Single Pump Staggered Chromatography with Proportioning Valves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional staggered LC-MS systems require a large hardware footprint, complex software orchestration, and high hardware and maintenance costs due to the need for multiple dedicated pumps for each chromatographic channel.

Innovation Solution

A liquid chromatography system utilizing a single pump system shared by multiple chromatography columns, with proportioning valves that split the mobile phase flow into multiple streams with varying split proportions over time, eliminating the need for dedicated pumps for each channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple dedicated pumps are used for each chromatographic channel, then system reliability and independence of channels are improved, but hardware footprint, cost, and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidhardware footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple pump functions into a single shared pump that serves all chromatographic channels. The pump system includes a pump controller that coordinates solvent delivery to multiple columns, eliminating the need for separate dedicated pumps for each channel while maintaining system reliability through centralized control and monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single pump system is designed to perform multiple functions by serving all chromatographic channels simultaneously. The pump controller enables the same pump to deliver solvents to different columns with different flow rates and gradients, making the pump universal rather than dedicated to a single channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated pumps are used for each chromatographic channel, then channel independence is improved, but maintenance costs and hardware costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel independenceVSAvoidmaintenance costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple pump systems into a single integrated pump unit with a controller that manages all channels. This consolidation reduces the total number of pumps from N (one per channel) to 1, thereby reducing maintenance requirements and costs while preserving channel independence through software control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump controller acts as an intermediary between the single pump and multiple chromatographic channels. It manages solvent distribution, flow rates, and gradients for each channel independently, enabling channel independence without requiring physically separate pumps for each channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a single pump is shared by multiple chromatography columns, then hardware footprint and costs are reduced, but flow proportioning precision and gradient control complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware footprintVSAvoidflow proportioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces proportioning valves as intermediary devices between the single pump and the chromatographic columns. These valves precisely control the splitting and proportioning of solvent flows to different channels, ensuring accurate gradient delivery and flow distribution without requiring multiple pumps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of using multiple independent pumps with a controlled valve-based system. The proportioning valves, controlled by the pump controller, achieve precise flow distribution through electronic control rather than mechanical pump synchronization, improving precision while reducing hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This configuration allows for higher throughput with fewer hardware components, reducing space requirements and costs while maintaining high system utilization and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

the proportioning valves are configured to control a flow of the solvent from each of the outlets

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow control:

Implementation Method 2

The gradient of each solvent mixture may be offset in time from the gradient composition of each of the other solvent mixtures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGradient formation:

Data Source

PatentUS20250102477A1High pressure flow proportioning for staggered chromatography using a single pump

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 WATERS TECHNOLOGY CORP

AI summary

A system and method for performing staggered separations are described. The system includes a plurality of solvent pumps; a plurality of proportioning valves each being in fluid communication with one of the solvent pumps, each proportioning valve having an inlet to receive a solvent from the respective one of the solvent pumps and having a plurality of outlets, wherein the proportioning valves are configured to control a flow of the solvent from each of the outlets; and a plurality of separation devices each in fluid communication with one of the outlets. Each of the separation devices receives a solvent mixture having a composition defined by the flows of the solvents from each of the respective outlets.