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US 12,460,842 B2Granted
High-pressure fluid chromatography system using interior-to-exterior column pressure equalization
AssigneeSupercritical Fluid Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKenneth Joseph James, Brian Jeffrey Waibel, Kenneth Richard Krewson, Kim Ferrara, Curtis Ebersold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided is a high-pressure fluid chromatography system using interior-to-exterior column pressure equalization, and components comprising such a system, including a pressure equalizing vessel which allows for the use of an inner chromatography column that is only able to withstand an interior-to-exterior pressure differential of up to 200 psi.
Claims20
A pressurized fluid chromatography system comprising:
- a pressure-equalizing vessel, said pressure-equalizing vessel comprising:
- a cylindrical inner column chromatography cartridge containing stationary phase media in an internal space;
- a cylindrical outer column that surrounds the cylindrical inner column, wherein the cylindrical inner column is attachable to the cylindrical outer column to create said pressure-equalizing vessel and is detachable from the cylindrical outer column;
- an interspace region between the cylindrical inner column and the cylindrical outer column with the cylindrical inner column attached within the cylindrical outer column;
- wherein, the internal space of the cylindrical inner column and the interspace region are concurrently filled with a fluid pressurized to at least 500 psi (35 bar) while the cylindrical inner column is attached within the pressure-equalizing vessel and the chromatography system is operating, and, wherein, the pressure-equalizing vessel maintains a pressure differential between the internal space of the cylindrical inner column and the interspace region that is less than about 200 psi;
- wherein the pressure-equalizing vessel is filled with said fluid from an upstream source that is split into two streams, one stream flowing into the interspace region and the other stream flowing into the internal space of the inner column of the pressure-equalizing vessel;
- and
- wherein, the pressure-equalizing vessel prevents fluid communication between the interspace region and the internal space of the inner column while the cylindrical inner column is attached within the cylindrical outer column.
5 more elements
A removably insertable cartridge for use in a pressure-equalizing vessel of a pressurized fluid chromatography system, said cartridge comprising:
- a cylindrical inner column insertable within a surrounding cylindrical outer column, the cylindrical inner column serving as an insertable and removable chromatography cartridge containing stationary phase media;
- the cylindrical inner column creating a cylindrical interspace region between an inner diameter of the outer column and the outer diameter of the cylindrical inner column upon insertion of the cylindrical inner column;
- wherein, upon insertion of the cylindrical inner column, the cylindrical inner column allows an internal space of the cylindrical inner column and the interspace region to be concurrently filled with a fluid pressurized to at least 500 psi (35 bar);
- wherein, upon insertion of the cylindrical inner column, the inner column maintains a pressure differential between the internal space of the cylindrical inner column and the interspace region that is less than about 200 psi;
- wherein the pressure-equalizing vessel is filled with said fluid from an upstream source that is split into two streams, one stream flowing into the interspace region and the other stream flowing into the internal space of the inner column of the pressure-equalizing vessel;
- and
- wherein, upon insertion of the cylindrical inner column, the cylindrical inner column prevents fluid communication between the interspace region and the internal space of the cylindrical inner column.
4 more elements
A pressurized fluid chromatography method using a pressure-equalizing vessel, said method comprising:
- inserting a cylindrical inner column into a cylindrical outer column of a pressure-equalizing vessel of a pressurized fluid chromatography system, the cylindrical inner column being an insertable and removable chromatography cartridge containing stationary phase media;
- creating, a cylindrical interspace region between an inner diameter of the cylindrical outer column and the outer diameter of the cylindrical inner column upon insertion of the cylindrical inner column;
- concurrently filling, with a fluid pressurized to at least 500 psi (35 bar), an internal space of the cylindrical inner column and the interspace region;
- maintaining a pressure differential of less than about 200 psi between the internal space of the cylindrical inner column and the interspace region;
- preventing fluid communication between the interspace region and the cylindrical internal space of the cylindrical inner column;
- and
- wherein the pressure-equalizing vessel is filled with said fluid from an upstream source that is split into two streams, one stream flowing into the interspace region and the other stream flowing into the internal space of the inner column of the pressure-equalizing vessel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.