Abstract: The present techniques, including methods and systems, relate to obtaining or producing a concentrated gas sample from a non-concentrated gas sample with a trap that is not inline with (or indirectly connected to) a chromatographic method, and injecting a controlled volume of the concentrated gas sample in a sample loop including a valve or similar chromatographic component through a sample line. The method includes preparing the concentrated gas sample from the non-concentrated gas sample with a trap; controlling a temperature of an internal volume of the trap to reach a release temperature; injecting the concentrated gas sample in a sample line towards a sample loop, the sample line and sample loop being at a sub-atmospheric pressure; and operating the sample loop to release the concentrated gas sample contained in the sample loop in a chromatographic method, wherein the trap is not inline with the chromatographic method.

Abstract: A chromatography valve for use in fluid analysis and chromatography applications is provided. The valve includes a first body having passages extending therethrough and opening on a flat face of the first body at respective passage ports. The valve also includes a second body engaged with the first body in a sealed relationship, whereby one of the first and second bodies is movable relative to the other one between two or more positions for controlling fluid circulation through the passages. The second body includes at least one cartridge receiving cavity for receiving at least one cartridge removably provided therein. The cartridge has channel(s) for channeling fluid of pairs of the passage ports, depending on the position of the first body relative to the second body, thereby channeling fluid through selected ones of the passages via the at least one channel. A method of operating the valve is also provided.

Abstract: An emission-based detector for use in conjunction with capillary chromatography or other applications involving a gas sample having a small volume is provided. The detector is based on optical emission from a plasma medium. An optical cartridge or other detection and/or processing means may be provided to receive and analyse the emitted radiation and thereby obtain information on the gas to be analysed. The emission-based detector includes a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a capillary channel which is in fluid communication with the gas inlet and gas outlet. The capillary channel acts as the plasma chamber. Preferably, the capillary channel has transversal dimensions of the same order as the cross-section of typical chromatography capillary columns and defines a winding path within the detection area. A multi-cell emission-based detector and a method of analysing a gas sample using multiple detection cells are also provided.

Abstract: A diaphragm valve for gas analysis applications is provided. The valve includes a valve cap provided with a plurality of process conduits extending therethrough, a valve body engageable with the valve cap and having a body interface provided with a recess, a diaphragm positioned between the valve cap and valve body and having a process groove for circulating fluid therein, the process groove engaging the recess, a plunger assembly provided within the valve body, the plunger assembly comprising a plurality of plungers movable between a closed position wherein the plunger engages the diaphragm, and an open position wherein the plunger is spaced from the diaphragm, and an actuating assembly comprising a gas inlet to allow the injection of actuating gas therein, the actuating assembly comprising a purging system for purging a region located between the diaphragm and the body interface, whereby the actuating gas is used for purging the region.

Abstract: A photoionization detector (PID) is disclosed that includes an ionization chamber configured to allow a flow of a gas sample therethrough, the ionization chamber defining an ionization region and a detection region, a photoionization source configured to generate ionizing radiation for irradiating the flow of the gas sample in the ionization region, an electric-field ionization source configured to apply an ionizing electric field inside the ionization chamber to intersect the flow of the gas sample in the ionization region, the ionizing radiation and the ionizing electric field being configured to ionize the gas sample, and an ion detector configured to detect, in the detection region, an ionization current resulting from the ionized gas sample. The PID may also include an optical window, for example, made of a window material including sapphire, configured to allow at least part of the ionizing radiation to pass therethrough prior to entering the ionization region.

Abstract: There is provided a compound electrode assembly for generating a plasma in a plasma chamber of a plasma discharge device. The compound electrode assembly includes a casing, a discharge electrode and a sealing compound. The casing is made of a dielectric material and includes at least one side wall and an end wall defining a closed end. The discharge electrode is mounted in the casing and is bonded to the end wall. The sealing compound surrounds the discharge electrode and extends within the casing.

Abstract: There is provided a method for measuring a composition of a gas circulating through a plasma-based detector, the plasma-based detector having a discharge chamber defining an internal volume and having discharge electrodes configured to apply a plasma-generating field across the discharge chamber. The method includes ramping a voltage until it reaches a breakdown voltage to generate a plasma, detecting the presence of the plasma, determining a pressure based on the breakdown voltage upon detection of the presence of the plasma, operating the detector at an operation voltage greater than the breakdown voltage, performing measurement(s) on the plasma, generating a detector signal based the measurement(s) and compensating the detector signal based on the determined pressure to obtain a compensated detector signal, the compensated detector signal being representative of the composition of the gas. A plasma-based detector for measuring the composition of the gas is also provided.

Abstract: An emission-based detector for use in conjunction with capillary chromatography or other applications involving a gas sample having a small volume is provided. The detector is based on optical emission from a plasma medium. An optical cartridge or other detection and/or processing means may be provided to receive and analyse the emitted radiation and thereby obtain information on the gas to be analysed. The emission-based detector includes a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a capillary channel which is in fluid communication with the gas inlet and gas outlet. The capillary channel acts as the plasma chamber. Preferably, the capillary channel has transversal dimensions of the same order as the cross-section of typical chromatography capillary columns and defines a winding path within the detection area. A multi-cell emission-based detector and a method of analysing a gas sample using multiple detection cells are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a compound electrode assembly for generating a plasma in a plasma chamber of a plasma discharge device. The compound electrode assembly includes a casing, a discharge electrode and a sealing compound. The casing is made of a dielectric material and includes at least one side wall and an end wall defining a closed end. The discharge electrode is mounted in the casing and is bonded to the end wall. The sealing compound surrounds the discharge electrode and extends within the casing.

Abstract: A method for extending useful life of a sorbent for purifying a gas by sorption of an impurity is provided. The method generating a electrical discharge within the gas to obtain a spectral emission representative of a concentration of the impurity. The method also includes monitoring the concentration of the impurity according to the spectral emission. The method also includes lowering the concentration of the impurity by conversion of at least a portion of the impurity into a secondary impurity having a greater affinity to the sorbent than the impurity. The method also includes comparing the concentration of the impurity to a polluting concentration and managing the sorption of the gas onto the sorbent according to the comparison.

Abstract: An improved fitting assembly for analytical devices is provided. The fitting assembly includes a tube securable to a fitting component via rear and front ferrules and a nut. The fitting component includes a body having a cavity for receiving the tube and ferrules. The body also includes a channel connecting the cavity to a leak chamber defined in a space between the tube, the fitting component and the inner sidewall of the nut body, the leak chamber being in fluid communication with the exterior of the nut body via the channel in the nut body. Sealing elements are provided between the tube and nut for encouraging leaks to flow through the leak path. A method for detecting leaks in the fitting assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A chromatography valve for use in fluid analysis and chromatography applications is provided. The valve includes a first body having passages extending therethrough and opening on a flat face of the first body at respective passage ports. The valve also includes a second body engaged with the first body in a sealed relationship, whereby one of the first and second bodies is movable relative to the other one between two or more positions for controlling fluid circulation through the passages. The second body includes at least one cartridge receiving cavity for receiving at least one cartridge removably provided therein. The cartridge has channel(s) for channeling fluid of pairs of the passage ports, depending on the position of the first body relative to the second body, thereby channeling fluid through selected ones of the passages via the at least one channel. A method of operating the valve is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method for measuring a composition of a gas circulating through a plasma-based detector, the plasma-based detector having a discharge chamber defining an internal volume and having discharge electrodes configured to apply a plasma-generating field across the discharge chamber. The method includes ramping a voltage until it reaches a breakdown voltage to generate a plasma, detecting the presence of the plasma, determining a pressure based on the breakdown voltage upon detection of the presence of the plasma, operating the detector at an operation voltage greater than the breakdown voltage, performing measurement(s) on the plasma, generating a detector signal based the measurement(s) and compensating the detector signal based on the determined pressure to obtain a compensated detector signal, the compensated detector signal being representative of the composition of the gas. A plasma-based detector for measuring the composition of the gas is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring, in a gas stream, an analyte concentration level from a gas chromatography elution peak outputted by a gas chromatography system are provided. The method includes receiving an analyte signal representative of the gas chromatography elution peak in the time domain, converting the analyte signal from the time-domain to the frequency domain, in the frequency domain, preprocessing the analyte signal to distinguish frequencies of the analyte signal, integrating the analyte signal after preprocessing to obtain a redressed analyte signal in the time domain, the redressed analyte signal having a substantially Gaussian shape, and processing the redressed analyte signal to obtain the analyte concentration level.

Abstract: A discharge-based photo ionisation detector (PID) for use with gas chromatography systems is provided. The PID includes a discharge zone in which a plasma can be generated, resulting in the emission of energetic photons. The PID further includes an ionisation zone in which the gas sample to be analysed is bombarded by the photons created in the discharge zone, photo ionising the impurities in the gas sample. The generated current is measured in order to measure the concentration of impurities in the gas sample. Plasma localizing of the plasma in the discharge zone and optical monitoring of the emission from the plasma in the discharge zone may be provided. Methods using such a PID with a split input from a chromatography column or with inputs from two different chromatography columns are provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems of testing for a gas leak between an inlet zone and an outlet zone of a gas flow component in a shut state are provided. Different tracer and carrier gases are used. The carrier gas is circulated through the outlet zone of the gas flow component to purge the tracer gas from this outlet zone. A spectroscopic emission from the carrier gas indicative of an amount of the purged tracer gas is monitored. A test flow of the tracer gas is introduced in the inlet zone of the gas flow component, and the inlet pressure is increased for successive pressure increments. The presence of a gas leak is determined upon detecting an intensity step variation in the monitored spectroscopic emission following one of the pressure increments in the inlet pressure.

Abstract: A plasma-based detector using optical spectroscopic techniques for analyzing the constituents of gas samples are provided. The detector includes a plasma-generating mechanism and a plasma-localizing mechanism. Electron-injecting electrodes may be provided in the plasma chamber of the detector. A Pressure control mechanism as well as a doping module may optionally be included. In accordance with some implementations, the collection, detection and analysis of light extracted from the plasma may enable one or more of various operation modes, such as an emission mode, an absorption mode, and indirect detection mode or a constant emission mode.

Abstract: A ball valve is provided. The ball valve includes at least one load varying mechanism provided in the static body assembly. The load varying mechanism includes a biasing member pressing one of the ball seat seals against the outer surface of the ball of the ball valve with a variable sealing load force applied on the ball, toward the ball and coaxial with the direction of the fluid. The load varying mechanism also includes a movable member operatively connected to a cam and to the biasing member, a rotation of the cam translating the movable member coaxially to the direction of the fluid, in order to variably load the biasing member toward or away from the ball, based on the different positions of the ball.

Abstract: A ball valve is provided. The ball valve includes at least one load varying mechanism provided in the static body assembly. The load varying mechanism includes a biasing member pressing one of the ball seat seals against the outer surface of the ball of the ball valve with a variable sealing load force applied on the ball, toward the ball and coaxial with the direction of the fluid. The load varying mechanism also includes a movable member operatively connected to a cam and to the biasing member, a rotation of the cam translating the movable member coaxially to the direction of the fluid, in order to variably load the biasing member toward or away from the ball, based on the different positions of the ball.