Electroosmotic flow controller
First Claim
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1. A flow controller, comprising:
- (a) a channel having (i) a fluid inlet in liquid communication with a fluid source at pressure P1, (ii) a fluid outlet at pressure P2, wherein P2<
P1, and (iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in said channel;
(b) a fluid contained within said channel;
(c) spaced electrodes in electrical communication with said fluid;
(d) a power supply in electrical communication with said electrodes for applying an electric potential to said spaced electrodes; and
(e) a first flow element having a first flow element inlet in liquid communication at a first node at pressure PN with said fluid inlet and said fluid source, wherein P2<
PN, and a first flow element outlet at pressure P3;
whereby said electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through said channel that modulates a pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P2 pressure differential; and
whereby the electroosmotically driven flow component affects the proportion of fluid flowing through said channel and said first flow element.
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Abstract
Electroosmotic flow controllers and methods of fluid flow control are described. The invention uses an electroosmotically generated flow component in conjunction with a pressure driven flow component to modulate fluid flow. The devices and methods of the invention may include salt bridges for making electrical connection between a power supply and a channel filled with a porous dielectric material and a fluid. Embodiments including flow controllers and flow splitters are described as is their use in a variety of fluid handling applications.
97 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A flow controller, comprising:
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(a) a channel having (i) a fluid inlet in liquid communication with a fluid source at pressure P1, (ii) a fluid outlet at pressure P2, wherein P2<
P1, and(iii) a porous dielectric material disposed in said channel;
(b) a fluid contained within said channel;
(c) spaced electrodes in electrical communication with said fluid;
(d) a power supply in electrical communication with said electrodes for applying an electric potential to said spaced electrodes; and
(e) a first flow element having a first flow element inlet in liquid communication at a first node at pressure PN with said fluid inlet and said fluid source, wherein P2<
PN, and a first flow element outlet at pressure P3;
whereby said electric potential generates an electroosmotically-driven flow component through said channel that modulates a pressure-driven flow component resulting from the P1−
P2 pressure differential; and
whereby the electroosmotically driven flow component affects the proportion of fluid flowing through said channel and said first flow element. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 2. (canceled)
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24-40. -40. (canceled)
Specification