Bidirectional Microfluidic Flow Sensor

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FLOW UNIT | FLOW UNIT +

The FLOW UNIT and FLOW UNIT+ are bidirectional microfluidic flow sensors compatible for stand-alone use with the Line Up™ controller or other microfluidic control systems such as the MFCS™ series using the Flowboard hub.

Available in multiple low rate ranges, the FLOW UNIT and FLOW UNIT + Microfluidic Flow Sensor allows for pressure regulation using the DFC (Direct Flow Control) algorithm to monitor or control the system by flowrate instead of pressure.

Ask for a quote Specifications

Main benefits

Compact
Uses minimum bench space
Adaptable
Use with or without a PC
Intuitive
Straight forward set up & use
Wide range
Measurement from nL to mL

Features of the flow rate sensor

Tune Measurements for Various Liquids

When combined with a FLOW UNIT, a scale factor can be added to your measurements when handling other fluids than the liquid for which the flow rate sensor is calibrated for.

For organic solutions, a second calibration with isopropyl alcohol is built-in on the FLOW UNIT models S, M+ and L+.

Flow Rate Measurement

The FlOW UNIT and FLOW UNIT+ enable fast and accurate measurements of ultra-low liquid flow rates.

Monitor & Control Experiments

Flowrate measurements (bidirectional) for all FLOW UNITs are displayed in FLUIGENT software. An additional function displays and records the dispensed volume for each FLOW UNIT Microfluidic Flow Sensor. Flowrates can be directly controlled with the MFCS™ series and LineUp™ series instruments using the DFC, a “self-learning” flow rate control algorithm.

Precision for Various Flow Rate Ranges

The different FLOW UNIT models offer an extensive choice of flowrate ranges to best match your needs over the range of 7nL/min to 5mL/min.

Locally Control Flow Rate

Combined with a LineUp™ Push-Pull or a LineUp Flow EZ™, one can monitor or control flow rate without a PC.

Related applications

DFC, “Self-Learning” Microfluidic Flow Control Algorithm
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How does the flow rate sensor work?

Fluigent’s Microfluidic Flow Sensor is a unique tool to easily monitor flow rates in any microfluidic system with the best precision and accuracy. A microheater provides a minimal amount of heat to the medium monitored. Two temperature sensors, located on both sides of the heat source, detect temperature variations.

The high precision thermal sensor technology provides total media isolation and very low internal volume with no moving parts. The flow rate is then calculated based on the thermal desorption, which is directly related to the flow rate.

Specifications

Sensor performance

Sensor model	XS	S	M+	L+
Part Number	FLU-XS	FLU-S-D	FLU-M+	FLU-L+
Calibrated media	Water	Water IPA	Water IPA	Water IPA
Range	Water 0±1.5µL/min	Water 0±7µL/min IPA 0±70µL/min	Water, IPA 0±2mL/min	Water, IPA 0±40mL/min
Accuracy (m.v.= measured value) also applies to negative values	Water 10% m.v. above 75 nL/min 7.5 nL/min below 75 nL/min	Water 5% m.v. above 0.42 µL/min 21 nL/min below 0.42 µL/min IPA 20% m.v. above 4.2 µL/min 210 nL/min below 4.2 µL/min	Water 5% m.v. above 10 µL/min 0.5 µL/min below 10 µL/min IPA 10% m.v. above 50 µL/min 5 µL/min below 50 µL/min	Water 5% m.v. above 1 mL/min 50 µL/min below 1 mL/min IPA 10% m.v. above 2 mL/min 200 µL/min below 2 mL/min
Lowest detectable flow increment	3.7 nL/min	10 nL/min	0.25 µL/min	25 µL/min
Repeatability	Water <1% m.v. above 90 nL/ min 0.9 nL/min below 90 nL/min	Water 0.5% m.v. above 0.7 μL/ min 3.5 nL/min below 0.7 μL/ min IPA 1% m.v. above 0.7 μL/ min 7 nL/min below 0.7 μL/ min	At 23°C Water & IPA 0.5% mv above 100μL- min 0.5μL/min below 100μL/ min	At 23°C Water & IPA 0.5% mv above 2mL/ min 10μL/min below 2mL/ min

Mechanical specifications

Sensor model	XS	S	M+	L+
Sensor inner diameter	25 µm	150 µm	400 µm	1.4 mm
Maximum pressure	200 bar	200 bar	12 bar	12 bar
Wetted materials	PEEK & Quartz Glass	PEEK & Quartz Glass	PPS, stainless steel 316L Fittings: PEEK/ ETFE	PPS, stainless steel 316L Fittings: PEEK/ ETFE
Inner volume	1µL	1.5µL	~ 28µL	~ 58µL
Fluid connector ports	UNF 6-40 for 1/32” OD tubing	UNF 6-40 for 1/32” OD tubing	UNF 1⁄4′′-28 flat bottom for 1/16” OD tubing	UNF 1⁄4′′-28 flat bottom for 1/16” OD tubing
Weight	97 g	97 g	97 g	97 g

Sensor performance

Sensor model	XS	S	M	L	XL
Part Number	FLU-XS	FLU-S-D	FLU-M-D	FLU-L-D	FLU-XL
Calibrated media	Water	Water IPA	Water IPA	Water IPA	Water
Range	Water 0±1.5µL/min	Water 0±7 µL/min IPA 0±70 µL/min	Water 0±80µL/min IPA 0±500µL/min	Water 0±1mL/min IPA 0±10mL/min	Water 0±5mL/min
Accuracy (m.v.= measured value) also applies to negative values	10% m.v. above 75 nL/ min 7.5 nL/min below 75 nL/ min	Water 5% m.v.above 0.42 µL/min 21 nL/min below 0.42 µL/min IPA 20% m.v. above 4.2 µL/min 210 nL/min below 4.2 µL/min	Water 5% m.v. above 2.4 µL/min 0.12 µL/min below 2.4 µL/min IPA 20% m.v. above 25 µL/min 5 µL/min below 25 µL/min	Water 5% m.v. above 0.04 mL/min 1.5 µL/min below 0.04 mL/min IPA 20% m.v. above 0.5 mL/min 100 µL/min below 0.5 mL/min	5% m.v.above 0.2 mL/min 10 µL/min below 0.2 mL/min
Repeatability (m.v.= measured value) also applies to negative values	<1% m.v. above 90 nL/ min 0.9 nL/min below 90 nL/min	Water 0.5% m.v above 0.7µL/min 3.5 nL/min below 0.7 µL/min IPA 1% m.v above 0.7µL/min 7 nL/min below 0.7 µL/min	Water 0.5% m.v above 1.6 µL/min 8 nL/min below 1.6 µL/min IPA 1% m.v above 25 µL/min 0.25 µL/min below 25 µL/min	Water 0.5% m.v above 40 µL/min 0.2 µL/min below 40 µL/min IPA 1% m.v above 500 µL/min 5 µL/min below 500 µL/min	0.5% m.v. above 200 µL/ min 0.4 µL/min below 200 µL/min
Lowest detectable flow increment	3.7 nL/min	10 nL/min	0.06 µL/min	0.7 µL/min	3 µL/min

Mechanical specifications

Sensor model	XS	S	M	L	XL
Sensor inner diameter	25µm	150 µm	430 µm	1.0 mm	1.8 mm
Total internal volume	1 µL	1.5 µL	5 µL	25 µL	80 µL
Maximum pressure	200 bar	200 bar	100 bar	15 bar	15 bar
Wetted materials	PEEK and Quartz Glass	PEEK and Quartz Glass	PEEK and Borosilicate Glass	PEEK and Borosilicate Glass	PEEK and Borosilicate Glass
Fluid connector ports	UNF 6-40 for 1/32” OD tubing	UNF 6-40 for 1/32” OD tubing	UNF 6-40 for 1/32” OD tubing	Flangeless fitting 1/4-28	Flangeless fitting 1/4-28
Weight	97 g	97 g	97 g	97 g	97 g

OxyGEN

Control in real-time, protocol automation, data record and export

ver. 2.2.0.0 or more recent

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Software Development Kit

Custom software application

ver. 22.2.0.0 or more recent

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Flow rate control with Fluigent software

Warning :
When using biomaterials such as cell or bacteria for a long period, a biofilm may form over time on the Flow Unit’s channel impacting the accuracy of measurements. Regular cleaning and monitoring are recommended to ensure accurate and reliable results.
For long term experiment we encourage the use of the Flow unit standard rather than the Flow unit which is more sensitive to biofilm formation.

Bidirectional Microfluidic Flow Sensor