Method for using a hydraulic amplifier pump in ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography
AssigneeWaters Investments Limited
InventorsGeoff C. Gerhardt, Bruce J. Compton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for supplying solvent to an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography system using a hydraulic amplifier. The hydraulic amplifier system includes a hydraulic cylinder comprising a primary piston chamber in which a primary piston is disposed and a secondary piston chamber in which a secondary piston is disposed. The cross-sectional area of the primary piston is larger than the cross-sectional area of the secondary piston. The difference in the cross-sectional areas of the pistons creates an amplification of the pressure in the primary piston chamber and a reduction in flow rate.
Claims23
A method of supplying solvent to a chromatographic system comprising:
- providing a hydraulic cylinder comprising:
- an inlet chamber;
- an outlet chamber;
- a primary piston disposed between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber,;
- a secondary piston chamber;
- and
- a secondary piston disposed in said secondary piston chamber, wherein a cross-sectional area of said primary piston is larger than a cross-sectional area of said secondary piston, such that pressure in said secondary piston chamber is greater than a pressure in said inlet chamber, and a flow rate through said secondary piston chamber is less than a flow rate through said outlet chamber;
- providing a pump, said pump supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid;
- driving said primary piston with said pressurized hydraulic fluid;
- activating said secondary piston by said primary piston;
- moving and pressurizing said solvent;
- and
- supplying said pressurized solvent to said chromatographic system from said hydraulic cylinder.
A method for supplying solvent to a chromatographic system comprising:
- supplying a first pressurized solvent to said chromatographic system with a first hydraulic cylinder;
- supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid at a substantially constant rate from a first pump to actuate a primary piston of said first hydraulic cylinder;
- supplying a second pressurized solvent to said chromatographic system with a second hydraulic cylinder;
- and
- supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid at a substantially constant rate from a second pump to actuate a primary piston of said second hydraulic cylinder,
- wherein said first and second hydraulic cylinders comprise:
- an inlet chamber;
- an outlet chamber;
- a primary piston disposed between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said primary piston being driven by said pressurized hydraulic fluid;
- a secondary piston chamber;
- and
- a secondary piston disposed in said secondary piston chamber, said secondary piston being activated by said primary piston for moving and pressurizing said pressurized solvent;
- wherein a cross-sectional area of said primary piston is larger than a cross-sectional area of said secondary piston, such that a pressure in said secondary piston chamber is greater than a pressure in said inlet chamber, and a flow rate through said secondary piston chamber is less than a flow rate through said outlet chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.