Electrokinetic Pump Having Capacitive Electrodes
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Abstract
An electrokinetic pump achieves high and low flow rates without producing significant gaseous byproducts and without significant evolution of the pump fluid. A first feature of the pump is that the electrodes in the pump are capacitive with a capacitance of at least 10−4 Farads/cm2. A second feature of the pump is that it is configured to maximize the potential across the porous dielectric material. The pump can have either or both features.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1-30. -30. (canceled)
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31. A method of using an electrokinetic device comprising a pair of electrodes capable of having a voltage drop therebetween and a porous dielectric material between the electrodes, wherein the electrodes are comprised of a material having a capacitance of at least 10−
- 4 Farads per square centimeter, comprising the steps of;
(a) applying a positive current to the electrodes, thereby charging the capacitance of the electrodes; and
(b) applying a negative current to the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
- 4 Farads per square centimeter, comprising the steps of;
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34. A method of pumping fluid through a porous dielectric material comprising:
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(a) applying a positive current to a pair of electrodes, wherein the electrodes sandwich the porous dielectric material and the capacitance of the electrodes is at least 10−
4 Farads/cm2; and
(b) applying a negative current to the electrodes.
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Specification