SSI CLASS HF Series Industrial Prep Pump

Overview

The SSI CLASS HF Series Industrial Prep Pump is a dual-piston, constant-flow positive displacement pump engineered for high-pressure preparative liquid chromatography (prep-LC), continuous process metering, and demanding industrial fluid handling applications. Based on reciprocating piston architecture with dual-head synchronization, the HF series delivers stable, pulse-dampened flow under sustained high backpressure—enabling reliable operation in flash chromatography, peptide synthesis, catalyst screening, and solvent-intensive purification workflows. Its fluid path is constructed from corrosion-resistant stainless steel or titanium—selected per model variant—to ensure compatibility with aggressive organic solvents, acidic/basic mobile phases, and high-salinity buffers commonly used in pharmaceutical and fine chemical manufacturing. Unlike modular or low-pressure peristaltic alternatives, the HF series operates within a robust, sealed mechanical housing rated for continuous duty at up to 10,000 psi in pressure-regulated mode, making it suitable for integration into automated purification platforms requiring deterministic delivery and long-term stability.

Key Features

• Dual-head piston design with active phase synchronization to minimize pulsation and enhance flow continuity—critical for fraction collection consistency and column loading integrity.
• Full-range flow control from 0.1 to 300 mL/min, with programmable ramping, step gradients, and hold functions via front-panel keypad or external computer interface.
• Integrated automatic piston wash cycle—standard on all HF models—reduces seal wear and prevents crystallization-induced blockage during overnight or unattended runs.
• Modular service architecture: check valves, piston assemblies, and sealing kits are front-accessible without disassembling the main frame, enabling field maintenance in under 15 minutes with standard tools.
• Pressure monitoring with real-time digital display and configurable overpressure shutdown (OSD) compliant with ISO 13849-1 Category 3 safety requirements.
• RS-232 and optional Ethernet (TCP/IP) connectivity supporting SCPI command set for integration into LIMS, MES, or custom automation environments.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The HF series accommodates a broad spectrum of process fluids—including acetonitrile, methanol, THF, DMF, concentrated HCl/HNO₃ solutions, and aqueous NaOH up to 2 M—when configured with titanium fluid paths. All wetted materials meet USP Class VI biocompatibility standards, and surface finish complies with ASME BPE-2022 (Ra ≤ 0.4 µm electropolished). The pump’s mechanical design conforms to CE Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and carries UL 61010-1 certification for laboratory equipment. For regulated environments, firmware supports audit-trail logging (user actions, parameter changes, error events) aligned with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when paired with validated software configurations.

Software & Data Management

The HF series operates natively with SSI PumpControl v4.x—a Windows-based application providing method storage, real-time pressure/flow trending, event-triggered logging, and CSV export for QC documentation. Raw data streams include timestamped flow rate, actual pressure, motor current, and temperature (via optional internal sensor). When deployed in networked labs, the pump accepts HTTP POST commands for remote start/stop and parameter updates, facilitating interoperability with LabVantage, Thermo Fisher SampleManager, or custom Python-based orchestration scripts. All configuration files are digitally signed to prevent unauthorized modification—supporting GxP-aligned change control procedures.

Applications

• Preparative HPLC purification of APIs, oligonucleotides, and monoclonal antibody fragments (mAbs) at gram-to-kilogram scale.
• Continuous flow chemistry systems requiring precise stoichiometric reagent dosing under elevated backpressure (e.g., photochemical cyclizations, heterogeneous catalysis).
• Automated solid-phase extraction (SPE) and supported liquid extraction (SLE) workflows in environmental and forensic toxicology labs.
• High-pressure solvent delivery in supercritical fluid processing (SFC) auxiliary loops and co-solvent injection modules.
• Calibration traceability for flowmeter validation per ISO/IEC 17025—leveraging its certified flow accuracy and NIST-traceable pressure transducer.

FAQ

What is the maximum allowable viscosity for stable operation?
The HF series maintains specified accuracy and pulsation performance up to 25 cP at 300 mL/min and 10,000 psi; operation above 50 cP requires reduced flow rates and pre-heating to maintain laminar delivery.
Can the pump be operated in gradient mode with two independent solvent channels?
No—the HF is a single-channel constant-flow unit; gradient capability requires external low-dead-volume mixing modules (e.g., SSI MX-200) or integration with a separate binary pump system.
Is firmware upgrade support available beyond initial purchase?
Yes—SSI provides free firmware updates for the lifetime of the product, distributed via secure download portal with SHA-256 checksum verification and installation rollback capability.
Does the pump meet explosion-proof requirements for Class I, Division 1 environments?
Standard HF units are not ATEX or IECEx certified; however, SSI offers custom intrinsically safe variants (HF-IS) upon request, featuring isolated power supplies and non-sparking motor enclosures.
How is flow calibration performed and how often is it required?
Factory calibration uses gravimetric measurement against NIST-traceable mass standards; end users may perform field verification quarterly using certified flow meters—calibration certificate includes uncertainty budget per ISO/IEC 17025 Annex A.3.