BASIC

CHROMATOGRAPH
SYSTEM

Gas Chromatographs
Basic Chromatograph System

Gas Chromatographs
 GC SYSTEM ELEMENTS
1. A carrier gas system for transporting the
component through the column at a constant flow
rate.
2. A sampling system for extracting, conditioning, and
transporting the sample gas to the analyzer.
3. A chromatographic column for separating the
sample into individual components.
4. A temperature-controlled chamber housing at least
the column and usually the detector.
5. A detector for detecting eluted components in the
carrier gas.
6. An integrator/controller to measure component’s
concentration.

Gas Chromatographs
 CARRIER GAS SYSTEM

Gas Chromatographs
What Is Its Purpose
 The carrier gas is the mobile phase or moving phase
of the gas chromatography.
 The carrier gas transports the sample though the
columns to the detector.

Gas Chromatographs
Important Characteristics
 High thermal conductivity.
 It has to be inert to the columns and to the sample
components.
 Readily available, pure.
 Inexpensive.
 Suitable for the detector used.
 It’s important to use a pressure regulator to assure a
constant flow rate.

Gas Chromatographs
Commonly Used Carrier Gases
 Helium (He) 33.6

 Nitrogen (N2) 5.7

 Hydrogen (H2) 39.6

 Argon (Ar) 3.9

Gas Chromatographs
Gas Chromatographs
 Carrier gas system

For transporting the component through the column at

a constant flow rate.

The carrier gas is the mobile phase or moving phase of

the gas chromatography

 Purity? 99.995
Zero Grade, Chromatograph Grade
99.9995 UHP
 Handling (Dual Manifold)
 Also for Valve Actuation

Gas Chromatographs
 Helium Carrier Gas System
 Be careful around high pressure gas.
 Change bottle when pressure on main bottle drops
below 115 psi.
 Set delivery pressure at 110-120 psig.
 Check for leaks whenever changing bottle.
 Carrier pressure panel should remain unchanged –
do not adjust!

Gas Chromatographs
Carrier Gas Manifold

Gas Chromatographs
Measure and Sample Vent Flow

Measure vent
10 – 20 CC/M

Sample vent
50 CC/M

Gas Chromatographs
 SAMPLING SYSTEM

Gas Chromatographs
 Sample System
 Set sample pressure at probe regulator to 20 psig.
 Flow should be approximately 50 cc.
 Watch for free liquids.
 Change Genie or 2 micron filter element when
needed.

Gas Chromatographs
 Critical for proper measurement but often overlooked

The Joules-Thompson (JT)

•Cooling effect causes heavier
components to drop into liquid
phase.
•Will bias energy readings low
because the high BTU
contributors drop out of the vapor-
phase sample before the GC even
has a chance to measure it.

Gas Chromatographs
Sample Conditioning System
 The SCS plate is used to mount the
hardware for different
configurations. The following is a
list of the hardware on the SCS
plate.
 1. NUPRO filters.
 2. Block valves.
 3. Tubing.
 4. Genie filter kit (optional).

Gas Chromatographs
Types Of Sample Injection Valves
 Sliding Plate
 Rotary Valve
 Diaphragm Valve
 Liquid Sample Injection Valve

Gas Chromatographs
Diaphragm Valve
Port Port Port Port Port Port
1 2 3 1 2 3

Air On Air Off

Air Off Air On

Valve Off Valve On

Gas Chromatographs
Danalyzer On-line Gas Chromatographs
Diaphragm Valve – how it works
Port Port Port
1 2 3

Actuation
Gas

Valve “Off”
“On”

Gas Chromatographs
The Danalyzer Difference —
Reliable Chromatograph Valves
 6 port and 10 port diaphragm valve 6-Port Diaphragm Valve
 Simple mechanical design
– Unique diaphragm actuation
based on original NASA design
– No springs, washers, or lubricants
– Single bolt and washer to
disassemble (<10 min to rebuild)
10-Port Diaphragm Valve
 Sample does not come in contact
with internal moving parts
 Over 5 million operations per valve

Gas Chromatographs
Six Port Valve Detail
Base Plate

Lower Actuating Diaphragms

Long Pistons
Lower Piston Plate

Upper Actuating Diaphragms

Short Pistons

Upper Piston Plate

Cushion
Sealing Diaphragm

Guide Pins and Sealing Plate

Bolt and Washer

Gas Chromatographs
 CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN

Gas Chromatographs
Mobile & Stationary Phase

Carrier Gas Column Tubing

Pushing Chemical
Of Interest

Gas Chromatographs
 GC Basics
Column Separation

TO
CARRIER GAS
COLUMN DETECTOR

A C BA C A C BA C AAAA AAAA CCC BBB

B A CB A B ACB CCC BBB

INJECT
INJECT PARTIAL FULL
SEPARATION SEPARATION

Gas Chromatographs
Column

Gas Chromatographs
 TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED
CHAMBER

Gas Chromatographs
 GC Oven
The GC oven contains 3 main components mounted together in
an electrically heated heat-sink-oven:

 Micro-packed Columns (separation of the

components)

 TCD Detectors (Detection of the separated

components)

 GC Valves (Inject sample, direct carrier

flow)

Gas Chromatographs
Close-Up Of Model 500 Oven
Compartment

HEATSINK
OVEN COLUMNS

SAMPLE
LOOP

6 PORT
VALVE

Gas Chromatographs
The Danalyzer Difference —
Stable And Robust Airless Oven
 Integral heat sink oven Airless Oven From
provides constant Model 700
temperature (± 0.1°C) and
contains:
– Analytical valves
– Micro-packed columns
– TCD detector
 Minimal utilities
– No instrument air required
 Ensures maximum stability
and repeatability in outdoor
environments
– From -20 to 55°C

Gas Chromatographs
 DETECTOR

Gas Chromatographs
 Types Of Detectors Available

Flame Photometric Detector (FPD)

Flame Ionization Detector (FID)

Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD)

1 PPM 10 PPM 100 PPM 1000 PPM 1 Mole % 100 Mole %

Gas Chromatographs
Thermistor Based
Thermal Conductivity Detector
Amplifier/s

Reference Measure

Vent Vent

 Universal Detection
 Sensitive Down To 10 ppm
Gas Chromatographs
Flame Ionization Detector
Vent

Igniter

Collector
Amplifier

Flame

Polarizing
voltage

Hydrogen
Carrier
Air

 Hydrocarbon Detection Only

 Sensitive Down To <1 ppm
Gas Chromatographs
Flame Photometric Detector
Vent

Igniter

Flame Amplifier

Optical Filter
Photo-Multiplier Tube
Hydrogen
Carrier
Air

 Sulfur & Phosphorus Detection Only

 Sensitive Down To <1 ppm
Gas Chromatographs
 Detector Bridge Circuit

Gas Chromatographs
T.C.D. Detectors
Thermal Conductivity Detector
 8K ohms @ 25 deg C.
 9K ohms @ 25 deg C.
 100K ohms @ 25 deg C.
 When the temperature of a thermistor changes its
resistance changes.
 Temperature of detector.
 Resistance of detector.

Gas Chromatographs
T.C.D. Detectors
Thermal Conductivity Detector

 The thermistors we use for detectors have a negative

temp coefficient. When its temp increases its
resistance decreases.
 Temperature increase.
 Resistance decrease.
 The detector detects change in T.C. of gas going by it.

Gas Chromatographs
 CONSTANT FLOW EQUALS
CONSTANT TEMP EQUALS
Helium Flow CONSTANT RESISTANCE
 CHANGE IN T.C. OF GAS =
CHANGE IN TEMP OF DET=
Helium Flow CHANGE IN RESISTANCE
 LARGE CHANGE IN T.C. OF GAS MIX =
LARGE CHANGE IN TEMP OF DETECTOR =
Helium LARGE CHANGE IN RESISTANCE OF DETECTOR
Flow
 Pre-amp Adjust
 GC must be “Halted” in order to adjust.
 Adjust to +/- 0.5 mV

Gas Chromatographs
Dual Detector System
Sample In

Sample Valve 1 Column Train 1 Detector 1

Carrier 1 Detector Vent

Sample Valve 2 Column Train 2 Detector 2

Carrier 2 Detector Vent

Sample Out

Gas Chromatographs
 CONTROLLER

Gas Chromatographs
Functions Of The Chromatograph
Controller
 Control system operation
 Convert peak area to mole %
 Perform system diagnostics
 Provide user interface
 Transmit results and operational status

Gas Chromatographs
Model 2350A GC Controller
 Controller used on the Model 2350A Controller
500/570/590 and 1000 GCs (Rack Mount Version)
– Controls valve timings/stream
switching
– Processes detector/preamp signals
– Performs calculations
 Provides analog and serial I/O for
transmitting GC data
– Analog outputs (4-20 mA) 2350A Controller
– Serial links (Modbus) (Flameproof Version)
– Analog and digital inputs
 Choice of mounting next to GC or
remotely
– Available in 19” rack or Ex versions
– Rack mount version can be up to
2000’ away

Gas Chromatographs
Basic Chromatograph System

Process Sample Chromatograph GC

Line System Oven Controller

Probe Bypass Sample Separation Detector

Filter Valve Column

Sample
Return

Slip Heater
Stream

Carrier Ref. Det. Analysis

Gas Vent Vent Results

Gas Chromatographs
 CHROMATOGRAM &
CALCULATIONS

Gas Chromatographs
 Idealized Chromatogram

The signal from the detector is read by the controller.

The controller integrates the area under each peak. This
is known as the raw area, and is used for quantifying the
component concentration.
Gas Chromatographs
Typical Chromatogram (Nat. Gas)

Gas Chromatographs
Typical GC Column Arrangement

Gas Chromatographs
Danalyzer GC Technology Overview

Standard BTU/CV Analysis (C1 to C6+, CO2, N2)

Gas Chromatographs
 Common Terms
Qualitative Information (Identifying the Peak)
The time (in seconds) that each peak elutes
across the detector must be constant. This
is known as the Retention Time (RT) of each
peak. This time must be programmed into the
controller.
•Carrier Gas Flow Is Constant

•Temperature Of Oven Is Constant

•Sample Size Is Constant

Gas Chromatographs
Peak Integration
Residence Time  Retention Time identifies which
component is which
 Area under the peak
determines concentration

Integration Integration
On Off
Baseline

Time

Gas Chromatographs
Factors Affecting Retention Time
 Column Temperature: Temp RT

 Amount of Packing Material: Packing RT

 Volume Flow Rate of Carrier Gas: Flow RT

 Length of Column: Length RT

Gas Chromatographs
 Response Factors (RF)

•Response factor is used to tell how much

of a component is present in the gas
RF = Raw Area / Cal Concentration

NOTE: RF are only updated during a calibration

We use the RF to calculate the Mole % of each component

in a sample stream
Mole % of Sample = Raw Area / RF

Gas Chromatographs
Converting Peak Area To Mole %
 The GC uses Response Factors to convert from Peak
Area to mole %
– Actual Concentration = PA x RF
 Response Factors are calculated during calibration
when the GC measures a “known sample”
– RF = Calibration Concentration / PA
 GC’s typically use a single calibration standard
– Just the components of interest
– Usually set at mid-scale
– FPDs are a common exception to this rule

Gas Chromatographs
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