Regulating a detector flow of a field flow fractionator

A computer implemented method comprising:

• receiving, by a computer system, detector flow data from a detector flow meter,
• wherein the detector flow meter is configured to measure a detector flow from a field flow fractionator,
• wherein an inlet of the detector flow meter is configured to be connected to an outlet of a detector port of the field flow fractionator,
• wherein an outlet of the detector flow meter is configured to be connected to an inlet of a detector chain comprising at least one detector;
• receiving, by the computer system, channel pressure data from a channel pressure meter,
• wherein the channel pressure meter is configured to measure a channel pressure of the field flow fractionator,
• wherein an inlet of the channel pressure meter is configured to be connected to an outlet of a split port of the field flow fractionator;
• executing, by the computer system, in response to the received detector flow data, a set of logical operations setting, via the detector flow meter, a channel pressure set point of the channel pressure meter to maintain the detector flow from the detector port at a particular flow rate;
• and
• executing, by the computer system, in response to the received channel pressure data, a set of logical operations actuating, via the channel pressure meter, at least one control valve to maintain a channel pressure of the field flow fractionator at the channel pressure set point,
• wherein an inlet of the at least one control valve is connected to an outlet of the channel pressure meter.

A system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to perform a method comprising
• receiving detector flow data from a detector flow meter,
• wherein the detector flow meter is configured to measure a detector flow from a field flow fractionator,
• wherein an inlet of the detector flow meter is configured to be connected to an outlet of a detector port of the field flow fractionator,
• wherein an outlet of the detector flow meter is configured to be connected to an inlet of a detector chain comprising at least one detector,
• receiving channel pressure data from a channel pressure meter,
• wherein the channel pressure meter is configured to measure a channel pressure of the field flow fractionator,
• wherein an inlet of the channel pressure meter is configured to be connected to an outlet of a split port of the field flow fractionator,
• executing, in response to the received detector flow data, a set of logical operations setting, via the detector flow meter, a channel pressure set point of the channel pressure meter to maintain the detector flow from the detector port at a particular flow rate, and
• executing, in response to the received channel pressure data, a set of logical operations actuating, via the channel pressure meter, at least one control valve to maintain a channel pressure of the field flow fractionator at the channel pressure set point,
• wherein an inlet of the at least one control valve is connected to an outlet of the channel pressure meter.