Patent ID: 8088267
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: B01D,F04B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for controlled electrokinetic transport of at least one liquid medium comprising: connecting at least two volumes containing at least one liquid medium by placing at least one conduit across at least one dielectric medium with opposing dielectric surfaces in direct contact with the at least one liquid medium by establishing at least one conduit across the at least one dielectric medium, with a conduit inner surface surrounding a conduit volume and enclosing an enclosed portion of the at least one liquid medium, and at least a first opening and a second opening opposite to the first opening such that the at least one conduit is arranged to connect the at least two volumes containing the at least one liquid medium and the at least one conduit incorporates a set of at least three electrodes positioned in proximity of the inner conduit surface such that a dielectric layer separates the set of at least three electrodes from the enclosed portion of the at least one liquid medium; operatively connecting the at least three electrodes to a power supply arranged to deliver and remove an electric charge and distribute it on the each one of the at least three electrodes such that the electric charge on the each of at least three electrodes corresponds to a time-varying electric potential inside the conduit volume such that a superposition of the time-varying electric potentials represents at least one controllable traveling potential well arranged to travel between the first opening and the second opening opposite to the first opening and to transfer an average momentum in a direction to the second opening to the enclosed portion of the at least one liquid medium such that the enclosed portion of the at least one liquid medium may be controllably transported between the at least two volumes.