DRYER FOR RAPID RESPONSE ONLINE EXPIRED GAS MEASUREMENTS

A dryer is described for use in on-line breath-by-breath gas analysis systems. The dryer continuously removes water vapor by condensation and controls the sample gas at 2°C dew-point temperature or 5 Torr water vapor partial pressure. It is designed to operate at gas sampling flow rates from 0.5 to 1 l.min-1. The step-response time for the described system including a Beckman LB-2 CO2 analyzer, sampling tubing, and dryer is 120 ms at 1 l.min-1. The time required for gas samples to transport through the dryer is 105 ms at a gas sampling-flow rate of 1 l.min-1.