Collision Cell Gas Switching for Stable Vacuum Mass Spectrometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ICP-MS systems face inefficiencies in switching between no-gas and with-gas analysis modes, leading to decreased measurement sensitivity and increased analysis time due to vacuum pressure drops and potential contamination, which necessitate temporary voltage discontinuation and prolonged analysis waiting times.
Innovation Solution
A mass spectrometer with a gas supplier featuring a three-way valve and controller that selectively directs the gas flow between a passage for the collision cell and a vacuum passage, preventing sudden gas influx and maintaining stable vacuum conditions during mode switching, allowing continuous voltage application and reduced analysis waiting times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas supply is rapidly switched during analysis mode transition, then analysis time is reduced, but vacuum pressure stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions before mode switching: closing the gas supply valve in advance before transitioning to no-gas analysis mode, and opening it in advance before transitioning to with-gas analysis mode. These preliminary actions prevent sudden gas influx that would cause vacuum pressure drops, thereby maintaining vacuum stability while enabling rapid mode transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system cushions against potential vacuum pressure drops by controlling the gas supply valve timing. By closing the valve before gas influx occurs during mode transition, the system prevents harmful vacuum pressure drops, protecting the vacuum system stability during analysis mode changes.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If gas flow rate is increased to prevent air leakage, then contamination is reduced, but vacuum pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system closes the gas supply valve in advance before mode transition to no-gas analysis, preventing air leakage contamination during the transition period. By controlling the valve timing, the system maintains gas flow continuity without requiring high flow rates that would cause vacuum pressure drops.
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
This configuration minimizes analysis waiting times and improves efficiency by preventing vacuum drops and maintaining stable gas flow, enabling faster and more accurate switching between no-gas and with-gas analysis modes without the need for voltage discontinuation.
Implementation Method 1
a gas supplier including a three-way valve configured to receive a predetermined gas supplied from a gas supply source and selectively send the predetermined gas into either a first passage for sending the predetermined gas to the cell or a second passage for discharging the predetermined gas into vacuum state
Implementation Method 2
The various kinds of ions introduced into the collision cell repeatedly come in contact with the helium gas. Through every contact with the gas, the kinetic energy possessed by the ions decreases.
Implementation Method 3
The ions taken into the chamber are accelerated by a DC electric field and introduced into a collision cell.
Implementation Method 4
The neutral particle is dissipated to the outside of the collision cell, without being captured by the radio-frequency electric field created by the ion guide located within the collision cell.
Implementation Method 5
The interfering ion whose m/z has changed, or an ion originating from this ion, is separated from the target ion in a quadrupole mass filter or similar mass separator in the subsequent stage.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Provided is a mass spectrometer including a vacuum chamber containing a cell used for causing ions originating from a sample to come in contact with a predetermined gas supplied from a gas supplier (20), which includes a three-way valve (204) configured to selectively send the gas into either a first passage (22) for sending the predetermined gas to the cell or a second passage (23) for discharging the gas into vacuum state. The mass spectrometer also includes a controller configured to control the three-way valve so as to send the gas into the second passage during an analysis period in which ions are not caused to come in contact with the gas within the cell and/or during a non-analyzing period, as well as to send the gas into the first passage during an analysis period in which ions are caused to come in contact with the gas within the cell.