Detector inlet apparatus and method

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein after increasing power to the heater while the flow rate is reduced, the controller is configured to control the apparatus to draw a second flow of air into the inlet past the heater to vaporise aerosols in the second flow of air and to provide the vaporised aerosols for sampling by the analytical apparatus.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein providing the vaporised aerosols for sampling by the analytical apparatus comprises operating the flow provider to increase the flow rate through the inlet.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is configured to operate the flow provider to provide the vaporised aerosols to the analytical apparatus after the heater reaches a threshold temperature and/or after a fixed time delay after the heater is turned on.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow velocity through the inlet past the heater prior to reducing the flow rate is at least 0.4 m/s and/or wherein the flow velocity through the inlet past the heater when the heater is turned on is less than 0.4 m/s, for example wherein the flow velocity through the inlet past the heater prior to reducing the flow rate is at least 0.6 m/s and/or wherein the flow velocity through the inlet past the heater when the heater is turned on is less than 0.3 m/s.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heater comprises wire arranged in the inlet in the path of the flow of air so that the flow of air must pass the wire to reach the analytical apparatus.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heater is configured to heat the flow of air to a temperature of at least 150° C. to vaporise aerosols, for example at least 200° C., and/or wherein the heater is configured to heat the flow of air to a temperature of no more than 300° C., for example no more than 250° C.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet comprises one or more sampling ports through which the analytical apparatus is configured to obtain samples from the inlet, for example one or more sampling ports selected from a pinhole inlet, a capillary inlet or a membrane inlet.

A detector comprising the inlet apparatus of any one of the preceding claims and an analytical apparatus configured to obtain samples from the inlet for detecting a substance of interest.