A glove box is a core piece of equipment for creating a dry, oxygen-controlled experimental environment. It is widely used in lithium battery research, perovskite work, organic synthesis, and other sensitive applications. A high-performance purification system helps maintain stable moisture and oxygen levels, but reliable operation still depends on correct cleaning, regeneration, circulation, transfer-chamber use, fault handling, and periodic maintenance.
1. Operating Precautions for Major Functions
（1）Cleaning
Cleaning is used to replace the air inside the chamber. During cleaning, maintain chamber pressure above 0.5 mbar to prevent the system from automatically closing the exhaust valve and allowing air to flow back into the chamber.
If the gas cylinder becomes empty and needs to be replaced, first turn off the cleaning function on the touchscreen, close the pressure regulator, and confirm that the secondary regulator gauge is closed before replacing the cylinder. This reduces the risk of excessive pressure damaging pneumatic valves or fittings.
If the cleaning time exceeds the normal standard but the moisture and oxygen readings still fail to reach the required range under normal gas-supply conditions, perform a leak check or contact technical support.
（2）Regeneration
Regeneration restores the adsorption and purification performance of the purification column. It may be appropriate when moisture and oxygen levels remain high and are difficult to reduce, especially when a long period has passed since the previous regeneration.
During regeneration, gas is discharged from the exhaust outlet, and water may be observed under some operating conditions.
The source guidance states that a short power interruption of less than 30 minutes can allow regeneration to continue after power is restored if the touchscreen has not been used to manually stop regeneration. If the outage exceeds 30 minutes, the regeneration should be stopped and restarted. If regeneration has been interrupted while the purification column remains hot, do not start circulation until the column has naturally cooled for more than 10 hours.
Never touch the purification column during the high-temperature regeneration stage. If the regeneration flowmeter has been corroded by solvent and its float becomes stuck, replace the component promptly.
（3）Circulation
The circulation fan can automatically adjust its operating speed according to changes in chamber moisture and oxygen levels. If the readings do not decrease for an extended period after circulation starts, regeneration may be required. If the problem remains unresolved, contact technical support.
（4）Transfer Chambers
Never open the outer and inner doors of the large and small transfer chambers simultaneously. When transfer chambers are not in use, evacuate them and store them under vacuum to reduce the risk of leakage caused by improperly compressed doors.
Before transferring materials through a transfer chamber, confirm that the materials can withstand vacuum exposure. Otherwise, the vacuum operation may damage the materials.
2. Common Faults and Initial Checks
Several common operating faults may occur.
A main-valve pressure below 0.4 MPa or a main-valve signal fault requires checking the working-gas pressure and confirming that both purification-column main-valve indicators show normal status on the touchscreen.
For a circulation-fan overload alarm, stop circulation immediately, read the variable-frequency-drive fault code, and provide it to technical support for analysis.
For abnormal chamber pressure, check the pressure reading and sensor status and investigate possible blockage in the gas lines.
For a circulation-fan over-temperature alarm, stop the circulation system and inspect for abnormal fan noise, blocked filters, depleted purification materials, or blocked circulation inlet/outlet filter elements. Seek technical support when necessary.
3. Routine Glove Box Maintenance
For routine operation, connect the chamber cleaning exhaust, regeneration exhaust, and vacuum-pump exhaust to an appropriate waste-gas treatment system.
When a large amount of organic solvent vapor is generated during an experiment, circulation can be stopped temporarily. After the operation is completed, cleaning can be run for about 20–30 minutes before circulation is restarted.
Daily inspection should include moisture and oxygen values, glove condition, working gas, and the vacuum pump. Check the vacuum pump oil level and listen for abnormal operating noise every day. Replace vacuum-pump oil and the oil-mist filter element every six months according to the source guidance.
Glove box inlet and outlet filter elements are recommended for replacement every two years. For models equipped with activated-carbon systems, replace activated carbon every 3–6 months and replace the filter element after every two activated-carbon replacements. The water/moisture probe should receive maintenance after 2,000 cumulative operating hours.
Standard glove box configurations are not intended for radiation or toxic-material production and experiments. Such applications require special protection or a customized model.
Following standardized cleaning, regeneration, circulation, transfer-chamber, and maintenance procedures can help stabilize the dry inert atmosphere, reduce equipment faults, improve experimental reliability, and control long-term maintenance costs.
