A flow distribution and collection feature for ensuring scalable uniform flow in a chromatography device

We discuss how the efficiency of a chromatography device could be enhanced by incorporating a new feature which ensures flow uniformity. The overall flow of fluid within the device, which has a cuboid shape, could be visualized as a combination of two z patterns. The device is therefore designated as cuboid z². The reason for flow uniformity is explained using a simple mathematical model, and also based on computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. The cuboid z² device outperformed its equivalent conventional cylindrical column in terms of separation efficiency metrics such as the number of theoretical plates, the reduced plate height, and attributes of non-interacting tracer solute peaks. The results discussed in this paper clearly indicate the suitability of the cuboid z² device for carrying out high-resolution chromatographic separations. The z² flow enhancing feature would also be broadly applicable to any process which requires uniform flow in three-dimensional porous media. In addition to superior fluidic attributes, the cuboid z² chromatography device has other advantages such as compactness and scalability.