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Publication Number
US-12320786-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
A gas analyzer system (100, 200, 300) and methods of reducing sample carryover in a gas sample selector (102, 202, 302), The gas analyzer system (100, 200, 300) includes a gas chromatograph (104, 204, 304) and a gas sample selector (102, 202, 302). The gas sample selector (102, 202, 302) includes a multi-position selector valve (130, 230, 330), a flush valve (140, 240, 340), and a purge valve (150, 250, 350), as well as conduits providing flowpaths between them. When switching the flush valve (140, 240, 340) to connect the flush valve (140, 240, 340) vent and flush valve (140, 240, 340) outlet and flowing purge gas through the purge valve (150, 250, 350) port, the purge gas will flow to the selector (102, 202, 302) exit and to the flush valve (140, 240, 340) vent to remove sample gas from the flowpaths.
Core Innovation
A gas sample selector is configured for selecting from multiple gas samples by using a multi-position selector valve having selector entrances and selector valve inlets. In different valve positions, different selector valve inlets are fluidically connected to at least one selector valve outlet, and a selector exit provides a gas sample to an analyzer. The selector exit is fluidically connected to the purge valve outlet so that purge gas can be routed to the fluidic path leading to the analyzer.
The selector includes a flush valve and a purge valve arranged to remove residual sample from conduits associated with the selector exit. The flush valve provides, in different flush valve positions, a flowpath between a flush valve inlet and a flush valve outlet and a flowpath between a flush valve vent port and the flush valve inlet and/or the flush valve outlet. The purge valve allows flow of purge gas through a purge valve inlet and a purge valve outlet in one purge valve position and prevents purge gas flow in another purge valve position.
In the described embodiments, a multi-port valve supports routing to either a pump or a flow restrictor so purge gas can be handled for different sample container pressure conditions. The multi-port valve has valve positions that create fluidic connections between the multi-position selector valve and the pump in one valve position and between the multi-position selector valve and the flow restrictor in another valve position. The described valve control enables carryover reduction for gas analyzer system operation with selectable gas samples.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim set comprises two independent claims (clm-00001 and clm-00014). Both claims define a gas sample selector for selecting from multiple gas samples using a multi-position selector valve, and both include additional valve-based fluid routing for flush and purge, with clm-00001 centering on flush valve and purge valve connections to the selector exit and clm-00014 centering on a multi-port valve that routes to a pump or a flow restrictor.
Multi-position selector valve fluidically connecting selector entrances to a selector outlet
A multi-position selector valve comprising a plurality of selector valve inlets and at least one selector valve outlet, wherein in different valve positions, a different selector valve inlet is fluidically connected to the at least one selector valve outlet.
Flush valve with vent flowpath and inlet/outlet flowpath positions
A flush valve having at least two flush valve positions, and in one flush valve position, the flush valve provides a flowpath between a flush valve inlet and a flush valve outlet, and in another flush valve position, the flush valve provides a flowpath between a flush valve vent port and the flush valve inlet and/or the flush valve outlet.
Purge valve controlling purge gas flow to the selector exit
A purge valve having at least two purge valve positions, and in one purge valve position, the purge valve allows flow of purge gas to a purge valve inlet and a purge valve outlet, and in another purge valve position, the purge valve prevents a flow of purge gas to the purge valve inlet or the purge valve outlet.
Fluidic connection chain from selector outlet through flush valve to purge valve inlet and from purge valve outlet to selector exit
At least one selector valve outlet is fluidically connected to the flush valve inlet; the flush valve outlet is fluidically connected to the purge valve inlet; and the selector exit is fluidically connected to the purge valve outlet.
Multi-port valve routing between pump and flow restrictor
A multi-port valve comprising a plurality of valve ports, wherein at least one of the valve ports is fluidically connected to the at least one selector valve outlet; a pump fluidically connected to one of the valve ports; a flow restrictor fluidically connected to one or more of the valve ports; and wherein the multi-port valve has at least two valve positions, and in one valve position, the multi-port valve creates a fluidic connection between the multi-position selector valve and the pump and in another valve position, the multi-port valve creates a fluidic connection between the multi-position selector valve and the flow restrictor.
Across clm-00001 and clm-00014, the claims cover a gas sample selector that uses a multi-position selector valve to select among multiple gas samples, and then uses additional valve-based fluid routing to control flushing and purging of the fluidic path associated with the selector exit feeding an analyzer. Clm-00001 specifies flush and purge valves with a vent-port flowpath and fluidic connections that route purge gas to the selector exit, while clm-00014 specifies a multi-port valve that creates fluidic connections either to a pump or to a flow restrictor.
Stated Advantages
Reduces carryover of gas samples in gas analyzer system operation.
Enables purging of residual sample from selector/loop conduits associated with providing a gas sample to an analyzer.
Optionally clears dead volume when switching containers.
Documented Applications
Gas analyzer system operation using a gas chromatograph (GC) with a gas sample selector that provides a selected gas sample to a chromatograph entrance.
Workflow modes for gas sample handling that transition through Load, Inject, PreRun, Run, PostRun, and Sweep to minimize carryover and optionally clear dead volume when switching containers.
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