Temperature control system for chromatographs

Claim 1

A field-operable, portable chromatographic instrument, comprising, in combination, a container with a removable cover to permit ready access to the interior thereof; wall means within said container defining an interior cavity having an insert opening at one end thereof, said wall means being capable of high rates of heat transfer; a chromatographic column wound around said wall means and being in direct heat transfer relationship therewith; heat insulation means surrounding said column to substantially minimize outward heat transfer away from said container; a temperature-control module adapted to be inserted within said interior cavity, the shape of said module matching that of said cavity such that when inserted therein said module is in direct heat transfer relationship with said wall means and hencewith said column, said module including means for receiving and storing thermal energy from an external source, said module being isolated from said external source when inserted in said cavity, said module further including means for transferring stored thermal energy received from said external source between said storing means and said column so as to maintain the temperature of said column at a predetermined value for a period of time long enough to permit chromatographic analysis independent of the transfer to said storing means of more thermal energy from said external source, whereby; said module is a self-contained source of energy for providing effective temperature control over said column.