New valve delivers stable low-flow control

Enabling stable flow control in the ml range, a new proportional 16mm Fasprop valve from IMI Precision Engineering has been launched to increase gas chromatography (GC) repeatability and to improve the detection limit of the instruments.

Fasprop, part of the IMI Fas product range, offers a highly compact proportional valve design, as well as an extremely small orifice – measuring just 0.05mm. Able to precisely control low flow rates in the ml range up to 174 psi/12 bar, Fasprop regulates flow and pressure supply to detectors, which improves stability and sensitivity. In packed and capillary GC columns, the valve also prevents the peak retention time shift caused by poor flow control.

Utilising well established flat plunger/spring technology commonly used in 16mm valves for medical devices in gas dosing applications, these reliable valves offer proven performance over a 100 million cycle lifespan.

Available in cartridge or flange mounting configurations, Fasprop fits into a small footprint and is easy to integrate and install. For GC users, a combination of a very low diffusion leak rate of permanent gases with ultra-clean hardware components guarantees a stable low baseline for optimum minimum detectable quantity. 

Fabrizio Maspero of IMI Precision Engineering explains: “In developing Fasprop, we have drawn on our proven expertise engineering miniature fluid control systems for demanding applications. Using the same flat spring/flat plunger technology and extremely precise components and assembling processes, we have been able to create a new reliable low flow proportional valve. This valve enables our customers to control the entire range of very low flows they use and provides great stability in closed-loop controlled systems."

Recent Issues