Nebulizer waste pressure reducer for hplc systems
AssigneeTSI Incorporated
InventorsMichael Schumacher, Robert Montividas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system including a pressure reducer assembly for reducing pressurized streams to ambient pressure. The pressure reducer assembly includes first and second flow restrictors, each coupled to a common chamber that acts as a surge suppressor that mitigates pressure spikes in the discharge lines. The flow restrictors may comprise tubes having a high length-to-diameter ratio. The pressure losses through the flow restrictors, in combination with transition losses as the flow stream enters and exits the chamber, are sufficient to reduce a discharge stream from a specified inlet pressure to substantially ambient pressure, thus eliminating the need for pressurized waste containers.
Claims13
An apparatus for reducing the pressure of a fluid flow stream, comprising:
- a pressure reducer assembly defining a chamber therein, the pressure reducer assembly further comprising:
- a first flow restrictor configured to receive said fluid flow stream and to deposit said fluid flow stream into said chamber, said first flow restrictor defining a first flow axis and being tailored to cause a predetermined first reduction in pressure;
- and
- a second flow restrictor configured to receive said fluid flow stream from said chamber and to convey said fluid flow stream out of said chamber, said second flow restrictor defining a second flow axis and being tailored to cause a predetermined second reduction in pressure,
- wherein said fluid flow stream exits said second flow restrictor at substantially atmospheric pressure.
A method for reducing the pressure in a waste receptacle comprising:
- providing a first flow restrictor in fluid communication with a chamber and a second flow restrictor in fluid communication with said chamber and said waste receptacle;
- causing a fluid that is at a first pressure to flow through said first flow restrictor, said first flow restrictor being configured to create a first loss of pressure when said fluid enters said first flow restrictor at said first pressure, said first pressure being greater than atmospheric pressure;
- causing said fluid that flows through said first restrictor to flow into said chamber, said chamber operating at a second pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure and less that said first pressure;
- causing said fluid that is at said second pressure to flow through said second flow restrictor, said second flow restrictor being configured to create a second loss of pressure when said fluid enters said second flow restrictor at said second pressure;
- and
- causing said fluid that flows through said second flow restrictor to flow into said waste receptacle, said waste receptacle being substantially at atmospheric pressure.
A system for reducing the pressure in a waste stream of a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system, comprising;
- a nebulizer unit;
- a filter assembly configured to receive said waste stream from said nebulizer unit;
- and
- a pressure reducer assembly including a chamber defined therein and adapted to receive said waste stream from said filter assembly, said pressure reducer assembly including:
- an inlet tube in fluid communication with said chamber and said filter assembly, said inlet tube having a length and diameter configured to cause a first predetermined reduction in pressure;
- and
- an outlet tube in fluid communication with said chamber and having a length and diameter configured to cause a second predetermined reduction in pressure.
An apparatus for reducing the pressure of a fluid flow stream, comprising:
- a pressure reducer assembly defining a chamber therein, the pressure reducer assembly further comprising:
- first means for reducing the pressure of said fluid flow stream entering said chamber;
- and
- second means for reducing the pressure of said fluid flow stream exiting said chamber,
- wherein said fluid flow stream exits said second means for reducing the pressure of said fluid flow stream at substantially atmospheric pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.