Chapter 2: Overview; General Description; Major Components; Principle Of Operation - Microfluidics Microfluidizer LM20 User Manual

Chapter 2: Overview

Chapter 2 includes detailed information about the principle of operation, pneumatic power system, high
pressure intensifier, interaction chamber and auxiliary processing module, controls, and system
specifications.

2.1 General Description

Microfluidics' LM20 Microfluidizer
emulsions and dispersions in a variety of industries. The LM20 model is specifically designed to suit
laboratory environments.

2.2 Major Components

The LM20 Microfluidizer
• Hydraulic Power System, which drives the intensifier pump.
• High Pressure Intensifier Pump, which multiplies the pressure supplied from hydraulic power system
to an optimal operating level.
• Interaction Chamber (IXC) which is where size reduction of the product occurs; the product is
accelerated to a high velocity and is subjected to intense shear and impact.
Auxiliary Processing Module (optional) to provide further control over processing of the product.
•
• Heat Exchanger (optional) to reduce the temperature of the product as it exits the system.

2.3 Principle of Operation

Power for the LM20 Microfluidizer
supplies pressurized hydraulic oil to a single acting intensifier pump. The intensifier pump amplifies the
hydraulic pressure and transfers it to process the sample. Working pressures up to 30,000 (2069 bar) can
be achieved. During the suction stroke, the intensifier pump draws product from the inlet reservoir into
the pressure chamber via the inlet check valve. During the power stroke, the check valve closes and the
product stream is elevated to a constant pressure level. The pressurized product stream enters the
interaction chamber and passes through geometrically fixed micro channels, causing it to accelerate to
very high velocities. It is here that the product stream is acted upon by two primary forces, which bring
about the desired results:
Shear - deformation of the product stream; occurring from contact with channel walls at high
•
velocity.
• Impact - collision; occurring when the high velocity product stream impinges upon itself.
A heat exchanger (optional) reduces the product stream temperature after product passes through the
Interaction Chamber.
MANUAL.LM20
TM Processor is designed for the high-performance micro-mixing of
Processor is made up of the following major components:
TM
is generated by an on-board hydraulic power system. This system
TM
Revision C January 2023 Page 9 of 52