Multi-detector gas identification system

Abstract

A novel gas analysis system and method of identifying analytes in a gas sample are provided. The system uses multiple gas analysis technologies and uses the combined qualitative and quantitative data obtained from the multiple gas analysis technologies to analyze a gas sample.

1 . A gas analysis system comprising:
 a plurality of gas analysis units and a computer system,   wherein the plurality of gas analysis units are configured to be in fluid communication with a single sample of a gas,   wherein the plurality of gas analysis units comprises:
 a photoionization detector (PID), 
 a chemical sensor array, and 
 one or more ion mobility spectrometers, 
   wherein the computer system is configured to analyze data produced by the gas analysis units individually and in parallel and the data is characteristic of an analyte,   wherein the computer system is configured to multiplex the data to identify the analyte, and   wherein the multiplexing of the data comprises sequentially filtering candidate analytes by:
 providing a first filtered list of candidate analytes based on data from a first one of the gas analysis units selected from the group consisting of the PID, the at least one of said ion mobility spectrometers, and the chemical sensor array, 
 providing a second filtered list of candidate analytes based on the first filtered list and data from a second one of the gas analysis units selected from the group consisting of the PID, the at least one of said ion mobility spectrometers, and the chemical sensor array, 
 providing a third filtered list of candidate analytes based on the second filtered list and data from a third one of the gas analysis units selected from the group consisting of the PID, the at least one of said ion mobility spectrometers, and the chemical sensor array, and 
 determining the analyte based on the third filtered list and a cross-correlation of the data from the gas analysis units. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gas analysis system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the computer system is configured to receive the data produced by the gas analysis units and multiplex the data to identify the analyte.   
     
     
         3 . The gas analysis system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more valves disposed in a flow path of the single sample, and arranged to isolate the chemical sensor array from a sample stream of the single sample.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The gas analysis system of  claim 2 , wherein the computer system is configured to multiplex the data by calculating a probability of fit for at least a portion of the data of the chemical sensor array with a library of responses that correspond respectively to a plurality of candidate analytes. 
     
     
         6 . A method, comprising:
 monitoring a single sample of a gas using a plurality of gas analysis units configured to be in fluid communication with the single sample, the plurality of gas analysis units comprising a photoionization detector (PID), a chemical sensor array, and one or more ion mobility spectrometers;   analyzing individually and in parallel data produced by the gas analysis units, the data being characteristic of an analyte,   multiplexing the data from the gas analysis units to identify the analyte, and   wherein the multiplexing of the data comprises sequentially filtering candidate analytes by:
 providing a first filtered list of candidate analytes based on data from a first one of the gas analysis units selected from the group consisting of the PID, the at least one of said ion mobility spectrometers, and the chemical sensor array, 
 providing a second filtered list of candidate analytes based on the first filtered list and data from a second one of the gas analysis units selected from the group consisting of the PID, the at least one of said ion mobility spectrometers, and the chemical sensor array, 
 providing a third filtered list of candidate analytes based on the second filtered list and data from a third one of the gas analysis units selected from the group consisting of the PID, the at least one of said ion mobility spectrometers, and the chemical sensor array, and 
 determining the analyte based on the third filtered list and a cross-correlation of the data from the gas analysis units. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the analyzing is initiated when one or more of the gas analysis units detects the analyte to reach a threshold amount. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein when one or more of the gas analysis units detects the analyte to reach a threshold amount, a detection alarm is activated. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein 
       the first one of the gas analysis units is the PID. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , 
       wherein the second one of the gas analysis units is the at least one of said ion mobility spectrometers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , 
       wherein the third one of the gas analysis units is the chemical sensor array. 
     
     
         13 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
       calculating a probability of fit of a response of the chemical sensor array with a library of responses of a plurality of candidate analytes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 predicting a PID response for candidate analytes based on the response of the chemical sensor array; and   calculating a probability of fit of each of the plurality of candidate analytes based on the predicted PID response and a measured PID response.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 predicting a response of the one or more ion mobility spectrometers for candidate analytes based on the response of the chemical sensor array; and   calculating a probability of fit of each of the plurality of candidate analytes based on the predicted response of the one or more ion mobility spectrometers and a measured response of the one or more ion mobility spectrometers.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 predicting a response of the one or more ion mobility spectrometers for candidate analytes based on the response of the chemical sensor array; and   calculating a probability of fit of each of the plurality of candidate analytes based on the predicted response of the one or more ion mobility spectrometers and a measured response of the one or more ion mobility spectrometers.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 calculating a combined probability of fit for each of the candidate analytes based on the calculated probability of fit for the response of the chemical sensor array and the calculated probability of fit based on the predicted PID response and the measured PID response.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 calculating a combined probability of fit for each of the candidate analytes based on the calculated probability of fit for the response of the chemical sensor array and the calculated probability of fit based on the predicted response of the one or more ion mobility spectrometers and the measured response of the one or more ion mobility spectrometers.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 calculating a combined probability of fit for each of the candidate analytes based on the calculated probability of fit for the response of the chemical sensor array, the calculated probability of fit based on the predicted PID response and the measured PID response, and the calculated probability of fit based on the predicted response of the one or more ion mobility spectrometers and the measured response of the one or more ion mobility spectrometers.