Analytical engine for gas chromatograph

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration, comprising:

• a switching valve assembly comprising:
• a first face that defines and covers a geometric interior;
• a second face that defines and covers the geometric interior;
• a perimeter that defines and covers the geometric interior;
• and
• a valve block;
• a column plate in close proximity to said first face, said column plate thermally linked to said first face;
• a thermal cover in close proximity to said perimeter, said thermal cover being thermally linked to said perimeter and substantially coaxial with said switching valve assembly;
• a plurality of gas chromatograph columns positioned substantially coaxial to said switching valve assembly and in close proximity to said column plate, said plurality of gas chromatograph columns being thermally linked to each of said switching valve assembly, said thermal cover and said column plate;
• and
• a detector block coupled to said valve block, said detector block being thermally linked to said second face by a detector thermal link.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration, comprising:

• a switching valve assembly;
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly;
• and
• a substantially cylindrical temperature control element axially aligned with at least one of said switching valve assembly and said gas chromatograph column, wherein said temperature control element extends into a geometric region surrounded by at least one of said switching valve assembly and said gas chromatograph column, and said temperature control element heats or cools said gas chromatograph column.

An analytical engine for analyzing composition and/or concentration of a gas and/or vapor injected into a switching valve assembly, comprising:

• a switching valve assembly;
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly;
• and
• an electronic temperature control element axially aligned with at least one of said switching valve assembly and said gas chromatograph column, wherein said temperature control element extends into a geometric region surrounded by at least one of said switching valve assembly and said gas chromatograph column, and said temperature control element heats or cools said gas chromatograph column.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration comprising:

• a switching valve assembly;
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly;
• an enclosure that surrounds and is adjacent to and is thermally linked to said gas chromatograph column;
• and
• a Peltier cooler outside said enclosure and thermally linked to said switching valve assembly and said gas chromatograph column.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration comprising the following components in an integral assembly:

• a switching valve assembly;
• and
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly;
• and
• a detector mounted in a detector block in close proximity to and mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration, comprising:

• a thermaly conductive housing;
• a switching valve assembly within said housing;
• and
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly and within and in thermal and mechanical contact with said housing.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration, comprising the following components, fitted together, to form an integral assembly:

• a thermally conductive housing;
• a switching valve assembly within and in thermal and mechanical contact with said housing;
• and
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly and within and thermally linked to said housing.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration, comprising the following components, fitted together, to form an integral assembly:

• a thermally conductive housing;
• a substantially cylindrical switching valve assembly within and in thermal and mechanical contact with said housing;
• and
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly and within and in thermal contact with said housing.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration, comprising:

• an enclosure that includes a thermal cover as an upper portion and a column plate as a lower portion;
• a switching valve assembly within said enclosure, wherein said switching valve assembly includes a perimeter adjacent to and thermally linked to said thermal cover, and said switching valve assembly includes a lower face adjacent to and thermally linked to said column plate;
• and
• a gas chromatograph column substantially coaxial with said switching valve assembly, within said enclosure, and adjacent to and thermally linked to said column plate.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration, comprising:

• a switching valve assembly;
• a column plate adjacent to and thermally linked to said switching valve assembly;
• a thermal cover adjacent to and thermally linked to and substantially coaxial with said switching valve assembly;
• and
• an analytical column substantially coaxial with said switching valve assembly, adjacent to said column plate, thermally linked to each of said switching valve assembly, said thermal cover, and said column plate, and within an enclosure that includes said thermal cover as an upper portion and said column plate as a lower portion.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration comprising:

• a switching valve assembly comprising:
• a first face that defines and covers a geometric interior;
• a second face that defines and covers the geometric interior;
• a perimeter that defines and covers the geometric interior;
• and
• a valve block;
• a column plate adjacent to and thermaly linked to said first face;
• a thermal cover adjacent to and thermally linked to said perimeter and substantially coaxial with said switching valve assembly;
• a plurality of gas chromatograph columns positioned substantially coaxial to said switching valve assembly, adjacent to said column plate, and thermally linked to each of said switching valve assembly, said thermal cover and said column plate;
• and
• a detector block coupled to said valve block and thermally linked to said second face by a detector thermal link.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration comprising the following components in an integral assembly:

• an external housing that includes a thermally conductive enclosure;
• a switching valve assembly within said enclosure;
• a temperature control element within said enclosure;
• and
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly and within and in thermal contact with said enclosure, wherein a temperature of said enclosure, said switching valve assembly and said gas chromatograph column is substantially uniform for a given radius from a center of said enclosure.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration comprising the following components in an integral assembly:

• an external housing that includes a thermally conductive enclosure;
• a switching valve assembly within said housing;
• a temperature control element within said housing;
• and
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly and within and in thermal contact with said enclosure, wherein said enclosure transfers heat between said temperature control element and said gas chromatograph column.

An analytical engine for analyzing gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration comprising the following components in an integral assembly:

• an external housing that includes a thermally conductive enclosure;
• a switching valve assembly within said enclosure;
• a temperature control element outside said enclosure;
• and
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly and within and in thermal contact with said enclosure, wherein a temperature of said enclosure, said switching valve assembly and said gas chromatograph column is substantially uniform for a given radius from a center of said enclosure.

An analytical engine for analying gas and/or vapor composition and/or concentration, comprising:

• an external housing that includes a thermally conductive enclosure;
• a switching valve assembly within said housing;
• a temperature control element outside said housing;
• and
• a gas chromatograph column mechanically coupled to said switching valve assembly and within and in thermal contact with said enclosure, wherein said enclosure transfers heat between said temperature control element and said gas chromatograph column.