Abstract:
A fluid delivery system includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, a pair of electrodes, a porous dielectric material, an electrokinetic fluid, and a flexible member including a gel between two diaphragms. The pair of electrodes is between the first chamber and the second chamber. The porous dielectric material is between the electrodes. The electrokinetic fluid is configured to flow through the porous dielectric material between the first and second chambers when a voltage is applied across the pair of electrodes. The flexible member fluidically separates the second chamber from the third chamber and is configured to deform into the third chamber when the electrokinetic fluid flows form the first chamber into the second chamber.
Abstract:
An electrokinetic system includes a first electrokinetic pump, a second electrokinetic pump, a reservoir having delivery fluid therein, and a controller. The first electrokinetic pump is configured to provide a first range of flow rates. The second electrokinetic pump is configured to provide a second range of flow rates. The second range includes flow rates that are greater than the flow rates of the first range. The reservoir is fluidically attached to the first electrokinetic pump and the second electrokinetic pump. The controller is configured to apply voltage to one of the first or second electrokinetic pumps and then apply voltage to the other of the first or second electrokinetic pumps so as to vary the flow rate range of delivery fluid pump from the reservoir.
Abstract:
A method of controlling the output of an electrokinetic pump to deliver a target stroke volume includes applying a pump drive signal to the electrokinetic pump for a pump stroke time duration and then determining a volume of a delivery fluid pumped. Then, comparing the volume of the delivery fluid pumped to the target stroke volume; generate a new time interval for applying the pump drive signal. Then apply the pump drive signal to the electrokinetic pump for the new time interval. A system for delivery of fluid includes an electrokinetic pump under the control of an electronic controller. The electronic controller contains computer readable instructions to determine an output of the electrokinetic pump and then generate a stroke time delivery adjustment for precise pumping schemes.