Automated fluid handling system

An automated liquid chromatography system comprising:

• a housing unit, said housing unit comprising multiple fluid handling unit receiving positions arranged in a two dimensional array on the external surface of the housing unit;
• and
• multiple fluid handling units corresponding in size and shape to the fluid handling unit receiving positions, each fluid handling unit comprising an external section that is external to the housing unit when the fluid handling unit is arranged in a fluid handling unit receiving position, and an internal section that is internal to the housing unit when the fluid handling unit is arranged in a fluid handling unit receiving position,
• wherein the external section comprises one or more fluid connectors for connecting the fluid handling units arranged in the fluid handling unit receiving positions to a fluid flow path of the automated liquid chromatography system, and the internal section comprises an enclosure with one or more air inlet openings;
• wherein said automated liquid chromatography system is adapted to allow each fluid handling unit to be freely and independently positioned in any free fluid handling unit receiving position of the housing unit.

An automated liquid chromatography system comprising:

• a main housing unit, said main housing unit comprising multiple fluid handling unit receiving positions arranged in a two dimensional array on the external surface of the main housing unit;
• an expansion housing unit, said expansion housing unit comprising multiple fluid handling unit receiving positions adjacent to the external surface of the main housing unit comprising the fluid handling unit receiving positions;
• and
• multiple fluid handling units corresponding in size and shape to the fluid handling unit receiving positions of the main housing unit and expansions housing unit, each first fluid handling unit comprising an external section that is external to the housing when the fluid handling unit is arranged in a fluid handling unit receiving position, and an internal section that is internal to the housing when the fluid handling unit is arranged in a fluid handling unit receiving position,
• wherein said automated liquid chromatography system is adapted to allow each fluid handling unit to be freely and independently positioned in any free fluid handling unit receiving position of the housing unit.

An automated liquid chromatography system comprising:

• a housing unit, said housing unit comprising multiple fluid handling unit receiving positions arranged in a two dimensional array on the external surface of the housing unit;
• and
• multiple fluid handling units corresponding in size and shape to the fluid handling unit receiving positions, each fluid handling unit comprising an external section that is external to the housing unit when the fluid handling unit is arranged in a fluid handling unit receiving position, and an internal section that is internal to the housing unit when the fluid handling unit is arranged in a fluid handling unit receiving position,
• wherein the external section comprises one or more fluid connectors for connecting the fluid handling units arranged in the fluid handling unit receiving positions to a fluid flow path of the automated liquid chromatography system;
• wherein the fluid handling units are arranged to be inserted into a fluid handling unit receiving position of the same size and shape from the external side of the housing unit and is attached into position by a retaining element accessible from the external side of the housing to allow the fluid handling unit to be readily exchanged with other fluid handling units of the same size and shape from the external side of the housing unit;
• and
• wherein said automated liquid chromatography system is adapted to allow each fluid handling unit to be freely and independently positioned in any free fluid handling unit receiving position of the housing unit.

A liquid chromatography system comprising a plurality of fluid handling units for providing a controlled fluid flow through a chromatographic column, wherein at least one of the fluid handling units is a motorized rotary valve selected from:

• a) a column valve with integrated pressure sensors, comprising two or more pairs of column connection ports each for connecting a column there between an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the valve is configured for selective connection of a column connected to a pair of column connector ports by connecting the inlet port to one of the ports in the pair of column connector ports and the outlet port to the other port of the pair of column connector ports, and wherein the valve further comprises integrated pressure sensors integrated into the inlet and outlet ports of the valve, to measure the actual pressure over the connected column;
• b) a pH Valve with integrated pH cell and calibration inlet outlet, comprising integrated flow cell for in-line monitoring of pH levels, the valve being arranged to direct the flow to the pH electrode or to bypass the electrode;
• or
• c) an injection valve for injecting sample onto the column, comprising a manual sample inlet for manual sample loading using a syringe, a sample pump inlet for automated sample loading using a sample pump, a sample loop inlet and outlet for connecting a sample loop there between, and a column outlet for directing fluid flow to the column wherein the valve is configured for selective filling of the sample loop either automatically by connecting the sample pump inlet to the loop inlet, or manually by connecting the manual sample inlet to the loop inlet, and for selectively injecting a sample onto the column either by injecting a sample from the sample loop by connecting the sample loop outlet to the column outlet or by injecting sample directly from the sample pump by connecting the sample pump inlet to the column outlet.