Gas Phase Standard Preparation Using Ampule-Based Custom Dilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for providing reference materials for air quality analysis require shipment of high-pressure cylinders, which incur shipping complications and cannot easily accommodate labs needing custom concentrations, and result in waste when cylinders expire.
Innovation Solution
A gas phase standard preparation device that allows laboratories to create custom reference materials onsite by using a sealed ampule containing a chemical cocktail, which is breached and mixed with a diluent gas within a preparation station to form a final reference material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If premade standardized compounds are provided by commercial companies, then reference materials are available for comparison, but labs cannot obtain custom concentrations and must handle high-pressure cylinder shipments
Solution Approach 1:
The reference material system is segmented into two components: a sealed ampule containing the concentrated reference material and a separate diluent gas cylinder. This segmentation allows the lab to receive small, easy-to-ship ampules instead of large high-pressure cylinders, while still being able to prepare any desired concentration by controlling the dilution ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed ampule acts as an intermediary that delivers concentrated reference material in a safe, shippable format. The ampule is then introduced into the lab's preparation system where it is breached and mixed with diluent gas to produce the final customized reference material at the desired concentration.
2Quantity of substance
If high-pressure cylinders are shipped to labs, then reference materials are delivered, but special shipping methods and complications are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses disposable sealed ampules instead of reusable high-pressure cylinders. These ampules are designed to be shipped at low pressure, used once in the lab by breaching and mixing with diluent gas, and then discarded. This eliminates the need for special shipping arrangements and cylinder recertification processes.
3Reliability
If premade reference materials are used, then standardized testing is enabled, but waste is created when cylinders expire and must be disposed of or recertified
Solution Approach 1:
The invention allows dynamic control of the reference material concentration parameter. By adjusting the amount of diluent gas added to a fixed amount of reference material in the sealed ampule, labs can prepare any desired concentration. This ensures that the reference material is used efficiently and can be tailored to match evolving testing requirements, reducing waste from expired or obsolete cylinders.
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 laboratories to produce tailored reference materials at desired concentrations, reducing waste and shipping costs while avoiding the need for high-pressure cylinder shipments.
Implementation Method 1
evacuating the ampule sleeve
Implementation Method 2
The crusher assembly is configured to provide a uniform deformation of the ampule sleeve, thereby causing a breaching of the ampule
Implementation Method 3
starting a trickle flow of a diluent gas into the gas phase standard preparation device
Data Source
AI summary
A gas phase standard preparation device and method of use for creating a final reference material is disclosed. The final reference material is used to quantitate certain gaseous compounds in collected air samples. This is accomplished by providing a sealed ampule tube with an ampule containing reference material that is eventually breached by the gas preparation device. Once the ampule is breached, the reference material within the ampule is blended with a diluent gas and forced into a reference material cylinder. The concentration of the final reference material within the reference material cylinder can then be verified for use in testing collected air samples. Accordingly, this device allows for creating a custom final reference material onsite in a laboratory without the need for shipping in pre-made compressed gas cylinders for air quality testing.