Automatic gas flow control apparatus for an atomic absorption spectrometer burner

摘要

There is described a programmable gas flow control apparatus for use in atomic absorption spectroscopy. Essentially, an all pneumatic system is described which provides for a predetermined flow of fuel and oxidant to the burner. The invention compensates for the variation in oxidant flow due to nebulizer adjustments by adjusting the oxidant flow to the auxiliary inlet of the burner. The invention utilizes a pneumatic computing relay which senses the oxidant flow to the nebulizer and simultaneously adjusts the flow to the auxiliary inlet so that the total flow of oxidant satisfies the predetermined optimum rate. The constant monitoring of the nebulizer line by the computing relay allows for continual adjustment of the oxidant flow to offset subsequent adjustments.