Thermal desorption tube collection system and method
AssigneeMLS ACQ, Inc. D/B/A Max Analytical Technologies
InventorsMartin L. Spartz, Adam R. Klempner, Kelly Renee McPartland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal desorption tube collection system uses a thermoelectric cooler to collect and concentrate gas samples. In some modes, the operation of the cooler is reversed to flow the concentrated sample directly into a separator such as a gas chromatography system. Components resolved in time by a thermal desorption separator accumulate in a sample cell and are analyzed by electromagnetic radiation-based spectroscopic techniques. Also presented are methods for analyzing biogas samples.
Claims26
A thermal desorption tube collection system comprising:
- at least one thermal desorption tube;
- a heat sink in thermal contact with the at least one thermal desorption tube;
- and
- a thermoelectric cooler for cooling and then heating the at least one thermal desorption tube via the heat sink.
A standalone thermal desorption tube collection system comprising:
- at least one thermal desorption tube;
- a thermoelectric cooler for cooling and then heating the at least one thermal desorption tube;
- and
- a controller powered by a battery.
A sample analysis system comprising:
- two thermal desorption tubes configured for a sample collection and sample analysis ping pong arrangement;
- a thermoelectric cooler for cooling a sample collection thermal desorption tube while heating a sample analysis thermal desorption tube;
- a gas chromatography system for separating a vapor desorbed from the heated thermal desorption tube into components;
- and
- a sample cell for receiving the separated components from the gas chromatography system and electromagnetic radiation for a spectrometric analysis of compounds in the sample cell.
A method for collecting a sample, the method comprising:
- cooling one or more thermal desorption tubes with a thermoelectric cooler;
- collecting a gas or vapor on the one or more thermal desorption tubes;
- and then
- desorbing the collected gas or vapor by reversing the operation of the thermoelectric cooler to heat the one or more thermal desorption tubes.
A method for collecting and analyzing a sample, the method comprising:
- collecting a gas or vapor on a first thermal desorption tube, wherein the first thermal desorption tube is cooled by a thermoelectric cooler, while desorbing a material collected on a second thermal desorption tube, wherein the second desorption tube is heated by the thermoelectric cooler;
- directing the desorbed material to a gas chromatography system;
- directing separated components from the gas chromatography system to a sample cell;
- and
- detecting compounds in the sample cell.
A sample analysis method or system, comprising:
- collecting oil present in a biomethane gas sample in a sample collection device;
- desorbing collected oil in the sample collection device;
- directing oil vapors to a sample cell;
- and
- obtaining a spectral response of the oil vapors in the sample cell using spectrometer, such as an FTIR analyzer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.