Open AccessElectrokinetic pumps and actuators
Author(s) -
Phillip M. Paul
Publication year - 2000
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/755099
Subject(s) - electrokinetic phenomena , microfluidics , volumetric flow rate , actuator , materials science , flow (mathematics) , porous medium , porosity , nanotechnology , mechanics , electrical engineering , engineering , physics , composite material
Flow and ionic transport in porous media are central to electrokinetic pumping as well as to a host of other microfluidic devices. Electrokinetic pumping provides the ability to create high pressures (to over 10,000 psi) and high flow rates (over 1 mL/min) with a device having no moving parts and all liquid seals. The electrokinetic pump (EKP) is ideally suited for applications ranging from a high pressure integrated pump for chip-scale HPLC to a high flow rate integrated pump for forced liquid convection cooling of high-power electronics. Relations for flow rate and current fluxes in porous media are derived that provide a basis for analysis of complex microfluidic systems as well as for optimization of electrokinetic pumps