Pumping apparatus with outlet coupled to different spatial positions within the pumping chamber

Abstract

Disclosed is a pumping apparatus ( 200 ) configured for delivering a fluid. The pumping apparatus ( 200 ) comprises a pumping chamber ( 220 ) configured for receiving one or more fluids ( 310, 320 ) in defined proportions and for further delivering the received fluids, an outlet ( 240 ), fluidically coupling to a first position ( 350 ) in the pumping chamber ( 220 ), for outleting the fluid to be delivered, and a channel ( 410 ). The channel ( 410 ) fluidically couples on one side to a second position ( 340 ) in the pumping chamber ( 220 ) and on the other side to the outlet ( 240 ), so that—in operation—a first portion of the delivered fluid as outlet at the outlet ( 240 ) is received from the first position ( 350 ) in the pumping chamber ( 220 ), and a second portion of the delivered fluid as outlet at the outlet ( 240 ) is received from the second position ( 340 ) in the pumping chamber ( 220 ). One of the first ( 350 ) and second ( 340 ) positions is a spatial position within the pumping chamber ( 220 ) where fluid components having a first property would tend to accumulate during operation of the pumping apparatus ( 200 ) if such position were not coupled to the outlet ( 240 ), with such accumulation resulting from variations in the first property.

1 . A pumping apparatus configured for delivering a fluid, the pumping apparatus comprising:
 a pumping chamber being configured for receiving one or more fluids in defined proportions and for further delivering the received fluids,   an outlet, fluidically coupling to a first position in the pumping chamber, for outleting the fluid to be delivered,   a channel fluidically coupling on one side to a second position in the pumping chamber and on the other side to the outlet so that—in operation—a first portion of the delivered fluid as outlet at the outlet is received from the first position in the pumping chamber, and a second portion of the delivered fluid as outlet at the outlet is received from the second position in the pumping chamber,   characterized in that   one of the first and second positions is a spatial position within the pumping chamber where fluid components having a first property would tend to accumulate during operation of the pumping apparatus if such position were not coupled to the outlet, with such accumulation resulting from differences of the first property of the fluid components.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising at least one of:
 the first property is a property, whereas its value for at least one of the fluid components is deviant from at least one of its average value, its value for one of the other components, and its value for majority of others of the fluid components in the pumping chamber;   the first property is at least one of density, temperature, viscosity, composition.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  and wherein the first property is density, comprising at least one of:
 one of the first and second positions is a spatial position within the pumping chamber, wherein such fluid components having a lower density would tend to accumulate during operation of the pumping apparatus and/or the other of the first and second positions is a spatial position within the pumping chamber, wherein such fluid components having a higher density would tend to accumulate during operation of the pumping apparatus; 
 the spatial position within the pumping chamber, where such fluid components having a lower density tend to accumulate, is in the spatial region of an upper side of the pumping chamber during operation, and the spatial position within the pumping chamber, wherein such fluid components having a higher density tend to accumulate, is in the spatial region of a lower side of the pumping chamber during operation. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a first opening in the pumping chamber at the first position in the pumping chamber, and   a second opening in the pumping chamber at the second position in the pumping chamber,   wherein the outlet is fluidically coupled to the first opening and via the channel to the second opening.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of the  claim 4 , wherein the channel is at least partly provided within a housing of the pumping apparatus, and the housing also houses the pumping chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a channel forming element located within the pumping chamber and being configured for providing the channel.   
     
     
         7 . A pumping apparatus configured for delivering a fluid, the pumping apparatus comprising:
 a pumping chamber being configured for receiving one or more fluids in defined proportions and for further delivering the received fluids, an outlet, fluidically coupling to a first position in the pumping chamber, for outleting the fluid to be delivered,   characterized by   a channel forming element located within the pumping chamber and being configured for providing a channel, wherein the channel fluidically couples on one side to a second position in the pumping chamber and on the other side to the outlet, so that—in operation—a first portion of the fluid as outlet at the outlet is received from the first position in the pumping chamber, and a second portion of the fluid as outlet at the outlet is received from the second position in the pumping chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , comprising at least one of:
 the channel forming element has a ring shape;   the channel forming element comprises the channel integrally formed into the channel forming element;   the channel forming element is configured for providing or forming the channel in a way that at least part of a surface of the channel forming element represents at least a part of a wall surface of the channel;   the channel forming element comprises in its outer surface at least one of a recess, a groove, and a chamfer, configured for forming the channel in conjunction with at least a part of an internal surface or a wall of the pumping chamber when the channel forming element is attached to the internal surface or wall of the pumping chamber;   the channel forming element comprises a chamfer configured for forming the channel in conjunction with a part of a wall of the pumping chamber when the channel forming element is attached to the wall of the pumping chamber;   the channel forming element comprises at least one coupling channel, each configured for fluidically coupling the channel to one of the first and second positions in the pumping chamber;   the channel forming element provides at least one coupling channel in conjunction with a part of a wall of the pumping chamber when the channel forming element is attached to the wall of the pumping chamber, each coupling channel being configured for fluidically coupling the channel to one of the first and second positions in the pumping chamber;   the channel forming element has a ring shape and comprises a chamfer configured for forming the channel in conjunction with a part of a wall of the pumping chamber when the channel forming element is attached to the wall of the pumping chamber, the channel forming element further comprises a first coupling channel for fluidically coupling the channel to the first position in the pumping chamber, and a second coupling channel for fluidically coupling to the second position in the pumping chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein
 the channel forming element is a permeable, preferably porous, element providing a plurality of flow channels fluidically coupling on one side to the outlet and on the other side to multiple different positions in the pumping chamber, so that—in operation—the fluid as outlet at the outlet is comprised of fluid portions received from the multiple different positions in the pumping chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising at least one of:
 an inlet opening into the pumping chamber and being configured for receiving the one or more fluids in defined proportions;   an actuating element, preferably a pressurizing element, configured for repeatedly varying a free volume within the pumping chamber for displacing, preferably pressurizing, the received fluids;   a reciprocating element configured for reciprocating within the pumping chamber for displacing the received fluids.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising at least one of:
 a first flow path between the first position in the pumping chamber and the outlet and a second flow path between the second position in the pumping chamber and the outlet are configured so that the partial flows taken from the first position and the second position are substantially matched or are in a given ratio;   a first flow resistance of a first flow path between the first position in the pumping chamber and the outlet is configured to substantially match or be in a given ratio to a second flow resistance of the channel providing a second flow path between the second position, in the pumping chamber and the outlet;   a first flow resistance of the flow path between the first position in the pumping chamber and the outlet is configured to substantially match or be in a given ratio to a second flow resistance of the channel providing the flow path between the second position in the pumping chamber and the outlet, so that the partial flows taken from the first position and the second position are substantially matched or in a given ratio;   a first flow resistance of the flow path constituted by a first channel between the first position in the pumping chamber and the outlet is configured to substantially match or be in a given ratio to a second flow resistance constituted by a second channel between the second position in the pumping chamber and the outlet, so that the partial flows taken from the first position and the second position are substantially matched or in a given ratio.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising at least
 one of:   one of the first and second positions is located at or at least close to a location with minimum value in vertical height of the pumping chamber during its operation;   one of the first and second positions is located at or at least close to a location with maximum value in vertical height of the pumping chamber during its operation.   
     
     
         13 . A sample separation system for separating compounds of a sample fluid in a mobile phase, the fluid separation system comprising:
 a mobile phase drive adapted to drive the mobile phase through the fluid separation system, the mobile phase drive comprising the pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , and   a separation unit, preferably a chromatographic column, adapted for separating compounds of the sample fluid in the mobile phase.   
     
     
         14 . The sample separation system of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one of:
 a fluid proportioning unit configured for providing one or more fluids in defined proportions to the pumping apparatus,   a sample injector adapted to introduce the sample fluid into the mobile phase;   a detector adapted to detect separated compounds of the sample fluid;   a collection unit adapted to collect separated compounds of the sample fluid;   a data processing unit adapted to process data received from the fluid separation system;   a degassing apparatus for degassing the mobile phase.   
     
     
         15 . A method of delivering a fluid by using a pumping apparatus comprising:
 a pumping chamber being configured for receiving one or more fluids in defined proportions and for further delivering the received fluids,   an outlet, fluidically coupling to a first position in the pumping chamber, for outleting the fluid to be delivered, and   a channel fluidically coupling on one side to a second position in the pumping chamber and on the other side to the outlet, so that—in operation—a first portion of the delivered fluid as outlet at the outlet is received from the first position in the pumping chamber, and a second portion of the delivered fluid as outlet at the outlet is received from the second position in the pumping chamber,   the method comprising the step of:   positioning the pumping apparatus so that one of the first and second positions is a spatial position within the pumping chamber where fluid components having a first property would tend to accumulate during operation of the pumping apparatus if such position were not coupled to the outlet, with such accumulation resulting from variations in the first property.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first property is density, the method further comprising:
 positioning the pumping apparatus so that one of the first and second positions is a spatial position within the pumping chamber, wherein such fluid components having a lower density tend to accumulate during operation of the pumping apparatus, and the other of the first and second positions is a spatial position within the pumping chamber, wherein such fluid components having a higher density tend to accumulate during operation of the pumping apparatus.