Bibliographic Citation
| 7,540,469 | |
| Microelectromechanical flow control apparatus | |
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| 06/02/2009 | |
| US patent application 11/043,588 | |
| Okandan, Murat (NE Albuquerque, NM) | |
| Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM | |
| United States Department of Energy | |
| AC04-94AL85000 | |
| Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM) | |
| A microelectromechanical (MEM) flow control apparatus is disclosed which includes a fluid channel formed on a substrate from a first layer of a nonconducting material (e.g. silicon nitride). A first electrode is provided on the first layer of the nonconducting material outside the flow channel; and a second electrode is located on a second layer of the nonconducting material above the first layer. A voltage applied between the first and second electrodes deforms the fluid channel to increase its cross-sectional size and thereby increase a flow of a fluid through the channel. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the fluid flow can be decreased or stopped by applying a voltage between the first electrode and the substrate. A peristaltic pumping of the fluid through the channel is also possible when the voltage is applied in turn between a plurality of first electrodes and the substrate. A MEM flow control assembly can also be formed by providing one or more MEM flow control devices on a common substrate together with a submicron filter. The MEM flow control assembly can optionally include a plurality of pressure sensors for monitoring fluid pressure and determining flow rates through the assembly. | |
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