Pulsed discharge helium ionization detector with multiple combined bias/collecting electrodes for gas chromatography and method of use

1. A detector system, comprising

a) a detector body ( 108 ),

1) said detector body ( 108 ) having a first end ( 110 ) and a second end ( 126 ),

2) said detector body ( 108 ) defining an open cylindrical cell ( 138 ) between said first end ( 110 ) and said second end ( 126 ), said cylindrical cell ( 138 ) having a centerline ( 139 ),

3) said detector body ( 108 ) having a discharge gas inlet ( 134 ) therethrough proximate said first end ( 110 ),

4) said detector body ( 108 ) having a column inlet ( 132 ) therethrough proximate said second end ( 126 ),

5) said detector body ( 108 ) having an outlet ( 144 ) therethrough proximate said second end ( 126 );

b) said cell ( 138 ) having a discharge section ( 140 ) and a reaction section ( 142 ),

1) said discharge section ( 140 ) intermediate said reaction section ( 142 ) and said discharge gas inlet ( 134 ),

2) said reaction section ( 142 ) intermediate said discharge section ( 140 ) and said outlet ( 144 );

c) a first discharge electrode ( 104 ),

1) said first discharge electrode ( 104 ) having a first end ( 106 ) having an exposed surface in said cell ( 138 ) of said detector body ( 108 ) in said discharge section ( 140 );

d) a second discharge electrode ( 114 ),

1) said second discharge electrode ( 114 ) having a first end ( 116 ) having an exposed surface in said cell ( 138 ) of said detector body ( 108 ) in said discharge section ( 140 ),

2) said second discharge electrode first end ( 116 ) separated from said first discharge electrode first end ( 106 ) sufficient for electrical spark generation;

e) a first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) having an exposed surface in said cell ( 138 ) of said detector body ( 108 ) in said reaction section ( 142 )

1) a first bias source ( 304 a ) adapted to provide a first bias voltage to said first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ),

2) said first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) adapted to generate a time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode current output ( 305 a );

f) a second bias/collecting electrode ( 206 b ) having an exposed surface in said cell ( 138 ) of said detector body ( 108 ) in said reaction section ( 142 );

1) a second bias source ( 304 b ) adapted to provide a second bias voltage to said second bias/collecting electrode ( 206 b );

2) said second bias/collecting electrode ( 206 b ) adapted to generate a time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode current output ( 305 b );

g) a first current-to-voltage converter ( 307 a ),

1) said first current-to-voltage converter ( 307 a ) adapted to generate a time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 309 a ) based on said time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode current output ( 305 a );

h) a second current-to-voltage converter ( 307 b ),

1) said second current-to-voltage converter ( 307 b ) adapted to generate a time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 309 b ) based on said gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode current output ( 305 b );

i) a first voltage polarity inverter ( 318 b ),

1) said first voltage polarity inverter ( 318 b ) adapted to generate a polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 322 b ) by altering the value of said time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 309 b ) from negative to positive;

j) a first gain adjuster ( 311 b )

1) said first gain adjuster ( 311 b ) adapted to generate a gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 314 b ) by multiplying said time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 309 b ) by a first gain value;

k) a time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ),

1) said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to determine and eliminate the delay time between said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 322 a ) and said gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 314 b ) to generate a time-shifted gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output,

2) said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to determine a time-dependent average output from said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 314 a ) and said time-shifted gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output,

3) said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to output said time dependent average output.

2. The detector system of claim 1 , wherein said first end ( 106 ) of said first discharge electrode ( 104 ) is pointed.

3. The detector system of claim 1 , wherein said second discharge electrode ( 114 ) is constructed as a ring-type electrode.

4. The detector system of claim 1 , wherein said gain value for each gain adjuster is determined by (R x 2 ×A 1 )/(A x ×R 1 2 ), where R x is the distance of said bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) from said first discharge electrode first end ( 106 ) and A x is the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical cell ( 138 ) perpendicular to its centerline ( 139 ) at said bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) and where R 1 is the distance of said first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) from said first discharge electrode first end ( 106 ) and A 1 is the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical cell ( 138 ) perpendicular to its centerline ( 139 ) at said first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 ).

5. The detector system of claim 1 further comprising sapphire spacers ( 118 ) between said bias/collecting electrodes ( 206 a , 206 b , 206 c , 206 d , 206 e ).

6. The detector system of claim 1 wherein said cell ( 138 ) is elongated.

7. The detector system of claim 1 wherein said first current-to-voltage converter ( 307 a ) and said first polarity inverter ( 318 a ) are incorporated into a first electrometer ( 602 a ) and said second current-to-voltage converter ( 307 b ) and said first gain adjuster ( 311 b ) are incorporated into a second electrometer ( 602 b ).

8. The detector system of claim 7 further comprising:

a control processor ( 604 ), said control processor adapted to control the output of said first bias source ( 304 a ), adapted to control said first electrometer ( 602 a ), adapted to control said second bias source ( 304 b ), adapted to control said second electrometer ( 602 b ) and adapted to control said time-dependent voltage processor ( 326 ).

9. The detector system of claim 1 , wherein said voltage polarity inverter ( 318 b ) is incorporated into said first current-to-voltage converter ( 310 b ) and where said input ( 316 b ) is a negative input of said current-to-voltage converter ( 318 b ).

10. The detector system of claim 1 , further comprising

a) a third bias/collecting electrode ( 206 c ) having an exposed surface in said cell ( 138 ) of said detector body ( 108 ) in said reaction section ( 142 )

1) a third bias source ( 310 c ) adapted to provide a third bias voltage to said third bias/collecting electrode ( 206 c ),

2) said third bias/collecting electrode ( 206 c ) adapted to generate a time-dependent third bias/collecting electrode current output ( 305 c );

b) a third current-to-voltage converter ( 307 c ),

1) said third current-to-voltage converter ( 307 c ) having a third current-to-voltage converter input ( 306 c ) and a third current-to-voltage converter output ( 308 c ),

2) said third current-to-voltage converter ( 307 c ) in electrical connection with third bias/collecting electrode ( 206 c );

3) said third current-to-voltage converter ( 307 c ) adapted to generate a time-dependent third bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 309 c ) based on said time-dependent third bias/collecting electrode current output ( 305 c );

c) a second gain adjuster ( 311 c )

1) said second gain adjuster ( 311 c ) adapted to generate a gain-adjusted time-dependent third bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 314 c ) by multiplying said time-dependent third bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 309 c ) by a second gain value;

d) a second voltage polarity inverter ( 318 c ),

1) said second voltage polarity inverter ( 318 c ) having an input ( 316 c ) and an output ( 320 c ),

2) said second voltage polarity inverter input ( 316 e ) in electrical connection with said second gain adjuster ( 311 c ),

3) said second voltage polarity inverter ( 318 c ) adapted to receive at said input ( 316 c ) said gain-adjusted time-dependent third bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 314 c )

4) said second voltage polarity inverter ( 318 c ) adapted to output at said voltage polarity inverter output ( 320 c ) a polarity-inverted time-dependent third bias/collecting electrode voltage ( 322 c ) by altering the value of time-dependent third bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 314 c ) from negative to positive;

e) a fourth bias/collecting electrode ( 206 d ) having an exposed surface in said cell ( 138 ) of said detector body ( 108 ) in said reaction section ( 142 )

1) a fourth bias source ( 310 d ) adapted to provide a fourth bias voltage to said fourth bias/collecting electrode ( 206 d ),

2) said fourth bias/collecting electrode ( 206 d ) adapted to generate a time-dependent fourth bias/collecting electrode current output ( 305 d );

f) a fourth current-to-voltage converter ( 307 d ),

1) said fourth current-to-voltage converter ( 307 d ) having a fourth current-to-voltage converter input ( 306 d ) and a fourth current-to-voltage converter output ( 308 d ),

2) said fourth current-to-voltage converter ( 308 d ) in electrical connection with fourth bias/collecting electrode ( 206 d );

3) said fourth current-to-voltage converter ( 307 d ) adapted to generate a time-dependent fourth bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 309 d ) based on said time-dependent fourth bias/collecting electrode current output ( 305 d );

g) a third gain adjuster ( 306 c )

1) said third gain adjuster adapted to generate a gain-adjusted time-dependent fourth bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 314 c ) by multiplying said time-dependent fourth bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 309 b ) by a third gain value.

h) a fifth bias/collecting electrode ( 206 d ) having an exposed surface in said cell ( 138 ) of said detector body ( 108 ) in said reaction section ( 142 )

1) a fifth bias source ( 310 e ) adapted to provide a fifth bias voltage to said fifth bias/collecting electrode ( 206 e ),

2) said fifth bias/collecting electrode ( 206 e ) adapted to generate a time-dependent fifth bias/collecting electrode current output ( 305 e );

i) a fifth current-to-voltage converter ( 307 e ),

2) said fifth current-to-voltage converter ( 307 e ) having a fifth current-to-voltage converter input ( 306 e ) and a fifth current-to-voltage converter output ( 308 e ),

3) said fifth current-to-voltage converter ( 308 e ) in electrical connection with fifth bias/collecting electrode ( 206 e );

4) said fifth current-to-voltage converter ( 307 e ) adapted to generate a time-dependent fifth bias/collector electrode voltage ( 309 e ) based on said time-dependent fifth bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 e );

j) a fourth gain adjuster ( 306 c )

2) said fourth gain adjuster adapted to generate a gain-adjusted time-dependent fifth bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 314 c ) by multiplying said time-dependent fifth bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 309 b ) by a fourth gain value.

k) a third voltage polarity inverter ( 318 e ),

1) said second voltage polarity inverter ( 318 e ) having an input ( 316 e ) and an output ( 320 e ),

2) said third voltage polarity inverter input ( 316 e ) in electrical connection with said fifth gain adjuster ( 311 e ),

3) said third voltage polarity inverter ( 318 e ) adapted to receive at said input ( 316 e ) said gain-adjusted time-dependent fifth bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 314 c )

4) said third voltage polarity inverter ( 318 e ) adapted to output at said voltage polarity inverter output ( 320 e ) a polarity-inverted time-dependent fifth bias/collecting electrode voltage ( 322 e ) by altering the value of time-dependent fifth bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 309 e ) from negative to positive;

l) said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to determine and eliminate the delay time of said polarity-inverted time-dependent third bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 322 c ) compared to said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 322 a ) and to generate a time-shifted time-dependent third bias/collecting electrode voltage output;

m) said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to determine and eliminate the delay time of said time-dependent fourth bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 314 d ) compared to said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 322 a ) and to generate a time-shifted time-dependent fourth bias/collecting electrode voltage output;

n) said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to determine and eliminate the delay time of said polarity-inverted time-dependent fifth bias/collecting electrode voltage output ( 322 d ) compared to said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 322 a ) and to generate a time-shifted time-dependent fifth bias/collecting electrode voltage output;

o) said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) further adapted determine said time-dependent average output in light of said time-shifted time-dependent third bias/collecting electrode voltage output, said time-shifted gain-adjusted time-dependent fourth bias/collecting electrode voltage output and said time-shifted time-dependent fifth bias/collecting electrode voltage output.

11. A detector system, comprising

a. a detector body ( 108 ),

i. said detector body ( 108 ) having a first end ( 110 ) and a second end ( 126 ),

ii. said detector body ( 108 ) having a discharge section ( 140 ) and a reaction section ( 142 ),

iii. said discharge section ( 140 ) intermediate said reaction section ( 142 ) and said detector body first end ( 110 ),

iv. said reaction section ( 142 ) intermediate said discharge section ( 140 ) and said detector body second end ( 110 );

b. a first discharge electrode ( 104 ) and a second discharge electrode ( 114 ) sufficiently distanced for electrical spark generation therebetween;

c. a first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) having an exposed surface in said reaction section ( 142 )

i. a first bias source ( 304 a ) adapted to provide a first bias voltage to said first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ),

ii. said first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) adapted to generate a time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 a );

d. a second bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) having an exposed surface in said reaction section ( 142 );

i. a second bias source ( 304 b ) adapted to provide a second bias voltage to said second bias/collecting electrode ( 206 b );

ii. said second bias/collecting electrode ( 206 b ) adapted to generate time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 b );

e. a first current-to-voltage converter ( 310 a ) adapted to generate a time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage ( 314 a ) based on said time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 a );

f. a second current-to-voltage converter ( 310 b ) adapted to generate a time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage ( 314 b ) based on said time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 b );

g. a first voltage polarity inverter ( 318 b ) adapted to generate a polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode voltage ( 322 b ) by altering the value of time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage ( 314 b ) from negative to positive;

h. a first gain adjuster ( 311 b ) adapted to generate a gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode voltage ( 314 b ) by multiplying said time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode voltage ( 309 b ) by a first gain value;

i. a time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ),

i. said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to receive said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage ( 322 a ),

ii. said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to receive said gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage ( 314 b ),

iii. said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to determine and eliminate the delay time between said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 322 a ) and said gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 314 b ) to generate a time-shifted gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output,

iv. said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to determine a time-dependent average output from said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage ( 322 ) and said time-shifted gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage ( 314 b ),

v. said time-dependent voltage aggregator ( 326 ) adapted to output said time dependent average output.

12. A method of analyzing a sample compound comprising the steps of:

a. providing a detector body ( 108 ) having an internal elongated cylindrical cell ( 138 );

b. providing a first discharge electrode ( 104 ) in said detector body ( 108 );

c. providing a second discharge electrode ( 116 ) in said detector body ( 108 ) separated from said first discharge electrode ( 104 ) sufficient for electrical spark generation;

d. providing a first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) in said detector body ( 108 ) in electrical communication with a first bias source ( 304 a ) to generate a time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 a ) in response to constituents flowing through said detector body ( 108 );

e. providing a second bias/collecting electrode ( 206 b ) in said detector body in electrical communication with a second bias source ( 304 b ) to generate a time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 b ) in response to constituents flowing through said detector body ( 108 );

f. generating at a first current-to-voltage converter ( 307 a ) a time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage ( 309 a ) based on said time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 a );

g. generating at a second current-to-voltage converter ( 307 b ) a time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage ( 309 b ) based on said time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 b );

h. generating at a voltage polarity inverter ( 318 a ) a polarity-inverted time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode voltage ( 322 a ) by altering the value of time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage ( 314 a ) from negative to positive;

i. applying a gain at a gain adjuster ( 311 b ) to said time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage ( 309 b ) to generate a gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage ( 314 b )

j. determining and eliminating the delay time between said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 322 a ) and said gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 314 b ) to generate a time-shifted gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output,

k. determining a time-dependent average output from said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 314 a ) and said time-shifted gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output, and

l. displaying said time-dependent average output.

13. A method of analyzing a sample compound comprising the steps of:

a. providing a detector body ( 108 ) having an internal elongated cylindrical cell ( 138 );

b. providing a first discharge electrode ( 104 ) and a second discharge electrode ( 216 ) in said detector body ( 108 ) separated from said first discharge electrode first end ( 106 ) sufficient for electrical spark generation;

c. transmitting a time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 a ) from a first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) in said detector body in electrical communication with a first bias source ( 304 a );

d. transmitting a time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 b ) from a second bias/collecting electrode ( 206 b ) in said detector body in electrical communication with a second bias source ( 304 b );

e. passing said time-dependent first bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 a ) through a first current-to-voltage converter ( 307 a ) and generating a time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage ( 309 a );

f. passing said time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode current ( 305 b ) through a second current-to-voltage converter ( 307 b ) and generating a time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage ( 309 b );

g. passing said time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage ( 314 a ) through a voltage polarity inverter ( 318 a ) and generating a polarity-inverted time-dependent second bias/collecting electrode voltage ( 322 a ) by altering the value from negative to positive;

h. increasing the gain of said time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage ( 309 b ) and generating a gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage ( 314 b )

i. determining and eliminating the delay time between said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 322 a ) and said gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 314 b ) to generate a time-shifted gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output,

j. determining a time-dependent average output from said polarity-inverted time-dependent first bias/collector electrode voltage output ( 314 a ) and said time-shifted gain-adjusted time-dependent second bias/collector electrode voltage output, and

k. displaying said time-dependent average output.

14. A method of analyzing a sample compound comprising the steps of:

obtaining a plurality of time-dependent outputs, each of said plurality of time-dependent outputs associated with a voltage-biased bias/collecting electrode in the reaction section of a gas detector, each of said plurality of time-dependent outputs having an output strength intensity compared its baseline, said gas detector having a first discharge electrode having a first end, said gas detector having an internal open cylindrical cell;

eliminating the time delay among said plurality of time-dependent outputs;

adjusting the intensity of each of said time-dependent outputs by the result of the equation (R x 2 ×A 1 )/(A x ×R 1 2 ), where R x is the distance of said voltage-biased bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) from said first discharge electrode first end ( 106 ) and A x is the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical cell ( 138 ) perpendicular to its centerline ( 139 ) at said bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) and where R 1 is the distance of said first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 a ) from said first discharge electrode first end ( 106 ) and A 1 is the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical cell ( 138 ) perpendicular to its centerline ( 139 ) at said first bias/collecting electrode ( 206 );

determining an average time-delay eliminated intensity adjusted time-dependent output; and

displaying said average time-delay eliminated intensity adjusted time-dependent output.