Scientific Systems, Inc.                                Phone: (814)234-7311

Jeffrey Field                                                       Fax: (814)238-7532

                                                                           349 N. Science Park Road                     Email: jfield@ssihplc.com

                                                                           State College, PA 16803                             URL: www.ssihplc.com

Overview:

Problem: Positive-displacement (piston) pumps are commonly used for solvent delivery in liquid

chromatography applications to achieve flow accuracy (+2%) and high pressures (12,000 psi).

Pulse-free fluid flow is desirable, but producing a pulse-free pump is difficult and expensive

given the compressible nature and wide variety of solvents used.

To date, a passive device has been used to dampen pulsation in the system pressure (liquidfilled

reservoir with isolation diaphragm), but the desire for reduced fluid system volume and

lower pulsation limit this solution.

 

Objectives:

Proposal: Develop an active pulse dampener to monitor and react to changes in system

pressure to maintain pulse-free fluid flow across a wide-range of solvents, flow rates and

pressures.

Estimated flow ranges: 0.001-5.000 mL/min

Estimated pressure range: 1,000-12,000 psi

Pressure pulsation: 0.5% peak-to-peak (of nominal system pressure)

Typical solvents: water, methanol, hexane