High pressure liquid chromatographic gradient mixer
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsChristian G. Daughton, Richard H. Sakaji
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Abstract
A gradient mixer which effects the continuous mixing of any two miscible solvents without excessive decay or dispersion of the resultant isocratic effluent or of a linear or exponential gradient. The two solvents are fed under low or high pressure by means of two high performance liquid chromatographic pumps. The mixer comprises a series of ultra-low dead volume stainless steel tubes and low dead volume chambers. The two solvent streams impinge head-on at high fluxes. This initial nonhomogeneous mixture is then passed through a chamber packed with spirally-wound wires which cause turbulent mixing thereby homogenizing the mixture with minimum "band-broadening".
Claims9
A liquid gradient mixer comprising:
- a premixing tee adapted to receive liquid under pressure from a plurality of sources;
- a premixing chamber operatively connected to receive a liquid mixture from said premixing tee;
- and
- a main mixing chamber operatively connected to receive the liquid mixture from said premixing chamber, said main mixing chamber being provided with means for providing a no center void therein, said means comprising a housing having a plurality of spiral wound wires extending longitudinally through said housing which cause turbulent mixing of the liquid mixture so as to homogenize the liquid mixture discharging therefrom,
- said plurality of spiral wound wires being positioned within said housing so as to provide the no center void within said housing.
In a liquid gradient mixer, a premixing tee having a housing defining a T-shaped chamber therein, a plurality of inlet members for connecting said tee to associated liquid sources via a pair of oppositely located arms of said T-shaped chamber, and an outlet member connected to a middle arm of said T-shaped chamber for connecting liquid passing through said tee to a point of use, each of said inlet members being provided with means for insuring a zero dead volume at the inner ends thereof, said means comprising a constricted inner orifice about which is positioned a ferrule to insure the zero dead volume at the inner ends of said inlet members.
A mixing chamber operatively connected to receive liquid for homogenious mixing therein, and operatively connected to discharge a mixture of liquid therefrom, said mixing chamber being provided with means for providing a no center void volume within said mixing chamber, said means consisting of a casing having a plurality of spirally wound members extending longitudinally through at least said casing and positioned so as to have contact and a tight fit between said members and an inside wall of said casing to provide the no center void volume within at least said casing and which cause turbulent mixing of the liquid so as to homogenize the liquid mixture discharging from said mixing chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.