Fluidic System Pressure Switching for Precise Volume Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluidic systems, particularly in low flow chromatography, face challenges in accurately and efficiently loading and equilibrating fluids into chromatographic columns, leading to inconsistent chromatographic separation results due to imprecise volume delivery and prolonged utilization times.
Innovation Solution
A method involving defined volume flow steps with pressure-controlled transitions in a fluidic system, including switching between operating states to manage pressure effectively, ensuring precise volume delivery and efficient column loading and equilibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If elevated flow rates are used to accelerate column loading and equilibration, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inaccurate volume delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different operating states (first, second, and third states) to adapt to different process requirements. During column loading, the system operates in a high-flow state to maximize speed, then transitions to a precision control state for accurate volume delivery, resolving the contradiction between speed and accuracy through temporal separation of these requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (flow rate, pressure) at different stages of the chromatographic process. Elevated flow rates are applied during loading to improve productivity, while precise parameter control is maintained during equilibration and separation to ensure manufacturing precision, thus resolving the contradiction through parameter optimization at different process phases
2Productivity
If elevated flow rates are used to accelerate column equilibration, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inconsistent separation conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts flow rates during the equilibration process, using high flow rates initially to quickly restore separation conditions, then gradually reducing to precise control levels to ensure reproducible separation parameters, thus resolving the contradiction between equilibration speed and separation precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary equilibration at elevated flow rates to quickly restore column conditions before the actual separation begins, ensuring that by the time separation starts, the column is properly equilibrated with precise and reproducible conditions, thus resolving the contradiction through staged approach
3Speed
If pressure is increased to accelerate fluid flow through the resistive element, then speed is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to compressibility effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts pressure during the loading process, using high pressure to accelerate fluid flow through the resistive element, then dynamically reducing pressure to compensate for compressibility effects and ensure accurate volume delivery, thus resolving the contradiction between flow speed and volume precision through real-time pressure control
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control to monitor actual fluid delivery and adjust pressure accordingly. When high pressure is applied to increase flow rate, the system detects volume delivery deviations caused by compressibility and provides compensatory pressure adjustments, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and precision through closed-loop control
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
Enhances the reproducibility and efficiency of chromatographic separation by accurately delivering defined volumes, reducing column loading and equilibration times, and maintaining consistent separation conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a defined volume of a fluid is forced to flow out of the fluidic resistive element... switching the system from a first operating state to a second operating state, to bring a pressure in the fluidic resistive element from a first pressure value to a second pressure value
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of operating a fluidic system, wherein the fluidic system comprises a fluidic resistive element, wherein the method comprises a defined volume flow step, wherein in the defined volume flow step, a defined volume of a fluid is forced to flow out of the fluidic resistive element, wherein the defined volume is the fluid flowing out of the fluidic resistive element in a first time interval defined by a time tstart and a time tend, wherein the defined volume flow step comprises: at the time tstart, switching the system from a first operating state to a second operating state, to bring a pressure in the fluidic resistive element from a first pressure value to a second pressure value, the second pressure value exceeding the first pressure value, and at a time treduce, which is after the time tstart and not later than the time tend, switching the system to a third operating state to bring the pressure in the fluidic resistive element to a third pressure value, the third pressure value being below the second pressure value. The present invention also relates to a corresponding system and a corresponding computer program product.