Similarity and scaling in flow injection analysis

Abstract

In this paper scaling laws and similarity conditions are applied to the problem of scaling the size of flow injection apparatus with reference to contemporary research in miniaturisation of analytical instrumentation. Equations are presented which define the similarity conditions for two flow injection (FI) analysis systems allowing systems to be scaled up or down with respect to a reference flow injection analysis system. Novel partial similarity coefficients with respect to the dispersion coefficient, residence time and dispersion factor are defined and a similarity coefficient based on the partial similarity coefficients is introduced to assess and compare the degree of similarity of two or more FI systems.