Abstract
This thesis presents a thermal gradient gas chromatography (TGGC) system that is implemented on a micro-scale. The GC column is approximately 20 cm long and is fabricated out of silicon with 21 nickel thin-film heaters evenly placed along the length of the column. Computational heat transfer models using ANSYS Mechanical APDL predict heating and cooling rates up to 32,000 deg C/min and 3,600 deg C/min, respectively. These results are verified through testing an experimental silicon channel. A PI controller which uses resistance measurements to calculate thin-film temperature is used for obtaining dynamic thermal gradient control. This controller is shown to possess a characteristic rise time of approximately 0.3 seconds with less than 4% overshoot and precision to within less than a degree. These characteristics present this system as a highly favorable candidate for a micro-GC column with resolution similar to that of conventional GC.
Degree
MS
College and Department
Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology; Mechanical Engineering
Rights
https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Schnepf, Parker David, "Design, Modeling, and Thermal Characterization of Temperature Gradient Gas Chromatography Micro-Columns" (2018). Theses and Dissertations. 9275.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/9275
Date Submitted
2018-07-31
Document Type
Thesis
Handle
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd11912
Keywords
Thermal Gradient Gas Chromatography, Metal Thin-Film, Feedback Control, Microfabrication, Computational Heat Transfer
Language
english