How Does a Pulse Dampener Work in an HPLC Pump?

Chrom Tech provides a range of HPLC pumps, including positive-displacement piston pumps, which are suitable for HPLC, as well as analytical, clinical, preparative, and fluid-metering applications. The pistons in these pumps feature a rapid refill mechanism. During this refill process, a detector may register the pulsation as increased baseline noise, so it is important to take extra care to minimize pulsation.

Why use a pulse dampener?

The noise level in the detector resulting from pump pulsations can significantly affect precision in quantitation and the LOD (Limit of Detection) of trace components. In many applications where it is necessary to minimize pulsation, using a pulse dampener is an effective strategy. Chrom Tech’s pulse dampeners can be included in the HPLC pump during manufacturing or sold as a standalone external HPLC pulse dampener.

The LO-Pulse Pulse Dampener is a patented wide dynamic range pulse damper designated for use with single piston (or dual piston) reciprocating HPLC pumps. The LO-Pulse Pulse Damper smooths pump pulsations in flow-sensitive applications.

How does the Pulse Dampener Work in an HPLC Pump?

The LO-Pulse Pulse Dampener reduces pulsations by compressing a fluid held within the bottom cavity of the unit (Lo-Pulse looks like a steel hockey puck). This fluid is isolated from the mobile phase by a durable yet flexible inert diaphragm. As the system pressure increases, the fluid in the bottom chamber is compressed. When the LC pump piston retracts, the compressed fluid expands to maintain system pressure and keep the mobile phase flowing at a constant rate. When the system reaches its maximum allowable pressure, the mobile phase’s volume in the LO-Pulse pulse dampener is only 0.9mL. The geometry employed assures a completely swept flow path so that solvent “memory effects” are virtually nonexistent when changing mobile phases. Operation of the pulse dampener is automatic; however, the pulse dampener works best if the pressure is at least 500 psi (preferably, 1,000 psi or more). You may want to install a length of restrictive small-bore tubing to the pulse dampener outlet to enhance unit performance.

Conclusion

Our pumps provide you with the lowest gradient delay, proven dependability, flow accuracy, and more. In addition, our pumps supply reliable performance for numerous applications. Whether you’re conducting routine analysis or performing more demanding research, our solvent delivery pumps and other products will assist you.

If you want more information on our HPLC pumps with pulse dampeners or an LO-Pulse standalone Pulse Dampener for your current application, contact us to reach our technical support staff today.