Hello,
Due to some unannounced work on our compressed air line on one of the MOST
humid days of the summer both our FTS units developed ice blockages.
The best we can figure it appears that the dessicant columns that are
supposed to ensure the air is dry got overwhelmed with moisture. I was out
of town at the time, and by the time I got back and was able to inspect
the air dryer both columns indicators show that they are fine- presumably
the normal dry compressed air (which has never given any trouble in 7
years) dried them out in the 5 days after the contanimation occured.
I've now been patiently blowing (what I believe is) dry air through the
fts units for over a week, however there is still enough water in them to
freeze up and severely constrict air flow when I turn them back on. Does
anyone have a good trick for speeding up the drying out time? I've routed
dry compressed air through our probes, but that limits us to running
expts at 25C and above, and unfortunately I have several users waiting
that need lower temperatures.
Thanks,
Tara
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Dr. Tara Sprules
Quebec/Eastern Canada High Field NMR Facility
www.nmrlab.mcgill.ca
phone: (514) 398-1721
fax: (514) 398-8254
3420 University St., Rm 023
McGill University
Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7
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Received on Tue Aug 02 2011 - 05:01:30 MST