Equal-Dispersion Split-Flow Mixer for Low-Delay Chromatography
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chromatography systems face challenges in efficiently mixing fluids with compositional disturbances, leading to interference with sample detection and increased testing time, particularly in HPLC, UPLC, and SFC systems, due to large volume mixers or inefficient packed-bead mixers that are prone to contamination and clogging.
Innovation Solution
A fluid chromatography system with a mixer that splits the fluid flow into multiple paths with predetermined volume offsets and a balanced flow restrictor system to cancel unwanted compositional ripple, using a split-flow mixer design that includes multiple stages of splits and recombination points to achieve efficient mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If large volume mixers are used to mix fluids effectively, then mixing effectiveness is improved, but testing time increases and throughput diminishes
Solution Approach 1:
The mixer divides the fluid flow into multiple parallel paths (first path, second path, third path, fourth path) with different delay volumes. Each path processes a portion of the flow simultaneously, achieving effective mixing without requiring a single large volume chamber, thus reducing overall delay volume and increasing throughput.
2Volume of stationary object
If packed-bead LC mixers are used for mixing, then compact size is achieved, but they are inefficient relative to delay volume, difficult to manufacture, and prone to contamination and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the mixing function from the traditional packed-bead approach and implements it through a split-flow path system with recombination. This eliminates the need for packed beads entirely, removing the sources of contamination and clogging while maintaining compact mixer size and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent explicitly rejects porous packed-bead materials in favor of a clean split-flow recombination design. By using smooth-walled flow paths instead of porous media, the system eliminates clogging issues and contamination risks associated with packed beads.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple splits and recombination points are used to cancel compositional ripple, then compositional disturbance reduction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixer employs asymmetric path configurations where the first path has a first delay volume and the second path has a second delay volume, with the first delay volume being different from the second delay volume. This asymmetric design enables effective cancellation of compositional disturbances at specific frequencies while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a liquid chromatography system and mixer for use therein that includes a first split connected to an inlet, the first split branching the flow of fluid from the inlet into a first path and a second path; a second split connected to an outlet of the first path, the second split branching the first path into a third path and a fourth path; and a third split connected to an outlet of the second path, the third split branching the second path into a fifth path and a sixth path. The first path and the second path are offset by a first predetermined volume, the third path and the fourth path are offset by a second predetermined volume, and the fifth path and the sixth path are also offset by the second predetermined volume.