HPLC Valve Assembly With Local Memory for Wear Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) units face challenges in tracking the usage and wear of components, leading to inefficient maintenance and potential component failure, as existing systems require re-initialization and lack portable data management for valve positions and usage history.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic multi-port control valve assembly with localized non-volatile memory, such as FRAM, stores data on valve positions, usage, and wear characteristics, allowing for predictive maintenance and eliminating the need for re-initialization by retaining the last known valve position and cumulative motion data, enabling efficient data management and component tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If components are swapped between HPLC units, then component utilization is improved, but data tracking and maintenance history are lost requiring re-initialization
Solution Approach 1:
The component carries its own data repository (self-service data storage) that independently tracks usage and maintenance history without relying on external host computer memory. This allows the component to maintain its own identity and history when moved between different HPLC units, eliminating the need for re-initialization and enabling seamless interchangeability.
2Device complexity
If host computer memory stores component data, then data centralization is improved, but data portability and component independence are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The data management system is segmented into distributed data repositories located within each component rather than centralized in the host computer. Each component has its own localized memory storage that independently stores usage and maintenance data, making the component self-sufficient and portable across different HPLC units without requiring host computer data synchronization.
3Reliability
If re-initialization is performed after power shutdown, then system reliability is improved, but operational downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary data storage actions by continuously recording valve positions, usage counts, and maintenance history in non-volatile memory during normal operation. This preliminary action ensures that all critical data is already captured and stored before any power shutdown occurs, eliminating the need for time-consuming re-initialization procedures and reducing downtime while maintaining system reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is described for controlling fluid flow and in particular fluid flow through a microfluidic multi-port control valve assembly of a High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) unit. The flow control apparatus has a localized data repository for storing cumulative wear indications of components of the apparatus. The stored information travels with the apparatus allowing for more reliable predictive failure of components of the apparatus.