily an accurate measurement of Peak's instruments as a whole. This is also some years ago, and things may have changed:

(1) an internal pressure-guage in our generator vibrated itself to pieces with the result that the generator developed an internal leak. There was no sign of external failure except that it struggled to generate enough nitrogen.
(2) after a year, three of the wheels dropped off the case.
(3) most importantly, the service contract seemed extremely costly compared to other manufacturers, to the extent that it was more economical to buy a new instrument with a lower contract from another manufacturer. Obviously for equipment containing compressors, service is essential. Peak seemed, at the time, to have an unreasonable mark-up on parts. We bought their compressor service kit, and peeled off their part-number label to reveal the part-number of the original manufacturer, and out of curiosity phoned the original manufacturer to check their price.

Thanks for the information, indeed this might be an isolated case but that's always good to know other's experiences. I agree the maintenance parts are incredibly expensive...thanks

(3) most importantly, the service contract seemed extremely costly compared to other manufacturers, to the extent that it was more economical to buy a new instrument with a lower contract from another manufacturer.

My experience told me Parker's service contract is also way too or unbelievable expensive. If one generator only serves one instrument, it is much more economical to buy cylinder or liquid gas instead (cheaper than the service contract itself). In addition, you don't lost time waiting for the repair.

Clearly the industry unwisely puts itself into a bad position. If there is no major change, I am sure more will come back to cylinder or liquid after experiencing one of them.