System and method for analyzing gas that uses enhanced cold traps

A method of determining contamination levels within a source of hydrogen gas that contains contaminants, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first cold trap that contains a gas chromatography column configured into a first winding, wherein said first cold trap is capable of capturing some of said contaminates that have dipole moments;
• providing a first heat sink plate that contains a first set of inset relief grooves that are sized and positioned to receive said first winding therein;
• providing a first activator for relatively moving said first winding and said first heat sink plate between a first configuration, where said first winding is separated from said first heat sink plate, and a second configuration, where first winding is received within said first set of inset grooves, therein creating direct contact between said first winding and said first heat sink plate;
• providing a second cold trap that contains a molecular sieve column configured into a second winding, wherein said second cold trap is capable of capturing some of said contaminants based upon contaminant size;
• providing a second heat sink plate that contains a second set of inset relief grooves that are sized and positioned to receive said second winding therein;
• providing a second activator for relatively moving said second winding and said second heat sink plate between a first orientation, where said first winding is separated from said second heat sink plate and a second orientation, where second winding is received within said second set of inset grooves, therein creating direct contact between said second winding and said second heat sink plate;
• providing a hydrogen separator;
• creating a purified carrier gas by passing some of said hydrogen gas through said hydrogen separator;
• having said first activator move said first winding and said first heat sink plate into said first configuration, and having said second activator move said second winding and said second heat sink plate into said first orientation;
• cooling said first heat sink plate and said second heat sink plate, therein cooling said first winding and said second winding to a first temperature;
• passing a sample volume of said hydrogen gas through said first winding and said second winding, wherein some of said contaminants concentrate in said first winding and said second winding;
• having said first activator move said first winding and said first heat sink plate into said second configuration, and having said second activator move said second winding and said second heat sink plate into said second orientation;
• heating said first winding and said second winding to a second temperature that vaporizes said contaminants within said first winding and said second winding;
• flushing said contaminates from said first cold trap and said second cold trap with said purified carrier gas, therein forming a contaminated carrier gas;
• and
• analyzing said contaminated carrier gas to quantify said contaminants.