Cold Trap Flash Desorption for Low-Cost Analyzer Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current contraband detection methods face challenges in detecting low concentrations of vapor or suspended particles, requiring expensive high-performance equipment like mass spectrometry, which is often unavailable due to budgetary constraints.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a cold trap and thermal desorber to concentrate and release samples for analysis, allowing the use of low-cost analyzers such as ion mobility spectrometers, which directly collects and flash heats samples for efficient detection of contraband vapors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If expensive high-performance detection equipment like mass spectrometry is used to detect low concentrations of contraband vapor, then detection sensitivity is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the detection process into two distinct stages: a collection stage using a low-cost filter to accumulate sample over time, and a analysis stage using a low-cost analyzer. This segmentation allows the use of inexpensive components while achieving detection sensitivity comparable to expensive mass spectrometry systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter performs preliminary concentration of the sample by collecting vapor molecules over an extended period before analysis. This preliminary action accumulates sufficient sample mass on the filter, enabling low-cost analyzers to detect contraband at levels previously requiring expensive equipment.
2Ease of manufacture
If low-cost analyzers are used for contraband detection, then system cost is reduced, but detection sensitivity deteriorates due to insufficient sample concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sample concentration by having the filter collect and accumulate vapor molecules over an extended period before analysis. This pre-concentration step ensures that sufficient sample mass is available for detection, enabling low-cost analyzers to achieve detection sensitivity previously only possible with expensive equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the concentration parameter by accumulating sample over time on the filter rather than analyzing ambient vapor directly. This parameter change transforms the sample from low-concentration ambient vapor to high-concentration filter-loaded sample, making it detectable by low-cost analyzers.
3Measurement precision
If sample collection time is extended to increase sample mass for low-cost analyzers, then detection sensitivity is improved, but response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic thermal desorption to release accumulated sample from the filter into the analyzer. This periodic action allows the filter to continuously accumulate sample during idle periods, then rapidly transfer concentrated sample to the analyzer for quick analysis, achieving both high sensitivity and fast response.
Solution Approach 2:
The system skips the lengthy process of real-time concentration by having the filter pre-accumulate sample during idle periods. When analysis is needed, the pre-concentrated sample is rapidly transferred to the analyzer, rushing through the analysis phase and achieving fast response without sacrificing detection sensitivity.
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
Enables cost-effective detection of contraband by concentrating and releasing samples at a release concentration, facilitating analysis with lower-cost detectors while maintaining sufficient sensitivity for identifying low-concentration substances.
Implementation Method 1
a cold trap to directly collect the sample from the sampling flow
Implementation Method 2
A thermal heater, coupled to the cold trap, flash heats the cold trap to produce a released sample from the cold trap
Implementation Method 3
An analyzer entrains the released sample at the release concentration from the sampling flow of the analyzer for analysis
Data Source
AI summary
Examples are directed toward systems and methods relating to collecting and analyzing samples. For example, a system includes a cold trap that directly collects a sample. The cold trap operates to serve as a collection filter while the system draws in a flow across the cold trap. A thermal heater, coupled to the cold trap, flash heats the cold trap to produce a released sample from the cold trap at a release concentration. An analyzer entrains the released sample at the release concentration into a sampling flow of the analyzer for analysis.