Convert Linear Flow (cm/h) to Volumetric Flow (mL/min)
cm
Common Cytiva sizes: 0.5, 1.0, 1.6, 2.6, 5.0 cm
cm/h
cm
Volumetric Flow Rate
0.00 mL/min
Column Cross-Sectional Area
0.00 cm²
Residence Time
0.00 min
function calculateChromatographyFlow() {
// 1. Retrieve Input Values
var diameterInput = document.getElementById('columnDiameter').value;
var velocityInput = document.getElementById('linearVelocity').value;
var bedHeightInput = document.getElementById('bedHeight').value;
// 2. Parse values
var diameter = parseFloat(diameterInput);
var velocity = parseFloat(velocityInput);
var bedHeight = parseFloat(bedHeightInput);
// 3. Validation
if (isNaN(diameter) || diameter <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Column Diameter greater than 0.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(velocity) || velocity 0;
if (hasBedHeight) {
// Column Volume (CV) = Area * Height
var columnVolume = area * bedHeight;
// Residence Time = CV / Q OR Height / (Velocity / 60)
// Height (cm) / (Velocity (cm/h) / 60 min/h) = min
residenceTime = (bedHeight / velocity) * 60.0;
}
// 5. Update DOM
var resultBox = document.getElementById('resultsDisplay');
resultBox.style.display = 'block';
document.getElementById('volumetricFlowResult').innerHTML = volumetricFlow.toFixed(2) + " mL/min";
document.getElementById('areaResult').innerHTML = area.toFixed(2) + " cm²";
var resContainer = document.getElementById('residenceContainer');
if (hasBedHeight) {
resContainer.style.display = 'block';
document.getElementById('residenceTimeResult').innerHTML = residenceTime.toFixed(2) + " min";
} else {
resContainer.style.display = 'none';
}
}
Understanding Flow Rates in Chromatography
In bioprocessing and protein purification, managing flow rates is critical for ensuring process reproducibility and scalability. Whether you are using Cytiva HiTrap™, HiScale™, or AxiChrom™ columns, converting between linear velocity and volumetric flow rate is a daily task for process engineers.
Why Convert Linear Flow to Volumetric Flow?
When scaling up a purification process (e.g., moving from a lab-scale 1 mL column to a production-scale 10 L column), the primary parameter maintained is the linear flow velocity (cm/h). This ensures that the contact time (residence time) between the molecule and the chromatography resin remains constant, preserving the binding kinetics and separation profile.
However, chromatography systems (like the ÄKTA™ system) generally operate by controlling pumps in volumetric flow rate (mL/min). Therefore, you must calculate the correct mL/min setting based on your target cm/h and specific column diameter.
The Formulas
This calculator uses the standard geometric formulas for cylindrical columns:
1. Cross-Sectional Area (A):
A = π × (Diameter / 2)²
2. Volumetric Flow Rate (Q):
Q (mL/min) = [ Linear Velocity (cm/h) × Area (cm²) ] / 60
Input Guide
Column Diameter (cm): The inner diameter (i.d.) of your column hardware. For example, a Tricorn 10/100 has a diameter of 1.0 cm. A HiScale 26 has a diameter of 2.6 cm.
Linear Velocity (cm/h): The speed at which the mobile phase travels through the column bed. Typical values range from 30 cm/h for affinity steps to 300+ cm/h for ion exchange or polishing steps.
Bed Height (cm): The packed height of the resin. This is required only if you wish to calculate Residence Time.
Common Cytiva Column Diameters
Use these reference values for the "Column Diameter" field:
HiTrap: 0.7 cm (approx, for 1mL/5mL cartridges)
Tricorn 5: 0.5 cm
Tricorn 10: 1.0 cm
XK 16 / HiScale 16: 1.6 cm
XK 26 / HiScale 26: 2.6 cm
HiScale 50: 5.0 cm
Pro Tip: When scaling up, if you keep the bed height and linear velocity constant, your residence time remains the same. This is the golden rule of chromatography scale-up.