Liquid Delivery Pump Synchronization for LC Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid chromatography, synchronizing the injection timing of a sample with the operation state of a binary pump with two liquid delivery pumps results in a trade-off between analysis reproducibility and efficiency due to the long waiting time required for the pumps to reach a predetermined state, especially at low flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A liquid delivery device with two independently operating pumps, each having a primary and secondary plunger pump, where the secondary pump performs suction during the discharge of the primary pump, allowing for adjustable operation speeds to synchronize the pumps' states quickly without affecting the flow rate, using a controller to calculate and adjust the operation speeds of the plungers to reach the bottom dead center simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the injection timing of a sample is synchronized with the operation state of a liquid delivery pump, then analysis reproducibility is improved, but analysis efficiency deteriorates due to long waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the operation speed of the secondary plunger pump adjustable rather than fixed. The controller can dynamically change the suction operation speed of the secondary plunger pump to optimize both synchronization timing and overall analysis efficiency, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of plunger pump operation speed, specifically allowing the secondary plunger pump's suction speed to be adjusted independently. This parameter change enables the system to achieve synchronization at optimal times without being constrained by fixed operational cycles, thereby improving both reproducibility and efficiency
2Measurement precision
If the operation speed of the plunger is reduced to deliver mobile phase at very small flow rate, then liquid delivery precision is improved, but operation cycle becomes long causing synchronization delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the secondary plunger pump perform suction operation during the discharge operation of the primary plunger pump. This preliminary action prepares the system for the next injection cycle in advance, reducing the waiting time required for synchronization without compromising the precision of liquid delivery at small flow rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by overlapping the suction operation of the secondary plunger pump with the discharge operation of the primary plunger pump. This continuous operation eliminates idle time between cycles, maintaining high synchronization speed while preserving precise liquid delivery control
Data Source
AI summary
The liquid delivery device includes a liquid delivery controller configured to operate, in a complementary manner, a primary plunger pump and a secondary plunger pump of each of a first liquid delivery pump and a second liquid delivery pump so that the first liquid delivery pump and the second liquid delivery pump perform continuous liquid delivery at a preset flow rate to each other, and a forcible synchronization part configured to forcibly synchronize operation states of the secondary plunger pumps of the first liquid delivery pump and the second liquid delivery pump by operating the primary plunger pump and the secondary plunger pump of the first liquid delivery pump and the second liquid delivery pump at the calculated operation speed.