A system for producing a flow of a fluid through a passage defined in a rigid frame, wherein the passage comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the system comprising: a flexible membrane disposed across a midpoint of the passage, wherein the flexible membrane comprises a membrane electrode arrangement; an actuating system adapted to selectively actuate the flexible membrane in a manner which produces a wave-like motion in the membrane thereby causing a peristaltic movement of the fluid through the passage, wherein the actuating system comprises: an upper electrode arrangement disposed adjacent the upper portion of the passage; and a lower electrode arrangement disposed adjacent the lower portion of the passage; and characterized in that: the membrane electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of membrane electrodes extending perpendicularly with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the passage, each electrode comprising a central portion and an end portion, wherein the width of the end portion is less than or equal to a half of the width of the central portion, for example, less than or equal to a quarter of the width of the central portion; or the upper electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of upper electrodes and the lower electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of lower electrodes, said upper and lower electrodes extending perpendicularly with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the passage, wherein the plurality of upper electrodes and the plurality of lower electrodes each comprise a central portion and an end portion, wherein the width of the end portion is less than or equal to a half of the width of the central portion, for example, less than or equal to a quarter of the width of the central portion. a flexible membrane disposed across a midpoint of the passage, wherein the flexible membrane comprises a membrane electrode arrangement; an actuating system adapted to selectively actuate the flexible membrane in a manner which produces a wave-like motion in the membrane thereby causing a peristaltic movement of the fluid through the passage, wherein the actuating system comprises: an upper electrode arrangement disposed adjacent the upper portion of the passage; and a lower electrode arrangement disposed adjacent the lower portion of the passage; an upper electrode arrangement disposed adjacent the upper portion of the passage; and a lower electrode arrangement disposed adjacent the lower portion of the passage; and characterized in that: the membrane electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of membrane electrodes extending perpendicularly with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the passage, each electrode comprising a central portion and an end portion, wherein the width of the end portion is less than or equal to a half of the width of the central portion, for example, less than or equal to a quarter of the width of the central portion; or the upper electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of upper electrodes and the lower electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of lower electrodes, said upper and lower electrodes extending perpendicularly with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the passage, wherein the plurality of upper electrodes and the plurality of lower electrodes each comprise a central portion and an end portion, wherein the width of the end portion is less than or equal to a half of the width of the central portion, for example, less than or equal to a quarter of the width of the central portion. the membrane electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of membrane electrodes extending perpendicularly with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the passage, each electrode comprising a central portion and an end portion, wherein the width of the end portion is less than or equal to a half of the width of the central portion, for example, less than or equal to a quarter of the width of the central portion; or the upper electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of upper electrodes and the lower electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of lower electrodes, said upper and lower electrodes extending perpendicularly with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the passage, wherein the plurality of upper electrodes and the plurality of lower electrodes each comprise a central portion and an end portion, wherein the width of the end portion is less than or equal to a half of the width of the central portion, for example, less than or equal to a quarter of the width of the central portion.