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Method of driving liquid flow at or near the free surface using magnetic microparticles

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1029262

The present invention provides a method of driving liquid flow at or near a free surface using self-assembled structures composed of magnetic particles subjected to an external AC magnetic field. A plurality of magnetic particles are supported at or near a free surface of liquid by surface tension or buoyancy force. An AC magnetic field traverses the free surface and dipole-dipole interaction between particles produces in self-assembled snake structures which oscillate at the frequency of the traverse AC magnetic field. The snake structures independently move across the free surface and may merge with other snake structures or break up and coalesce into additional snake structures experiencing independent movement across the liquid surface. During this process, the snake structures produce asymmetric flow vortices across substantially the entirety of the free surface, effectuating liquid flow across the free surface.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
Patent Number(s):
8,034,245
Application Number:
12/174,781
OSTI ID:
1029262
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

Surface Wave Assisted Self-Assembly of Multidomain Magnetic Structures journal February 2006
Dynamic self-assembly of magnetic particles on the fluid interface: Surface-wave-mediated effective magnetic exchange journal April 2006

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