Intelligent system and method for automated packing of chromatography columns

A method of determining the media type of an unknown media slurry, wherein said unknown media is from a set of known media types, in a chromatography column having an adjuster adapted to compress said media and means for measuring the force on said adjuster, said method comprising:

• actuating said adjuster to compress said media to a first column height;
• measuring the force on said adjuster at said first column height;
• calculating an index value based on said force measured at said first column height;
• and
• determining said unknown media type by comparing said index value to the index value of each of said known media types.

A method of packing a media bed of a chromatography column through which a fluid is flowed, said column having an adjuster for compressing said bed, wherein said adjuster is subjected to a compression force from said media and a hydraulic force from said fluid, and means for determining at least one of said compression force, said hydraulic force and the total force to which said adjuster is subjected, said method comprising:

• actuating said adjuster to compress said bed;
• determining at least one of said forces;
• calculating a value based on said determined forces;
• and
• ceasing movement of said actuator when said calculated value reaches a predetermined level.

A method of packing a media bed of a chromatography column through which a fluid is flowed, said column having an adjuster for compressing said bed, wherein said adjuster is subjected to a compression force from said media and a hydraulic force from said fluid, and means for determining said hydraulic force, said method comprising the sequential steps of:

• actuating said adjuster at such a velocity such that said hydraulic pressure reaches a predetermined level;
• decreasing the velocity of said adjuster to maintain said hydraulic pressure at said predetermined level;
• increasing the velocity of said adjuster to maintain said hydraulic pressure at said predetermined level;
• ceasing movement of said actuator when its current velocity is greater than its velocity at the transition between said decreasing and increasing steps by a predetermined amount.

A system for packing a media bed of a chromatography column through which a fluid is flowed, said column comprising:

• an adjuster coupled to an actuator for compressing said bed, wherein said adjuster is subjected to a compression force from said media and a hydraulic force from said fluid,
• means for determining at least one of said compression force, said hydraulic force and the total force to which said adjuster is subjected,
• a controller,
• and a storage medium, in communication with said controller, comprising a set of instructions executable by said controller, said instructions comprising:
• a first routine adapted to determine parameters associated with said media, and
• a second routine adapted to pack said media bed using said previously determined parameters.