Synchronization of supply flow paths
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKlaus Witt, Konstantin Shoykhet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solvent supply system for supplying a composite includes a first supply path with a first pump unit, the first supply path being adapted for supplying a first solvent to a mixing unit, the first pump unit operating periodically, and a second supply path with a second pump unit, the second supply path being adapted for supplying a second solvent to the mixing unit, the second pump unit operating periodically. The mixing unit is adapted for mixing the first and the second solvent and for supplying a composite solvent. The solvent supply system further includes a control unit adapted for controlling operation of the first and the second pump unit.
Claims20
A chromatographic gradient pump system for supplying a composite solvent having a varying ratio of a first solvent and a second solvent as a function of time, the chromatographic gradient pump system comprising:
- a first supply flow path comprising a first pump unit comprising a reciprocating first piston, the first supply flow path configured to supply a pressurized flow of the first solvent;
- a second supply flow path comprising a second pump unit comprising a reciprocating second piston, the second supply flow path configured to supply a pressurized flow of the second solvent;
- a mixing unit configured to mix the flow of the first solvent and the flow of the second solvent to supply the composite solvent having the varying ratio;
- and
- a control unit comprising a processor, and configured to control an operation of the first pump unit and the second pump unit by:
- controlling the first pump unit and the second pump unit such that the first piston reciprocates with a shorter pump cycle than the second piston;
- and
- determining during a pump cycle of the first pump unit whether an amount of the second solvent drawn in by the second pump unit has reached a threshold, and if the threshold has been reached, modifying a starting point of a succeeding pump cycle of one of the first pump unit and the second pump unit.
A method for supplying a composite solvent having a varying ratio of a first solvent and a second solvent as a function of time, the method comprising:
- supplying a pressurized flow of the first solvent by a first pump unit comprising a reciprocating first piston;
- supplying, a pressurized flow of the second solvent by a second pump unit comprising a reciprocating second piston;
- mixing the first solvent and the second solvent in a mixing unit to form the composite solvent with the varying ratio;
- and
- while supplying the first solvent and the second solvent and mixing the first solvent and the second solvent, coordinating the operation of the first pump unit and of the second pump unit by:
- controlling the first pump unit and the second pump unit such that the first piston reciprocates with a shorter pump cycle than the second piston;
- and
- determining during a pump cycle of the first pump unit whether an amount of the second solvent drawn in by the second pump unit has reached a threshold, and when the threshold has been reached, modifying a starting point of a succeeding pump cycle of one of the first pump unit and the second pump unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.