Patent Application
20120016597
The present invention relates to the field of gas chromatography, and, in particular, to a method of analyzing gas chromatography data, and methods of calibrating, monitoring, and/or maintaining gas chromatography equipment.
Gas chromatography (GC) techniques are used in analytic chemistry applications to separate and/or analyze components of a mixture. Gas chromatography uses a carrier gas as its mobile phase, and a layer of liquid or polymer on a solid support as its stationary phase, located in a metal tube referred to as a column. Gaseous compounds in a sample being analyzed interact with the stationary phase as it passes through the column with the carrier gas. Different compounds interact at different rates and elute at different times. Analysis of the retention times of the compounds allows information to be derived about the compounds.
Gas chromatography has numerous industrial applications. For example, it may be used in the oil and gas industry to analyze the composition of a natural gas, which typically includes inert components and hydrocarbon components ranging from C1 to C7+: i.e. Nitrogen, CO2, methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane, isopentane, n-pentane, hexanes, heptanes and higher alkanes. To analyze such a sample in a practical time frame and without temperature ramping, a multi-column separation technique is desired. A C6+ GC system is configured to analyze components from C1 to C5 separately, with C6 and higher compounds giving a single output. A C7+ GC system may be configured to analyze components from C1 to C6 separately, with C7 and higher compounds giving a single output.
A typical three column GC design 100, is shown in
With only carrier gas flowing across the two detectors 106, 107, the Wheatstone bridge may be in balance. In the measuring detector, the sample gases passing across the thermistor may cause thermal conductivity changes, which may result in a change of the thermistor heat exchange rate. This, in turn, results in an increase of the temperature of the thermistor. The change of temperature may result in a change of resistance in the measuring detector and may unbalance the Wheatstone bridge. The magnitude of the voltage created by the unbalanced bridge and the time taken to pass through the detector then forms a response curve proportional to the amount of the component in the carrier gas stream.
Actuation of the valves controls the flow of gases in the GC. There are three valve timings on the three-column chromatograph as follows: First, valve 112 is actuated to allow the heaviest component (C6+ in a C6+ GC application, or C7+ in a C7+ GC application) to be back-flushed. The back-flush is initiated after C5 and lighter components (in a C6+ GC system), or after C6 and lighter components (in a C7+ GC) are eluted from columns 111 and 112, but before the heaviest component (i.e. C6+ or C7+) leaves column 111. Secondly, valve 113 is actuated to trap the light components in column 113. The valve actuation has to be after all C2 (ethane) is eluted into column 113, but before any C3 (propane) leaves column 112. Thirdly, valve 113 is actuated to allow light components to leave column 113. The valve actuation has to be after all the middle components (C3 to C5 in a C6+ application; C3 to C6 in a C7+ application) clear the measurement detector.
During calibration, a calibration gas of known composition is analyzed. The gas chromatographs (GCs) analyze the sample, and the components of the composition generate peaks in the output of the detectors. The area measured under the peak is divided by the known gas molar percentage of that component to derive a response factor for that component. That is, the response factor RF is calculated as follows:
RF=Peak Area/Gas mole %
During normal analysis of an unknown sample, the response factor RF is used to calculate the unknown gas mole percentage of each component from the measured peak area and the response factor, according to
Gas mole %=Peak Area/RF
Gas chromatographs are typically delivered from a factory with a multilevel calibration already programmed. The multilevel calibration may be performed on a number of separate gas samples corresponding to the compounds that the gas chromatograph is configured to detect. While this may be an effective method to handle the linearity of the detector, many sets of gases at varying concentrations are desired to obtain the multilevel calibration parameters. It is common for component parts of the GC, such as columns, diaphragms, detectors, etc., to be changed on site, after which the GC may require a new set of multilevel calibration parameters. For a number of reasons it may not be practical to perform multilevel calibration on site or in the field because of the time consuming nature of a multilevel calibration process.
Other calibration techniques may be used in the field. For example, a periodic auto-calibration may be performed using a certified gas sample mixture to ensure that the GC is functioning within a defined specification. The frequency at which the calibrations are performed is determined by the stability of the GC calibration, and may, for example, be daily, weekly, or monthly. A calibration report may be generated after each calibration cycle and provides response factor data from the previous calibration and new response factor data from the current calibration. A slight shift in the response factor may be acceptable, as defined in standard ASTM D7164-05 (See for example, ASTM D7164-05, Standard Practice for On-line/At-line Heating Value Determination of Gaseous Fuels by Gas Chromatography, 2005). However, this auto calibration may not be designed to detect systematic shifts in the response factors. If the response factor increases or decreases consistently after every calibration, and the deviation of the new response factor from the previous response factor is still within the acceptable deviation limit, no warning will generally be generated by the GC, and it may continue to function without reporting any faults.
Repeatability and reproducibility tests, for example, as specified by ASTM D1945:1996 (See for example, ASTM D1945, Standard Test Method for Analysis of Natural Gas by Gas Chromatography, 1996) or GPA 2261:1995 (See for example, GPA 2261, Analysis of Natural Gas and Similar Gaseous Mixtures by Gas Chromatography, 1995), may be useful indications of whether a GC is working within limits which are specified. However, due to the wide tolerance on some compounds, these tests may not guarantee that the GC is working as intended. For example, using these tests may not ensure that each of the components goes through its intended column, and further it may not confirm that all the valve timings are correct. Further analysis to check this functionality may be desired and this may be done by analyzing the response factor of each, component. One such technique involves plotting a response factor of various components in order of thermal conductivity of the components. Due to the high thermal conductivity properties of the carrier gas, a component with a relatively high thermal conductivity has a reduced effect on the carrier gas. Plotting the response factor of methane, nitrogen, ethane, CO2, propane, i-butane, n-butane, neo-pentane, i-pentane, n-pentane, hexane+, and heptane+, etc., arranged from the highest thermal conductivity should give an increasing sequence of response factor values. A typical graphical representation of the results is shown in
The above-described techniques may be used as a basic verification of calibration results, but they may not be accurate in all conditions. In particular, the inventor has found that the techniques are sensitive to flow rate of the carrier gas through the gas chromatograph and valve timings.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of analyzing gas chromatography data, which at least mitigates one or more drawbacks of the previously proposed analysis techniques.
Furthermore, previous attempts at calibration do not adequately address the need to diagnose operational faults of gas chromatography equipment in response to analyzed data. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide methods of calibrating, monitoring, and/or maintaining gas chromatography equipment which at least mitigate one or more drawbacks of the previously proposed techniques. Another aim of the invention is provide a method of performing gas chromatography analysis with improved accuracy compared with previously proposed methods.
Additional aims and objects of the invention will become apparent from reading the following summary of the invention and detailed description of its embodiments.
According to a first aspect, a method of analysing gas chromatography data may include receiving response factor data acquired from a gas chromatograph apparatus for each of a plurality of compounds included in one or more calibration gas samples. The method may also include receiving molecular weight data for each of the plurality of compounds, determining a correlation between the response factor data and the molecular weight data, and analyzing the correlation to determine a condition of the gas chromatograph apparatus.
The inventor has observed that in GC applications where pressure, temperature, and flow rate can be maintained constant, there may a very high correlation between the molecular weight of the saturated gas components and their response factor. This correlation may be used to determine an operating condition of the gas chromatograph, for example, whether it is operating in a healthy condition, in which response factor readings may be an accurate representation of the constituents in a gas sample, or an unhealthy condition, in which the response factor readings may be inaccurate.
The method may comprise performing a linear regression analysis of the response factor data and the molecular weight data. The linear regression analysis may be a simple linear regression, for example, by the ordinary least squares or other least squares method.
The method may comprise calculating a coefficient of determination (R2) of the response factor data and the molecular weight data, and comparing the coefficient of determination with a predetermined threshold. The coefficient of determination may, for example, be derived from a correlation coefficient such as Pearson's correlation coefficient. The threshold may be selected to have a numerical value greater than 0.95, but preferably may have a numerical value greater than 0.99.
The inventor has also recognized that with a three column GC, flow rate is generally not constant between operating phases before and after valve actuation, and this has an impact on the correlation between the molecular weight of the saturated gas components and their response factors. The use of restrictor tubing to regulate carrier gas flow to maintain and achieve the close-to-constant flow rate during valve actuation operations may be used with embodiments.
However, with pressure and temperature maintained generally constant, and with a restrictor tubing in place, slight flow rate differences may occur that may affect the response of thermal conductivity detector. The fluctuations in flow rate (as well as pressure and temperature) reduce the correlation of the molecular weight of each component with its response factor. The method therefore comprises dividing the response factor data into a first data set corresponding to a first subset of the plurality of compounds in the one or more calibration gas samples, and a second data set corresponding to a second subset of the plurality of compounds in the one or more calibration gas samples.
The first subset of the plurality of compounds may comprise compounds detected by the gas chromatography apparatus during a first operative phase of the gas chromatography apparatus, and the second subset of the plurality of compounds may comprise compounds detected by the gas chromatography apparatus during a second operative phase of the gas chromatography apparatus. The first and/or second operative phases may be first and/or second flow regimes in the gas chromatography apparatus. Preferably, the first operative phase is prior to the actuation of a valve in the gas chromatography apparatus, and the second operative phase is after the actuation of the valve (which the inventor has observed has affected the flow rates), or with the valve actuation configured differently.
The method may comprise determining a first correlation between the response factor data and the molecular weight data for the first data set, and may further comprise determining a second correlation between the response factor data and the molecular weight data for the second data set. Preferably, the method may comprise performing a linear regression analysis of the response factor data and the molecular weight data for one or both of the first and second data sets. More preferably, the method may comprise calculating a coefficient of determination of the response factor data and the molecular weight data for one or both of the first and second data sets and comparing the or each coefficient of determination with a predetermined threshold. Dividing the data into groups before analysis may have the advantage of avoiding cumbersome techniques for rectifying the flow rate, which may involve the fitting and/or adjustment of restrictor tubing to physically alter the flow rate through successive columns of the GC in different phases of operation.
With any of the above embodiments, comparing the or each coefficient of determination with a predetermined threshold may be indicative of a healthy or unhealthy condition of the gas chromatography apparatus, and the method may comprise outputting a corresponding signal. The method may comprise generating a report of the condition of the gas chromatography apparatus, and may comprise generating a graphical representation of the correlation and displaying the graphical representation to a user.
The method may comprise comparing the response factor data with an historical response factor data set (referred to as “footprint data”) which may be, for example, acquired from the gas chromatography apparatus, using the methods of the present embodiments, when the gas chromatography apparatus is known to be in a healthy condition. An example of a known healthy condition is after a multilevel calibration. However, multilevel calibrations may not always be possible, and footprint data may be acquired at other times. Data acquired using the methods of the present embodiments which indicates a good R2 value (for example, very close to 1) and indicates good repeatability (for example, the unnormalized sum of the measured percentage compositions of all compounds in the gas calibration sample may be very close to 100%, and measured deviation of each compound may be less than the ASTM D1945:1996 (See for example, ASTM D1945, Standard Test Method for Analysis of Natural Gas by Gas Chromatography, 1996) standard specification), may be designated as footprint data for the purposes of later analysis.
The method may further comprise analyzing the molecular weight data and the response factor data to diagnose one or more faults in the operation of the gas chromatography apparatus. In particular, the method may comprise one or more steps of the method according to the second aspect or its embodiments, as defined below.
According to a second aspect a method of diagnosing a fault of a gas chromatography apparatus may include receiving from the gas chromatograph apparatus, response factor data for each of a plurality of compounds contained in one or more calibration gas samples, and acquiring molecular weight data for each of the plurality of compounds. The method may also include determining a correlation between the response factor data and the molecular weight data, and analyzing the correlation to diagnose one or more faults in the operation of the gas chromatography apparatus.
The method may include comparing the measured response factor data for a particular compound with its theoretical value from the determined correlation. The method may include comparing the measured response factor data with historical or footprint response factor data acquired from the gas chromatography apparatus in a known healthy condition.
As with the first aspect, the method may comprise calculating a coefficient of determination of the response factor data and the molecular weight data, and comparing the correlation coefficient with a predetermined threshold. The coefficient of determination may be based on a correlation coefficient such as Pearson's correlation coefficient. The threshold may be selected to have a numerical, value greater than 0.95, but may preferably have a numerical value greater than 0.99.
The method may comprise dividing the response factor data into a first data set corresponding to a first subset of the plurality of compounds in the one or more calibration gas samples, and a second data set corresponding to a second subset of the plurality of compounds in the one or more calibration gas samples. The method may comprise determining a first correlation between the response factor data and the molecular weight data for the first data set, and may further comprise determining a second correlation between the response factor data and the molecular weight data for the second data set. The method may include performing the comparison steps outlined above for both of the first and second response factor data sets.
The one or more faults may comprise a valve actuation timing fault, and the method may additionally comprise correcting the valve actuation time in response to the detected fault. In particular, the method may comprise one or more steps of the method according to the third aspect or its embodiments, as defined below. Embodiments of the second aspect may include one or more features of the first aspect of the invention or its embodiments, or vice versa.
According to a third aspect a method of configuring a gas chromatography apparatus may include diagnosing an operating faults by an analysis of a correlation between response factor data acquired in the gas chromatography and molecular weight data for each of a plurality of compounds in one or more calibration gas samples, and generating an output signal indicative of the operating fault. The method may include adjusting an operating parameter of the gas chromatography apparatus in response the output signal.
The operating fault may comprise a valve actuation timing fault, and the method may additionally comprise correcting the valve actuation time in response to the output signal. The valve actuation may be a valve actuation which allows back-flushing of the heaviest component in the calibration gas. Alternatively, or in addition, the valve actuation may trap light components in the calibration gas in a column of the gas chromatograph. Alternatively, or in addition, the valve actuation may allow light components to leave a column of the gas chromatograph.
The adjustment of the operating parameter may be effected by an operator intervention, or may be effected automatically in response to the output signal. Embodiments of the third aspect may include one or more features of the first or second aspects of the invention or its embodiments, or vice versa.
According to a fourth aspect, a computerized method of analysing gas chromatography data may include receiving in a computer system, response factor data acquired from a gas chromatography apparatus. The response factor data may be representative of the proportions of each of a plurality of compounds contained in one or more calibration gas samples. The method may further include receiving in the computer system molecular weight data for each of the plurality of compounds, processing with the computer system the response factor data and molecular weight data to determine a correlation between the response factor data and the molecular weight data, and analyzing with the computer system the correlation to determine a condition of the gas chromatography apparatus.
The method may also include outputting a signal from the computer system, the signal being indicative of the condition of the gas chromatography apparatus. Embodiments of the fourth aspect may include one or more features of any of the first to fourth aspects of the invention or its embodiments, or vice versa.
According to a fifth aspect a method of diagnosing a fault of a gas chromatography apparatus, may include receiving from the gas chromatograph apparatus response factor data for each of a plurality of compounds contained in one or more calibration gas samples. The method may also include receiving molecular weight data for each of the plurality of compounds, determining a correlation between the response factor data and the molecular weight data, and analyzing the correlation to diagnose one or more faults in the operation of the gas chromatography apparatus.
Analysing the correlation may include comparing the measured response factor data for at least one particular compound with its theoretical value from the determined correlation, and calculating a coefficient of determination of the response factor data and the molecular weight data and comparing the correlation coefficient with a predetermined threshold. Embodiments of the fifth aspect may include one or more features of any of the first to fourth aspects of the invention or its embodiments, or vice versa.
According to a sixth aspect, a method of diagnosing a fault of a gas chromatography apparatus, may include receiving from the gas chromatograph apparatus retention time data for each of a plurality of compounds contained in one or more calibration gas samples. The method may also include comparing the retention time data with historical retention time data acquired from the gas chromatograph apparatus for each of the plurality of compounds to diagnose one or more faults in the operation or condition of the gas chromatography apparatus.
According to a seventh aspect, a computer readable storage medium may store instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out the methods of any of the first to sixth aspects of the invention. According to an eighth aspect, a computer system may be programmed to carry out the methods of any of the first to sixth aspects. The methods of the various aspects of the invention and/or the critical steps thereof are preferably implemented in software, although it will be understood that the methods or steps thereof may also be implemented in firmware or hardware or in combinations of software, firmware, or hardware.
There will now be described, by way of example only, various embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, of which:
By way of example only, embodiments of the invention are described in applications of gas chromatography to the analysis of hydrocarbon including gas samples, for example, natural gas samples. Applications to C6+ GC systems and C7+ GC systems are described, but the invention is not so limited and its principles may be applied to other GC systems. The embodiments are generally described as being implemented in a computer system, and it will be appreciated that the invention may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof.
Referring firstly to
The method starts by acquiring (step 301) response factor data from a three-column GC apparatus, such as that described with reference to
At step 309, a trend line 402 is generated by performing a linear regression analysis on the data. The linear regression analysis of this embodiment is a simple linear regression of the form y1=mx+c using the ordinary least squares method. The linear regression calculation is performed by the formulae:
where:
x=Log(MW);
y=Log(RF); and
n=number of parameters.
The trend line is therefore represented by y1=mx+c where:
m=gradient of the linear regression calculation;
c=constant of linear regression calculation; and
y1=value of the line of the linear regression when Log (MW) is input as x in the linear regression equation. It will be appreciated that other correlation methods may be used in alternative embodiments.
The method also calculates and outputs (step 311) a coefficient of determination (R2), which in this embodiment is the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (R). For the graph 400 of
The impact of these valve timing issues may affect the correlation of the components, and therefore an analysis of the R2 value indicates that one or more of the above faults has occurred. Thus, according to this embodiment, the gas chromatography data is analyzed and transformed to produce an output signal indicative of a healthy condition of the GC.
The above-described method works adequately for a single column GC system or a three-column system where there may be a relatively consistent flow rate through the columns during different phases operation (i.e. after valve actuation). However, it may be rare to have consistent flow rates.
The steps of the method 600 are the same as those steps in method 300, with like steps indicated by like reference numerals incremented by 300. As before, a correlation between the response factor data and the molecular weight data may be determined and the coefficient of determination is calculated to determine a condition of the GC. However, in method 600 the same steps, labelled as 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, are performed separately on response factor data R2 corresponding to the distinct compound groups to calculate a second correlation and a second R2 value. The two R2 values are compared to a preset threshold value (e.g. 0.99), and if either of the R2 values fall beneath the threshold, then the GC may be characterized as unhealthy, and a corresponding signal is output from the computer system at step 615.
The correlation method described above can be utilized more effectively if a historical “footprint” of the GC is taken when the conditions and operations were stable and the GC had recently been calibrated using a multilevel calibration. Data taken at a time when R2 is measured to be very close to 1, good repeatability with the sum of the un-normalized percentages of all of the components in the gas sample is close to 100%, and deviation of each component of gas sample is within the ASTM D1945:1996 (See for example, ASTM D1945, Standard Test Method for Analysis of Natural Gas by Gas Chromatography, 1995) standard specification, may also be designated as footprint data. The latter may be utilized when the GC has been repaired and/or reconfigured and it is not possible to carry out a multilevel calibration, for example, where a column of the GC has been changed out on site. The so-called footprint data is acquired by the methods according to the present embodiments.
An example of a live test case of the use of correlation method, and footprint and historical data is described below. A chromatograph valve diaphragm was changed on a C6+ GC system on a particular day (day one), and a chromatogram and calibration report was taken as a footprint data set two days later (on day three). The chromatograms shown in
From the chromatogram in
The methods described herein use the footprint information generated when the GC is known to be functioning correctly. Data such as oven temperature, carrier gas pressure, carrier gas flow rate, response factor, etc. are recorded and the response factor and correlation between response factor and molecular weight is plotted. These footprint values can be used as a tool to analyze day-to-day calibration results. This is in contrast to the prior art techniques, which only compares calibration data on day to day basis, with the previously described limitations.
The reports generated by the software in the methods may use the footprint data as the initial configuration data set. When generating the report, the software compares the current calibration data to the footprint by overlaying plots of the data from the footprint, with the plot from current calibration. With the graphical representation, a drift in response factor from the footprint data can be seen. A trend is generated of the error between each component response factors for selected dates and the footprint data. Based on this error analysis, the drift in response factor may be trended. Further statistical methods can be used to analyze the error data.
The methods 300, 600 described above may be extended to provide further analysis for the purposes of diagnosing operating faults of the GO apparatus.
The R2 values for the respective groups of compounds are calculated and used to determine (at step 902) the healthy or unhealthy condition of the GC. If the GC is considered to be healthy, with both R2 values exceeding the preset thresholds, then a report is generated (step 904) which may be presented on a visual display to a user and/or stored for later review before the method ends.
If however the GC is characterized as unhealthy, i.e. one or both of the R2 values is beneath the threshold, the computer system may perform additional analysis on the calculated correlation (step 906) to diagnose the fault. A report of the fault is generated (step 908) along with a suggested remedy for the fault.
A first example is described with reference to
This result can be explained by some of the heavy compounds leaving the first column 111, and flowing through column 112. This reduces the measured response factor of the heaviest component (C7+). The fault is due to a valve timing error on valve 102; it is actuating too late, and the fault can be addressed by decreasing the valve actuation time.
It will be appreciated that the same analysis can be performed on a C6+ system, although in such a case the C6 data point is analyzed.
A second example is described with reference to
Log(RFC
Log(RFC
This result may be explained by some of the middle components being back-flushed together with the heavy component. This increases the measured response factor of the heaviest component (C7+), and the heaviest of the middle components (C6) has a lower response factor than expected. The fault is due to a valve timing error on valve 102. It may be actuating too soon, and the fault may be addressed by increasing the valve actuation time. It will be appreciated that the same analysis can be performed on a C6+ system, although in such a case the C6 data point is analysed.
A third example is described with reference to
This result can be explained by some ethane being left in the second column 112, after the actuation of valve 113 to trap the light compounds. This reduces the measured response factor of the ethane (C2). The fault is due to a valve timing error on valve 103; it is actuating too soon, and the fault can be addressed by increasing the valve actuation time it will be appreciated that the same analysis can be performed on a C6+ system.
A fourth example is described with reference to
This result can be explained by some propane passing to the third column before the actuation of valve 113 to trap the light compounds. This reduces the measured response factor of the propane (C3). The fault is due to a valve timing error on valve 103; it is actuating too late, and the fault can be addressed by decreasing the valve actuation time. It will be appreciated that the same analysis can be performed on a C6+ system.
The above-described methods may be extended to include a step of adjusting the GC system, for example, to change a valve actuation time. In embodiments, the adjustment may be performed as a manual configuration step by an operator after the diagnosed fault has been determined and reported. In alternative embodiments, the method includes the step of automatically adjusting an operating parameter of the GC apparatus (such as valve timing) in response to a signal indicative of the diagnosed fault. Thus, a configuration or adjustment signal may be generated by the computer system and received by the GC apparatus.
The methods may be extended to diagnose a valve leak condition or a back pressure of a vent of the gas chromatograph as follows. Where a valve leak or back pressure is present, there may not be a significant effect on the calculated R2 value, and therefore the method 900 may indicate a healthy condition of the GC. An extended method includes the step of comparing retention time data with historical retention time data (or footprint data), or where available, a retention time trend is analysed using several historical data sets.
Where the measured retention time data for each component is generally greater than the footprint retention time data, or where the trend is for the retention time to increase, then it can be inferred that one of the following scenarios has occurred: The measurement vent of the GC is providing an unexpected back pressure which has the effect of reducing the flow rate in the system; or A port to port leak has occurred in the GC due to a leak at a valve, which causes some of the gas flow to be separated into two path when it passes through the valve, reducing the flowrate of the components within system. Therefore the increase in retention time with respect to historical retention time data allows a measurement vent fault or a valve fault to be diagnosed.
The nature of the fault can be verified by analyzing response factor (RF) data for each of the components of a gas sample. For each component, response factor is compared to the response factor for the footprint data, or where available, a response factor trend is analysed using several historical data sets. Where the measured response factor is greater for the majority of components in comparison to the footprint data, or where the trend is for the response factor to increase, this indicates a valve in the GC is leaking. The valve leak can be assessed, reconfigured and/or repaired, for example, by replacing the valve diaphragm.
Furthermore, retention time data can be used to identify the most likely valve fault. If the retention time shift only happens on the lightest components (NI, C1, CO2, C2) then it is most likely the leak is in valve 113. However, if the retention time shift happens for middle and light components, then it is most likely that the leak is on valve 112.
Where the measured response factor data is generally lower than the footprint response factor data, then it may be inferred that there is a measurement vent back pressure. The GC can then be assessed, reconfigured and/or repaired by identifying and removing the source of the back pressure. This cause may also be indicated be an upward shift in retention times for middle and light components of the gas sample (where the response factor data is lower than the footprint data).
A further application of the correlation methods described above is when a calibration gas is to be replaced. The footprint and the historical data can be used to ensure that the certificate and calibration for the new reference is correct. Before a new calibration or reference gas bottle is replaced, the last calibration data of the GC may be checked. When the calibration data is good, then the calibration gas to be changed should be analyzed to ensure that the composition determined by the GC is within acceptable deviation limits of the calibration gas certificate. Once the reading has stabilized, a calibration may be performed using the new calibration gas.
The calibration results, the shifts from the footprint data, and the shifts from the last calibration result may be used in the correlation software to confirm the validity of the new calibration. Further investigation may be done based on the analysis of this data if the calibration result is not satisfactory.
The embodiments provide a computerized method of analysing gas chromatography data. Response factor data for each of a plurality of compounds included in one or more calibration gas samples is acquired from a gas chromatograph apparatus, and a correlation with molecular weight data for each of the plurality of compounds is determined using a computer system. The correlation can be analyzed to determine a condition of the gas chromatograph. Preferred embodiments determine a correlation for each of a plurality of operating phases of the gas chromatograph, for example, before and after actuation of valves which change the flow rate. Methods of diagnosing faults, calibrating and configuring gas chromatographs are also described.
The present embodiments address shortcomings of previously proposed analysis techniques. In particular, the method provides an accurate calibration of a gas chromatography apparatus without relying on a multilevel calibration. The embodiments also facilitate the diagnosis and rectification of operational faults of gas chromatography equipment in response to analyzed data.
Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as herein intended, and embodiments of the invention may include combinations of features other than those expressly claimed. Although embodiments of the invention are described with reference to three-column gas chromatographs, the principles of the invention can be applied to other types of gas chromatography system.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1011921.2 | Jul 2010 | GB | national |
