阅读说明：本技术 二元泵以及具备该二元泵的液相色谱仪 (Binary pump and liquid chromatograph provided with same ) 是由 藤崎真一 于 2018-03-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的二元泵具备切换阀,能够切换为仅将第1泵部与第2泵部的任一方连接至输出部的状态(第1状态、第2状态)以及将第1泵部与第2泵部双方连接至输出部的状态(第3状态),具有通过所述切换阀的状态的切换来防止液体的逆流的功能、特别是防止使用第1泵部与第2泵部双方进行送液时液体逆流的功能。(The two-way pump of the present invention is provided with a switching valve that can be switched between a state (1 st state, 2 nd state) in which only one of the 1 st pump section and the 2 nd pump section is connected to an output section and a state (3 rd state) in which both the 1 st pump section and the 2 nd pump section are connected to the output section, and has a function of preventing a reverse flow of a liquid by switching the state of the switching valve, particularly a function of preventing a reverse flow of a liquid when the liquid is sent using both the 1 st pump section and the 2 nd pump section.)

1. A binary pump is characterized by comprising:

a 1 st pump section;

a 2 nd pump section provided separately from the 1 st pump section;

an output unit configured to output the liquid delivered by the 1 st pump unit and/or the 2 nd pump unit;

a switching valve configured to include a 1 st liquid feeding port connected to the 1 st pump unit, a 2 nd liquid feeding port connected to the 2 nd pump unit, and an output port communicating with the output unit, and to be switchable to any one of a 1 st state, a 2 nd state, and a 3 rd state, the 1 st state connecting the 1 st liquid feeding port and the output port and disconnecting none of the 2 nd liquid feeding port and any one of the ports, the 2 nd state connecting the 2 nd liquid feeding port and the output port and disconnecting none of the 1 st liquid feeding port and the 3 rd state connecting both of the 1 st liquid feeding port and the 2 nd liquid feeding port and the output port;

a 1 st pressure sensor that detects a system internal pressure between the 1 st pump section and the switching valve as a 1 st pressure;

a 2 nd pressure sensor that detects a system internal pressure between the 2 nd pump portion and the switching valve as a 2 nd pressure;

a reverse flow rate calculation unit configured to calculate a rate of change of the system pressure detected by the 1 st pressure sensor or the 2 nd pressure sensor, and to calculate a reverse flow rate to the 1 st pump unit and a reverse flow rate to the 2 nd pump unit based on the rate of change of the system pressure, respectively;

the reverse flow prevention unit is configured to switch the switching valve to the 2 nd state while the reverse flow rate to the 1 st pump section calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation unit exceeds a set flow rate for the 1 st pump section or a value set based thereon, and to switch the switching valve to the 1 st state while the reverse flow rate to the 2 nd pump section calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation unit exceeds a set flow rate for the 2 nd pump section or a value set based thereon, when the switching valve is set to the 3 rd state and the 1 st pump section perform the liquid feeding operation.

2. Binary pump according to claim 1,

the control device is provided with a preload operation unit configured to perform a preload operation of the 1 st pump unit so that the 1 st pressure approaches the system pressure while the switching valve is in the 2 nd state, and to perform a preload operation of the 2 nd pump unit so that the 2 nd pressure approaches the system pressure while the switching valve is in the 1 st state.

3. Binary pump according to claim 1 or 2,

the reverse flow rate calculating unit is configured to use a compressibility of the liquid to be delivered by the 1 st pump unit in calculating the reverse flow rate to the 1 st pump unit, and to use a compressibility of the liquid to be delivered by the 2 nd pump unit in calculating the reverse flow rate to the 2 nd pump unit.

4. The binary pump as claimed in claim 3, characterized by comprising:

a pre-pressure operation unit configured to perform a pre-pressure operation of the 1 st pump unit so that the 1 st pressure approaches the system pressure while the switching valve is in the 2 nd state, and configured to perform a pre-pressure operation of the 2 nd pump unit so that the 2 nd pressure approaches the system pressure while the switching valve is in the 1 st state;

a compressibility calculation unit configured to calculate a compressibility of the liquid to be delivered by the 1 st pump unit based on a relationship between a delivery amount of the 1 st pump unit and an increase amount of the 1 st pressure in the pre-pressing operation of the 1 st pump unit, and to calculate a compressibility of the liquid to be delivered by the 2 nd pump unit based on a relationship between a delivery amount of the 2 nd pump unit and an increase amount of the 2 nd pressure in the pre-pressing operation of the 2 nd pump unit,

the reverse flow rate calculation unit is configured to calculate the reverse flow rate to the 1 st pump unit and the reverse flow rate to the 2 nd pump unit, respectively, using the compression ratio obtained by the compression ratio calculation unit.

5. Binary pump according to one of claims 1 to 4,

further comprises a pulsation determination unit for reading the fluctuation of the system pressure and determining whether the read fluctuation is pulsation,

the backflow prevention unit is configured to set the switching valve in the pulsation to the 3 rd state while the pulsation determination unit determines the fluctuation as pulsation.

6. The binary pump as recited in claim 5,

the pulsation determination unit is configured to, when determining whether or not the fluctuation of the system pressure is pulsation, obtain a maximum value and/or a minimum value of the system pressure for each cycle relating to a liquid feeding operation of a pump unit out of the liquid feeds of the 1 st pump unit and the 2 nd pump unit, and use whether or not the fluctuation of the maximum value and/or the minimum value of the system pressure is within a predetermined range as a criterion for determining whether or not the fluctuation is pulsation.

7. Binary pump according to claim 5 or 6,

the pulsation determination unit is configured to, when determining whether or not the fluctuation of the system pressure is pulsation, obtain a maximum value and/or a minimum value of the system pressure for each cycle relating to a liquid feeding operation of the pump unit out of the liquid feeds of the 1 st pump unit and the 2 nd pump unit, and use whether or not a difference value between the maximum value and the minimum value of the system pressure is within a predetermined range as a criterion for determining whether or not the fluctuation is pulsation.

8. Binary pump according to claim 6 or 7,

the pulsation determination unit is configured to determine, after the fluctuation of the system pressure is determined as pulsation, a difference between the system pressure and a maximum value and a minimum value of the system pressure immediately before the fluctuation is determined as pulsation at a minute time interval, and to cancel the determination of the pulsation when the determined difference deviates from a predetermined condition.

9. A liquid chromatograph is characterized by comprising:

analyzing the flow path;

the binary pump according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a liquid is transported to the mobile phase in the analysis flow path;

a sample injection unit provided downstream of the binary pump in the analysis channel and configured to inject a sample into the analysis channel;

an analytical column which is provided on the analytical flow path on the downstream side of the sample injection section and separates the sample injected into the analytical flow path by the sample injection section according to components;

and a detector provided on the downstream side of the analytical column in the analytical flow path, for detecting the component separated by the analytical column.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a binary pump having a switching valve, and a liquid chromatograph including such a binary pump as a liquid feeding device for mobile phase liquid feeding.

Background

In liquid chromatography or supercritical fluid chromatography, gradient analysis may be performed in which analysis is performed while changing the composition of a mobile phase with time. In the gradient analysis, the composition of the mobile phase is changed with time by changing the flow rates of the two solutions and simultaneously feeding the two solvents. As such a liquid feeding device for gradient analysis, a binary pump is known. A binary pump includes two pump sections, and merges liquids sent from the pump sections and outputs the merged liquids (see patent document 1).

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In gradient analysis using a binary pump, when only one of the pump sections is operated, the liquid in the liquid supply may flow back to the pump section that is stopped due to the rise in the system pressure. When such a reverse flow occurs, there is a problem as follows: when the pump section, which has stopped operating, is operated thereafter and liquid feeding is started, a delay in liquid feeding occurs, and a mobile phase with a desired mixing ratio cannot be obtained. If the mixing accuracy of the mobile phase is poor, separation or analysis reproducibility deteriorates.

Even when both of the pump units are operated, if the liquid delivery flow rate of one of the pump units is lower than that of the other pump unit, a backflow of the liquid to the pump unit side having a low liquid delivery flow rate may occur when the system pressure rises, and if such a backflow occurs, the mobile phase cannot be delivered at a desired flow rate and composition.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent a reverse flow in a binary pump and improve liquid feeding accuracy.

Solution for solving the above technical problem

The binary pump of the present invention comprises: a 1 st pump section; a 2 nd pump section provided separately from the 1 st pump section; an output unit configured to output the liquid delivered by the 1 st pump unit and/or the 2 nd pump unit; a switching valve; 1 st pressure sensor; a 2 nd pressure sensor; a reverse flow rate calculation unit; a reverse flow prevention unit. The switching valve is configured to include a 1 st liquid supply port connected to the 1 st pump unit, a 2 nd liquid supply port connected to the 2 nd pump unit, and an output port communicating with the output unit, and to be switchable to any one of a 1 st state, a 2 nd state, and a 3 rd state, the 1 st state connecting the 1 st liquid supply port and the output port and disconnecting none of the 2 nd liquid supply port and any one of the ports, the 2 nd state connecting the 2 nd liquid supply port and the output port and disconnecting none of the 1 st liquid supply port and the 3 rd state connecting both of the 1 st liquid supply port and the 2 nd liquid supply port and the output port. The 1 st pressure sensor detects a system internal pressure between the 1 st pump section and the switching valve as a 1 st pressure, and the 2 nd pressure sensor detects a system internal pressure between the 2 nd pump section and the switching valve as a 2 nd pressure. The reverse flow rate calculation unit is configured to obtain a rate of change of the system pressure detected by the 1 st pressure sensor or the 2 nd pressure sensor, and calculate a reverse flow rate to the 1 st pump unit and a reverse flow rate to the 2 nd pump unit based on the rate of change of the system pressure. The reverse flow prevention unit is configured to switch the switching valve to the 2 nd state while the reverse flow rate to the 1 st pump section calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation unit exceeds a set flow rate to the 1 st pump section or a value set based thereon, and to switch the switching valve to the 1 st state while the reverse flow rate to the 2 nd pump section calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation unit exceeds a set flow rate to the 2 nd pump section or a value set based thereon, when the switching valve is set to the 3 rd state and the 1 st pump section send the liquid.

That is, the binary pump of the present invention is mainly characterized by the following points: the liquid pump device is provided with a switching valve which can be switched between a state (1 st state, 2 nd state) in which only one of the 1 st pump section and the 2 nd pump section is connected to an output section and a state (3 rd state) in which both the 1 st pump section and the 2 nd pump section are connected to the output section, and has a function of preventing a liquid from flowing backward by switching the state of the switching valve, particularly a function of preventing a liquid from flowing backward when the liquid is delivered using both the 1 st pump section and the 2 nd pump section.

In a binary pump, the following gradient pattern can be performed: a mode in which the concentration of the other solvent is gradually increased from a state in which the concentration of the solvent in the first pump section is 100% and the concentration of the solvent in the second pump section is 0%; and a mode in which the concentration of the other solvent is gradually decreased from a state in which the concentration of the other solvent is 100% and the concentration of the one solvent is 0%.

When the composition of the mobile phase is changed in the gradient mode as described above, the system pressure rises, and the liquid is compressed in the flow path, and the liquid may flow in the direction opposite to the liquid feeding direction of the pump. In the present application, the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the direction opposite to the liquid feeding direction is defined as "reverse flow rate". The reverse flow rate increases in proportion to the rate of increase in the pressure in the channel, and when the reverse flow rate exceeds the liquid supply flow rate of the pump, reverse flow toward the pump portion occurs. For example, when the system pressure rapidly rises to cause the reverse flow rate to the 2 nd pump unit to exceed the liquid delivery flow rate to the 2 nd pump unit in the case where the liquid is delivered from the 1 st pump unit at a high flow rate and the liquid is delivered from the 2 nd pump unit at a low flow rate, the reverse flow to the 2 nd pump unit side occurs. When the reverse flow occurs, it takes time for the pump section on the side where the reverse flow occurs to push back the liquid in the portion corresponding to the reverse flow amount, and therefore, it takes time until the mixing ratio of the liquid sent from the 1 st pump section and the liquid sent from the 2 nd pump section reaches a desired mixing ratio.

Therefore, in the binary pump of the present invention, the "reverse flow rate" caused by the compressibility of the liquid in the liquid supply is calculated using the rate of change in the system pressure, and this reverse flow rate is compared with the set flow rate for each pump section or a value set based thereon, thereby determining whether or not a reverse flow has occurred in any of the pump sections. When it is determined that reverse flow has occurred in any of the pump sections, the state of the switching valve is switched so as to block the flow of the liquid to the pump section, thereby preventing reverse flow. By preventing the reverse flow in this manner, when the prevention of the reverse flow is released, the liquid can be quickly delivered from the pump section on the side where the reverse flow occurs, and therefore, the time until the mixing ratio of the liquid delivered by the 1 st pump section and the liquid delivered by the 2 nd pump section reaches a desired mixing ratio can be shortened.

However, when the operation of the pump section in which the liquid supply is interrupted is stopped while the switching valve is switched from the 3 rd state to the 1 st state or the 2 nd state in order to prevent the reverse flow, the pressure on the pump section side becomes lower than the system pressure, and the liquid flows backward when the switching valve returns to the 3 rd state. Therefore, it is preferable that the two-way pump of the present invention includes a preload operation section configured to perform a preload operation of the 1 st pump section so that the 1 st pressure approaches the system pressure while the switching valve is in the 2 nd state, and to perform a preload operation of the 2 nd pump section so that the 2 nd pressure approaches the system pressure while the switching valve is in the 1 st state. Accordingly, the pressure on the pump section side where the liquid feeding is blocked can be brought close to the system pressure before the switching valve returns from the 1 st state or the 2 nd state to the 3 rd state, and therefore, the reverse flow of the liquid can be prevented when the switching valve returns from the 1 st state or the 2 nd state to the 3 rd state.

Further, as described above, since the reverse flow rate is caused by compressibility of the liquid, it is considered that the magnitude of the reverse flow rate is proportional to the compressibility (1/MPa) of the liquid. Therefore, in the binary pump of the present invention, it is preferable that the reverse flow rate calculation unit is configured to use the compressibility of the liquid to be delivered by the 1 st pump unit when calculating the reverse flow rate to the 1 st pump unit, and to use the compressibility of the liquid to be delivered by the 2 nd pump unit when calculating the reverse flow rate to the 2 nd pump unit. The compressibility of the liquid to be delivered to each pump unit may be set in advance based on user input, or may be determined by calculation using the operation of the binary pump as described later.

The reverse flow rate can be obtained by the following equation, for example.

Reverse flow (mu L/min)

Compressibility of liquid (1/MPa) × rate of change of pressure (MPa/min) × compression capacity (μ L)

Here, the compression capacity (μ L) is the capacity in the system from the point where the flow paths from the pump sections merge (for example, a mixer) to the pump sections.

In the binary pump of the present invention, the compressibility of the liquid to be delivered to each pump section for calculating the reverse flow rate may be calculated. The above-described preliminary pressing operation can be used to determine the liquid compressibility of the liquid to be delivered from each pump section. That is, the pump control device may further include a compressibility calculation unit configured to calculate a compressibility of the liquid to be delivered by the 1 st pump unit based on a relationship between a liquid delivery amount of the 1 st pump unit and an increase amount of the 1 st pressure in the pre-pressing operation of the 1 st pump unit, and calculate a compressibility of the liquid to be delivered by the 2 nd pump unit based on a relationship between a liquid delivery amount of the 2 nd pump unit and an increase amount of the 2 nd pressure in the pre-pressing operation of the 2 nd pump unit. In this case, the reverse flow rate calculation unit is configured to calculate the reverse flow rate to the 1 st pump unit and the reverse flow rate to the 2 nd pump unit using the compression ratio obtained by the compression ratio calculation unit.

However, if the system pressure is constantly monitored, periodic pressure fluctuations may occur. In this case, the reverse flow rate to the pump portion side having a low flow rate exceeds the liquid supply flow rate of the pump portion due to the difference in the rate of increase in pressure, and a reverse flow occurs. However, even if such a pressure increase that causes a reverse flow occurs at short time intervals, the pressure increase and decrease are repeated at long time intervals, and therefore the total pressure change amount can be regarded as 0. Since it can be considered that the reverse flow does not occur when the total pressure change amount is 0, it is considered that the necessity of preventing the reverse flow by switching the switching valve is low. On the other hand, if the reverse flow preventing operation of the switching valve is repeated during such periodic pressure fluctuations, the number of times of switching of the switching valve increases, and the wear of the components such as the rotor in the switching valve increases, thereby shortening the life of the switching valve. Further, since the pressure may be disturbed by switching of the switching valve, it is considered that the reproducibility of the chromatographic analysis is also adversely affected.

Therefore, it is preferable that the binary pump of the present invention further includes a pulsation determination unit that reads a variation in the system pressure and determines whether or not the read variation is pulsation, and the backflow prevention unit is configured to set the state of the switching valve in the pulsation to the 3 rd state while the pulsation determination unit determines the variation as pulsation. Thus, when the system pressure periodically fluctuates, the reverse flow preventing operation of the switching valve is not performed during the period of the periodic fluctuation, and unnecessary switching of the switching valve can be suppressed, thereby suppressing a reduction in the life of the switching valve. In the present application, the periodic pressure fluctuation is collectively defined as "pulsation".

The present inventors have found that the periodic variation in the system pressure is caused by switching of the operation of the plunger pump constituting the pump section, and pulsates in synchronization with the liquid feeding operation of the pump section (on the high flow rate side) in the liquid feeding. Therefore, if the fluctuation of the system pressure per cycle of the liquid feeding operation of the pump unit in the liquid feeding is observed, it can be determined whether or not the fluctuation is pulsation. The 1 cycle of the liquid feeding operation of the pump section is, for example, 1 cycle of the operation of the primary-side plunger pump (from the start of suction to the start of the next suction) in the case where the pump section is a tandem double-plunger pump. In the case where the pump section is a parallel double-plunger pump, the pump section is 1 cycle (from the start of suction to the start of the next suction) of the operation of either plunger pump.

Based on the above knowledge, it is preferable that the pulsation determination unit in the two-pump unit according to the present invention is configured to obtain the maximum value and/or the minimum value of the system pressure for each cycle relating to the liquid feeding operation of the pump unit in the 1 st pump unit and the pump unit in the liquid feeding unit in the 2 nd pump unit, that is, the high flow rate side pump unit, and use whether or not the fluctuation of the maximum value and/or the minimum value of the system pressure is within a predetermined range as a criterion for determining whether or not the fluctuation is pulsation.

In addition, the pulsation determination unit may be configured to determine a maximum value and/or a minimum value of the system pressure for each cycle relating to a liquid feeding operation of the pump unit in the liquid feeding operation of the 1 st pump unit and the 2 nd pump unit when determining whether or not the fluctuation of the system pressure is pulsation, and use whether or not a difference value between the maximum value and the minimum value of the system pressure is within a predetermined range as a criterion for determining whether or not the fluctuation is pulsation.

Further, the pulsation determination unit may be configured to determine, after the fluctuation of the system pressure is determined as pulsation, a difference between the system pressure and a maximum value and a minimum value of the system pressure immediately before the fluctuation is determined as pulsation at a minute time interval, and to cancel the determination of the pulsation when the determined difference deviates from a predetermined condition.

The liquid chromatograph of the present invention comprises: analyzing the flow path; the above-described binary pump; a sample injection unit provided downstream of the binary pump in the analysis channel and configured to inject a sample into the analysis channel; an analytical column which is provided on the analytical flow path on the downstream side of the sample injection section and separates the sample injected into the analytical flow path by component; and a detector provided on the downstream side of the analytical column in the analytical flow path, for detecting the component separated by the analytical column.

Effects of the invention

The two-way pump of the present invention is provided with a switching valve that can be switched between a state (1 st state, 2 nd state) in which only one of the 1 st pump section and the 2 nd pump section is connected to the output section and a state (3 rd state) in which both the 1 st pump section and the 2 nd pump section are connected to the output section, and has a function of preventing the reverse flow of the liquid by switching the state of the switching valve, particularly a function of preventing the reverse flow of the liquid when the liquid is delivered using both the 1 st pump section and the 2 nd pump section, and therefore, the accuracy of the liquid delivery can be improved.

The liquid chromatograph of the present invention uses the binary pump to deliver the mobile phase, and therefore can accurately control the composition of the solvent constituting the mobile phase, thereby improving the reproducibility of analysis.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a flow path configuration diagram schematically showing an embodiment of a liquid chromatograph.

Fig. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of the binary pump, and is a configuration diagram when the switching valve is in the 1 st state.

Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram of the binary pump when the switching valve is in the 2 nd state.

Fig. 4 is a configuration diagram of the binary pump when the switching valve is in the 3 rd state.

Fig. 5 is a waveform diagram of the system pressure for explaining the algorithm of the backflow prevention in this embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a waveform diagram showing an example of pulsation occurring in a waveform of the system pressure.

Fig. 7 is a waveform diagram of the system pressure for explaining the algorithm of pulsation determination in this embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an algorithm of backflow prevention in this embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an algorithm of the pulsation determination in this embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a switching valve, a binary pump, and a liquid chromatograph according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

A flow path configuration of a liquid chromatograph according to an embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1.

The liquid chromatograph of this embodiment includes an analysis channel 2, a binary pump 4, a mixer 14, a sample injection unit 16, an analysis column 18, and a detector 20. The binary pump 4 sends the liquid a and the liquid B as solvents to the mixer 14, and the mixer 14 mixes the liquid a and the liquid B sent by the binary pump 4. The sample injection section 16 is provided on the analysis channel 2 downstream of the mixer 14, and injects the sample into the analysis channel 2. The analytical column 18 is provided on the analytical flow path 2 on the downstream side of the sample injection section 16, and separates the sample injected into the analytical flow path 2. The detector 20 is provided on the analysis flow path 2 on the downstream side of the analytical column 18, and detects the sample component separated by the analytical column 18.

The binary pump 4 includes a 1 st pump section 6a for sucking the liquid a from the container and sending the liquid, and a 2 nd pump section 6B for sucking the liquid B from the container and sending the liquid. The 1 st pump unit 6a and the 2 nd pump unit 6b are connected to different ports of the switching valve 12 via a 1 st liquid delivery channel 8a and a 2 nd liquid delivery channel 8b, respectively.

Fig. 1 schematically shows the switching valve 12, and the switching valve 12 is switchable at least between a 1 st state in which only the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a is connected to the mixer 14, a 2 nd state in which only the 2 nd liquid feeding channel 8b is connected to the mixer 14, and a 3 rd state in which the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a and the 2 nd liquid feeding channel 8b are connected to the bidirectional mixer 14. Pressure sensors 10a and 10b are provided in the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a and the 2 nd liquid feeding channel 8b, respectively.

Although fig. 1 illustrates the switching valve 12 and the mixer 14 connected by a single flow path, the present invention is not limited to this, and the a liquid and the B liquid may be discharged through separate flow paths and merged and mixed by the mixer 14. The examples of fig. 2 to 4 described later show a configuration in which the liquid a and the liquid B are output to the mixer 14 through separate flow paths.

An example of a specific configuration of the binary pump 4 will be described with reference to fig. 2 to 4.

The binary pump 4 of this embodiment uses a rotary six-way valve having 6 ports a to f as the switching valve 12. The 6 ports a to f are arranged evenly at 60-degree intervals on the same circumference. The 1 st liquid feeding flow path 8a is connected to the port a, the flow path communicating with the mixer 14 is connected to the port b, the drain passage is connected to the port c, the 2 nd liquid feeding flow path 8b is connected to the port d, the flow path communicating with the mixer 14 is connected to the port e, and the drain passage is connected to the port f, respectively. The port a serves as a 1 st liquid feeding port, and the port d serves as a 2 nd liquid feeding port. The port b becomes the 1 st output port, the port e becomes the 2 nd output port, and these ports b and e become output portions that output the liquid to the mixer 14.

In this embodiment, the 1 st pump unit 6a and the 2 nd pump unit 6b are shown as a configuration of a serial double plunger system, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any configuration may be adopted as long as the configuration is a configuration for delivering liquid by a parallel double plunger system or the like.

A damper (damper)22a is provided on the switching valve 12 side of the pressure sensor 10a in the 1 st pump section 6a and the 1 st liquid delivery channel 8a connecting the port a of the switching valve 12. Further, a damper 22b is provided on the switching valve 12 side of the pressure sensor 10b in the 2 nd liquid delivery channel 8b connecting the 2 nd pump section 6b and the port d of the switching valve 12. The dampers 22a and 22b are not essential components, and need not necessarily be provided.

Two grooves for connecting between the ports adjacent to each other are provided at the rotor of the switching valve 12. The two grooves are provided longer than a length necessary for connecting the ports adjacent to each other (for example, a length corresponding to 75 °), and are configured such that the connection state of the flow paths can be switched to at least one of the 1 st state (state of fig. 2), the 2 nd state (state of fig. 3), and the 3 rd state (state of fig. 4) by the rotation of the rotor.

As shown in fig. 2, when the switching valve 12 is in the 1 st state, the ports a to b are connected to each other, and the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a is connected to the mixer 14, while the port d to which the 2 nd liquid feeding channel 8b is connected is not connected to any of the ports, and the downstream end of the 2 nd liquid feeding channel 8b is in a closed state. Since the 2 nd liquid-feeding channel 8b and the mixer 14 are blocked, the 1 st state is set only when the liquid a is fed, and the liquid a is prevented from flowing backward to the 2 nd liquid-feeding channel 8b side.

As shown in fig. 3, when the switching valve 12 is in the 2 nd state, the ports d to e are connected to each other, and the 2 nd liquid feeding channel 8b is connected to the mixer 14, while the port a to which the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a is connected is not connected to any of the ports, and the downstream end of the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a is in a closed state. Since the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a is blocked from the mixer 14, the 2 nd state is set only when the liquid B is fed, and the liquid B is prevented from flowing backward to the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a side.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the switching valve 12 is in the 3 rd state, the ports a to b are connected to each other, the ports d to e are connected to each other, and the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a and the 2 nd liquid feeding channel 8b are connected to the mixer 14. The state 3 is set when the liquid a and the liquid B are simultaneously fed to the mixer 14.

Although not shown, the switching valve 12 can connect the ports a to f and also connect the ports c to d. By switching the switching valve 12 to this state, both the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a and the 2 nd liquid feeding channel 8b can be connected to the drain channel, and flushing (Purge) can be performed in the 1 st liquid feeding channel 8a and the 2 nd liquid feeding channel 8 b.

The 1 st pump unit 6a, the 2 nd pump unit 6b, and the switching valve 12 are controlled by the control unit 24. The control unit 24 is configured to control the switching operation of the switching valve 12 based on a preset gradient program and to control the operation speed of the 1 st pump unit 6a and the 2 nd pump unit 6 b. The control unit 24 further includes a reverse flow rate calculation unit 26, a reverse flow prevention unit 28, a pre-compression operation unit 30, a compression ratio calculation unit 32, a compression ratio storage unit 34, and a pulsation determination unit 36.

Here, the control unit 24 may be a dedicated computer provided in the binary pump 4, a general-purpose computer, or a dedicated computer or a general-purpose computer that collectively controls the entire liquid chromatograph. The back flow rate calculating unit 26, the back flow preventing unit 28, the pre-pressure operating unit 30, the compression ratio calculating unit 32, and the pulsation determining unit 36 are functions obtained by executing a predetermined program by an arithmetic element such as a CPU, and the compression ratio storage unit 34 is a function realized by a partial area of the storage device.

The reverse flow rate calculation unit 26 is configured to calculate the reverse flow rate to the pump units 6a and 6 b. The reverse flow rate to each of the pump sections 6a and 6b is obtained by the following equation.

Reverse flow (mu L/min)

Compressibility of liquid (1/MPa) × rate of change of pressure (MPa/min) × compression capacity (μ L)

Here, the compression capacity (. mu. L) is the capacity in the system from the outlet of each pump unit 6a, 6b to the mixer 14, and the compression ratio (1/MPa) of the liquid is stored in the compression ratio storage unit 34.

The control unit 24 reads the system pressure (for example, a moving average value) detected by the 1 st pressure sensor 22a or the 2 nd pressure sensor 22b at regular time intervals (for example, at 2 second intervals). Each time the system pressure is read, the reverse flow rate calculation unit 26 calculates the rate of change (MPa/min) of the system pressure using the system pressure read last time.

In this embodiment, the compression ratio calculating unit 32 configured to calculate the compression ratios of the a liquid and the B liquid is provided in the control unit 24, and the compression ratio of each liquid A, B calculated by the compression ratio calculating unit 32 is stored in the compression ratio storage unit 34. The compression ratio calculation unit 32 is configured to calculate the compression ratio using the operation amount of the pump unit and the pressure increase amount in the above-described pre-compression operation. The compression ratio calculating unit 32 is not an essential component, and the compression ratio of each liquid A, B set based on the user input may be stored in the compression ratio storing unit 34.

The reverse flow prevention unit 28 is configured to determine whether or not reverse flow to each of the pump units 6a and 6b occurs by comparing the reverse flow rate to each of the pump units 6a and 6b calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation unit 26 with the set flow rate of each of the pump units 6a and 6b, and to switch the switching valve 12 to prevent reverse flow when reverse flow to either of the pump units 6a or 6b occurs.

For example, when the switching valve 12 is set to the 3 rd state (the state of fig. 4), the a liquid is delivered from the pump section 6a at a high flow rate, and the B liquid is delivered from the pump section 6B at a low flow rate, the system pressure rapidly rises as shown in fig. 5, and when the reverse flow rate calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation section 26 exceeds the set flow rate of the pump section 6B, the reverse flow prevention section 28 determines that a reverse flow of the liquid occurs on the pump section 6B side, and switches the switching valve 12 to the 1 st state (the state of fig. 2). By switching the switching valve 12 to the 1 st state, the communication between the pump section 6b and the mixer 14 is blocked, and therefore, the reverse flow of the liquid to the pump section 6b is prevented. At this time, the liquid feeding operation of the pump section 6b may be stopped in order to suppress an increase in pressure in the system from the pump section 6b to the switching valve 12.

Thereafter, when the rise of the system pressure becomes gentle and the reverse flow rate calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation unit 26 becomes equal to or less than the set flow rate of the pump unit 6b, the reverse flow prevention unit 28 returns the switching valve 12 to the 3 rd state, and releases the prevention of the reverse flow.

The preload operation section 30 is configured to cause the pump section 6a or 6b, which has blocked the liquid supply, to perform the preload operation while the switching valve 12 is switched to the 1 st state or the 2 nd state by the backflow prevention section 28. The pre-pressure operation is performed such that the pressure in the flow path 8a or 8b, which is switched to the 1 st state or the 2 nd state by the switching valve 12 to become a closed system, approaches the system pressure. In the pre-pressing operation, the pressure in the flow path 8a or 8b serving as a closed system is preferably set to be approximately the same as the system pressure. Further, if the pressure in the flow path 8a or 8b to be the closed system is brought close to the system pressure when the switching valve 12 is in the 1 st state or the 2 nd state, there is an effect of suppressing the liquid backflow at the moment when the switching valve 12 is switched from the 1 st state or the 2 nd state to the 3 rd state, and therefore, the target value of the pre-pressing operation may be set to, for example, 70% or more, preferably 90% or more of the system pressure.

In this embodiment, the reverse flow rate to each of the pump sections 6a and 6b calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation section 26 is compared with the set flow rate of each of the pump sections 6a and 6b to determine the presence or absence of the reverse flow, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the reverse flow rate to each of the pump sections 6a and 6b calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation section 26 may be compared with a value (for example, a value slightly lower than the set flow rate) set based on the set flow rate of each of the pump sections 6a and 6b to determine the presence or absence of the reverse flow.

The backflow prevention unit 28 is configured not to prevent backflow by switching the switching valve 12 during a period in which pulsation continues when the fluctuation of the system pressure is pulsation due to the operation of the pump unit 6a and/or 6b as shown in fig. 6.

The pulsation determination unit 36 is configured to determine whether or not the fluctuation of the system pressure is pulsation. The backflow prevention unit 28 determines whether or not to prevent backflow by switching the switching valve 12 based on the determination result of the pulsation determination unit 36.

An example of the algorithm for preventing backflow in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of fig. 7.

The control section 24 reads the system pressure at regular time intervals (step S1). When the control unit 24 reads the system pressure, the reverse flow rate calculation unit 26 calculates a rate of change (MPa/min) of the system pressure, and calculates the reverse flow rate to each of the pump units 6a and 6b using the rate of change (step S3).

The backflow prevention unit 28 compares the reverse flow rate to each of the pump sections 6a and 6b calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation unit 26 with the set flow rate for each of the pump sections 6a and 6b (step S4), and when the reverse flow rate to either of the pump sections 6a and 6b exceeds the set flow rate and the pulsation determination unit 36 determines that the pressure fluctuation is not pulsation (step S5), sets the switching valve 12 to the 1 st state or the 2 nd state, thereby preventing backflow to each of the pump sections 6a and 6b (steps S6 and S8). At this time, when the switching valve 12 is already in the 1 st state or the 2 nd state and the reverse flow is prevented, the reverse flow is continuously prevented while maintaining the state of the switching valve 12 (steps S6, S7).

When the pulsation determination unit 36 determines that the pressure fluctuation is pulsation, the backflow prevention unit 28 does not prevent backflow by switching the switching valve 12 even if the reverse flow rate for either of the pump units 6a or 6b exceeds the set flow rate (steps S4, S5). When the reverse flow rate to each of the pump sections 6a and 6b calculated by the reverse flow rate calculation section 26 does not exceed the set flow rate of the pump sections 6a and 6b, the reverse flow prevention section 28 does not prevent the reverse flow. When the switching valve 12 has been switched to the 1 st state or the 2 nd state to prevent the reverse flow (step S9), the preload operation section 30 performs the preload operation on the pump section 6a or 6b in which the liquid feeding is blocked so that the pressure in the flow passage 8a or 8b, which is a closed system, approaches the system pressure (step S10). Thereafter, the backflow prevention unit 28 returns the switching valve 12 to the 3 rd state, and cancels the prevention of backflow (step S11).

Next, an example of an algorithm for determining the pulsation by the pulsation determining unit 36 will be described with reference to the flowchart of fig. 8 and the waveform diagram of fig. 9.

As described above, the pulsation of the system pressure occurs in synchronization with the liquid feeding operation of the high flow rate side pump section 6a or 6 b. Therefore, the period of the pulsation coincides with the period of the liquid feeding operation of the high-flow-rate pump section 6a or 6 b. Therefore, the pulsation determination unit 36 extracts the maximum value and the minimum value of the system pressure for each operation cycle of the high-flow-rate pump unit 6a or 6b (step S101), and calculates the difference between the extracted maximum value and minimum value and the maximum value and minimum value of the system pressure in the previous cycle (step S102). For example, in the case where there is a fluctuation in the system pressure as shown in fig. 9, the maximum value P of the system pressure in a certain cycle is extracted_n+2Minimum value P_n+3Respectively calculate the maximum value P_n+2Minimum value P_n+3With the maximum value P of the system pressure in the preceding cycle_nMinimum value P_n+1Difference (P) of_n+2-P_n)、(P_n+3-P_n+1)。

Difference (P)_n+2-P_n)、(P_n+3-P_n+1) When all are within a predetermined range (e.g., +/-0.1 MPa) (step S103), the maximum value P is calculated_n+2And a minimum value P_n+3Difference (P) of_n+2-P_n+3) The fluctuation range is obtained (step S104), and if the fluctuation range is equal to or less than a predetermined value (e.g., 0.5MPa), it is determined as pulsation (steps S105 and S106), and if the fluctuation range exceeds the predetermined value, it is determined as non-pulsation (step S105).

In addition, the difference (P) at the maximum value_n+2-P_n) Difference from minimum value (P)_n+3-P_n+1) If at least one of them deviates from a predetermined range (e.g., ± 0.1MPa) (step S103), the pressure fluctuation is determined to be non-pulsation (step S103).

The pulsation determination unit 36 determines that the fluctuation of the system pressure is pulsation, reads the system pressure at very minute intervals (for example, 6ms) (step S107), and obtains the difference between the read system pressure and the maximum value and the minimum value immediately before the pulsation determination (step S108). When the difference deviates from the predetermined condition, the ripple determination is canceled (steps S109 and S110). The predetermined condition is, for example, the system pressure P and the maximum value P of the system pressure immediately before the pulsation determination_maxDifference (P-P) of_max) Is a minimum value P of the system pressure immediately before the pulsation judgment and below a predetermined value (e.g., 0.1MPa)_minDifference from system pressure P (P)_min-P) is a predetermined value (e.g., 0.1MPa or less).

In the above-described determination of pulsation, three conditions, that is, the difference of the maximum value, the difference of the minimum value, and the fluctuation range of the system pressure for each cycle, are used as the determination conditions.

The embodiments of the binary pump and the liquid chromatograph described above are examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In the above-described embodiment, the switching valve 12 of the binary pump is a six-way valve, but another multi-way valve such as a four-way valve may be used. The switching valve 12 may have a configuration that can be selectively switched to a 1 st state in which the 1 st liquid feeding port is connected to the output port, a 2 nd state in which the 2 nd liquid feeding port is connected to the output port, and a 3 rd state in which both ports of the 1 st liquid feeding port and the 2 nd liquid feeding port are connected to the output port.

Description of the reference numerals

2 analytical flow path

4 binary pump

6a 1 st Pump segment

6b 2 nd Pump section

8a 1 st liquid feeding channel

8b 2 nd liquid feeding channel

10a 1 st pressure sensor

10b 2 nd pressure sensor

12 switching valve

14 mixer

16 sample injection part

18 analytical column

20 Detector

22 damper

24 control part

26 inverse flow rate calculating part

28 reverse flow prevention part

30 pre-pressing action part

32 compressibility calculation unit

34 compressibility storage unit

36 pulsation determination unit.