Internal heater for preconcentrator
First Claim
1. A method for collecting and detecting chemicals in a fluid comprising:
- (a) providing a sorbent material within an enclosure, the enclosure having an interior wall, the sorbent material having an interior cavity circumferentially spaced inwardly from the interior wall;
(b) introducing the fluid into the enclosure, the introducing comprising passing the fluid through the sorbent material surrounding the circumferentially spaced cavity, thereby collecting the chemicals on the sorbent material;
(c) providing a source of heat within the cavity such that the sorbent material surrounds the source of heat;
(d) radiating heat from the source of heat into the surrounding sorbent material, thereby desorbing the chemicals from the sorbent material; and
(e) transferring the chemicals desorbed from the sorbent material out of the enclosure and to at least one chemical sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for collecting and detecting chemicals contained in a fluid includes a sorbent element, at least one chemical sensor, a first pump for pumping fluid through the sorbent element and a second pump for pumping fluid to the chemical sensor. The sorbent element contains a sorbent material and a heating element. The first pump pumps fluid into the sorbent element thereby collecting the chemicals on the sorbent material. The heating element provides heat to the sorbent element to desorb the chemicals from the sorbent material. The chemicals desorbed from the sorbent material are then pumped out of the sorbent element and to the chemical sensor. The sorbent material may have a cavity therein with the heating element located in that cavity. Alternatively, the heating element may be interposed between the enclosure and the sorbent material.
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Citations
3 Claims
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1. A method for collecting and detecting chemicals in a fluid comprising:
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(a) providing a sorbent material within an enclosure, the enclosure having an interior wall, the sorbent material having an interior cavity circumferentially spaced inwardly from the interior wall;
(b) introducing the fluid into the enclosure, the introducing comprising passing the fluid through the sorbent material surrounding the circumferentially spaced cavity, thereby collecting the chemicals on the sorbent material;
(c) providing a source of heat within the cavity such that the sorbent material surrounds the source of heat;
(d) radiating heat from the source of heat into the surrounding sorbent material, thereby desorbing the chemicals from the sorbent material; and
(e) transferring the chemicals desorbed from the sorbent material out of the enclosure and to at least one chemical sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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Specification