The valve

One of the main problems I have had in my work is the selection of pumps. Since we almost always use acid solutions for the separation and isolation work of the actinides the pump needed to be able to withstand acids. Once again we have found problems and are now thinking of changing the pump. So, what kind of pump should I use for my purpose, since there a lot of pumps commercially available? I have to find out. According to the information provided by literatures, there two types of pump that I can use: syringe pump, like the one we used in hospitals for injection and peristaltic pump. By using the syringe pump we could precisely control the speed of the liquid and the volume we delivered. The peristaltic pump is not precise as syringe pump, but it can deliver several liquids at the same time. In my case, since I need a precise control of my chemicals and liquids, therefore, I finally need to choose a syringe pump.

Besides a pump, I also need a column which I mention before to adsorb plutonium and neptunium, as well as several valves which could help me to choose different liquids automatically. You can see from the picture for an example of the valve I used, it has a central hole and 10 outer hole, the central only be connected with one the outer hole, and then give permission of the liquid I wanted pass through.

Ok. Finally I need to design the outlook of my machine and connect each part in to an entity.  I spend one week to this and I indeed enjoy this one week. I am like a kid playing with his or her LEGO toys. It is very funny and I can choose the colour of the screw on the valve and I can choose the length of the tube and finally put them in the magic box, so that is my machine.