Methods and Systems for Concentrating a Gas Sample

A method for concentrating a gas sample, the method comprising:

• preparing a concentrated gas sample from a non-concentrated gas sample with a trap, the trap enclosing an internal volume;
• controlling a temperature of the internal volume of the trap to reach a release temperature;
• injecting the concentrated gas sample in a sample line towards a sample loop, the sample line and sample loop being at a sub-atmospheric pressure;
• and
• operating the sample loop to release the concentrated gas sample contained in the sample loop in a chromatographic method, wherein the trap is not inline with the chromatographic method.

A system for concentrating a gas sample, the system comprising:

• a trap having an internal volume, a gas inlet and a gas outlet, the trap being configured to receive a non-concentrated gas sample in the internal volume through the gas inlet, produce a concentrated gas sample and output the concentrated gas sample through the gas outlet;
• a temperature-controlled enclosure housing the trap for controlling the temperature of the internal volume of the trap;
• a sample line operatively connected to the gas outlet;
• a sample loop having a sample loop inlet connected to the sample line and a sample loop outlet configured to be operatively connected to a chromatographic method, the sample loop comprising a valve, the valve being configured to be actuated to release the concentrated gas sample towards the chromatographic method, the sample line and sample loop being at a sub-atmospheric pressure, wherein the trap is not inline with the chromatographic method;
• and
• a pump operatively connected to the sample loop.

A method for concentrating a gas sample, the method comprising:

• preparing a concentrated gas sample from a non-concentrated gas sample with a trap, the trap having an internal volume, said preparing the concentrated gas sample comprising:
• heating the internal volume of the trap to reach a trapping temperature;
• when the trapping temperature is reached, circulating the non-concentrated gas sample in the trap;
• and
• isolating the trap;
• conditioning a sample line to reach equilibrium, the sample line operatively connecting an output of the trap with an input of a sample loop;
• heating the internal volume of the trap to reach a release temperature;
• when the equilibrium is reached in the sample line and the release temperature is reached in the internal volume of the trap, injecting the concentrated gas sample in the sample loop through the sample line;
• and
• operating the sample loop to release the concentrated gas sample contained in the sample loop in a chromatographic method, wherein the trap is not inline with the chromatographic method.