Overall instrument layout

Figure 1. Overall instrument layout showing (A) Instron 1125 universal tester (B) Zymark laboratory robots (C) Specimen bar magazine (D) Specimen bar measuring device.

All mass spectrometric data were acquired on an LCT orthogonal TOF mass spectrometer (Micromass Ltd, Manchester, UK) fitted with a prototype version of a novel four-way multiplex API interface. Each liquid stream was sampled for 0.1 s with 0.1 s used to move to the adjacent sampling position. Mass spectra were acquired from 200 to 1000 daltons with a cycle time of 10 Hz. The instrument was operated under MassLynx software V3.3. The overall system layout is presented in Fig. 10 and the design of the multiplex head is shown in detail in Fig. 11. 

On both platforms the ergonomics of layout and instrumentation would hinder rapid and effective response to a significant fire or gas release. The overall ergonomics in both control rooms betrayed the lack of a coherent human-machine interface design philosophy being implemented within the design process. 

This chapter revisits the instrumentation outlined in Chapter 1, but now taking a closer look at the multiple formats available for each component of a mass spectrometer. It is appropriate to show the overall layout of a mass spectrometer again (Figure 2.1), but with more detail, including different approaches to sample introduction, methods... 

Fluorescence spectrometers capable of measuring excitation and emission spectra as well as fluorescence intensities have been commercially available for almost 50 years. While the functions and the overall layout of the main components have not changed very much over that period, the individual components have developed enormously in terms of sensitivity, stability, and longevity, with the result that modern instruments have capabilities far superior to those 50 years ago. Moreover, many accessories, which were either unobtainable or unusual in the 1950s are now routinely available, allowing the selectivity as well as the sensitivity of fluorescence methods to be more fully exploited. Another major change, characteristic of the last two decades, has been the universal use of personal computers to control the instruments as well as to record and manipulate the data. This rapid data processing capability has further enhanced the capabilities of fluorescence spectroscopy. This article summarizes the optical layout used in virtually all commercial instruments, and describes the main components used in modern spectrometers. 

The Requirements for Design require (Ref. [1], para. 6.73) that the layout of instrumentation and the mode of presenting information provide the operating personnel with an adequate overall picture of the status and performance of the plant. Ergonomic factors are required to be taken into account in the control room design. 

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