Spiral Flow Air Trap for Chromatography Bubble Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air traps in liquid chromatography systems are inefficient in removing gas bubbles due to large reservoir volumes causing delays and are prone to microbial contamination, as they require a significant distance for bubbles to rise, leading to prolonged sample delivery times and potential bacterial growth.
Innovation Solution
An air trap system with a cylindrical reservoir design that utilizes centrifugal and gravitational forces to separate air bubbles from the liquid, allowing for a lower liquid volume and faster sample delivery by forcing the liquid to flow in a spiral path, enhancing bubble separation at higher flow velocities and incorporating a central protuberance to reduce stagnant volumes and promote bacterial inhibition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large reservoir volume is used to allow bubbles to rise, then bubble separation is improved, but sample delivery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air trap is positioned to receive liquid from the pump before the liquid enters the chromatography column. By performing bubble separation in advance (preliminary action), the system ensures that bubbles are removed before they can interfere with column operation or detector performance, eliminating the need for large reservoir volumes that would delay sample delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The air trap acts as an intermediary device between the pump and the chromatography column. It provides a controlled environment for bubble separation using a small volume of liquid, preventing bubbles from reaching the column while maintaining fast sample delivery. The intermediary structure includes a liquid level sensor and valve system that manages the liquid level to optimize bubble removal without requiring large volumes.
2Reliability
If a traditional air trap design is used, then air bubbles can be trapped, but microbial contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air trap design extracts and removes bubbles from the liquid stream in a controlled manner. By continuously trapping and removing air bubbles through the exhaust valve system, the design prevents stagnant volumes where microbes could grow, while still effectively trapping bubbles to protect the chromatography system.
Solution Approach 2:
The air trap operates continuously during pump operation, with the liquid level sensor and valve system maintaining continuous bubble removal. This continuous action prevents the formation of stagnant liquid volumes that could support microbial growth, while ensuring uninterrupted bubble trapping throughout the chromatography process.
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 air trap system achieves efficient bubble separation at higher flow rates, reducing sample delivery delays and preventing microbial contamination by utilizing centrifugal forces to separate air bubbles effectively, while maintaining a lower liquid volume and ensuring continuous operation with improved sanitary design.
Implementation Method 1
An air trap system with a cylindrical reservoir design that utilizes centrifugal and gravitational forces to separate air bubbles from the liquid, allowing for a lower liquid volume and faster sample delivery by forcing the liquid to flow in a spiral path
Implementation Method 2
An air trap system with a cylindrical reservoir design that utilizes centrifugal and gravitational forces to separate air bubbles from the liquid
Implementation Method 3
forcing the liquid to flow in a spiral path, enhancing bubble separation at higher flow velocities
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to air traps 13, particularly for chromatography systems, chromatography systems using such air traps and methods of using such chromatography systems, in which the air trap comprises a liquid inlet pipe 33, a liquid outlet pipe 35, a substantially cylindrical reservoir 25 between the inlet and outlet pipes 33, 35, and an air outlet opening, the air outlet opening being openable and closable by means of a valve, wherein the liquid inlet and outlet pipes 33, 35 connect to the reservoir 25 substantially tangentially to the reservoir wall 27, the inlet pipe 33 at a distance above the outlet pipe 35, arranged such that during use incoming liquid at a the maximum permitted flow rate travels a spiral path from the inlet pipe 33 to the outlet pipe 35.