Control of electrolysis gases in electroosmotic pump systems
First Claim
1. An electroosmotic pump system that pumps a fluid having a liquid phase through a closed loop upon application of an electric field, comprising:
- a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
an anode disposed within an anode chamber portion;
a cathode disposed within a cathode chamber portion;
a structure that provides electroosmotic pumping upon application of the electric field between the anode and cathode, the structure creating a partition in the fluid chamber between the anode chamber portion and the cathode chamber portion; and
a gas permeable membrane to vent electrolytic gases generated within the fluid chamber, the gas permeable membrane disposed in a wall of the fluid chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods according to the present invention preferably utilize electroosmotic pumps that are capable of generating high pressure and flow without moving mechanical parts and the associated generation of unacceptable electrical and acoustic noise, as well as the associated reduction in reliability. These electroosmotic pumps are preferably fabricated with materials and structures that improve performance, efficiency, and reduce weight and manufacturing cost relative to presently available micropumps. These electroosmotic pumps also preferably allow for control including venting or recapture of evolved gases and deposited materials, which may provide for long-term closed-loop operation. A gas permeable membrane removes and vents electrolytic gasses generated within the fluid chamber of the electroosmotic pump to ambient. A catalyst can be used to recombine electrolytic gases to form a vapor product that can be vented or condensed into a liquid state. An osmotic membrane provides for re-entry of condensed fluid to the fluid chamber.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. An electroosmotic pump system that pumps a fluid having a liquid phase through a closed loop upon application of an electric field, comprising:
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a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
an anode disposed within an anode chamber portion;
a cathode disposed within a cathode chamber portion;
a structure that provides electroosmotic pumping upon application of the electric field between the anode and cathode, the structure creating a partition in the fluid chamber between the anode chamber portion and the cathode chamber portion; and
a gas permeable membrane to vent electrolytic gases generated within the fluid chamber, the gas permeable membrane disposed in a wall of the fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A sealed electroosmotic pump system that pumps a fluid having a liquid phase through a closed loop upon application of an electric field, comprising:
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a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
an anode disposed within an anode chamber portion;
a cathode disposed within a cathode chamber portion;
a structure that provides electroosmotic pumping upon application of the electric field between the anode and cathode, the structure creating a partition in the fluid chamber between the anode chamber portion and the cathode chamber portion;
a gas permeable membrane to remove electrolytic gases generated within the fluid chamber, the gas permeable membrane disposed in a wall of the fluid chamber; and
an osmotic membrane disposed in a wall of the fluid chamber to transport fluid in liquid phase back into the fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An electroosmotic pump system that pumps a working fluid having a liquid phase through a closed loop upon application of an electric field, comprising:
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a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a pumping structure rigidly fixed within the fluid chamber and partitioning the fluid chamber into two sides, the pumping structure providing electroosmotic pumping upon application of the electric field;
a pair of electrodes with one electrode disposed in each side of the fluid chamber, the electrodes providing the electric field across the pumping structure;
a gas permeable membrane disposed in a wall of the fluid chamber and providing for venting of electrolytic gases generated within the fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A sealed electroosmotic pump system that pumps a working fluid having a liquid phase through a closed loop upon application of an electric field, comprising:
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a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a pumping structure rigidly fixed within the fluid chamber and partitioning the fluid chamber into two sides, the pumping structure providing electroosmotic pumping upon application of the electric field;
a pair of electrodes with one electrode disposed in each side of the fluid chamber, the electrodes providing the electric field across the pumping structure;
a gas permeable membrane disposed in a wall of the fluid chamber and providing for removal of electrolytic gases generated within the fluid chamber; and
an osmotic membrane disposed in a wall of the fluid chamber to transport fluid in liquid phase back into the fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method for controlling electrolysis gases generated in a closed-loop electroosmotic pump system that pumps fluid having a liquid phase through a fluid chamber from an inlet to an outlet, the fluid chamber having a pumping structure that partitions the fluid chamber into separate portions, and a plurality of gas permeable membranes, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying an electric field between a pair of electrodes disposed in the separate portions of the fluid chamber;
drawing the fluid in liquid phase through the pumping structure from an inlet region to an outlet region of the fluid chamber upon application of the electric field between the pair of electrodes; and
venting electrolysis gases that are generated within the separate portions of the fluid chamber through a first gas permeable membrane disposed in a wall of the fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A method for controlling electrolysis gases generated in a sealed closed-loop electroosmotic pump system that pumps fluid having a liquid phase through a fluid chamber from an inlet to an outlet, the fluid chamber having a pumping structure that partitions the fluid chamber into separate portions, and a plurality of gas permeable membranes and an osmotic membrane, the electroosmotic pump system having a catalyst and an additional gas permeable membrane disposed in a secondary loop adjacent the fluid chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying an electric field between a pair of electrodes disposed in the separate portions of the fluid chamber;
drawing the fluid in liquid phase through the pumping structure from an inlet region to an outlet region of the fluid chamber upon application of the electric field between the pair of electrodes; and
removing electrolysis gases that are generated within the separate portions of the fluid chamber through a first gas permeable membrane disposed in a wall of the fluid chamber;
recombining the electrolysis gases in the catalyst to form a vapor product;
condensing the vapor product to fluid in liquid phase; and
pumping the fluid in liquid phase through the osmotic membrane to the inlet region of the fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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Specification