---
title: "Flow Cell"
industry: "Chemical Manufacturing"
verification_protocol:
  urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:FLOW_CELL"
  data_integrity_hash: "5b3dbf1b76cba5f62d44ba4250bb4292"
  source_authority: "https://cnfx.com"
  strict_mode: true
source_identity:
  provider: "CNFX Industrial Knowledge Graph"
  index_version: "2026.Q1-Universal"
  authority_id: "URN:CNFX:ME:FLOW_CELL"
  data_source_uri: "https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/chemical-manufacturing/product/flow-cell.md"
  official_resource_url: "https://cnfx.com/industry/chemical-manufacturing/product/flow-cell"
  is_verified_logic: true
attributes:
  spec:
    status: "config-dependent"
    typical_range: "0.1-10 bar (10 kPa-1 MPa) internal pressure, 4-40°C temperature, 200-800 nm optical wavelength range"
    unit: "mm"
engineering_limits:
  max_safe_operating_point:
    value: 15
    unit: "bar"
    consequence: "Fracture due to hoop stress exceeding material tensile strength (σ_θ = P·r/t where P=pressure, r=radius, t=wall thickness), thermal stress cracking from coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch (Δσ = E·α·ΔT), surface microcrack propagation under cyclic loading (Paris' Law: da/dN = C·ΔK^m)"
fmea_matrix_quantitative:
  - node_1:
      trigger: "Particulate contamination exceeding 5 μm diameter at 1000 particles/mL"
      severity: 8
      occurrence: 3
      detection: 4
      mitigation_protocol: "0.2 μm absolute filtration at all fluid ports, electropolished 316L stainless steel fittings with Ra&lt;0.4 μm surface finish"
  - node_2:
      trigger: "pH&lt;2 or pH&gt;12 chemical exposure for &gt;24 hours at 25°C"
      severity: 8
      occurrence: 3
      detection: 4
      mitigation_protocol: "Chemical-resistant coatings (perfluoroalkoxy polymer lining), material selection based on Pourbaix diagrams, automated pH monitoring with &lt;0.1 unit resolution"
bom_nodes:
  optical-windows:
    type: "component"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:OPTICAL_WINDOWS"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  sample-chamber:
    type: "device"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:SAMPLE_CHAMBER"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  inletoutlet-ports:
    type: "component"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:INLETOUTLET_PORTS"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  sealsgaskets:
    type: "component"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:SEALSGASKETS"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
manufacturing_compliance:
  - standard: "ISO 10933:2018 (LABORATORY GLASSWARE - FLOW CELLS)"
    scope: "Verified Engineering Specification"
url: "https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/chemical-manufacturing/product/flow-cell.md"
on_chain_sovereignty:
  contract_standard: "ERC-721-Industrial"
  metadata_hash: "9d74fda2f5e601aac58c4ec59f60b0fc5e8be32fe37960b70216f3e54d152edd"
  royalty_logic: "IPFS-CID-REQUIRED"
  mint_status: "logic-verified-ready"
version: "3.3.4-EXTREME-SOVEREIGN-WEB3"
---

# Industrial Specification: Flow Cell

## 1. Technical Definition
A transparent chamber or cuvette designed to hold liquid samples for optical analysis within analytical instruments.

## 2. Engineering Reasoning & Causal Matrix
> **Operational Intelligence**: Designed for **0.1-10 bar (10 kPa-1 MPa) internal pressure, 4-40°C temperature, 200-800 nm optical wavelength range**. Failure boundary: **15 bar burst pressure for quartz cells, 12 bar for fused silica, 8 bar for borosilicate glass, 50°C thermal shock differential, 0.5% transmittance degradation threshold**, Mechanism: **Fracture due to hoop stress exceeding material tensile strength (σ_θ = P·r/t where P=pressure, r=radius, t=wall thickness), thermal stress cracking from coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch (Δσ = E·α·ΔT), surface microcrack propagation under cyclic loading (Paris' Law: da/dN = C·ΔK^m)**.

### 2.1 Analytical Physics Model
Governed by the **Darcy-Weisbach Pressure Drop**:

> **Primary Equation**: $\Delta P = f \cdot \frac{L}{D} \cdot \frac{\rho v^2}{2}$  
> **Engineering Impact**: Critical for sizing CIP (Clean-In-Place) pump heads.

| Symbol | Variable Definition | Localized Reference |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| f | Friction Factor | Engineering Constant |
| L | Pipe Length | Engineering Constant |
| v | Velocity | Engineering Constant |

### 2.2 FMEA (Failure Mode & Effects Analysis)
| Event Trigger | Severity | Failure Mode | Mitigation Strategy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Particulate contamination exceeding 5 μm diameter at 1000 particles/mL | 8 | Optical scattering causing &gt;2% measurement error, surface scratching leading to light path distortion | 0.2 μm absolute filtration at all fluid ports, electropolished 316L stainless steel fittings with Ra&lt;0.4 μm surface finish |
| pH&lt;2 or pH&gt;12 chemical exposure for &gt;24 hours at 25°C | 8 | Glass surface etching increasing light scatter by 15%, quartz hydrolysis forming silanol groups altering contact angle by &gt;20° | Chemical-resistant coatings (perfluoroalkoxy polymer lining), material selection based on Pourbaix diagrams, automated pH monitoring with &lt;0.1 unit resolution |

## 3. Key Technical Parameters
| Parameter | Value | Unit | Status |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| spec | Config-dependent | mm | Verified |

## 4. System BOM & Knowledge Routing
### Core Components (Recursive Links)
- [Sample Chamber](https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/sample-chamber.md) `(Standalone System)`

### Industrial DNA Context (De-duplicated)
**Complementary Dependencies**: **Spectrophotometer**, **Peristaltic Pump**, **Temperature Control Unit**  
**Downstream Applications**: Chemical Concentration Analysis, Reaction Kinetics Data, Quality Control Reports  

## 5. Engineering Risks & FAQ
- **Caution**: 
- **Caution**: 
- **Caution**: 

### Q: What materials are best for flow cells in corrosive chemical environments?
**A**: For corrosive environments, PTFE (Teflon) seals and stainless steel 316L or sapphire optical windows provide excellent chemical resistance and durability in flow cell construction.

### Q: How do I choose between quartz, sapphire, and borosilicate glass for optical flow cells?
**A**: Quartz offers UV transparency, sapphire provides extreme hardness and chemical resistance, while borosilicate glass is cost-effective for visible light applications—select based on your analytical wavelength and budget.

### Q: What maintenance is required for flow cells in continuous chemical analysis systems?
**A**: Regular inspection of seals/gaskets, cleaning of optical windows to prevent buildup, and ensuring inlet/outlet ports remain clear are essential for maintaining accuracy and longevity in continuous use.

## 6. Manufacturing Compliance
- ISO 10933:2018 (LABORATORY GLASSWARE - FLOW CELLS)

---
### 🛠️ Engineering Resource Access
🔗 **[Full Specification: Flow Cell](https://cnfx.com/industry/chemical-manufacturing/product/flow-cell)**

### 🌐 Knowledge Graph Topology
> **Node Status**: Verified Engineering Spec
> **Connectivity**: Linked to **4** standalone system nodes
> **Global Context**: Part of a 5,814 node industrial cluster within the CNFX Graph

> **Reference ID**: FLOW_CELL | **Authority**: CNFX-2026-ST-001 | **Fingerprint**: 84350f38
