Valve Unit for a Chromatography Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve unit for a chromatography apparatus, the valve unit comprising a fluid inlet configured to receive an input fluid, a fluid outlet configured to provide an output fluid, a first pair of fluid ports configured to be coupled to a first column, a second pair of fluid ports configured to be coupled to a second column, a coupling valve assembly configured to direct fluid between a selection of the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet, the first pair of fluid ports and the second pair of fluid ports in response to one or more control signals, wherein the coupling valve assembly is configured to direct fluid using a selection of membrane valves coupled by fluid channels comprised in a body of the coupling valve assembly. The invention further relates to a chromatography apparatus comprising the valve unit and a membrane valve comprised in the valve unit.

1 . A valve unit for a chromatography apparatus, the valve unit comprising:
 a fluid inlet configured to receive an input fluid,   a fluid outlet configured to provide an output fluid,   a first pair of fluid ports configured to be coupled to a first column,   a second pair of fluid ports configured to be coupled to a second column, and   a coupling valve assembly configured to direct fluid between a selection of the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet, the first pair of fluid ports and the second pair of fluid ports in response to one or more control signals, wherein the coupling valve assembly is configured to direct fluid using a selection of membrane valves coupled by fluid channels comprised in a body of the coupling valve assembly, and wherein one of said fluid channels connecting the fluid inlet to a membrane valve of a packing fluid port and a membrane valve of a waste fluid port is substantially linear.   
     
     
         2 . The valve unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first pair of fluid ports comprises a first fluid port configured to be coupled to a top part of the first column and a second fluid port configured to be coupled to a bottom part of the first column,   wherein the second pair of fluid ports comprises a third fluid port configured to be coupled to a top part of the second column and a fourth fluid port configured to be coupled to a bottom part of the second column.   
     
     
         3 . The valve unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the coupling valve assembly is configured, in response to a first control signal (1_DOWN), to couple the fluid inlet to the first fluid port and to couple the second fluid port to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The valve unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the coupling valve assembly is configured to, in response to a second control signal (2_DOWN), couple the fluid inlet to the third fluid port and to couple the fourth fluid port to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The valve unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the coupling valve assembly is configured to, in response to a third control signal (1_UP), couple the fluid inlet to the second fluid port and to couple the first fluid port to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The valve unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the coupling valve assembly is configured to, in response to a fourth control signal (2_UP), couple the fluid inlet to the fourth fluid port and to couple the third fluid port to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The valve unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the coupling valve assembly is configured to, in response to a fifth control signal (1_DOWN-2_DOWN),
 couple the fluid inlet to the first fluid port,   couple the second fluid port to the third fluid port, and   couple the fourth fluid port to the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         8 . The valve unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the coupling valve assembly is configured to, in response to a sixth control signal (2_DOWN-1_DOWN),
 couple the fluid inlet to the third fluid port,   couple the fourth fluid port to the first fluid port, and   couple the second fluid port to the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         9 . The valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling valve assembly is configured to, in response to a seventh control signal (BY_PASS_ALL), an eighth control signal (BY_PASS_TOP) or a ninth control signal (BY_PASS_BOTTOM), couple the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling valve assembly further comprises a waste fluid port and the coupling valve assembly is configured to, in response to a tenth control signal (WASTE), couple the fluid inlet to the waste fluid port. 
     
     
         11 . The valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid channels comprised in the body of the coupling valve assembly are formed in a direct shape to avoid dead/stationary/stagnant legs. 
     
     
         12 . The valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling valve assembly further comprises a first pressure sensor coupled to the fluid inlet and configured to measure a first pressure of the received fluid and a second pressure sensor coupled to the fluid outlet and configured to measure a second pressure of the provided fluid. 
     
     
         13 . A membrane valve comprised in a coupling valve assembly, the membrane valve comprising:
 a body,   a membrane arranged in the body and configured to allow flow of fluid between a center port and a side port when positioned in an open position and to block the flow of fluid between the center port and the side port when positioned in a closed position,
 a piston arranged along a longitudinal axis and coupled to the membrane, 
 a spring arranged along the longitudinal axis and coupled at one end to the piston and at an opposite end to a operable drive, 
 wherein the drive is configured to move the opposite end of the spring along the longitudinal axis in response to a received control signal to obtain said open and closed membrane positions. 
   
     
     
         14 . A chromatography apparatus, the chromatography apparatus comprising:
 The valve unit according to  claim 1 , the valve unit comprising a fluid inlet coupled to the reservoir, a fluid outlet configured to provide the fluid, a first fluid port configured to be coupled to a top part of a first column, a second fluid port configured to be coupled to a bottom part of the first column, a third fluid port configured to be coupled to a top part of the second column and a fourth fluid port configured to be coupled to a bottom part of the second column, and a control unit comprising circuitry comprising:   a processor, and   a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor, whereby said chromatography apparatus is operative to control the valve unit to direct fluid between a selection of the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet, the first fluid port, the second fluid port, the third fluid port and the fourth fluid port by sending one or more control signals to the valve unit.   
     
     
         15 . The chromatography apparatus according to  claim 14 , operative to control the valve unit by sending a first control signal (1_DOWN) to control the valve unit to couple the fluid inlet to the first fluid port and to couple the second fluid port to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The chromatography apparatus according to  claim 14 , operative to control the valve unit by sending a second control signal (2_DOWN) to control the valve unit to couple the fluid inlet to the third fluid port and to couple the fourth fluid port to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The chromatography apparatus according to  claim 14 , operative to control the valve unit by sending a third control signal (1_UP) to control the valve unit to couple the fluid inlet to the second fluid port and to couple the first fluid port to the fluid outlet in response to a third control signal (1_UP). 
     
     
         18 . The chromatography apparatus according to  claim 14 , operative to control the valve unit by sending a fourth control signal (2_UP) to control the valve unit to couple the fluid inlet to the fourth fluid port ( 142 ) and to couple the third fluid port to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The chromatography apparatus according to  claim 14 , operative to control the valve unit by sending a fifth control signal (1_DOWN-2_DOWN) to control the valve unit to:
 couple the fluid inlet to the first fluid port,   to couple the second fluid port to the third fluid port, and   to couple the fourth fluid port to the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         20 . The chromatography apparatus according to  claim 14 , operative to control the valve unit by sending a sixth control signal (2_DOWN-1_DOWN) to control the valve unit to:
 couple the fluid inlet to the third fluid port,   to couple the fourth fluid port to the first fluid port, and   to couple the second fluid port to the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         21 . The chromatography apparatus according to  claim 14 , operative to control the valve unit by sending a seventh control signal (BY_PASS_ALL), an eighth control signal (BY_PASS_TOP) or a ninth control signal (BY_PASS_BOTTOM) to control the valve unit to couple the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         22 . The chromatography apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the valve unit further comprises a waste fluid port and the chromatography apparatus is operative to control the valve unit by sending a tenth control signal (WASTE) to control the valve unit to couple the fluid inlet to the waste fluid port.