Abstract: A bottle cap includes a lower cap body that is threaded for attachment about an opening in a solvent bottle and an upper cap body attached to the lower cap body. A liner disposed inside the lower cap body includes at least one opening to pass a solvent tube while limiting evaporation of the solvent in the bottle. Features in the upper cap body permit identification flags to be attached. Each flag has an opening to pass a corresponding tube and includes one or more characters or symbols, color-coding and/or shape-coding to identify the corresponding solvent and/or a system inlet to which the tube is connected at its other end. The upper and lower cap bodies are independently rotatable about a cap axis and allow the bottle cap to be removed from or attached to the bottle without the need to remove any tubes passing through the bottle cap.

Abstract: A bottle cap includes a lower cap body that is threaded for attachment about an opening in a solvent bottle and an upper cap body attached to the lower cap body. A liner disposed inside the lower cap body includes at least one opening to pass a solvent tube while limiting evaporation of the solvent in the bottle. Features in the upper cap body permit identification flags to be attached. Each flag has an opening to pass a corresponding tube and includes one or more characters or symbols, color-coding and/or shape-coding to identify the corresponding solvent and/or a system inlet to which the tube is connected at its other end. The upper and lower cap bodies are independently rotatable about a cap axis and allow the bottle cap to be removed from or attached to the bottle without the need to remove any tubes passing through the bottle cap.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems and apparatus for cooling pump heads and providing balanced cooling and heat transfer between multiple pump heads. Multi-pump systems that are used to pump fluids that vary greatly in density with minor changes in temperature, such as the mobile phase of a C02-based chromatography system, require highly stable temperature conditions. In order to achieve a substantially equal average heat transfer between multiple pump heads and a coolant fluid, coolant fluid may be flowed through coolant passageways within the pump heads in a recursive and/or parallel coolant flow patterns. Such recursive and/or parallel coolant fluid flow patterns provide increased stability in temperature, compressibility, and density of the fluids passing through a multi-pump system.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for controlling a position of a sample in a liquid chromatography system. The apparatus includes a rotary drive mechanism, a stepper motor and a rotational coupling system such as a drive belt and pulley system. The rotational coupling system transfers the rotational motion of a motor shaft to a shaft of the rotary drive mechanism. Advantageously, the stepper motor is remote to the sample compartment for improved safety in the event that volatile gas accumulates within the sample compartment. The rotary drive mechanism can be configured in a small form factor and can provide highly stable rotation of an attached sample tray to accommodate the requirements of compact liquid chromatography systems. In addition, leakage from inside the sample compartment to the ambient environment is substantially reduced or eliminated, resulting in better thermal control of the sample compartment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems and apparatus for cooling pump heads and providing balanced cooling and heat transfer between multiple pump heads. Multi-pump systems that are used to pump fluids that vary greatly in density with minor changes in temperature, such as the mobile phase of a C02-based chromatography system, require highly stable temperature conditions. In order to achieve a substantially equal average heat transfer between multiple pump heads and a coolant fluid, coolant fluid may be flowed through coolant passageways within the pump heads in a recursive and/or parallel coolant flow patterns. Such recursive and/or parallel coolant fluid flow patterns provide increased stability in temperature, compressibility, and density of the fluids passing through a multi-pump system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems and apparatus for cooling pump heads and providing balanced cooling and heat transfer between multiple pump heads. Multi-pump systems that are used to pump fluids that vary greatly in density with minor changes in temperature, such as the mobile phase of a CO2-based chromatography system, require highly stable temperature conditions. In order to achieve a substantially equal average heat transfer between multiple pump heads and a coolant fluid, coolant fluid may be flowed through coolant passageways within the pump heads in a recursive and/or parallel coolant flow patterns. Such recursive and/or parallel coolant fluid flow patterns provide increased stability in temperature, compressibility, and density of the fluids passing through a multi-pump system.

Abstract: A device comprising a pressure monitor and a control means that receives a signal representing measured pressure at the pressure monitor and controls the controllable elements of a fluid system is utilized to monitor a fluid system for error conditions, to optimize operations and to diagnose the fluid system. By following a testing protocol that selectively enables parts of the system, the control means narrows the list of possible falling components. Comparing the measured pressure against normal pressures allows the device to identify error conditions. Determining the volume of fluid being transported and controlling the duration of the flow optimizes operation of the fluid system.

Abstract: A method includes passing a mobile phase fluid flow comprising liquefied CO2 through a separation column; then introducing a makeup fluid flow into the mobile phase fluid flow to form a mixed fluid flow; and then splitting the mixed fluid flow.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems and apparatus for cooling pump heads and providing balanced cooling and heat transfer between multiple pump heads. Multi-pump systems that are used to pump fluids that vary greatly in density with minor changes in temperature, such as the mobile phase of a C02-based chromatography system, require highly stable temperature conditions. In order to achieve a substantially equal average heat transfer between multiple pump heads and a coolant fluid, coolant fluid may be flowed through coolant passageways within the pump heads in a recursive and/or parallel coolant flow patterns. Such recursive and/or parallel coolant fluid flow patterns provide increased stability in temperature, compressibility, and density of the fluids passing through a multi-pump system.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for controlling a position of a sample in a liquid chromatography system. The apparatus includes a rotary drive mechanism, a stepper motor and a rotational coupling system such as a drive belt and pulley system. The rotational coupling system transfers the rotational motion of a motor shaft to a shaft of the rotary drive mechanism. Advantageously, the stepper motor is remote to the sample compartment for improved safety in the event that volatile gas accumulates within the sample compartment. The rotary drive mechanism can be configured in a small form factor and can provide highly stable rotation of an attached sample tray to accommodate the requirements of compact liquid chromatography systems. In addition, leakage from inside the sample compartment to the ambient environment is substantially reduced or eliminated, resulting in better thermal control of the sample compartment.

Abstract: Described is a dispensing needle for a fraction collector. The dispensing needle includes a conduit having a fluid channel to conduct a chromatographic flow, an interior wall that defines the fluid channel, an exterior surface and an endface through which the chromatographic flow is dispensed. The dispensing needle also includes a coating of a hydrocarbon material or a fluorocarbon material that is bonded to the endface. The coating is also bonded to at least a portion of the exterior surface that is adjacent to the endface and at least a portion of the interior wall that is adjacent to the endface. The coating operates to reduce a droplet volume of a liquid dispensed from the endface that may remain at the tip of the dispensing needle. Consequently, the concentration variation in a collected fraction due to a missing droplet or extra droplet is reduced.

Abstract: Described is a dispensing needle for a fraction collector. The dispensing needle includes a conduit having a fluid channel to conduct a chromatographic flow, an interior wall that defines the fluid channel, an exterior surface and an endface through which the chromatographic flow is dispensed. The dispensing needle also includes a coating of a hydrocarbon material or a fluorocarbon material that is bonded to the endface. The coating is also bonded to at least a portion of the exterior surface that is adjacent to the endface and at least a portion of the interior wall that is adjacent to the endface. The coating operates to reduce a droplet volume of a liquid dispensed from the endface that may remain at the tip of the dispensing needle. Consequently, the concentration variation in a collected fraction due to a missing droplet or extra droplet is reduced.

Abstract: A device comprising a pressure monitor and a control means that receives a signal representing measured pressure at the pressure monitor and controls the controllable elements of a fluid system is utilized to monitor a fluid system for error conditions, to optimize operations and to diagnose the fluid system. By following a testing protocol that selectively enables parts of the system, the control means narrows the list of possible falling components. Comparing the measured pressure against normal pressures allows the device to identify error conditions. Determining the volume of fluid being transported and controlling the duration of the flow optimizes operation of the fluid system.

Abstract: A supercritical fluid chromatography system is provided with an injection valve subsystem for introducing a sample into a flow of mobile phase fluid. The injection valve subsystem includes an auxiliary valve and an inject valve. The operations of the auxiliary and inject valves are coordinated in such a manner as to reduce sample carry-over and system pressure perturbations occurring during sample injection.

Abstract: A device comprising a pressure monitor and a control means that receives a signal representing measured pressure at the pressure monitor and controls the controllable elements of a fluid system is utilized to monitor a fluid system for error conditions, to optimize operations and to diagnose the fluid system. By following a testing protocol that selectively enables parts of the system, the control means narrows the list of possible failing components. Comparing the measured pressure against normal pressures allows the device to identify error conditions. Determining the volume of fluid being transported and controlling the duration of the flow optimizes operation of the fluid system.