Shellab BACTRONEZ - Manual (Page 49)

49 | P a g e
USER MAINTENANCE (CONTINUED)
L EAK D IAGNOSIS
–
U NIT F ULL
Perform this leak check procedure for a unit that is in use and that cannot be powered off or
otherwise taken out of operation.
1. Read the Normal Gas Consumption section on the previous page prior to performing a
leak diagnosis.
2. Record the gas cylinder gauge level at the end of the workday. Note the gauge level next
morning. This is done to help establish a loss level for while the BACTRONEZ is
undisturbed. In other words, when no one is working in it.
3. Review the gas level entry in the BACTRONEZ ’ s maintenance log. For periods of high gas
consumption, check if lab personnel are accessing the unit through the pass box and arm
port doors with greater frequency. Accessing increases gas usage.
4. Make sure the inner pass box door is being closed after all sample transfers are complete.
5. The pass box Doors light should illuminate when both doors are closed. If the light does not
activate, check that both doors are sealed The pass box doors should sit flush against the
door gaskets.
6. Check the integrity of the door gaskets. There should be no brittleness or dryness, and no
cracks. Check that both gaskets are evenly and securely seated on the mounting frames. If
sticky sample media has been spilled on the interior surfaces of a pass box door, the door
may be pulling off the gasket whenever it is opened.
7. Verify that manometer is filled up to the refill (top) ring with water.
8. Check that the arm port doors are secure when not in use. The locking bars should be in
the horizontal position, and the knobs tightened clockwise using wrist strength. Check the
door ring seals for signs of damage or excessive wear.
9. Check that the water level of the manometer is pushed down by approximately half an inch
(1 cm). If the manometer is filled and the water level is not depressed, the system is either
not injecting gas or there is a significant leak.
10. If there is a gas leak, the Chamber Gas light will turn on and off frequently. This will be
accompanied by a “clicking” sound that is the chamber gas solenoid injecting gas into the
chamber.
11. A gas leak detector capable of detecting hydrogen (Part Number 4600501) can be used to
find leaks along the edges of acrylic glass front panel, arm port doors, outer airlock door,
and back panel.
Note: Some hydrogen gas will naturally diffuse through the water-filled manometer. If you are using
a handheld hydrogen gas detector, the manometer exhaust port on the back of the
BACTRONEZ will register as a leak under normal operating conditions. Do not seal or
otherwise obstruct the manometer exhaust port.
Doing so will compromise the unit’s
pressure management and gas regulation systems, and void your warranty.
12. Contact your institutional maintenance department or Sheldon Technical Support for
assistance if a leak is confirmed, or if heightened gas consumption is not restricted to
periods of increased access and use.