Fluid-pressure regulator and related methods and systems

摘要

A fluid-pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of a fluid. The regulator includes a variable-resistance fluid element and a variable-volume fluid element located downstream of the variable-resistance element. Pressure in the fluid at the outlet of the regulator is controlled by substantially simultaneously changing the resistance of the variable-resistance element and the volume of the variable-volume element. In one example, a decrease in pressure is effected at the outlet by simultaneously increasing the resistance of the variable-resistance element and increasing the volume of the variable-volume element. Some embodiments of the regulator are particularly useful to effect long-term and high-speed pressure changes in high-resistance fluidic channel networks.

主权项

1. A method of controllably modulating pressure of a fluid at an inlet to a fluidic network or fluidic device using a variable-resistance variable-volume (VRVV) fluid-pressure regulator located upstream of the inlet of the fluidic network, wherein the VRVV fluid-pressure regulator includes a fluid path, a variable resistor located in the fluid path, and a variable-volume reservoir structure that includes a variable-volume reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid path downstream of the variable resistor and having a volume, the method comprising:
receiving, at a controller, a signal from a pressure sensor downstream of the variable-volume reservoir; and executing, by the controller, a pressure control algorithm designed and configured to generate, as a function of the signal, at least one control signal designed and configured for modulating pressure of the fluid at the inlet of the fluidic network or fluidic device by:
controlling the variable resistor to controllably change in a determined direction, either increasing or decreasing, resistance to flow of the fluid through the variable resistor along the flow path; andcontrolling the variable-volume reservoir structure to controllably change in the determined direction the volume of the variable-volume reservoir structure simultaneously with changing the resistance of the variable resistor.