KD Scientific Centrifan PE - Manual (Page 27)

Operation
Centrifan TM PE Personal Evaporator 3-5
To load samples in the Centrifan
TM
PE
a) Open the lid and remove the splitter from the openings of the vials sitting in the
pockets of the rotor.
b) If used vials are present in the rotor, remove them and replace with new vials
containing samples that are to be dried.
Note: Several different rotors are available for the system. If the rotor is to be
replaced because of different size containers, remove the present rotor by
unscrewing the fastener at the top of the rotor and lifting the rotor straight up out
of the fan. Lower the new rotor in position and turn the rotor within the fan until it
drops and locks itself relative to the fan. When the rotor and fan can only turn
together, reinstall the screw without overtightening.
Warning: Make sure to rotate the rotor within the fan until the rotor drops the last
half inch onto the top of the driveshaft. The flat at the top of the driveshaft must
align properly with matching flat or dowel pin inside the hole in the bottom of the
rotor. If the rotor is not properly seated on the driveshaft the rotor components
will not be sitting low enough inside the fan assembly and they could strike the
heat sink fins on the underside of the lid when it is closed. This could cause
significant damage to the rotor and splitter.
c) Insert the vials into the positions in the rotor located inside the centrifugal fan. The
rotor should be balanced within a three or four milliliters, by locating vials containing
similar amounts of liquid on opposite sides of the rotor. If there are less than the
maximum number of samples to run, insert empty vials into the unused locations in
order to make sure the splitter fits properly on top of the rotor and to preserve drying
gas flow patterns.
Caution: For safe operation, the system should be balanced. Ensure that there is
a vial with the equivalent amount of material at a position 180 o from each vial
placed in the rotor. In addition, it is recommended that all unused positions on the
rotor are filled with empty vials.
d) Insert the tabs of the splitter into each vial.
e) Ensure that the power switch at the rear panel AC line cord connector is set to on.
f) If an inert gas is used to displace oxygen from the unit during the drying operation,
make certain that the gas is turned on and that the vent tube is located in a hood.
Dipping the end of the vent tube in a beaker of water will show the slow trickle of gas
flowing from the enclosure and confirm that excess inert gas is not being consumed
unnecessarily. The spinning fan generates the blow-down gas flow, not the gas
introduced into the unit through this oxygen displacement tubing.
g) Close and latch the lid to start the fan and rotor assembly and the drying process.
Check the temperature controller to be sure the desired temperature has been
entered (see Section 3.4 for operation of the temperature controller). Set the desired
temperature using the buttons on the temperature display. The temperature can be
set to a maximum of 55
o C. If the controller is set to a temperature below ambient, the
enclosure will drop several degrees below ambient due to evaporative cooling effects
and the decreased temperature of the dried gas returning from the cold trap.