Patent ID: 8092744

Claim:
An analytical chemical sampling apparatus, comprising: (a) a system controller programmed to output a plurality of control signals, and to receive at least one input sensing signal; (b) a source of gas, which provides a first gas; (c) a gas flow control valve that is controlled by a first control signal of said plurality of control signals output by said system controller, said gas flow control valve having a first fluidic inlet and a first fluidic outlet which, under control of said first control signal, acts to pass a gas flow therethrough, said first fluidic inlet being in fluidic communication with said source of gas and receiving said first gas, said first fluidic outlet dispensing a second gas when required by said first control signal; (d) a plurality of fluidic control devices and a plurality of fluidic passages which fluidically connect said plurality of fluidic control devices, said second gas being directed into said plurality of fluidic control devices and a plurality of fluidic passages; and (e) a sparge vessel having a purge portion and a sample portion, (i) said purge portion of the sparge vessel having a second fluidic inlet that, during a sampling procedure, receives said second gas from said gas flow control valve, through said plurality of fluidic control devices and a plurality of fluidic passages; (ii) said sample portion of the sparge vessel being used to house a chemical sample during said sampling procedure, which allows volatile gases to be removed from said chemical sample and directed from said sparge vessel sample portion through a second fluidic outlet; (iii) said sample portion of the sparge vessel including a foam sensor that determines whether said chemical sample undergoes foaming; and (iv) said sample portion of the sparge vessel having a third fluidic inlet that, if said chemical sample undergoes foaming to an extent that the foaming is detected by said foam sensor which sends said at least one input sensing signal to said system controller, then under the control of a second control signal of said plurality of control signals output by said system controller, said plurality of fluidic control devices and a plurality of fluidic passages change state and re-direct said second gas such that it travels to said third fluidic inlet instead of to said second fluidic inlet, thereby allowing said sampling procedure to continue during a foaming state while temporarily bypassing said purge portion of the sparge vessel.