The present disclosure describes an apparatus, method, and system of regulating a detector flow of a field flow fractionator. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes (1) a detector flow meter, where the detector flow meter is configured to measure a detector flow from the field flow fractionator, (2) a channel pressure meter, where the channel pressure meter is configured to measure a channel pressure of the field flow fractionator, (3) at least one control valve, where an inlet of the at least one control valve is connected to an outlet of the channel pressure meter, (4) where the detector flow meter is configured to set a channel pressure set point of the channel pressure meter, and (5) where the channel pressure meter is configured to actuate the at least one control valve to maintain a channel pressure of the field flow fractionator at the channel pressure set point.

The present disclosure describes a method, a system, and a computer program product of performing a separation on a field flow fractionator. In an embodiment, the method, the system, and the computer program product include executing, by a computer system, a set of logical operations measuring a mass flow control valve position of a control valve connected to a mass flow controller coupled to a field flow fractionator and a pressure control valve position of a control valve connected to a pressure controller coupled to the field fold fractionator in an optimal stability state, storing, by the computer system, the valve positions to a data store as preset values, and executing, by the computer system, a set of logical operations retrieving the preset values from the data store and setting initial conditions for the controllers corresponding to the preset values, resulting in a switch mode of the field flow fractionator.

A centrifugal field-flow fractionation device includes an annular rotor, an arc-shaped channel member, a rotation drive unit, and a restriction unit. A channel member 16 is provided along an inner peripheral surface of the rotor, has therein a channel 161 for a liquid sample by laminating a plurality of layers, and has an inlet for the liquid sample to the channel 161 and an outlet for the liquid sample from the channel 161. By rotating the rotor, particles in the liquid sample in the channel 161 are classified by centrifugal force. A restriction spacer 64 restricts the channel 161 from being compressed to a height less than a certain height when the channel member 16 is compressed and deformed in a laminating direction.

A centrifugal field-flow fractionation device includes an annular rotor, an arc-shaped channel member, a rotation drive unit, and a restriction unit. A channel member 16 is provided along an inner peripheral surface of the rotor, has therein a channel 161 for a liquid sample by laminating a plurality of layers, and has an inlet for the liquid sample to the channel 161 and an outlet for the liquid sample from the channel 161. By rotating the rotor, particles in the liquid sample in the channel 161 are classified by centrifugal force. A restriction spacer 64 restricts the channel 161 from being compressed to a height less than a certain height when the channel member 16 is compressed and deformed in a laminating direction.

A continuous field flow fractionator includes a sample inject port, a frit inlet port, a first fraction outlet port, a second fraction outlet port, and a third fraction outlet port. A first flow out of the first fraction outlet port is configured to extract a sample-free solvent. A second flow out of the second fraction outlet port is configured to extract an increased concentration of small molecules of a sample. A third flow out of the third faction port is configured to extract a remainder of the sample.

The present disclosure describes an apparatus, method, and system of regulating a detector flow of a field flow fractionator. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes (1) a detector flow meter, where the detector flow meter is configured to measure a detector flow from the field flow fractionator, (2) a channel pressure meter, where the channel pressure meter is configured to measure a channel pressure of the field flow fractionator, (3) at least one control valve, where an inlet of the at least one control valve is connected to an outlet of the channel pressure meter, (4) where the detector flow meter is configured to set a channel pressure set point of the channel pressure meter, and (5) where the channel pressure meter is configured to actuate the at least one control valve to maintain a channel pressure of the field flow fractionator at the channel pressure set point.