Varian, Inc.
2700 Mitchell Drive
Walnut Creek, CA 94598-1675/USA
Valco Valve Control
Galaxie Driver Manual
Varian, Inc. 2002-2006 03-914947-58:2
Table of Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................. 3
General ................................................................................................................................3
Installation and Configuration................................................................ 4
Installing the Driver Software...............................................................................................4
Configuring the Driver..........................................................................................................4
Configuring the Valco valve driver ................................................................................4
Configuring the Synopsis ..............................................................................................7
Building a Method ................................................................................... 9
Creating a New Method.......................................................................................................9
Control Method Section for the Valco Valve......................................................................11
Starting and Viewing an Acquisition.................................................... 14
Quick Start and Sequence.................................................................................................14
Quick Start (Single Acquisition) ..................................................................................14
Sequence ....................................................................................................................16
Running Acquisition Status................................................................................................16
Viewing a Running Acquisition....................................................................................16
Status of the Valco Valve ............................................................................................17
Appendix ................................................................................................ 19
Stream Selection ...............................................................................................................19
VICI Valve Configurator.....................................................................................................23
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Introduction
General
This document describes the configuration of the Valco valve
driver. It also explains how to build a control method for this
driver, how to start and view a running acquisition and what
actions are available during an analysis.
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Installation and Configuration
Installing the Driver Software
To install the Galaxie Drivers software refer to the Galaxie
installation Guide.
Configuring the Driver
The driver software configuration is done in the Galaxie
Configuration Manager when a new chromatographic system is
created.
Configuring the Valco valve driver
Click on the button corresponding to the Valco valve
driver and the configuration screen appears.
The toolbar allows you to easily scroll through the configuration
windows:
to select the first configuration window.
to select the previous configuration window.
to select the next configuration window.
to select the final configuration window.
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Communication Window
Communication Setup parameter group:
Select whether the instrument is connected to a Local Serial
Port, a 800 MIB Interface Serial Port or a Varian CP-3800 Serial
Integrated Device.
Select the corresponding Port number where the instrument is
connected.
Select the MIB-interface name where the instrument is
connected. The MIB-interface must have been previously
configured.
Select the Bauds Rate of the Valve according to the instrument
configuration.
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NOTE: To configure the Bauds rate and ID of a Valco Valve use the VICI Valve
configurator tool. Please refer to the appendix VICI Valve Configuration for more details.
Valves Window
Valve layout parameter group:
Select the number of valve connected to the system.
Then for each valves configure its ID, Streams number and if
required its Cascade position.
NOTE: Depending on the valve layout, the way to select the valve stream in the method
will change. Please refer to the appendix Stream selection for more details.
NOTE: To configure the Bauds rate and ID of a Valco Valve use the VICI Valve
configurator tool. Please refer to the appendix VICI Valve Configuration for more details.
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Configuring the Synopsis
In the Overview part of the system configuration, a synopsis can
be defined for the system. This synopsis depends on the
configured devices.
1. To save the configuration of these devices, click on the OK
button.
2. Right click on the system name in the bottom part of the
Galaxie Configuration Manager screen. A pop-up menu
appears: click on Stop. Then right click on the system name
again, and click on Start.
3. Go back to the System Configuration screen (Properties
wizard). A graphic of the devices that comprise the system
is displayed in the synopsis screen. To configure the
synopsis as the real instrument configuration, move each
module, then connect it appropriately. To do this, select one
anchor for each of the two modules (the selected anchors
become red) and click on the button; a connection
tube will appear between the two anchors.
Click on the to delete a selected tube, click on the
buttons to delete all the tubes.
Click on to define a background color, or on to
make the background transparent.
Click on the icon to change the grid color.
4. Once the synopsis configuration is complete, it will be
displayed in the Galaxie Chromatography Data System, in
the Systems tab. In this tab, the Overview part will show the
synopsis of the system with some parameters displayed
(temperature, flow, signal, etc.) depending on the installed
devices.
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For example, the following pictures represent the overview
of the Valco Valve:
Galaxie Configuration Manager Screen
Galaxie Chromatography Data System Screen
NOTE: Once the system has been created and correctly configured, it must be
associated with one or more projects in order to start some acquisitions. For more details
about the creation and configuration of a system, refer to the Galaxie Configuration
Manager User’s Guide.
Click on the button to print the current configuration.
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Building a Method
Creating a New Method
The method contains parameters for instrument control, data
acquisition, chromatogram processing, and editing of final
results. To initially set up a method, it is not necessary to define
all of the sub-method sections; however, you must fill in the
instrument control section prior to starting an acquisition.
1. To create a new method, select the FILE / NEW METHOD
option from the Galaxie Chromatography Data System main
menu.
A wizard guide will appear and provide assistance during
the first steps of method creation:
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2. Choose the system (chromatograph) associated with the
method. A method is created for a particular system. When
starting an acquisition, the name of the system that
performs the acquisition must be correct, since method
access is limited only to those methods associated with this
system.
3. Once this field is completed, click on the Next button to
move to the second step of the method creation:
4. Enter the New Method Name in the first field. In the
Description field, enter information concerning the method
(optional).
5. Once these two fields have been completed, click on the
OK button. The new method is created and is opened with
default parameters in the Galaxie Chromatography Data
System. The next step is the definition of each of the
method sections.
The instrument control section must be defined in order to
start an acquisition. In the following part of this guide, only
the instrument control section for the Valco Valve is
detailed. Other parameters such as Injection Volume, Vial
and Rack number may be necessary and are defined in the
acquisition section.
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NOTE: For more details about the programming of each method section, turn to the
Galaxie Chromatography Data System User’s Guide.
Control Method Section for the Valco Valve
Once the new method is created, select the control section in
the lower part of the browser.
The following screen appears:
Press the button to display the System Control Method
Advanced Tools window:
to send the current method to the instrument.
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to get the active method from the instrument.
to print the current method.
Click on the button to display Valco valve control method
section. It contains one sub-section: Parameters.
General Control
Method parameter group:
Enter the Valve Purge Time in the corresponding field.
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NOTE: Depending of the valves layout, the way to select the valve stream in the method
will change. Please refer to the appendix Stream selection for more details.
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Starting and Viewing an
Acquisition
Quick Start and Sequence
Once the instrument control method has been correctly
programmed, an analysis can be started. The next section
briefly describes how to start an acquisition.
Quick Start (Single Acquisition)
1. Press the button.
In the Quick Start window, select the system, the method
and optionally the project if connected in "All project" mode.
2. Press the OK button.
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The following screen is displayed:
In the Acquisition Parameters tab, required fields like the
Run Name, the Run ID and the Acquisition length must be
filled in before starting an analysis. Furthermore, if the
system is equipped with an autosampler controlled by the
Galaxie Chromatography Data System, the Injection
Volume, the Vial position and the Rack number (if required)
must be entered.
Other parameters associated with each acquisition channel
can be entered in the Channel X tab.
3. Click on the Start button to start the acquisition if the
system is a single-injector system or click on the Next
button if the system is a multiple injector system. In a
multiple injector system, the same parameters entered for
the first injector must be entered for the other injectors
before starting the acquisition.
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Sequence
1. To create a sequence, select the FILE / NEW SEQUENCE
menu, and complete the displayed creation wizard screen
(refer to the Galaxie Chromatography Data System User’s
Guide), by entering the system name that will perform the
analysis, the number of lines (corresponding to the number
of samples), and the sequence name.
2. The sequence is displayed. Complete the sequence
information columns (refer to the Galaxie Chromatography
Data System User’s Guide).
The Method Name, the Run Name, the Run ID, and the
Acquisition length must be filled in before starting the
analysis. All these parameters are automatically imported
from the acquisition part if defined in the method.
3. Start the sequence by clicking on the button.
NOTE: For more details about how to start an acquisition, refer to the Galaxie
Chromatography Data System User’s Guide.
Running Acquisition Status
Viewing a Running Acquisition
To view a running acquisition, click on the Systems tab then
select the running system. A window is activated which is
composed of two parts: the running chromatogram and the
status window where the driver modules are listed.
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Status of the Valco Valve
Click on the button corresponding to the Valco Valve
driver and the Valco Valve status screen will appear.
Status Window
This screen displays the position of each valve. If the system is
idle change the stream position by clicking on the desired
position.
Overview Window
Click on the button: the Status Overview window is
displayed and contains three tabs:
• General: displays the synopsis of the instrument, where
the current valve position can be read. If the system is
idle change the stream position by clicking on the
desired position.
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• Not Ready: contains the not ready information sent by
the instrument.
Events: contains the events that have occurred on the
instrument.
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Appendix
Stream Selection
1 Valve:
In this case, enter the stream number in the vial field.
2 Valves Chained:
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In this case, enter the stream number in the vial field. Each stream will have a unique
number from 1 to the sum of valve 1 ports and valve 2 ports. The port of valve 1 where
the valve 2 is cascaded will be automatically selected when injecting from a stream on
valve 2.
Examples:
-If the user wants to select the stream 2 of valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field will
be 2.
-If the user wants to select the stream 5 of the valve 2 and valve 1 has 16 positions, the
value to enter in the vial field is 5+16=21
3 Valves Chained:
In this case, enter the stream number in the vial field. Each stream will have a unique
number from 1 to the sum of valve 1 ports, valve 2 ports and valve 3 ports. The port of
valve 1 where the valve 2 is cascaded will be automatically selected when injecting from
a stream on valve 2 or 3. The port of valve 2 where the valve 3 is cascaded will be
automatically selected when injecting from a stream on valve 3.
Examples:
-If the user wants to select the stream 2 of valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field will
be 2.
-If the user wants to select the stream 5 of the valve 2 and valve 1 has 16 positions, the
value to enter in the vial field is 5+16=21
-If the user wants to select the stream 8 of valve 3 and valve 1 and 2 have 10 positions,
the value to enter in the vial field is 8+10+10=28
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3 Valves Networked:
In this case, enter the stream number of valve 1 in the rack field and the stream number
of valve 2 or 3 in the vial field.
Examples:
-If the user wants to select the stream 5 of the valve 2 and valve 2 is connected to the
stream 1 of Valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field is 5 and in the rack field 1
-If the user wants to select the stream 6 of the valve 3 and valve 3 is connected to the
stream 2 of Valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field is 6 and in the rack field 2
4 Valves Networked:
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In this case, enter the stream number of valve 1 in the rack field and the stream number
of valve 2, 3 or 4 in the vial field.
Examples:
-If the user wants to select the stream 5 of the valve 2 and valve 2 is connected to the
stream 1 of Valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field is 5 and in the rack field 1
-If the user wants to select the stream 6 of the valve 3 and valve 3 is connected to the
stream 2 of Valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field is 6 and in the rack field 2
-If the user wants to select the stream 11 of the valve 4 and valve 4 is connected to the
stream 3 of Valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field is 11 and in the rack field 3
5 Valves Networked:
In this case, enter the stream number of valve 1 in the rack field and the stream number
of valve 2, 3, 4 or 5 in the vial field.
Examples:
-If the user wants to select the stream 5 of the valve 2 and valve 2 is connected to the
stream 1 of Valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field is 5 and in the rack field 1
-If the user wants to select the stream 6 of the valve 3 and valve 3 is connected to the
stream 2 of Valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field is 6 and in the rack field 2
-If the user wants to select the stream 11 of the valve 4 and valve 4 is connected to the
stream 3 of Valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field is 11 and in the rack field 3
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-If the user wants to select the stream 15 of the valve 5 and valve 5 is connected to the
stream 4 of Valve 1, the value to enter in the vial field is 15 and in the rack field 4
VICI Valve Configurator
The VICI Valve configurator is a tool to configure the baud rate and the ID of the VICI
Valves.
To configure a valve follow the steps described below:
1. Connect the valve to a COM port of the local computer.
2. Launch the executable file called "VICI_CONF_VALVE.EXE"
3. The following window will appear
4. Select on which COM port the valve is connected and press the
button
5. The valve will be automatically detected and its current Baud rate and ID
parameter will be displayed as below.
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6. Change the Baud Rate and/or the ID value and press the
button, the following screen will be displayed.
7. Once the parameters are correctly set in the valve the following confirmation
message will be displayed.
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