Stacked-Layer Fluidic Valve for Low Dead Volume at High Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluidic valves in liquid chromatography systems face challenges in compactness, robustness, and dead volume, necessitating improvements in their design for enhanced performance in high-pressure applications.
Innovation Solution
A compact and robust fluidic valve is developed using a stack of connected layer structures with a movable body and actuator, allowing for selective flow control between conduits, manufactured through diffusion bonding of metallic layers with integrated nonmetallic components, enabling precise control and high-pressure resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional fluidic valves are used in liquid chromatography systems, then flow control function is achieved, but compactness and robustness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into multiple stacked layers (first layer structure, second layer structure, third layer structure) that are connected together. Each layer can be manufactured separately and then assembled, allowing for compact integration while maintaining structural integrity and robustness under high pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The movable body is positioned within a cavity formed by the stacked layer structures, creating a nested configuration where the movable component is housed within the valve body structure. This nesting achieves compactness while protecting the movable body and ensuring robust operation
2Quantity of substance
If conventional fluidic valves are used, then flow control is achieved, but dead volume is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The valve transitions from conventional three-dimensional bulky design to a planar stacked layer configuration. By arranging flow paths and components in multiple layers stacked in the vertical dimension, the valve achieves compact footprint while optimizing internal flow paths to minimize dead volume, thereby improving separation efficiency
3Stress or pressure
If metallic layer structures are diffusion bonded, then high-pressure resistance is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into multiple metallic layer structures that can be manufactured using standard metal forming techniques. The layers are then connected through diffusion bonding, which distributes the manufacturing complexity across multiple simple steps rather than requiring one complex high-pressure resistant component to be manufactured as a single piece
Solution Approach 2:
The valve employs composite construction with multiple metallic layers (first, second, and third layer structures) bonded together through diffusion bonding. This composite approach allows each layer to be optimized for specific functions while the combined structure achieves high-pressure resistance, balancing manufacturing ease with mechanical performance
4Adaptability or versatility
If nonmetallic functional components are integrated with metallic stack, then functional performance is enhanced, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve incorporates nonmetallic functional components (such as seals, gaskets, or functional layers) as separate elements that are integrated into the metallic stacked layer structure. This segmentation allows each material to be manufactured and processed according to its optimal techniques, then assembled together, enhancing functional performance without excessively complicating manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges metallic structural layers with nonmetallic functional components into a single integrated valve assembly. The nonmetallic components are positioned between or within the metallic layers, combining the mechanical strength and pressure resistance of metals with the functional properties of nonmetallic materials, achieving enhanced versatility while maintaining manufacturability through modular assembly
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 provides a highly compact and robust fluidic valve suitable for microfluidic high-pressure applications, ensuring precise control and reliability under harsh conditions, while maintaining the integrity of both metallic and nonmetallic components.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator configured for actuating the movable body to selectively bring the movable body into a flow enabling configuration
Implementation Method 2
manufactured through diffusion bonding of metallic layers with integrated nonmetallic components
Data Source
AI summary
A fluidic valve for a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluid, wherein the fluidic valve comprises a stack of connected layer structures, a first conduit within the stack, a second conduit within the stack, a movable body within the stack, and an actuator configured for actuating the movable body to selectively bring the movable body into a flow enabling configuration in which flow of fluid between the first conduit and the second conduit is enabled, or into a flow disabling configuration in which flow of fluid between the first conduit and the second conduit is disabled.