Micromachined magnetohydrodynamic actuators and sensors

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:873369

Lee, Abraham P ^[1]; Lemoff, Asuncion V ^[2]

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1. Walnut Creek, CA
2. Union City, CA

A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) micropump and microsensor which utilizes micromachining to integrate the electrodes with microchannels and includes a magnet for producing magnetic fields perpendicular to both the electrical current direction and the fluid flow direction. The magnet can also be micromachined and integrated with the micropump using existing technology. The MHD micropump, for example, can generate continuous, reversible flow, with readily controllable flow rates. The flow can be reversed by either reversing the electrical current flow or reversing the magnetic field. By mismatching the electrodes, a swirling vortex flow can be generated for potential mixing applications. No moving parts are necessary and the dead volume is minimal. The micropumps can be placed at any position in a fluidic circuit and a combination of micropumps can generate fluidic plugs and valves.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6146103
• OSTI ID: 873369
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

micromachined
magnetohydrodynamic
actuators
sensors
mhd
micropump
microsensor
utilizes
micromachining
integrate
electrodes
microchannels
magnet
producing
magnetic
fields
perpendicular
electrical
current
direction
fluid
flow
integrated
existing
technology
example
generate
continuous
reversible
readily
controllable
rates
reversed
reversing
field
mismatching
swirling
vortex
generated
potential
mixing
applications
moving
dead
volume
minimal
micropumps
placed
position
fluidic
circuit
combination
plugs
valves
dead volume
flow direction
flow rates
magnetic field
flow rate
magnetic fields
fluid flow
current flow
electrical current
vortex flow
producing magnetic
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