High-Pressure Syringe Pump

What is the High-Pressure Syringe Pump?

A high-pressure syringe pump delivers liquid at pressures of several hundred bar using stainless steel syringes and a reinforced drive. It is used for supercritical fluid work, high-pressure reactors and analytical injection.

Overview

The high-pressure syringe pump is built around a heavy frame, a recirculating ball screw and a powerful stepper or servo motor. Stainless steel or refractory syringes replace glass, and high-pressure fittings connect to the flow path. Operating pressures range from about 100 to 1,000 bar, and flow rates are typically lower than standard pumps because of the force required. Some models include a pressure transducer and use the readout to control flow in constant-pressure mode, which is valuable for supercritical fluid extraction and chromatography, where density depends on pressure. Safety features include over-pressure shutdown, a guard around moving parts and leak detection. Because the syringe is rigid, compliance is low, so response is fast and flow accuracy remains good under pressure. Typical applications are supercritical CO2 work, high-pressure chemical reactors, core flooding and analytical injection.

How does it work?

A syringe pump holds a syringe in a clamp and advances the plunger with a lead screw turned by a stepper motor. Flow rate equals the plunger cross-sectional area multiplied by the linear speed, so a small syringe gives a very low flow and a large syringe gives a higher flow at the same motor speed. Because the drive is positive displacement and continuous, flow is smooth and independent of back pressure until the motor stalls, which makes these pumps valuable for microfluidics, chromatography and infusion. Typical components are the drive mechanism, syringe clamp, control electronics and often a pressure sensor or valve. Pumps range from microliter syringes delivering nanoliters per minute to large syringes delivering hundreds of milliliters per minute, and multi-syringe configurations add parallel or mixing functions.

What are the key features?

• Operating pressures of about 100–1,000 bar
• Stainless steel or refractory syringes
• Recirculating ball screw and servo or stepper drive
• Pressure transducer with constant-pressure mode
• Over-pressure shutdown and leak detection
• Low compliance for fast response under pressure

What are the technical specifications?

A typical high-pressure syringe pump configuration offers max pressure of 100–1,000 bar, flow range of 0.001–50 mL/min, syringe material of Stainless steel 316L, syringe volumes of 0.5–100 mL, drive of Recirculating ball screw, servo motor and pressure control of Constant flow or constant pressure. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The High-Pressure Syringe Pump is used in supercritical fluid extraction and chromatography, high-pressure reactor feeding, core flooding and rock permeability tests, analytical high-pressure injection and high-pressure chemical synthesis. Across the wider Syringe Pumps class, laboratories also deploy it for microfluidic and lab-on-chip flow control, continuous reagent and nutrient infusion and chromatography sample injection.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include IEC 61010-1, IEC 60601-2-24, IEC 61326-1, ISO 9001 and GB 4793.1. Certification candidates for this model are CE, RoHS, ISO 9001 manufacturing and PED compliance; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Prime the syringe and line to remove air, because bubbles compress and introduce flow error. Keep the line short and rigid to minimize compliance, which otherwise delays response and lowers accuracy at high pressure. Note the syringe size and manufacturer, since bore tolerances affect delivered volume, and recalibrate whenever the syringe type changes. Do not exceed the pressure rating of the syringe or the drive, and use a pressure sensor or stall detection on restricted systems. Avoid leaving highly viscous or crystallizing fluids in the syringe, and clean the plunger and seal regularly. Follow IEC 61010-1 for electrical safety. For regulated infusion, verify flow gravimetrically and record calibration data, since the pump is often a critical control in the method.

How do I select the right High-Pressure Syringe Pump?

Choose a high-pressure pump when the flow path operates above about 100 bar, such as supercritical fluid or reactor feed systems. For ordinary infusion a standard syringe pump is sufficient. In the RFQ, state maximum pressure, flow, syringe volume, fluid and fitting standard.

How does it compare with other Syringe Pumps variants?

Start with the required flow rate and syringe size, then choose the drive resolution and speed range that covers it. For nanoliter to microliter flows, a microfluidic pump with a small syringe gives the best stability. For high pressure, choose refractory or stainless steel syringes and a reinforced drive, and note the maximum pressure and any valves needed. Decide how many syringes must run at once: dual and multi-channel pumps allow parallel infusion and mixing. Check whether the pump supports programmable profiles such as ramps, pulses and refill cycles, and whether it can be controlled by software or external signals for integration. Verify wetted materials for chemical compatibility and choose the syringe type, since glass, plastic and steel each have limits. Calibration and flow verification complete the selection.