Combined electroosmotic and pressure driven flow system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flow controller system, comprising:
- (a) a channel having;
(i) a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first fluid source at pressure P1, and a second fluid source at pressure P2;
(ii) a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and at pressure P3, with a first fluid terminus, wherein P3<
P1 and P3<
P2; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the channel; and
(b) a power supply in electrical communication with spaced electrodes for applying an electric potential to the electrodes, the electrodes being positioned so that the channel is electrokinetically active when the power supply applies an electric potential to the electrodes;
whereby the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through the channel that modulates at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P3 pressure differential and the P2−
P3 pressure differential.
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Abstract
Electroosmotic flow controllers that may be used in conjunction with multiple fluids and methods of fluid flow control are described. The invention uses an electroosmotically generated flow component in combination with a pressure driven flow component to modulate fluid flow. A working fluid and a second fluid that supports electroosmotic function may be used in conjunction with embodiments of the invention. Embodiments of the invention may include salt bridges for making electrical connections between a power supply and a channel filled with a porous dielectric material and a fluid.
130 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A flow controller system, comprising:
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(a) a channel having;
(i) a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first fluid source at pressure P1, and a second fluid source at pressure P2;
(ii) a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and at pressure P3, with a first fluid terminus, wherein P3<
P1 and P3<
P2; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the channel; and
(b) a power supply in electrical communication with spaced electrodes for applying an electric potential to the electrodes, the electrodes being positioned so that the channel is electrokinetically active when the power supply applies an electric potential to the electrodes;
whereby the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through the channel that modulates at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P3 pressure differential and the P2−
P3 pressure differential. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A flow controller system, comprising:
-
(a) a channel having;
(i) a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first fluid source at pressure P1, and a second fluid source at pressure P2;
(ii) a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and a first fluid terminus at pressure P3, wherein P3<
P1 and P3<
P2; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the channel; and
(b) a power supply in electrical communication with spaced electrodes for applying an electric potential to the electrodes, the electrodes being positioned so that the channel is electrokinetically active when the power supply applies an electric potential to the electrodes and;
(c) a first flow element interposed between the first fluid source and a first node, the first flow element having a first flow element inlet in fluid communication with the first fluid source, the first flow element also having a first flow element outlet in fluid communication with the first flow element inlet and, at the first node at pressure PN1, with the fluid inlet, wherein P3<
PN1;
whereby the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through the channel that modulates at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P3 pressure differential and the P2−
P3 pressure differential. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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25. A flow controller system, comprising:
-
(a) a channel having;
(i) a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first fluid source at pressure P1, and a second fluid source at pressure P2;
(ii) a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and, at pressure P3, with a first fluid terminus, wherein P3<
P1 and P3<
P2; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the channel;
(b) a power supply in electrical communication with spaced electrodes for applying an electric potential to the electrodes, the electrodes being positioned so that the channel is electrokinetically active when the power supply applies an electric potential to the electrodes;
(c) a first flow element interposed between the first fluid source and a first node, the first flow element having a first flow element inlet in fluid communication with the first fluid source, the first flow element also having a first flow element outlet in fluid communication with the first flow element inlet and, at the first node at pressure PN1, with the fluid inlet, wherein P3<
PN1;
(d) a second flow element interposed between the second fluid source and the first node, the second flow element having a second flow element inlet in fluid communication with the second fluid source, the second flow element also having a second flow element outlet in fluid communication with the second flow element inlet and, at the first node, with the fluid inlet;
wherein the channel is also a third flow element;
(e) a fourth flow element interposed between the first node and the third element, the fourth flow element having a fourth flow element inlet in fluid communication at the first node with the first flow element outlet and the second flow element outlet, the fourth flow element also having a fourth flow element outlet in fluid communication with the fourth flow element inlet and the third flow element inlet; and
(f) a fluid mixer located in the fourth flow element;
whereby the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through the channel that modulates at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P3 pressure differential and the P2−
P3 pressure differential.
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31. A flow controller system, comprising:
-
(a) a channel having;
(i) a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first fluid source at pressure P1, and a second fluid source at pressure P2;
(ii) a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and, at pressure P3, with a first fluid terminus wherein P3<
P1 and P3<
P2; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the channel;
(b) a power supply in electrical communication with spaced electrodes for applying an electric potential to the electrodes, the electrodes being positioned so that the channel is electrokinetically active when the power supply applies an electric potential to the electrodes;
(c) a first flow element interposed between the first fluid source and a first node, the first flow element having a first flow element inlet in fluid communication with the first fluid source, the first flow element also having a first flow element outlet in fluid communication with the first flow element inlet and, at the first node at pressure PN1, with the fluid inlet, wherein P3<
PN1;
(d) a second flow element interposed between the second fluid source and the first node, the second flow element having a second flow element inlet in fluid communication with the second fluid source, the second flow element also having a second flow element outlet in fluid communication with the second flow element inlet and, at the first node, with the fluid inlet;
(e) a second fluid terminus at pressure P4, wherein P4<
P1, the second fluid terminus being in fluid communication at a second node at pressure PN2, wherein P3<
PN2, and P4<
PN2 with the first fluid source and the first flow element inlet;
wherein the channel is also a third flow element;
(f) a fourth flow element interposed between the first fluid source and the second node, the fourth flow element having a fourth flow element inlet in fluid communication with the first fluid source, the fourth flow element also having a fourth flow element outlet in fluid communication with the fourth flow element inlet and, at the second node at pressure PN2, with the first flow element inlet and the second fluid terminus;
(g) a fifth flow element interposed between the second node and the second fluid terminus, the fifth flow element having a fifth flow element inlet in fluid communication at the second node with the fourth flow element outlet, the fifth flow element also having a fifth flow element outlet in fluid communication with the fifth flow element inlet and the second fluid terminus;
(h) a third fluid terminus at pressure P5, wherein and P5<
P2, the third fluid terminus being in fluid communication at a third node with the second fluid source and the second flow element inlet;
(i) a sixth flow element interposed between the third fluid terminus and the third node, the sixth flow element having a sixth flow element inlet in fluid communication at the third node with the second fluid source, the sixth flow element also having a sixth flow element outlet in fluid communication with the sixth flow element inlet and the third fluid terminus; and
(j) a seventh flow element interposed between the second fluid source and the third node, the seventh flow element having a seventh flow element inlet in fluid communication with the second fluid source, the seventh flow element also having a seventh flow element outlet in fluid communication with the seventh flow element inlet and, at the third node, with the sixth flow element inlet and the second flow element inlet;
whereby the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through the channel that modulates at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P3 pressure differential and the P2−
P3 pressure differential. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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46. A flow controller system, comprising:
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(a) a first conduit having;
(i) a first fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first fluid source at pressure P1;
(ii) a first fluid outlet at pressure P3 in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet, wherein P3<
P1; and
(iii) a first flow element disposed between the first fluid inlet and a first node; and
(b) a second conduit having;
(i) a second fluid inlet in fluid communication with a second fluid source at pressure P2, wherein P3<
P2;
(ii) a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet and, at the first node, with the first conduit;
(iii) a second flow element disposed between the second fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet; and
(iv) a third fluid outlet at pressure P4, wherein P4<
P1 and P4<
P2, the third fluid outlet being in fluid communication at a second node with the second flow element outlet;
wherein α
1=θ
1V1, where V1 is the internal volume of the first node and θ
1 is the sum of apparent compressibilities within V1, α
2=θ
2V2 where V2 is the internal volume of the second node and θ
2 is the sum of apparent compressibilities within V2, the first flow element has a conductance of k1, the second flow element has a conductance of k2, and wherein α
1/k1>
α
2/k2.
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47. A flow controller system, comprising:
-
(a) a first conduit having;
(i) a first fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first fluid source at pressure P1;
(ii) a first fluid outlet at pressure P3 in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet, wherein P3<
P1; and
(iii) a first flow element disposed between the first fluid inlet and a first node; and
(b) a second conduit having;
(i) a second fluid inlet in fluid communication with a second fluid source at pressure P2, wherein P3<
P2;
(ii) a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet and, at the first node, with the first conduit;
(iii) a second flow element disposed between the second fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet; and
(iv) a third fluid outlet at pressure P4, wherein P4<
P1 and P4<
P2, the third fluid outlet being in fluid communication at a second node at pressure PN2, with the second flow element outlet;
(c) a pressure transducer located at either the first or the second node; and
(d) an accumulator located at the opposite node as the pressure transducer;
wherein α
1=θ
1V1, where V1 is the internal volume of the first node and θ
1 is the sum of apparent compressibilities within V1, α
2=θ
2V2 where V2 is the internal volume of the second node and θ
2 is the sum of apparent compressibilities within V2, the first flow element has a conductance of k1, the second flow element has a conductance of k2, and wherein α
1/k1>
α
2/k2.
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48. A flow controller system, comprising:
-
(a) a first conduit having;
(i) a first fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first fluid source at pressure P1;
(ii) a first fluid outlet at pressure P3 in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet, wherein P3<
P1; and
(iii) a first flow element disposed between the first fluid inlet and a first node; and
(b) a second conduit having;
(i) a second fluid inlet in fluid communication with a second fluid source at pressured P2, wherein P3<
P2;
(ii) a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet and, at the first node, with the first conduit;
(iii) a second flow element disposed between the second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet; and
(iv) a third fluid outlet at pressure P4, wherein P4<
P1 and P4<
P2, the third fluid outlet being in fluid communication at a second node with the second flow element outlet;
(c) a pressure transducer located at either the first or the second node; and
(d) a check valve between the first and second nodes;
wherein α
1=θ
1V1, where V1 is the internal volume of the first node and θ
1 is the sum of apparent compressibilities within V1, α
2−
θ
2V2 where V2 is the internal volume of the second node and θ
2 is the sum of apparent compressibilities within V2, the first flow element has a conductance of k1, the second flow element has a conductance of k2, and wherein α
1/k2>
α
2/k2.
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49. A flow controller system, comprising:
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(a) a first channel having;
(i) a first channel fluid inlet in fluid communication at a node with a first fluid source at pressure P1 and a second fluid source at pressure P2;
(ii) a first channel fluid outlet in fluid communication with the first channel fluid inlet and, at pressure P3, with a fluid terminus, wherein P3<
P1 and P3<
P2; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the first channel;
(b) a second channel having;
(i) a second channel fluid inlet in fluid communication with the second fluid source;
(ii) a second channel fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second channel fluid inlet and, at the first node, with the first channel inlet; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the second channel; and
(c) a power supply in electrical communication with spaced electrodes for applying an electrical potential to the electrodes, the electrodes being positioned so that the channels are electrokinetically active when the power supply applies an electric potential to the electrodes;
wherein the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through at least one of the first and the second channels, wherein the electroosmotically-driven flow component modulates at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P3 and the P2−
P3 pressure differentials.
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50. A flow controller system, comprising:
-
(a) a first channel having;
(i) a first channel fluid inlet in fluid communication at a first node with a first fluid source at pressure P1 and a second fluid source at pressure P2;
(ii) a first channel fluid outlet in fluid communication with the first channel fluid inlet and, at pressure P3, with a fluid terminus, wherein P3<
P1 and P3<
P2; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the first channel;
(b) a second channel having;
(i) a second channel fluid inlet in fluid communication with the second fluid source;
(ii) a second channel fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second channel fluid inlet and, at the first node, with the first channel; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the second channel;
(c) a first power supply in electrical communication with a first set of spaced electrodes for applying a first electric potential to the first set of spaced electrodes, the first set of spaced electrodes being positioned so that the first channel is electrokinetically active when the first power supply applies an electric potential to the first set of spaced electrodes;
(d) a second power supply in electrical communication with a second set of spaced electrodes for applying a second electric potential to the second set of spaced electrodes, the second set of spaced electrodes being positioned so that the second channel is electrokinetically active when the second power supply applies an electric potential to the second set of spaced electrodes;
wherein the first electric potential generates a first electroosmotically-driven flow component through the first channel, the first electroosmotically-driven flow component modulating at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P3 and the P2−
P3 pressure differentials and the second electric potential generates a second electroosmotically-driven flow component through the second channel, the second electroosmotically-driven flow component modulating at least one pressure-driven flow components resulting from the P1−
P3 and the P2−
P3 pressure differentials.
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51. A flow controller system, comprising:
-
(a) a channel having;
(i) a fluid inlet in fluid communication at a node with a fluid source at pressure P1;
(ii) a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and, at pressure P2, with a first fluid terminus, wherein P2<
P1; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the channel;
(b) a power supply in electrical communication with spaced electrodes for applying an electric potential to the spaced electrodes, the spaced electrodes being positioned so that the channel is electrokinetically active when the power supply applies an electric potential to the electrodes; and
(c) a first fluid storage element being disposed between the node and a second fluid terminus at pressure P3, wherein P3<
P1, wherein the first fluid storage element has a first fluid storage element inlet in fluid communication at the node with the fluid source, and wherein the first fluid storage element also has a first fluid storage element outlet in fluid communication with the first fluid storage element inlet and the second fluid terminus;
wherein the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through the channel that modulates at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P2 and the P1−
P3 pressure differentials. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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54. A flow controller system, comprising:
-
(a) a channel having;
(i) a fluid inlet in fluid communication at a node with a fluid source at pressure P1;
(ii) a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and, at pressure P2, with a first fluid terminus, wherein P2<
P1; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed within the first channel;
(b) a power supply in electrical communication with the spaced electrodes for applying an electrical potential to the spaced electrodes, the spaced electrodes being positioned so that the channel is electrokinetically active when the power supply applies an electric potential to the electrodes;
(c) a first fluid storage element disposed between the node and the fluid inlet, the first fluid storage element having a first fluid storage element inlet in fluid communication at the node with the fluid source, the first fluid storage element also having a first fluid storage element outlet in fluid communication with the first fluid storage element inlet and the fluid inlet; and
(d) a second fluid terminus at pressure P3, wherein P3<
P1, in fluid communication at the node with the fluid source,wherein the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through the first channel that modulates at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P2 and the P1−
P3 pressure differentials. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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57. A flow controller system, comprising:
-
(a) a channel having;
(i) a fluid inlet in liquid communication with a fluid source at pressure P1;
(ii) a fluid outlet in liquid communication with a first fluid terminus at pressure P2, wherein P2<
P1; and
(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in the channel;
(b) a power supply in electrical communication with spaced electrodes for applying an electric potential to the spaced electrodes, the spaced electrodes being positioned so that the channel is electrokinetically active when the power supply applies an electric potential to the electrodes; and
(c) a fluid storage element fluid disposed between the fluid source and the channel, the fluid storage element having a fluid storage element inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source, the fluid storage element also having a fluid storage element outlet in fluid communication with the fluid storage element inlet and the fluid inlet;
whereby the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through the channel that modulates a pressure-drive flow component resulting from the P1−
P2 pressure differential.
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58. A method for controlling a flow of a fluid, comprising:
applying an electric potential to spaced electrodes in electrical communication with a channel, the channel having a porous dielectric material disposed therein, the channel also having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first fluid source at pressure P1 and a second fluid source at pressure P2, the channel also having a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and, at pressure P3, with a terminus, wherein P3<
P1 and P3<
P2, wherein the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through the channel that modulates at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P3 and the P2−
P3 pressure differentials.
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59. A method of controlling the flow of a fluid comprising:
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(a) placing a first accumulator at a first node, wherein the first node is in a first conduit having;
a first fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first fluid source at pressure P1, a first fluid outlet at pressure P3, wherein P3<
P1, and a first flow element disposed between the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet;
(b) placing a second accumulator at a second node;
wherein, the second node is in a second conduit having;
a second fluid inlet in fluid communication with a second fluid source at pressure P2, wherein P3<
P2, a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the first conduit at the first node, a second flow element disposed between the second fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet, and a third fluid outlet at pressure P4, wherein P4<
P1 and P4<
P2, the third fluid outlet being in fluid communication at the second node with the second fluid inlet.
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60. A method of controlling a flow of a fluid, comprising:
applying an electric potential to spaced electrodes in electrical communication with a channel, the channel having a porous dielectric material disposed therein, the channel also having a fluid inlet in fluid communication at a node with a fluid source at pressure P1, the channel also having a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and, at pressure P2, with a first fluid terminus, wherein P2<
P1, and wherein a fluid storage element is disposed between the node and a second fluid terminus at pressure P3, wherein P3<
P1, the fluid storage element having a fluid storage element inlet in fluid communication at the node with the fluid source, the fluid storage element also having a fluid storage element outlet in fluid communication with the fluid storage element inlet and the second fluid terminus, wherein the electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through the channel that modulates at least one pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P2 and the P1−
P3 pressure differentials.
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61. A method for controlling a flow of fluid, comprising:
applying an electric potential to spaced electrodes in electrical communication with a channel, the channel having a porous dielectric material disposed therein, the channel also having a fluid inlet in fluid communication at a node with a fluid source at pressure P1, the channel also having a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and, at pressure P2, with a first fluid terminus, wherein P2<
P1, and wherein a fluid storage element is disposed between the node and the fluid inlet, the fluid storage element having a fluid storage element inlet in fluid communication at the node with the fluid source, the fluid storage element also having a fluid storage element outlet in fluid communication with the fluid storage element inlet and the fluid inlet, wherein the electric potential generates an electroosmotically driven flow component through the channel that modulates a pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P2 pressure differential.
Specification