Flow control systems

摘要

A flow controller which uses a combination of hydrostatic pressure and electroosmotic flow to control the flow of a fluid. A driving fluid (1204) whose flow rate is dependent on both hydrostatic pressures and electroosmotic flow can be used (a) directly as a working fluid in an operable device, for example a chromatograph, or (b) to displace a working fluid (1203) from a storage container (625) into an operable device (1301), or both (a) and (b). The driving fluid (1204) can be composed of one or more fluids. Part or all the driving fluid (1204) is passed through an electroosmotic device (100) so as to increase or decrease the flow rate induced by hydrostatic pressure.

主权项

1. A method of controlling flow of a working fluid comprising:
pressuring a first fluid using a first hydrostatic component to a mixing point; pressuring the first fluid using a first electroosmotic component; controlling the rate of flow of the first fluid by adjusting a voltage at the electroosmotic component; pressuring a second fluid using a second hydrostatic component to the mixing point; pressuring the second fluid using a second electroosmotic component; controlling the rate of flow of the second fluid by adjusting a voltage at the second electroosmotic component; forming a mixture at the mixing point of at least a portion of the first fluid and at least a portion of the second fluid, the mixture forming the working fluid; passing the mixture through a common junction; and varying a fluid composition of the mixture by the steps of controlling the rate of flow of the first fluid and controlling the rate of flow of the second fluid.