High pressure pump control

Abstract

A feedback control loop for a high pressure pump modifies the accumulator velocity and pressure during solvent transfer. The accumulator velocity is adjusted to maintain the system pressure equal to the expected pressure to thereby eliminate the effect of the flow deficit created by a thermal effect.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 587,381 filed Jul. 13, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The subject invention is directed generally to a scientific laboratory analytical equipment, and more particularly, to analytic equipment with a closed loop feedback controller for a high pressure pump.[0004]2. Background of the Related Art[0005]Scientific laboratories commonly need to separate chemical compounds on such basis as the compounds molecular weight or size, charge or solubility. Separation of the compounds is often a first step in the identification, purification and quantification of the compounds. Chromatography or, more specifically, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has become the analytical tool of choice for applications as varied as biotechnological, biomedical, and biochemical research as well as...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a controller for a high pressure pump that uses closed loop feedback control on the accumulator pressure during transfer to modify the accumulator velocity and maintain the system pressure at the target value. This helps to prevent solvent composition errors and compensates for thermal effects created during compression of the solvent. The controller achieves quick and accurate response to dynamic flow conditions and eliminates delivery error. The invention also provides a method for controlling the output of a high pressure pump system to reduce delivery error and a computer-readable medium for the same.

Problems solved by technology

In fact, improvements in one technological area or subsystem typically spurn on advancement in interrelated areas or subsystems.

For many leading edge technology HPLC instruments, the high pressure and limited amount of time to compress the solvent creates significant thermal effect.

However, the thermal effects at high pressure become more appreciable.

The thermal effects create errors in the pressure of the compressed solvent because the solvent temperature is elevated during compression compared with during analysis in the instrument.

As a result, the compressed solvent settles to a pressure below the target pressure and, thereby, creates a deficit in delivered flow.

Prior art pump control systems lack the required ability to react to the thermal effects of solvent compression at high pressures.

So despite the advances of the state of the art, HPLC instruments are lacking in stability and performance.

As a result, inaccurate results are still common.

Moreover, such prior art instruments are plagued by inadequacies such as complex electronics and numerous additional components that undesirably increase costs and complexity without overcoming the noted drawbacks.

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