Electroactive polymer devices for controlling fluid flow
First Claim
1. A fluid flow device, comprising:
- an electroactive polymer transducer comprising at least one compliant electrode and an electroactive polymer in electrical communication with the at least one compliant electrode and having an elastic modulus below about 100 MPa, wherein a portion of the electroactive polymer is arranged to deflect from a first position to a second position in response to a change in electric field applied to the at least one compliant electrode; and
at least one device surface in contact with a fluid and operatively coupled to the electroactive polymer transducer, wherein the deflection of the portion of the electroactive polymer causes a change in a characteristic of the fluid that is transmitted to the fluid via the one surface.
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Abstract
The invention describes devices for controlling fluid flow, such as valves. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to change a characteristic of the fluid. Some of the characteristic of the fluid that may be changed include but are not limited to 1) a flow rate, 2) a flow direction, 3) a flow vorticity, 4) a flow momentum, 5) a flow mixing rate, 6) a flow turbulence rate, 7) a flow energy, 8) a flow thermodynamic property. The electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure that is immersed in an external fluid flow, such as the surface of an airplane wing or the electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure used in an internal flow, such as a bounding surface of a fluid conduit.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A fluid flow device, comprising:
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an electroactive polymer transducer comprising at least one compliant electrode and an electroactive polymer in electrical communication with the at least one compliant electrode and having an elastic modulus below about 100 MPa, wherein a portion of the electroactive polymer is arranged to deflect from a first position to a second position in response to a change in electric field applied to the at least one compliant electrode; and at least one device surface in contact with a fluid and operatively coupled to the electroactive polymer transducer, wherein the deflection of the portion of the electroactive polymer causes a change in a characteristic of the fluid that is transmitted to the fluid via the one surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification