Folded HPLC Piping with Support Member to Suppress Channel Diffusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), channel diffusion leads to poor separation performance due to the limitations of existing methods in suppressing diffusion in extremely thin piping, which requires small fold angles and reduced outer diameters, compromising strength and thermal transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A piping device with a folded shape is supported by a member to maintain its structure, equipped with a heater and thermal conductive materials to enhance thermal transfer and stability, allowing for effective suppression of channel diffusion even in thin piping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the outer diameter of the piping is reduced to enable small fold angles, then channel diffusion suppression is improved, but the strength of the piping is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The piping is divided into multiple folded sections along its length, creating multiple bend points that collectively suppress channel diffusion. This segmentation allows the piping to achieve diffusion suppression through distributed folding rather than requiring a single small-radius bend, thereby maintaining overall structural strength while reducing local outer diameter requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The piping is configured to fold in multiple spatial dimensions rather than a single plane, creating a three-dimensional folded structure. This dimensional approach allows the piping to achieve compact configuration and diffusion suppression without requiring excessive reduction in outer diameter, as the folding occurs across multiple axes simultaneously.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of folds is increased to suppress channel diffusion, then separation performance is improved, but the piping structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A support structure acts as an intermediary between the folded piping sections, providing mechanical support and maintaining the folded configuration. This intermediary element simplifies the overall piping structure by eliminating the need for complex self-supporting folded designs, while still enabling multiple folds to achieve the required separation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The piping employs repetitive folded patterns that can be manufactured using standardized processes. By copying the same fold design multiple times along the piping length, the system achieves high separation performance through multiple folds while simplifying manufacturing and reducing structural complexity through pattern repetition.
3Temperature
If thermal transfer efficiency is improved by removing air layers, then heating performance is enhanced, but the insulation between inner and outer piping is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The piping structure implements different thermal characteristics at different locations: the regions requiring heating have direct thermal contact between inner and outer piping with removed air layers, while other regions maintain air layer insulation. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of heating efficiency in specific zones and thermal insulation in others.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermal conductive material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the inner and outer piping to facilitate heat transfer. This mediator material enables efficient heating by replacing the insulating air layer in specific regions, while the overall dual-piping structure maintains insulation capabilities in other areas.
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 stabilizes fluid flow and suppresses channel diffusion in HPLC systems, improving separation performance and reproducibility by maintaining the folded shape and controlling temperature, especially in thin piping configurations.
Implementation Method 1
an action works that spreads a sample injected in an analysis flow channel in which a mobile phase flows or a sample component separated by an analysis column in a flow channel direction of a piping (flow direction) by liquid flow field and molecular diffusion. This is called channel diffusion.
Implementation Method 2
spreads a sample injected in an analysis flow channel in which a mobile phase flows or a sample component separated by an analysis column in a flow channel direction of a piping (flow direction) by liquid flow field and molecular diffusion
Implementation Method 3
increasing the temperature T is effective to increase the diffusion coefficient (because the viscosity μ lowers when the temperature T increases). However, in the piping structure disclosed in PTL: 1, an air layer exists between an inner piping continuously folded and an outer piping housing the inner piping, making heat around the outer piping be less likely to be transferred to the inner piping.
Data Source
AI summary
Obtaining sufficient suppression effect of channel diffusion and stably transferring solution are made possible even in a piping having an extremely small inner diameter used for an analysis apparatus such as an HPLC. A piping device for an analysis apparatus includes a piping equipped with a folded shape that suppresses inner channel diffusion, and a member directly or indirectly in contact with the piping from at least one side to support the piping to suppress deformation of the folded shape.