Patent ID: 7087434

Claim:
An automatic sampling apparatus comprising: a portable housing comprising sample gas inlet means for conveying a sample gas for analysis into said portable housing; and an analysis system disposed in said portable housing suitable for analyzing said sample gas for at least one of a presence and a concentration of formaldehyde in said sample gas, said analysis system comprising a sample gas conduit having a sample gas inlet end in fluid communication with said sample gas inlet means, a sample gas heater arranged to heat said sample gas in said sample gas conduit, a water-filled impinger having an impinger sample gas inlet in fluid communication with said sample gas conduit disposed downstream of said sample gas heater, cooling means for cooling said water-filled impinger, heating means for heating said water-filled impinger, a reactant container having a reactant outlet in fluid communication with said water-filled impinger, sensing means for sensing pressure and flow rate of said sample gas, dryer means for removing moisture from said sample gas disposed downstream of said water-filled impinger, a formaldehyde analyzer having a sample inlet in fluid communication with said water-filled impinger, a vacuum pump in fluid communication with said water-filled impinger and adapted to draw said sample gas through said analysis system, and valve means for controlling sample gas flow rates through said analysis system.