US-12625115-B2 - Sample vaporization unit and gas chromatograph

US12625115B2US 12625115 B2US12625115 B2US 12625115B2US-12625115-B2

Abstract

A sample vaporization unit configured for vaporizing a sample injected from a syringe needle while supplying a carrier gas into a column is provided with a pipe, a heat conductive member, and a heater. The column is inserted into the pipe. The heat conductive member is provided along the outer circumference of the pipe. The heater is provided along the outer circumference of the heat conductive member. The heat conductive member is in line contact with the pipe along the axial direction in which the column extends at a plurality of circumferential locations on the outer circumferential surface of the pipe.

Inventors

Kiyonori Koga
Kenichi Okumura
Yuji Nakama

Assignees

SHIMADZU CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20210531

Claims (9)

1 . A sample vaporization unit configured for vaporizing a sample injected from a syringe needle while supplying a carrier gas into a column, the sample vaporization unit comprising: a pipe into which the column is inserted; a heat conductive member provided along an outer circumference of the pipe; and a heater provided along an outer circumference of the heat conductive member, wherein the heat conductive member is in line contact with the pipe along an axial direction in which the column extends at a plurality of circumferential locations on the outer circumferential surface of the pipe, and wherein the heat conductive member is provided with at least a first slit that is a cut portion of the heat conductive member and is fixed to the pipe in a state of being pressed in a direction in which a width of the first slit decreases.
2 . The sample vaporization unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heat conductive member is separated into at least a first heat transfer portion and a second heat transfer portion by the first slit and is fixed to the pipe in a state of being pressed in a direction in which a width of the first slit between the first heat transfer portion and the second heat transfer portion decreases.
3 . The sample vaporization unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heat conductive member is formed in a C-shaped cross-section having only one slit, the one slit being the first slit.
4 . The sample vaporization unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heat conductive member is fixed to the pipe by a pressing force from the heater wound around an outer circumference of the heat conductive member.
5 . The sample vaporization unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first slit extends linearly along the axial direction.
6 . The sample vaporization unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first slit extends to bend or curve in a direction intersecting with the axial direction.
7 . The sample vaporization unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first slit extends linearly in a direction intersecting with the axial direction.
8 . The sample vaporization unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sample vaporization unit injects the sample from the syringe needle inserted in a tip end portion of the column while supplying the carrier gas into the column and vaporizes the sample in the column.
9 . A gas chromatograph comprising: the sample vaporization unit as recited in claim 1 ; the column attached to the sample vaporization unit; and a detector configured to detect components in the sample separated in the column.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sample vaporization unit for vaporizing a sample injected from a syringe needle while supplying a carrier gas into a column and also related to a gas chromatograph equipped with the sample vaporization unit. BACKGROUND ART For example, an analysis device, such as, e.g., a gas chromatograph, is equipped with a column for separating components in a sample and a sample introduction unit for introducing the sample into the column. A carrier gas is introduced into the column via the sample introduction unit. In the sample introduction unit, the sample is injected into the carrier gas before the carrier gas is introduced into the column. The sample in the carrier gas is heated by the sample introduction unit to be vaporized and then introduced into the column (see, for example, Patent Document 1 listed below). PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-314731 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention Some sample introduction units used for a temperature-rising analysis and the like have a configuration in which a syringe needle is inserted into the tip end portion of the column to directly inject the sample into the column. In this type of sample introduction unit, a long and narrow column with an extremely small outer diameter must be efficiently heated from the outside. However, no effective technology has been proposed in the past as a configuration for efficiently heating the column and the sample in the column in this type of sample introduction unit. As a result, it is difficult to heat the column at high speed, and as a result, the temperature distribution in the heated column sometimes becomes non-uniform. Further, the technical concept for efficiently heating a sample is desired not only in a configuration in which the sample is directly injected into the column but also in a configuration in which the sample is vaporized in the sample vaporization unit and then introduced into the column. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sample vaporization unit and a gas chromatograph capable of efficiently heating a sample. Means for Solving the Problems The first aspect of the present invention relates to a sample vaporization unit for vaporizing a sample injected from a syringe needle while supplying a carrier gas in a column. The sample vaporization unit is equipped with a pipe, a heat conductive member, and a heater. The column is inserted into the pipe. The heat conductive member is provided along the outer circumference of the pipe. The heater is provided along the outer circumference of the heat conductive member. The heat conductive member is in line contact with the pipe along the axial direction in which the column extends at a plurality of circumferential locations on the outer circumferential surface of the pipe. The second aspect of the present invention relates to a gas chromatograph equipped with a sample vaporization unit, a column, and a detector. The column is attached to the sample vaporization unit. The detector detects components in the sample separated in the column. Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently heat the sample. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one example of a gas chromatograph according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one example of a sample vaporization unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing one example of a sample vaporization unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a downstream side of a column and its surroundings in one example of a sample vaporization unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an upstream side of a column and its surroundings in one example of a sample vaporization unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing one example of a slit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing another example of a slit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing still another example of a slit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view when one example of the heat conductive member of the second embodiment is viewed from the axial direction. EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 1. Overall Configuration of Gas Chromatograph FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing one example of a gas chromatograph 10 according to a first embodiment. The gas chromatograph 10 is used for an analysis by supplying a sample together with a carrier gas into the column 12 and is equipped with a column oven 14, a sample vaporization unit 16, and a detector 18, in addition to the column 12 mentioned above. Th