Reliability Analysis of GC-MS Instrument Using Fault Tree Approach

Abstract

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a method that combines the features of gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify different substances within a test sample. Applications of GC-MS include drug detection, fire investigation, environmental analysis, explosives investigation, pesticides detection and identification of unknown samples. GC/MS can also be used in airport security to detect substances in luggage or on human beings. Additionally, it can identify trace elements in materials that were previously thought to have disintegrated beyond identification. A Polaris Q System includes the Polaris Q MS, the TRACE GC, and the Xcalibur for gas chromatography detection and analysis. It is optimally designed to eliminate ion molecule reaction. The Finnigan Polaris Q external source ion trap mass spectrometer makes high quality GC/MS affordable for every laboratory. The Polaris Q features benefitting people working in chemical industry industry—analysts, technicians, and chemists. So it is very necessary to analyze the reliability of Polaris Q system. The thesis is concentrated towards the analysis of reliability of Polaris Q system with the help of fault tree method. A fault tree (FT) is constructed as a logical illustration of the events and their relationships that are necessary and sufficient to result in the undesired event, or top event. The data for every subpart is expressed in terms of their probability of failure which is the backbone of determining the reliability of the Polaris Q GC-MS instrument.