Patent ID: 7328629

Claim:
A method for diluting a heated, pressurized gas sample comprising at least one condensable component, the method comprising the steps of: decompressing said heated, pressurized gas sample, forming a depressurized heated gas sample; determining a concentration of said at least one condensable component in said depressurized heated gas sample; determining a minimum dilution ratio at a predetermined gas sample temperature at which condensation of said at least one condensable component is precluded; introducing said depressurized gas sample and a heated inert gas separately through a coaxial nozzle into a mixing zone of a dilution cooler chamber having a gas sample/inert gas inlet and a dilute sample gas outlet, said mixing zone formed by a porous conduit disposed within said dilution cooler chamber providing fluid communication between said gas sample/inert gas inlet and said dilute sample gas outlet; and introducing an inert dilution gas into said mixing zone in an amount sufficient to achieve said minimum dilution ratio, forming a dilute gas sample.