Continuous laminar fluid mixing in micro-electromechanical systems
First Claim
1. A method of continuous laminar fluid mixing in a micro-electromechanical system that includes a first channel, a second channel and a third channel coupled to the first channel and the second channel, the method comprising:
- producing first pulses in a first fluid carried by the first channel;
creating second pulses in a second fluid carried by the second channel;
merging the first fluid and the second fluid in the third channel as the first and second fluids travel through the third channel to an exit of the third channel so as to continuously form a third fluid, wherein the first pulses and the second pulses distort an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid to facilitate diffusion across the interface.
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Abstract
A micro-electromechanical system and method for continuous laminar fluid mixing. An embodiment of the invention described in the specification includes a mixing channel, a first delivery channel that is connected to the mixing channel, and a second delivery channel that is connected to the mixing channel. A first pump mechanism produces pulses in the first delivery channel. A second pump mechanism produces pulses in the second delivery channel. The first pulsed fluid stream and the second pulsed fluid stream merge in the mixing channel to form a mixed fluid. The pulses in the fluids operate to distort the interface between the fluids to facilitate diffusion between the fluids.
196 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of continuous laminar fluid mixing in a micro-electromechanical system that includes a first channel, a second channel and a third channel coupled to the first channel and the second channel, the method comprising:
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producing first pulses in a first fluid carried by the first channel;
creating second pulses in a second fluid carried by the second channel;
merging the first fluid and the second fluid in the third channel as the first and second fluids travel through the third channel to an exit of the third channel so as to continuously form a third fluid, wherein the first pulses and the second pulses distort an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid to facilitate diffusion across the interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A micro-electromechanical system, comprising:
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a first channel configured to carry a first stream of fluid;
a mechanism configured to create pulses in the first stream of fluid;
a second channel configured to carry a second stream of fluid; and
a third channel coupled to the first channel and the second channel to receive the first stream and the second stream, wherein the first stream and the second stream mix in the third channel as the first and second streams travel through the third channel to an exit of the third channel so as to continuously form a third stream of fluid, and wherein the pulses in the first stream facilitates diffusion between the first stream and the second stream. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
a pump configured to push fluid into the third channel; and
a valve positioned between the pump and the third channel and configured to permit fluid flow into the third channel when the valve is open and prevent fluid flow out of the third channel when the valve is closed.
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7. The system of claim 6, wherein the valve comprises a free-standing check valve.
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8. The system of claim 6, wherein the valve comprises a powered check valve.
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9. The system of claim 6, wherein the pump comprises a bubble chamber configured to create bubbles thermally to push fluid into the third channel.
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10. The system of claim 6, wherein the pump comprises a bubble chamber configured to create bubbles electrolytically to push fluid into the third channel.
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11. A micro-electromechanical system, comprising:
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a first channel configured to carry a first stream of fluid;
a first mechanism configured to create first pulses in the first stream of fluid;
a second channel configured to carry a second stream of fluid;
a second mechanism configured to create second pulses in the second stream of fluid; and
a third channel coupled to the first channel and the second channel to receive the first stream and the second stream, wherein the first stream and the second stream mix in the third channel as the first and second streams travel through the third channel to an exit of the third channel so as to continuously form a third stream of fluid, and wherein the first pulses and the second pulses distort an interface between the first stream and the second stream to facilitate diffusion between the first stream and the second stream. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
a first pump configured to push the first stream of fluid into the third channel; and
a first valve positioned between the first pump and the third channel and configured to permit fluid flow across the first valve into the third channel when the first valve is open and prevent fluid flow across the first valve when the first valve is closed.
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13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second mechanism comprises:
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a second pump configured to push the second stream of fluid into the third channel; and
a second valve positioned between the second pump and the third channel and configured to operate synchronously with the first valve to permit fluid flow across the second valve when the first valve is closed and prevent fluid flow across the second valve when the first valve is open.
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14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first valve and the second valve comprise a free-standing check valve.
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15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first pump and the second pump comprise a bubble chamber configured to create bubbles thermally to push fluid into the third channel.
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16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first pump and the second pump comprise a bubble chamber configured to create bubbles electrolytically to push fluid into the third channel.
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17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism operate to vary duty cycles of the first pulses and the second pulses.
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18. The system of claim 11, wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism operate to vary a phase difference between the first pulses and the second pulses.
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19. A micro-electromechanical system, comprising:
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a first channel configured to carry the first fluid;
a first mechanism configured to create first pulses in the first fluid;
a second channel configured to carry a second fluid;
a second mechanism configured to create second pulses in the second fluid; and
a third channel coupled to the first channel and the second channel, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid mix in the third channel to form a mixed fluid as the first and second fluids travel through the third channel to an exit of the third channel so as to continuously form the mixed fluid, and wherein the first pulses and the second pulses distort an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid to facilitate diffusion between the first fluid and the second fluid. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
a first pump configured to push the first stream of fluid into the third channel; and
a first valve positioned between the first pump and the third channel and configured to alternately open and close to permit fluid flow across the first valve into the third channel when the first valve is open and prevent fluid flow across the first valve when the first valve is closed.
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21. The system of claim 20, wherein the second mechanism comprises:
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a second pump configured to push the second stream of fluid into the third channel; and
a second valve positioned between the second pump and the third channel and configured to operate synchronously with the first valve to alternately close and open to permit fluid flow across the second valve when the first valve is closed and prevent fluid flow across the second valve when the first valve is open.
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22. The system of claim 21, wherein the first valve and the second valve comprise a free-standing check valve.
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23. The system of claim 21, wherein the first pump and the second pump comprise a bubble chamber configured to create bubbles thermally to push fluid into the third channel.
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24. The system of claim 21, wherein the first pump and the second pump comprise a bubble chamber configured to create bubbles electrolytically to push fluid into the third channel.
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25. The system of claim 21, wherein the first pump and the second pump operate to vary a flow rate of the mixed fluid.
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26. The system of claim 21, wherein the first pump and the second pump operate to vary a ratio of the first fluid and the second fluid in the mixed fluid.
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27. In a micro-electromechanical system, a mechanism for performing continuous laminar fluid mixing, comprising:
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means for producing first pulses in a first stream of fluid;
means for creating second pulses in a second stream of fluid; and
means for merging the first stream and the second stream as the first and second streams travel through the third channel to an exit of the third channel so as to continuously form a third stream of fluid, wherein the first pulses and the second pulses distort an interface between the first stream and the second stream to facilitate diffusion across the interface. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification