Colloidal flow-gate
AssigneeTechnion Research & Development Foundation Limited
InventorsMais Khaskia, Ofer Manor, Oz M. Gazit
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a flow-gate design that utilizes chemo-responsive colloidal particles to control the flow rate therethrough. The flow-gate operates by changing the compactness of the colloidal particles, which changes in response to changes in pH or ionic strength in the flow medium or the surrounding environment. The design also allows the flow-gate as a size-discriminating filter. The ability to control the flow rate in response to changes in the flow medium or the environment makes the presently provided flow-gate useful for a variety of applications, including those that require automatic control of the flow rate, and automatic irrigation.
Claims15
A flow system comprising at least one flow-gate, wherein:
- said flow-gate comprises at least one flow-chamber, and a colloid of chemo-responsive colloidal particles contained in said flow-chamber;
- said chemo-responsive colloidal particles are characterized by having a Brucite-like structure, and by forming fluid-impermeable aggregates in response to a change in a concentration of at least one solute in said colloid;
- said chemo-responsive colloidal particles comprises ionic-responsive colloidal particles, and
- the system is configured to allow a flow of a fluid exhibiting at least an ionic strength at which aggregates of said ionic-responsive colloidal particles disassemble.
A flow system comprising at least one flow-gate, wherein:
- said at least one flow-gate comprises at least one flow-chamber, and a colloid of chemo-responsive colloidal particles contained in said flow-chamber;
- said chemo-responsive colloidal particles are characterized by having a Brucite-like structure, and by forming fluid-impermeable aggregates in response to a change in a concentration of at least one solute in said colloid;
- said flow-chamber further comprises a semi-permeable opening in communication with said colloid and with an aqueous medium in an environment outside the flow-gate;
- said semi-permeable opening is impervious to said chemo-responsive colloidal particles and permeable to at least one solute in said aqueous medium;
- said chemo-responsive colloidal particles comprises ionic-responsive colloidal particles;
- the system is configured to allow a flow therethrough upon a change in an ionic strength level in said aqueous medium in said environment;
- and
- said ionic strength level in said aqueous medium is at least an ionic strength at which aggregates of said ionic-responsive colloidal particles disassemble.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.