Closed Gas Circuit for Volatile Component Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing purge-and-trap systems face issues with gas consumption and atmospheric contamination, as well as inefficient extraction due to overpressure in the sample vessel, leading to incorrect quantitative measurements and potential health hazards from volatile substances.
Innovation Solution
A device with a closed gas circuit, including a sample vessel, supply line, and trap element, where gas is continuously circulated to reduce gas consumption and prevent atmospheric contamination, utilizing a pump and valves to control pressure and enhance outgassing of volatile components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a purge and trap method is used with inert gas flow through the sample, then volatile components can be transferred to the gas phase and collected, but the inert gas is released into the atmosphere causing contamination and gas consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The gas circuit is designed to continuously circulate the inert gas through the sample vessel, trap element, and back to the sample vessel without interruption. This continuous circulation allows the same gas to be reused repeatedly, eliminating the need to release gas into the atmosphere after each extraction cycle, thereby preventing atmospheric contamination and reducing gas consumption
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the inert gas after a single use, the system recovers the gas by circulating it back through the sample vessel. The pump draws gas from the trap element and supply line and returns it to the sample vessel, allowing the inert gas to be reused multiple times for extracting volatile components, thus preventing waste and atmospheric release
Solution Approach 3:
The pump acts as an intermediary device that facilitates the continuous circulation of inert gas through the closed circuit. It draws gas from the trap element and supply line and delivers it back to the sample vessel, enabling the gas to be reused without being released into the atmosphere, thereby solving both gas consumption and contamination issues
2Measurement precision
If extraction takes place at overpressure in the sample vessel, then volatile components can be extracted, but the outgassing of soluble components is poorer leading to incorrect quantitative measurement
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining overpressure in the sample vessel during extraction, the system inverts the pressure approach by using a pump to create underpressure or controlled pressure conditions. The pump draws gas through the sample, enhancing outgassing of soluble components while still allowing volatile components to be extracted and collected in the trap element, thereby improving both measurement accuracy and extraction efficiency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces gas consumption and prevents environmental contamination, increases the outgassing of volatile components, and allows for infinite gas conveyance without substance loss, improving extraction efficiency and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
A suction opening of a pump is fluidically connected to the discharge line
Implementation Method 2
These components are then collected on a suitable sorption material or in a cold trap
Implementation Method 3
The supply line comprises a first valve with which a flow of gas through the supply line can be throttled and/or interrupted
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a device for extracting volatile components from a sample received in a sample vessel, wherein the sample vessel is closed in a gas-tight manner. The device moreover has a discharge line and a supply line, which protrude into the sample vessel. The supply line comprises a first valve with which a flow of gas through the supply line can be throttled and/or interrupted. A suction opening of a pump is fluidically connected to the discharge line via a first fluid line, such that the pressure conditions in the device can be controlled by the capacity of the pump and by the setting of the first valve. A second fluid line fluidically connects the supply line to an output opening of the pump, such that sample vessel, supply line, discharge line and pump form a closed gas circuit. A trap element with at least one sorption material is fluidically connected to the first fluid line or the second fluid line.