Hand-held temperature programmable modular gas chromatograph

A gas chromatography module, comprising:

• a gas chromatography capillary column having a sampling end, an effluent end, and a coiled section intermediate said sampling end and said effluent end;
• oven means for controlling the temperature of said gas chromatography capillary column, including a cylindrical housing, and means defining a circumferential groove in said cylindrical housing;
• said coiled section of said gas chromatography capillary column being disposed in said circumferential groove of said cylindrical housing;
• said oven means including heating means for heating said cylindrical housing to thereby heat said gas chromatography capillary column;
• a first fluid conduit means surrounding said sampling end of said gas chromatography capillary column;
• a second fluid conduit means surrounding said first fluid conduit means;
• vacuum pump means for directing an airflow from said first fluid conduit means into said second fluid conduit means during a stand-by mode;
• and
• vacuum pulse generating means for influencing said airflow to thereby control the application of a vapor sample through said first fluid conduit means into said sampling end of said gas chromatography capillary column.