Dual Cold Trap and Getter Preprocessing for Gas Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for separating and extracting rare gases from seafloor hydrothermal fluids are inadequate as they fail to completely remove halogen and sulfur compounds, which can corrode analysis devices and interfere with the analysis, and often remove target gases along with water using the spike method, making them unsuitable for trace gas analysis.
Innovation Solution
A preprocessing apparatus with a water trapping section using dual cold traps to remove water vapor and an adsorption section with specific getters to adsorb halogen and sulfur compounds, ensuring high-purity gas extraction by preventing corrosion and accurate isotope analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the spike method is used to separate and extract rare gas from seawater, then the extraction process is simplified, but the target gas is removed along with water and the halogen and sulfur compounds are not completely removed
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process is divided into two independent stages: first, physical separation of gas from water using a gas-liquid separator; second, chemical purification of the extracted gas using getters to remove halogen and sulfur compounds. This segmentation allows each stage to optimize for its specific function, achieving both simplicity and high purity.
Solution Approach 2:
A getter material is introduced as an intermediary substance that selectively reacts with and removes halogen and sulfur compounds from the extracted gas. This intermediary enables the removal of harmful impurities without affecting the target rare gas, resolving the contradiction between simple extraction and high purity.
2Reliability
If halogen and sulfur compounds are not completely removed, then the analysis device and flow path are corroded, but complete removal requires more complex preprocessing
Solution Approach 1:
Getter materials with porous structures are used to provide large surface area for chemical reactions with halogen and sulfur compounds. The porous structure enables efficient removal of these compounds while maintaining a compact device configuration, balancing durability requirements with preprocessing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical state of the getter material is changed by heating to activate its reactive properties, enabling it to effectively remove halogen and sulfur compounds. This parameter change (temperature activation) allows simple device design while achieving complete impurity removal for device protection.
3Device complexity
If metal components are used in the analysis device to purify and measure rare gas, then the device structure is simplified, but the metal components are corroded by halogen and sulfur compounds
Solution Approach 1:
The getter material performs preliminary removal of halogen and sulfur compounds before the gas reaches metal components in the analysis device. This preliminary protective action prevents corrosion of metal parts, allowing the use of simple metal structures without compromising durability.
Solution Approach 2:
Purification of the gas stream from halogen and sulfur compounds is performed in advance in the preprocessing section, protecting downstream metal analysis devices from corrosion. This preliminary action allows the analysis device to maintain simple metal construction while achieving corrosion resistance.
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 apparatus effectively removes halogen and sulfur compounds, preventing device corrosion and ensuring high-purity gas extraction, enhancing the accuracy of isotope analysis and preventing target gases from being removed with water vapor.
Implementation Method 1
cooling means configured to cool the sample water, from which the target gas has been extracted, at a temperature lower than a dew point temperature of the sample water, thereby condensing a liquid phase
Implementation Method 2
an adsorption section configured to adsorb a non-target gas for extraction in the to-be-purified target gas
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Provided herein are a preprocessing apparatus and a preprocessing method for gas analysis that are capable of separating and extracting a target gas with high purity. The preprocessing apparatus 1 for gas analysis includes a water trapping section 3 and an adsorption section 5. The water trapping section 3 includes a first cold trap CT1 and a second cold trap CT2. The first cold trap CT1 is configured to cool sample water at a first temperature, thereby removing a liquid phase. The second cold trap CT2 is configured to further cool to-be-purified target gas containing water vapor, which has been purified (dried) by the first cold trap CT1, at a second temperature, thereby removing the water vapor to obtain the to-be-purified target gas not containing water vapor. The adsorption section 5 is configured to adsorb a non-target gas for extraction in the to-be-purified target gas using a getter. The obtained target gas is introduced into an analysis device 11.