Diffusion Bonded Liquid Mixing Device for High Pressure Chromatography

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid mixing devices for liquid chromatography fail to withstand high pressures above 100 MPa, leading to deformation, breakage, and leakage due to the use of resin seal packing which deforms or falls out under increased pressure.

Innovation Solution

A liquid mixing device is designed with diffusion bonding connections between the inlet and outlet connector portions and the mixing portion, eliminating the need for resin seal packing and reducing the risk of creep and breakage by using a single material for all components, such as metal, to withstand high pressures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If resin seal packing is used to connect connector portions and mixing portion, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates at high pressure above 100 MPa due to deformation and breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the resin seal packing from the connection structure between connector portions and mixing portion. By extracting this problematic component, the system eliminates the source of deformation and leakage at high pressure, while the diffusion bonding process directly joins the metallic components without intermediate sealing elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the connector portions and mixing portion into a single integrated structure through diffusion bonding. This combining eliminates the need for separate seal packing components and creates a unified metallic structure that can withstand ultra-high pressure without deformation or leakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If conventional bonding methods with resin seal packing are used, then device complexity is reduced, but strength deteriorates at ultra high pressure due to creep and breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidstrength

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical sealing system (resin seal packing) with a diffusion bonding system. This substitution transitions from a mechanical assembly requiring separate sealing components to a metallurgically bonded structure where the connection itself provides both structural integrity and sealing function at ultra-high pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of repair

If multiple components with resin seal packing are used for connection, then ease of repair is improved, but loss of substance increases due to liquid leakage under high pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of repairVSAvoidloss of substance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a permanent, leak-free connection through diffusion bonding that eliminates the need for replaceable seal packing components. While this reduces ease of repairability, it prevents continuous loss of liquid substances through leakage, making the system more efficient for ultra-high pressure applications where leakage would be problematic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents liquid leakage and deformation at pressures above 100 MPa, reducing the number of components and production costs while ensuring reliable operation in ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography applications.

Implementation Method 1

the inlet side connector portion and the liquid mixing portion are connected by diffusion bonding, and the outlet side connector portion and the liquid mixing portion are connected by diffusion bonding

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion bonding: Diffusion Welding

Data Source

PatentUS10088459B2Liquid mixing device, and liquid chromatography apparatus

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP

AI summary

A liquid-mixing device that minimizes solvent leakage and reduces creep of or damage to the component parts of said liquid-mixing device even at ultrahigh pressures of 100 MPa and up. Also, a liquid chromatography device using said liquid-mixing device. Said liquid chromatography device is provided with a supply pump that supplies a plurality of different solutions, a liquid-mixing device that mixes the supplied solutions, a sample injection device that injects a sample into the mixture of solutions, a column that separates the components of the injected sample, and a detector that detects the separated components. The liquid-mixing device has an inlet-side connector through which the plurality of different solutions flow in, a liquid-mixing section in which said solutions are mixed, and an outflow-side connector through which the mixed solutions flow out. The inlet-side connector and the liquid-mixing section are directly bonded to each other via diffusion bonding, as are the liquid-mixing section and the exit-side connector.