US Patent 6840085 Photoionization detector with multiple ionization cells

A photoionization detector comprising multiple ionization cells for detecting the presence of chemical compounds in multiple fluid samples. The photoionization detector uses a single source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to emit high energy photons into at least two ionization cells. Each ionization cell comprises at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet. Independent samples of fluid can be introduced into each cell and exposed to the UV radiation such that any molecules with an ionization energy lower that the energy of the photons are ionized. Each ionization cell also comprises a set of at least two electrodes arranged to generate an electric field such that ionized molecules are attracted to the electrode at lower voltage potential resulting in an electrical current.