12CC 600 bar Volumetric Pump for Pressure Control in Corrosive Media (Na2S) for CNRS

For France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Marseille , IRIAN MECATRONICS designed a 12CC 600 bar high-precision volumetric pump. The objective was to enable pressure regulation on a very low-volume (500µl) observation cell while ensuring perfect compatibility with corrosive fluids (salt water, Na2S). Our solution is a PC-controlled SS316 system , featuring a double jacket for temperature control and a non-reversible mechanical architecture for enhanced safety.

The Challenge: 600 bar Pressure Regulation on a Micro-Volume with Corrosive Fluids

The CNRS laboratory required a system capable of generating and regulating a 600 bar pressure with extreme stability within a very small experimental volume of 500µl.

The project presented multiple critical technical constraints:

Chemical Compatibility: The system had to be fully compatible with corrosive working fluids, specifically salt water and Na2S (Sodium Sulfide).
Temperature Control: The pump needed to integrate a double jacket to allow for fluid temperature regulation from 0°C to ambient temperature via an external thermostatic bath.
Low Dead Volume: To work with a 500µl cell, the hydraulic connections needed to be zero dead volume (VALCO fitting for 1/16″ tubing).
Ease of Cleaning: The design had to allow for quick disassembly for a complete internal cleaning of the reservoir.
Specific Use-Case: The equipment had to allow the wetted parts (cylinder, piston, cap) to be filled in a glove box before being connected to the pump drive.

High-Pressure Volumetric Pump for Observation Cell

The Solution: A 12CC SS316 Pump with Non-Reversible Architecture and PC Control

To meet these specifications, our design office engineered a 12CC volumetric pump where every component was designed for precision and safety.

The IRIAN MECATRONICS technical solution is based on:

A Secure Mechanical Architecture: We chose a worm/wheel gear and ball screw drive system. This technical choice offers a dual advantage: significant mechanical reduction, allowing for a very wide flow rate range (from 0.002 cc/min to 15 cc/min ), and intrinsic safety. The system is non-reversible, which guarantees the 600 bar pressure is held in the circuit even during a power failure.
Adapted Materials: To ensure compatibility with salt water and Na2S , all wetted parts (pump body, piston, cap) were machined from 316 stainless steel.
Design for Maintenance: As shown in the schematics, the pump features a quick-disassembly reservoir cap. This design facilitates cleaning and allows for glove box filling.
Comprehensive Software Control: The system is controlled by a remote PC via an RJ45 connection. The software allows operation in flow rate setpoint or pressure setpoint (with ramp) modes and handles data acquisition.