WAT053374 REV.

13

Performance
Maintenance
Protocol
2690/2695/e2695 Separations Module

Serial Number/
Firmware Version:      

Date:      

Performer:      

©2015 WATERS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

*WAT053374* *REV.13*
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Performance maintenance

Goal
This performance maintenance protocol is a guide to performing maintenance tasks on your
system. Packaged as part of the performance maintenance kit, it is intended to ensure optimum
performance and an uninterrupted period of trouble-free operation.

Schedule
Waters recommends that performance maintenance visits be performed once a year. Systems
under heavy use or using aggressive solvents will need more frequent maintenance. For detailed
maintenance schedules, refer to the appropriate operator’s guide(s) located on the Waters web
site. Failure to follow the maintenance schedules as described in the operator’s guides may result
in unreliable operation and inaccurate laboratory results. For some protocols, optional tests can be
performed by Waters field service engineers for added confidence and reliability.

Safety considerations
Some protocols may involve removing instrument covers, exposing the performer to high
voltages, high currents, and moving parts. This presents risks of electric shock and/or damage to
the instrument. To reduce these risks, Waters recommends that these protocols be conducted by
certified Waters field service engineers, who have access to the latest information on Waters
products. Waters is not responsible for an unqualified performer initiating actions that they do not
understand. If there is any doubt on the part of the performer, a Waters certified field service
engineer should conduct the performance maintenance activity.

Waters Quality Parts

Waters designs and manufactures Waters Quality Parts ® to the same strict regulatory standards
as your high-performance Waters systems. Waters recommends using Waters Quality Parts for all
maintenance activities. Failure to use Waters Quality Parts may compromise laboratory results
and reliability.

Customer education
Waters offers several operation and maintenance courses for ACQUITY ® UPLC®, Alliance ® HPLC
and MS systems as well as courses designed to help you maintain professional competency and
further your knowledge in Chromatography, UPLC, Informatics and Mass Spectrometry. For more
information on available training courses from Waters Educational Services, please visit the
Waters web site.

Compliance services
Waters Compliance Services help you achieve and maintain the regulatory compliance of your LC
and MS instruments and software with a combination of expertise, compliant-ready systems and
software, and a portfolio of services to ensure that you have quality data, consistently. To learn
more about Compliance Services, please visit the Waters web site.

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General tasks

Use the following guidelines when conducting performance maintenance visits. This information is
intended to be a guide only. For example:
 If a particular module has been recently serviced, it may need only testing and
replacement of fewer parts.
 Not all procedures apply to all instruments (specify NA in the Comments section if the
procedure does not apply).
 If the instrument fails to perform adequately during pre-performance maintenance checks,
further service may be required beyond the scope of this protocol. Such service may incur
additional parts and labor charges.
The following table lists the general tasks to be performed during a performance maintenance
visit. Perform and confirm the steps listed for each procedure and record any comments that you
have about the results at the end of each section.
For detailed instructions and a list of the necessary tools, refer to the operator’s guide located on
www.waters.com.

Post-performance Optional calibration

Inspect Maintenance tasks
maintenance checks tests 1

Firmware version2 Filters Initialization diagnostics Flow rate accuracy

Fan (inspect from the Solvent management Gradient proportioning

Static leak test
outside of the unit) components valve

Sample management Injection accuracy

Valves Adjust the seals
components

Carousel drive
Lithium battery 3 Compression check
mechanism

PerformancePlus™
degasser

Seal wash system

Fittings and tubing

(leaks)

Error logs

1
Optional tests performed by Waters field service engineers as part of a Total Assurance with Calibration Plan. For
those without the plan, the tests can be performed for an additional charge. Some of these tests may require
additional chemistry kits that are not supplied in the performance maintenance kit.
2
Firmware upgrades, if required, should be performed by a Waters field service engineer prior to beginning
performance maintenance. Firmware upgrades may require re-qualification of the upgraded instrument if it is in a
regulated environment.
3
Batteries are replaced by Waters field service engineers only.

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Inspect

Firmware version

Confirm what firmware versions are installed. Update if required.

NOTE: Refer to Downloads on Waters.com for the latest firmware and driver pack
release notes. These release notes detail software and data system
requirements, and installation notes.

Firmware check complete.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

Fan

To inspect the fan:

1. Observe the fan on the rear of the instrument.

2. Ensure that the fan grate is clear of debris and dust. The fan should be blowing
outward.
3. Clean if necessary.

Fan inspection complete.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

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Valves

Prime/vent valve inspection complete.

Yes No N/A

High pressure valves 1 and 2 inspection complete.

Yes No N/A

Low pressure valve 3 inspection complete.

Yes No N/A

Gradient proportioning valve inspection complete.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

Carousel drive mechanism

Carousel drive mechanism inspection complete.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

PerformancePlus degasser

PerformancePlus degasser inspection complete.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

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Seal wash system

Seal wash system inspection complete.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

Fittings and tubing leak inspection

Fittings and tubing leak inspection complete.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

Error logs

Error log review complete.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

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Maintenance tasks

The following components are replaced/rebuilt as part of the performance maintenance. Waters
Quality Parts have been used to replace/rebuild all parts.

 Filters

 Solvent management components

 Sample management components

 Lithium battery

NOTE: Batteries are replaced by Waters field service engineers only.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

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Post-performance maintenance checks

Perform the post-performance maintenance checks in the order listed.

Initialization diagnostics

Turn on power, allow instrument to complete and pass the on-board software checks.

Initialization diagnostics check complete.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

Static leak test

1. Prime the system.

2. Energize the seals.
3. Test the accumulator and primary pump heads.

Static leak test check complete.

Yes No N/A

Pumps PSI/minute % Volume Result

Primary             Pass Fail

Accumulator             Pass Fail

Comments:      

     

     

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Adjust the seals

1. Prime the system with 100% degassed methanol.

2. Purge the injector at least twice.
3. Remove the column.
4. Attain sufficient backpressure (approximately 1000 psi) without a column.
5. From the Diagnostics menu, adjust the seals.
6. Record the results.

N If the seal data are not within the acceptable range, other service adjustments may
be necessary for an additional charge.

Adjust seals complete.

Yes No N/A

Seal data New Previous Acceptable range Result

Top             30 to 80 Pass Fail

Bottom             80 to 200 Pass Fail

Width             50 to 120 Pass Fail

Comments:      

     

     

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Compression check

1. Prime the system.

2. Purge the injector.
3. Perform the compression check.

Compression check complete.

Yes No N/A

Check Value Result

Compression volume       µL Pass Fail

Delta decay pressure       psi Pass Fail

Final pressure       psi Pass Fail

Comments:      

     

     

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Performance maintenance confirmation

I confirm on
behalf of        
Company Name

that this performance maintenance

procedure has been satisfactorily completed on:      
Serial No.

Signed: Date:      

Customer

     
Type Name

I certify that the maintenance procedure has been successfully

completed.

Signed: Date:      

Waters Engineer

     
Type Name

Comments:     

     

Waters Corporation
34 Maple Street
Milford, Massachusetts
01757 USA

Waters, MassLynx, The Science of What’s Possible and Waters Quality Parts are registered trademarks of Waters
Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
©2015 Waters Corporation. Printed in the U.S.A.

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Optional calibration tests

Optional calibration tests are performed by Waters field service engineers as part of a Total
Assurance with Calibration Plan. For customers without this plan, these tests can be performed for
an additional charge. Some of these tests may require additional chemistry kits that are not
supplied in the performance maintenance kit.

Tools/materials required

• Graduated cylinder,10 mL
• (2) Graduated cylinders, 50 mL or 100 mL
• Stopwatch (calibrated)
• 100% HPLC – grade Methanol
• 100% HPLC -grade water
• 2 mL vial
• Analytical balance (calibrated)
Caution: Never change directly between immiscible solvents, or between buffered

solutions and organic solvents. Immiscible solvents form emulsions in the fluid
pathways. Buffered solutions and organic solvents in combination can result in
salt precipitation in the gradient proportioning valves, pump heads, check
valves, and other parts of the system. Confirm that all fluids in the system are
miscible with methanol.

Flow rate accuracy

1. Obtain a 10 mL graduated cylinder or similar container.

N Ensure that the graduated cylinder is thoroughly dry.

2. Prime the system with fully degassed methanol or water. Set the vacuum degasser (if
installed) to run continuously, or set the sparge rate to 100% A.
3. Prepare the stopwatch to begin timing.
4. Enter the test flow of 1.0 mL/min.
5. When the flow and pressure are stable, insert the outlet tubing into the graduated
cylinder.
6. When the meniscus reaches the 1.0 mL mark of the graduated cylinder, start the
stopwatch.
7. Stop the timer when the bottom of the meniscus reaches the 4 mL mark on the
graduated cylinder.
8. Record the time required to reach the 4 mL mark.

N If the time is not within the acceptable range, other service adjustments may be
necessary for an additional charge.

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Expected time Tolerance Actual value Result

2:51 to 3:09 minutes 9 seconds       min Pass Fail

Timer
Serial/ID number      
Calibration date      

Flow rate accuracy test complete.

Yes No N/A

Comments:      

     

     

Gradient proportioning valve

1. Place the primed solvent A and B lines from the separations module into two identical 50
or 100 mL graduated cylinders.
2. Fill the cylinders to the 50 mL mark.
3. Set the flow rate to 5 mL/min with 50% solvent A, and 50% solvent B.
4. When the solvent in the A cylinder reaches the 25 mL mark, stop the flow.
5. Record the values for the volumes in each cylinder (Table 2).

N Expected Result: B cylinder volume = A cylinder volume ± 3 mL.

N If the volume is not within the acceptable range, other service adjustments may be
necessary for an additional charge.

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Gradient proportioning valve test complete.

Yes No N/A

Solvent Measured volume Result

A       mL Pass Fail

B       mL Pass Fail

Comments:      

     

     

Injection accuracy
Caution: To ensure the accuracy of test results use forceps, or wear lint-free gloves to

handle the vial used in this test.

Preparing the sample for the injection accuracy test

1. Fill a standard 2 mL vial with degassed HPLC-grade methanol (Method A) or degassed
HPLC-grade water (Method B).
2. Seal the vial with a PTFE (or pre-slit) septum and cap, if available.

N If a PTFE (or pre-slit) septum is not available, use a septum-free cap. Do not use
self-sealing septa (unless pre-slit), as they create a vacuum in the vial during
multiple injections.
3. Zero the analytical balance, and then carefully weigh the vial (using forceps or your
gloved hand to move the vial).
4. Record the weight in grams (W1).
5. Place the weighed vial in position 1 of carousel A, and then place the carousel in the
sample compartment.

Performing the injection accuracy test

1. Program the system to make the appropriate volume and number of injections from the
vial. Use the shortest possible runtime.

Parameter Value (250 µL syringe) Value (25 µL syringe)

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Vial Range 1 1

Injects per Vial 6 16

Run Time 0.1 0.1

Inject Volume 50.0 12.0

2. Remove and reweigh the vial.

3. Record the weight in grams (W2).
4. Use one of the following formulas to calculate the average amount injected per injection:

• For 250 µL syringe systems (Method A methanol): [(W1– W2)/6] x 1.268 x 1000 = mg
of methanol withdrawn per injection = µL per injection

• For 25 µL syringe systems (Method A methanol): [(W1– W2)/16] x 1.268 x 1000 = mg

of methanol withdrawn per injection = µL per injection

• For 250 µL syringe systems (Method B water): [(W1– W2)/6] x 1.0 x 1000 = mg of
water withdrawn per injection = µL per injection

• For 25 µL syringe systems (Method B water): [(W1– W2)/16] x 1.0 x 1000 = mg of

water withdrawn per injection = µL per injection
5. Record the results.

N If the result is not within the acceptable range, other service adjustments may be
necessary for an additional charge.
Injection accuracy test complete.

Yes No N/A

Programmed Calculated
W1 W2 Tolerance Result
volume (µL) volume (µL)

      g       g 50 µL       µL 50 µL± 2.0 µL Pass Fail

      g       g 12 µL       µL 12 µL± 1.0 µL Pass Fail

Balance
Serial/ID number      
Calibration date      

Comments:      

     

     

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Calibration confirmation

I confirm on
behalf of        
Company Name

that the calibration has been satisfactorily

completed on:      
Serial No.

Signed: Date:      

Customer

     
Type Name

I certify that the calibration has been successfully completed.

Signed: Date:      

Waters Engineer

     
Type Name

Comments:     

     

Waters Corporation
34 Maple Street
Milford, Massachusetts
01757 USA

Waters, MassLynx, The Science of What’s Possible and Waters Quality Parts are registered trademarks of Waters
Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
©2015 Waters Corporation. Printed in the U.S.A. – WAT053374, Rev. 13

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