The GC8000 has a built-in 12-inch color touch screen display that dramatically simplifies maintenance. At the touch of the screen, the technician can access all of the analytical parameters and measurement results; displayed in easy-to-understand graphical color screens. From simple overview screens that show the analyzer’s operation at a glance to trend displays of Key Performance Indicators (KPI), the user can easily navigate to the information or task that needs to be accomplished.

All the GC operating parameters such as gate and valve times are conveniently displayed on the same screen. This simplifies routine GC maintenance as well as enables technicians new to the GC8000 to quickly begin using the analyzer with minimal training. Chromatograms are also easily called up to compare analysis performance against stored chromatograms or a reference calibration chromatogram.

The GC Module (GCM) is a concept where all the parameters and functions of a specific GC application are gathered under one section. For analyzers tackling more than one GC application, this allows everything to be segregated into individual virtual GCs for much easier understanding and maintenance. No longer will the technician need to wonder which valve or peak setting applies to which portion of the GC's application. And navigating between the GCMs is as simple as touching the GCM tabs on the screen.

One example of how the GCM design can help is with Parallel Chromatography. Parallel Chromatography is a powerful tool for process GCs that can often reduce analysis cycle times and hardware complexity. But until the GC8000, the implementation of parallel chromatography was cumbersome and difficult as the software for the different parallel chromatography segments were not segregated from one another. This complexity limited the ability of parallel chromatography to be utilized to its full potential. The GC8000 avoids this confusion and complexity by using individual SYS configurations (system clocks) for each individual mini-applications (often called applets).

Leveraging Yokogawa’s half century of experience with process chromatography, the GC8000 system has advanced predictive diagnostic, Virtual Tech, software to the GCs operating at peak performance. A number of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are monitored during every analysis to verify the analyzers are operating within proper tolerances. The data monitored includes:

· Chromatogram Shape

· Peak Data

· Valve Data

· Detector Data

· Oven Performance Data

When any of the thresholds of monitored parameters are crossed, a pre-alert message is sent to the GC maintenance workstation. Furthermore, an email can be sent that will contain all the measurement data as well as chromatogram in a “zipped” file to a user-defined email address such as the plant’s key GC support technician. The technician can then call up and review the long-term performance of the GC.

The GC8000 also has built-in routines that automatically corrects for many of the common issues of a GC. For example, the GC8000 has an automatic peak alignment capability to correct for shifts in retention time of the peaks without requiring user intervention. Not only does this minimize maintenance but it also allows the GC8000 to be one of the few process GCs that can do demanding applications such as PIONA analysis.

The communications network of the GC8000 is based on the industry standard Ethernet structure to provide flexible yet secure transmission of data to GC maintenance workstations and the plant DCS system. The GC8000 can be set up for either a single Ethernet network or a redundant network with two completely isolated Ethernet networks if desired. 

Built in native Modbus TCP/IP protocol support for network communications eliminates the need for communication gateways to DCS systems in many situations. Not only does this simplify the network architecture, it removes a potential point of failure in delivering analytical data to the DCS system. But for communication systems that still require serial Modbus gateways, the GC8000’s ASGW is available to fill that role.

The GC network can even be expanded to include the Advanced Analytical Instrument Maintenance Software (AAIMS) that provides real-time asset maintenance management functions for a wide range of on-line process analyzers such as pH and O2 as well as GCs and FT-NIRs. AAIMS improves the process analysis efficiency by accurately assessing and displaying the KPIs of each analyzer through real-time data acquisition combined with statistical quality control (SQC) analysis. It also provides a common graphical interface for all the plant's analyzers for validation checks and alarm reporting.