Multi-Stage Injector for High-Pressure Fluid Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid analysis techniques face challenges in handling high-pressure, high-temperature samples, particularly liquid samples containing dissolved gases, which often result in large injection plugs and inaccurate quantitative analysis, especially in remote applications like oil wells where internal standards are difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage injector system that includes pressure regulation stages to adjust sample pressure, conditioning stages for vaporization or expansion, and injection stages to deliver a small, sharp plug to fluid analysis instruments, allowing for precise sample introduction and handling of high-pressure samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a split injector is used to reduce the volume of evaporated sample, then chromatographic resolution is improved, but the required split ratio becomes excessively large (1:1000 or more) for high-pressure, high-temperature samples
Solution Approach 1:
The injection process is divided into multiple discrete stages: pressure regulation stage, conditioning stage, and injection stage. Each stage performs a specific function to progressively reduce the sample volume while maintaining chromatographic quality, avoiding the need for an excessively large single-stage split ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts pressure parameters through the pressure regulation stage, transitioning the sample from high pressure to lower pressure before injection. This parameter change enables better control over the evaporation and injection process, achieving appropriate split ratios without excessive complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If a large split ratio is used to handle high-pressure samples, then the injection plug volume is reduced, but the carrier phase flow requirement increases tremendously
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulation stage performs preliminary action by reducing the sample pressure before it enters the conditioning and injection stages. This pre-pressure reduction minimizes the subsequent evaporation volume and carrier phase requirements, making the system more efficient for high-pressure samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure regulation stage acts as an intermediary between the high-pressure sample source and the GC inlet. It mediates the pressure transition and enables controlled sample introduction, reducing the burden on the carrier phase system while maintaining appropriate injection plug volumes.
3Speed
If liquid samples are quickly evaporated and pushed into the chromatographic column, then analysis speed is improved, but the injection plug volume becomes too large causing significant band broadening
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporation and injection process is segmented into controlled stages. The pressure regulation stage prepares the sample, the conditioning stage controls evaporation, and the injection stage delivers the optimized plug. This segmentation enables fast analysis while preventing excessive band broadening through controlled, multi-stage sample introduction.
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 multi-stage injector effectively reduces the volume of the injection plug, enhances chromatographic performance, and ensures accurate quantitative analysis by regulating pressure and conditioning the sample, making it suitable for high-pressure, high-temperature samples without the need for internal standards.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pressure regulation stage such that the at least one pressure regulation stage regulates a fluid sample from a first pressure to a second pressure
Implementation Method 2
the conditioning stage is configured to receive the fluid sample from the pressure regulation stage
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally recites a method, system and apparatus for fluid analysis and more specifically recites a method system and apparatus for multistage injection of a fluid to be analyzed into a fluid analysis instrument.