US 6,607,580 B1 · Separation column for a gas chromatograph

Abstract

A separation column for a gas chromatograph that includes a block of electrically insulating material having a channel located between two strips of thermoelectric material spaced from the channel by strips of electrically insulating material. Electrodes are connected to opposite ends of the strips of thermoelectric material. More specifically, each strip of thermoelectric material has two layers of dissimilar material to enable the strips to provide selective heating and cooling depending on the direction of current flow through the strips.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of heating a separation column for a gas chromatographic device comprising:

(a) positioning a strip of thermoelectric material in contact with said separation column, said strip being adapted to produce a Peltier effect when an electric current is passed through said strip;
and
(b) passing an electric current through said strip selectively in a first direction to cause said strip to heat said separation column and in a second direction to cause said strip to cool said separation column.

A method of making a separation column for a gas chromatographic device comprising the following steps:

(a) forming a first block of electrically insulating material having an entrance end, an exit end, and a first planar surface face that extends from said entrance end to said exit end, said first planar surface having a first outer groove extending from said entrance end to said exit end, a second outer groove spaced from said first outer groove and extending from said entrance end to said exit end and a central groove between said first and second outer grooves and spaced from each of said first and second outer grooves;
(b) forming a second block of electrically insulating material which is identical to said first block and includes a second planar surface that contains a first outer groove, a second outer groove, and a central groove;
(c) fixing said first planar surface to said second planar surface so that the central groove of said first block is aligned with the central groove of said second block and each of the first and second outer grooves of said first block is aligned with respective first and second outer grooves of said second block, said first outer grooves forming a first outer channel, said second outer grooves forming a second outer channel and said central grooves forming a central channel;
(d) filling each of said first outer channel and said second outer channel with a liquid thermoelectric material that is capable of changing from a liquid state to a solid state;
(e) causing said thermoelectric material to change from said liquid state to a solid state to form a first strip of thermoelectric material and a second strip of thermoelectric material;
(f) connecting a first electrode to each of said first and second strips of thermoelectric material at the entrance end of said first block;
and
(g) connecting a second electrode to each of said first and second strips of thermoelectric material at the exit end of said first block.

5 more elements

A method for making a separation column for a gas chromatograph device comprising the following steps:

(a) forming a first block of electrically insulating material having an entrance end, an exit end, and a first planar surface face that extends from said entrance end to said exit end, said first planar surface having a first outer groove extending from said entrance end to said exit end, a second outer groove spaced from said first outer groove and extending from said entrance end to said exit end and a central groove between said first and second outer grooves and spaced from each of said first and second outer grooves, said first outer groove having a first outer surface that faces away from said second outer groove, said second outer groove having a second outer surface that faces away from said first outer grove, each of said first and second outer surfaces being transverse to said first planar surface;
(b) forming a second block of electrically insulating material having an entrance end, an exit end and a second planar face that extends from said entrance end to said exit end, said second block having a first ridge and a second ridge spaced from said first ridge, each of said first and second ridges projecting transversely from said second planar face and extending from the entrance end to the exit end of said second block, the spacing between said first and second ridges being the same as the spacing between said first and second outer grooves, said first ridge having a first inner surface that faces said second ridge, said second ridge having an inner surface that faces said first ridge, each of said first and second inner surfaces being transverse to said second planar surface;
(c) fixing a layer of a first thermoelectric material on the inner surface of each of said first and second ridges;
(d) fixing a layer of a second thermoelectric material on the outer surface of each of said first and second grooves, said second thermoelectric material being different from said first thermoelectric material;
(e) joining said first and second blocks so that said first ridge enters said first groove, said second ridge enters said second groove, said first planar surface abuts said second planar surface, the entrance end of said first block is adjacent the entrance end of said second block, and the exit end of said first block is adjacent the exit end of said second block;
(f) fixing said first planar surface to said second planar surface;
(g) connecting a first electrode assembly to each of said layers at the entrance ends of said first and second blocks;
and
(h) connecting a second electrode assembly to each of said layers at the exit end of said first and second blocks.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Abstract

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of heating a separation column for a gas chromatographic device comprising:

(a) positioning a strip of thermoelectric material in contact with said separation column, said strip being adapted to produce a Peltier effect when an electric current is passed through said strip;
and
(b) passing an electric current through said strip selectively in a first direction to cause said strip to heat said separation column and in a second direction to cause said strip to cool said separation column.

A method of making a separation column for a gas chromatographic device comprising the following steps:

(a) forming a first block of electrically insulating material having an entrance end, an exit end, and a first planar surface face that extends from said entrance end to said exit end, said first planar surface having a first outer groove extending from said entrance end to said exit end, a second outer groove spaced from said first outer groove and extending from said entrance end to said exit end and a central groove between said first and second outer grooves and spaced from each of said first and second outer grooves;
(b) forming a second block of electrically insulating material which is identical to said first block and includes a second planar surface that contains a first outer groove, a second outer groove, and a central groove;
(c) fixing said first planar surface to said second planar surface so that the central groove of said first block is aligned with the central groove of said second block and each of the first and second outer grooves of said first block is aligned with respective first and second outer grooves of said second block, said first outer grooves forming a first outer channel, said second outer grooves forming a second outer channel and said central grooves forming a central channel;
(d) filling each of said first outer channel and said second outer channel with a liquid thermoelectric material that is capable of changing from a liquid state to a solid state;
(e) causing said thermoelectric material to change from said liquid state to a solid state to form a first strip of thermoelectric material and a second strip of thermoelectric material;
(f) connecting a first electrode to each of said first and second strips of thermoelectric material at the entrance end of said first block;
and
(g) connecting a second electrode to each of said first and second strips of thermoelectric material at the exit end of said first block.

5 more elements

A method for making a separation column for a gas chromatograph device comprising the following steps:

(a) forming a first block of electrically insulating material having an entrance end, an exit end, and a first planar surface face that extends from said entrance end to said exit end, said first planar surface having a first outer groove extending from said entrance end to said exit end, a second outer groove spaced from said first outer groove and extending from said entrance end to said exit end and a central groove between said first and second outer grooves and spaced from each of said first and second outer grooves, said first outer groove having a first outer surface that faces away from said second outer groove, said second outer groove having a second outer surface that faces away from said first outer grove, each of said first and second outer surfaces being transverse to said first planar surface;
(b) forming a second block of electrically insulating material having an entrance end, an exit end and a second planar face that extends from said entrance end to said exit end, said second block having a first ridge and a second ridge spaced from said first ridge, each of said first and second ridges projecting transversely from said second planar face and extending from the entrance end to the exit end of said second block, the spacing between said first and second ridges being the same as the spacing between said first and second outer grooves, said first ridge having a first inner surface that faces said second ridge, said second ridge having an inner surface that faces said first ridge, each of said first and second inner surfaces being transverse to said second planar surface;
(c) fixing a layer of a first thermoelectric material on the inner surface of each of said first and second ridges;
(d) fixing a layer of a second thermoelectric material on the outer surface of each of said first and second grooves, said second thermoelectric material being different from said first thermoelectric material;
(e) joining said first and second blocks so that said first ridge enters said first groove, said second ridge enters said second groove, said first planar surface abuts said second planar surface, the entrance end of said first block is adjacent the entrance end of said second block, and the exit end of said first block is adjacent the exit end of said second block;
(f) fixing said first planar surface to said second planar surface;
(g) connecting a first electrode assembly to each of said layers at the entrance ends of said first and second blocks;
and
(h) connecting a second electrode assembly to each of said layers at the exit end of said first and second blocks.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Separation column for a gas chromatograph

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19

Separation column for a gas chromatograph

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19