Apparatus and method for supercritical fluid extraction

摘要

The invention relates to a pumping system (12) for supercritical extraction comprising: inlet means adapted to be connected to a source of supercritical fluid; outlet means adapted to provide the pumped fluid to a pressure vessel (18 and 24A); and pumphead means (300) having a pumping chamber (336) communicating with said inlet means and with said outlet means; a piston (304); an inlet valve means controlling the flow of fluid into said pumping chamber (336) means through said inlet means; an outlet valve means controlling the flow of fluid from said pumping chamber means (336) through said outlet means; an inlet conduit means defining a flow path between said inlet valve and said pump chamber (336); and an outlet conduit means defining a flow path between said pump chamber (336) and said outlet valve means; characterized by an air-cooled thermoelectric-cooled heat exchanger means (386) for cooling both the inlet means and the pumphead means (300).