Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) driven droplet mixer

• US 6,733,172 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Lee, Abraham P., Lemoff, Asuncion V., Miles, Robin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DRODGE, JOSEPH W
• Application Number:
  US10/096,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 210/512.1, 210/787, 494/37, 366/165.1, 366/165.2, 366/165.4, 366/336, 366/340, 366/341, 366/348, 417/46, 417/50, 417/53, 417/244
• US Class Current: 366/341
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2025/913 Vortex flow, i.e. flow spiraling in a tangential direction and moving in an axial direction
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3017 Mixing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3021 the components to be mixed being combined in a single independent droplet, e.g. these droplets being divided by a non-miscible fluid or consisting of independent droplets
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3032 using magneto-hydrodynamic [MHD] phenomena to mix or move the fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/304 the mixing being performed in a mixing chamber where the products are brought into contact

Abstract

A magnetohydrodynamic fluidic system mixes a first substance and a second substance. A first substrate section includes a first flow channel and a first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to the first flow channel. A second substrate section includes a second flow channel and a second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to the second flow channel. A third substrate section includes a third flow channel and a third plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to the third flow channel. A magnetic section and a control section are operatively connected to the spaced electrodes. The first substrate section, the second substrate section, the third substrate section, the first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes, the second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes, the third plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes, the magnetic section, and the control section are operated to move the first substance through the first flow channel, the second substance through the second flow channel, and both the first substance and the second substance into the third flow channel where they are mixed.

Claims

1. A magnetohydrodynamic fluidic system for mixing a first substance and a second substance comprising:

a first substrate section having a first flow channel and a first plurality of MHD pumps operatively connected to said first flow channel,

a second substrate section having a second flow channel and a second plurality of MHD pumps operatively connected to said second flow channel,

a third substrate section having a third flow channel and a third plurality of MHD pumps operatively connected to said third flow channel, wherein said first substrate section, said second substrate section, and said third substrate section are connected at an angle to each other, and with said first and second substrate sections being in a first common plane and said third substrate section being in a second plane at an angle to the first common plane

a control section,

said first substrate section, said second substrate section, said third substrate section, said first plurality of MHD pumps, said second plurality of MHD pumps, said third plurality of MHD pumps, and said control section being operatively connected to move said first substance through said first flow channel, said second substance through said second flow channel, and both said first substance and said second substance into said third flow channel where they are mixed.

2. A magnetohydrodynamic fluidic system for mixing a first sample and a second sample comprising:

first magnetohydrodynamic substrate means having a first flow channel and a first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said first flow channel for moving said first sample through said first flow channel,

second magnetohydrodynamic substrate means having a second flow channel and a second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said second flow channel for moving said second sample through said second flow channel,

third magnetohydrodynamic substrate means having a third flow channel and a third plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said third flow channel for moving both said first sample and said second sample through said third flow channel, wherein said first magnetohydrodynamic substrate means, said second magnetohydrodynamic substrate means, and said third magnetohydrodynamic substrate means are connected at an angle to each other with said first and second substrate means being in a first common plane and said third substrate means being in a second plane at an angle to the first common plane,

magnetic means operatively connected to said first magnetohydrodynamic substrate means, said second magnetohydrodynamic substrate means, and said third magnetohydrodynamic substrate means for providing a magnetohydrodynamic force to said first sample and said second sample,

control means for selectively controlling said first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes, said second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes, and said third plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes to move said first sample through said first flow channel, to move said second sample through said second flow channel, and to move both said first sample and said second sample into said third flow channel where they are mixed.

3. A magnetohydrodynamic fluidic system for mixing a first sample and a second sample comprising:

a first channel for directing a first droplet of a chemical and/or material,

a first channel for directing a second droplet of a chemical and/or material,

a mixing area operatively connected to said first channel and said second channel,

a third channel operatively connected to said mixing area, wherein said first channel, and said second channel are in a first common plane, and said third channel is in a second plane at an angle to said first common plane,

a first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said first channel for moving said first droplet along said first channel into said mixing area by creating a magnetohydrodynamic force,

a second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said second channel for moving said second droplet along said second channel into said mixing area by creating a magnetohydrodynamic force, and

a third plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said third channel for moving said mixed chemical and/or material along said third channel by creating a magnetohydrodynamic force.

4. A magnetohydrodynamic fluidic method for mixing a first sample and a second sample, comprising the steps of:

using a first magnetohydrodynamic unit with a first flow channel and a first plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said first flow channel to move said first sample through said first flow channel,

using a second magnetohydrodynamic unit with a second flow channel and a second plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively connected to said second flow channel to move said second sample through said second flow channel, and

mixing said first sample and said second sample by using said first magnetohydrodynamic unit and said second magnetohydrodynamic unit to bring said first sample and said second sample together causing the samples to be mixed, wherein said first sample and said second sample are mixed by a spiraling centrifuge.

5. A method of mixing chemicals and/or materials comprising the steps of:

providing a first chemical and/or material in a first channel,

providing a second chemical and/or material in a second channel,

providing a mixing area operatively connected to said first channel and said second channel,

providing a third channel operatively connected to said mixing area,

moving said first chemical and/or material along said first channel into said mixing area using a magnetohydrodynamic force,

moving said second chemical and/or material along said second channel into said mixing area using a magnetohydrodynamic force,

mixing said first chemical and/or material and said second chemical and/or material in said mixing area to provide a mixed chemical and/or material, wherein said first chemical and/or material and said second chemical and/or material are mixed by a spiraling centrifuge, and

moving the mixed chemical and/or material from said mixing area through said third channel using a magnetohydrodynamic force.