High Accuracy Electronic Pressure Controllers for Demanding Fluidic Applications

Sensortechnics presents a new family of Electronic Pressure Controllers (EPC's) from Parker Hannifin Corporation, Pneutronics Division. EPC's are precision electronic devices which maintain a pneumatic process pressure at a preset level using closed-loop control. These devices can be configured to control pressure, vacuum or flow and replace mechanical control systems or mass flow controllers.

The required pressure or vacuum values are easily adjusted via an electrical set point to the EPC. The system continually measures the actual process value, compares it with the desired set point and compensates for any variations. Additionally, sensor output signals are available for improved process monitoring.

In order to control gas flow, EPC's are connected to an application specific measuring orifice. By controlling the pressure in front of that metering orifice the proportional flow can then be adjusted. Furthermore, EPC's can regulate liquid flows e.g. in precision dispense applications. Here, the system pressure of a pressurised liquid reservoir is controlled in order to achieve highly repeatable flows.

Typical applications for this new family of electronic pressure controllers feature carrier gas flow control, microfluidic flow control, vacuum pump control, gas-over-liquid flow control, hydro-dynamic focusing and aspirate/dispense applications.