Removing portions of undefined composition from the mobile phase
A fluid supply system, for supplying a mobile phase in a sample separation device for separating a fluidic sample in a separation path, includes a proportioning unit for proportioning multiple solvent components for composing the mobile phase, a fluid drive unit for driving the solvent components of the mobile phase, and a control unit for controlling the proportioning unit and the fluid drive unit so that an undefined portion of the mobile phase is removed from the mobile phase before delivering the mobile phase from the fluid drive unit to the separation path.
1. A fluid supply system for supplying a mobile phase in a sample separation device for separating a fluidic sample in a separation path, the fluid supply system comprising:
a proportioning unit configured to proportion multiple solvent components for composing the mobile phase and for providing a serial sequence of fluid packets each relating to a respective one of the solvent components;
a fluid drive unit configured to drive the mobile phase toward the separation path; and
a control unit configured to control the proportioning unit and the fluid drive unit so that an undefined portion of the mobile phase is removed from the mobile phase before delivering the mobile phase from the fluid drive unit to the separation path.
2. The fluid supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the removed undefined portion corresponds to a fluid interface between adjacent fluid packets of different solvent components.
3. The fluid supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the proportioning unit comprises at least one proportioning valve being switchable by the control unit for providing a fluidic coupling between a respective one of a plurality of fluid supply conduits, each assigned to a respective one of the solvent components, and a fluidic conduit fluidically connecting the proportioning valve with the fluid drive unit.
4. The fluid supply system according to claim 3 , comprising a pre-pump in at least one of the plurality of fluid supply conduits for pumping a respective one of the solvent components to the proportioning valve.
5. The fluid supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid drive unit comprises a primary piston pump for aspirating and compressing the solvent components of the mobile phase and a secondary piston pump downstream of and cooperating with the primary piston pump and being configured for driving the compressed mobile phase into the separation path.
6. The fluid supply system according to claim 5 , wherein the removed undefined portion corresponds to a portion of mobile phase remaining in the primary piston pump after having supplied another portion of mobile phase, compressed by the primary piston pump, from the primary piston pump to the secondary piston pump.
7. The fluid supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured for controlling a primary piston pump of the fluid drive unit for moving its piston to thereby remove the undefined portion.
8. The fluid supply system according to claim 1 ,
comprising a buffer unit with a predefined volume configured for temporarily accommodating the undefined portion;
wherein the control unit is configured for controlling the proportioning unit and the fluid drive unit so that the undefined portion is temporarily completely accommodated in the buffer unit before being removed.
9. The fluid supply system according to claim 8 , wherein the buffer unit is located downstream of the proportioning unit and upstream of the fluid drive unit.
10. The fluid supply system according to claim 8 , wherein the buffer unit is located in a flow path between a primary piston pump of the fluid drive unit and a secondary piston pump of the fluid drive unit located downstream of the primary piston pump.
11. The fluid supply system according to claim 1 , comprising a buffer unit with a predefined volume including a central volume portion between two peripheral volume portions and being configured for accommodating the undefined portion in the central volume portion while accommodating mobile phase or a solvent component of the mobile phase with defined properties in at least one of the peripheral volume portions.
12. The fluid supply system according to claim 1 ,
comprising a waste conduit branching off from a fluidic conduit between the proportioning unit and the fluid drive unit;
wherein the control unit is configured for controlling the proportioning unit and the fluid drive unit so that the undefined portion is removed from the mobile phase into the waste conduit.
13. The fluid supply system according to claim 12 , comprising an active valve between the waste conduit and the fluid drive unit and being switchable by the control unit for removing the undefined portion from the mobile phase towards the waste conduit.
14. The fluid supply system according to claim 12 , comprising a check valve in the waste conduit configured to open for removing the undefined portion into the waste conduit.
15. The fluid supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid drive unit is configured for compressing the mobile phase up to a pressure selected from the group consisting of: at least 500 bar; at least 1200 bar; and at least 1500 bar.
16. A sample separation device for separating a fluidic sample in a separation path, the sample separation device comprising:
the fluid supply system according to claim 1 for supplying mobile phase and for driving the mobile phase and the fluidic sample injected in the mobile phase along the separation path; and
a sample separation unit configured for separating the fluidic sample in the mobile phase.
17. The sample separation device according to claim 16 , further comprising at least one of the following features:
the sample separation device is configured as a device selected from the group consisting of: a chromatography sample separation device; a liquid chromatography sample separation device; and a supercritical fluid chromatography sample separation device;
the sample separation device comprises a detector configured for detecting separated fractions of the fluidic sample;
the sample separation device comprises a fractionating unit configured for collecting separated fractions of the fluidic sample;
the sample separation device comprises a degassing apparatus for degassing the mobile phase.
18. A method of supplying a mobile phase in a sample separation device for separating a fluidic sample in a separation path, the method comprising:
proportioning multiple solvent components for composing the mobile phase;
providing a serial sequence of fluid packets each relating to a respective one of the solvent components;
driving the mobile phase towards the separation path; and
controlling the proportioning and the driving so that an undefined portion of the mobile phase is removed from the mobile phase before injecting the fluidic sample in the mobile phase for separation in the separation path.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the removed undefined portion corresponds to a fluid interface between adjacent fluid packets of different solvent components of the mobile phase and/or corresponds to a portion of mobile phase which has been compressed but not delivered towards the separation path.
20. A fluid supply system for supplying a mobile phase in a sample separation device for separating a fluidic sample in a separation path, the fluid supply system comprising:
a proportioning unit configured to proportion multiple solvent components for composing the mobile phase;
a fluid drive unit configured to drive the mobile phase toward the separation path;
a control unit configured to control the proportioning unit and the fluid drive unit so that an undefined portion of the mobile phase is removed from the mobile phase before delivering the mobile phase from the fluid drive unit to the separation path; and
a buffer unit with a predefined volume including a central volume portion between two peripheral volume portions and being configured for accommodating the undefined portion in the central volume portion while accommodating mobile phase or a solvent component of the mobile phase with defined properties in at least one of the peripheral volume portions.