# US 2017/0284429 A1 · Electro-fluid transducers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284429 A1 - Document ID: US20170284429A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/511,034 - Filed: 2015-09-29 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-29 - Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Applicants: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Inventors: SUBRATA ROY; NICHOLAS S. CAMPBELL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284429A1 ## CPC - F15D 1/0075: {comprising electromagnetic or electrostatic means for influencing the state of the fluid, e.g. for ionising the fluid or for generating a plasma} - B64C 23/005: {by other means not covered by groups B64C23/02 - B64C23/08, e.g. by electric charges, magnetic panels, piezoelectric elements, static charges or ultrasounds} - H05H 1/2406: {using dielectric barrier discharges, i.e. with a dielectric interposed between the electrodes} - H05H 1/2418: {the electrodes being embedded in the dielectric} - Y02T 50/10: Drag reduction - F15D: FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOW OF GASES OR LIQUIDS - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - H05H: PLASMA TECHNIQUE (apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays H05G2/00); PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The present disclosure is directed towards electro-fluid transducers that may influence the flow of a fluid in and around a channel. In one such embodiment, a system comprises a first electrode at least partially encapsulated by a first dielectric; a second electrode at least partially encapsulated by a second dielectric, wherein a portion of a channel exists between the first dielectric and the second dielectric; a third electrode positioned in the channel; and a fourth electrode positioned in the channel, wherein the electrodes influence a flow of a fluid in the channel upon the electrodes being energized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a first electrode at least partially encapsulated by a first dielectric; a second electrode at least partially encapsulated by a second dielectric, wherein a portion of a channel exists between the first dielectric and the second dielectric; a third electrode positioned in the channel; and a fourth electrode positioned in the channel; wherein the electrodes influence a flow of a fluid in the channel upon the electrodes being energized. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first electric potential at the third electrode is higher than a second electric potential at the fourth electrode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first electric potential at the third electrode is lower than a second electric potential at the fourth electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first electric potential at the third electrode and a second electric potential at the fourth electrode are higher than a third electric potential at the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first electric potential at the third electrode and a second electric potential at the fourth electrode are lower than a third electric potential at the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a port is formed in a wall for the channel, and wherein the electrodes further influence an additional flow of the fluid through the port. ### Claim 7 A method comprising: energizing a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode to influence a flow of a fluid in a channel; wherein a portion of the channel is located between the first electrode and the second electrode; and wherein the third electrode and the fourth electrode are located in the channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein energizing the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode comprises: establishing a first electric potential at the third electrode; and establishing a second electric potential at the fourth electrode, wherein the second electric potential is lower than the first electric potential. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein energizing the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode comprises: establishing a first electric potential at the third electrode; and establishing a second electric potential at the fourth electrode, wherein the second electric potential is higher than the first electric potential. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein energizing the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode comprises: establishing a first electric potential at the third electrode and the fourth electrode; and establishing a second electric potential at the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first electric potential is higher than the second electric potential. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein energizing the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode comprises: establishing a first electric potential at the third electrode and the fourth electrode; and establishing a second electric potential at the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first electric potential is lower than the second electric potential. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein: a port is formed in a wall for the channel; and the electrodes further influence an additional flow of the fluid through the port. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, or the fourth electrode is energized using a time varying voltage source. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: a first electrode and a second electrode associated with a first side of a channel; a third electrode and a fourth electrode associated with a second side of the channel; and a fifth electrode positioned in the channel; wherein the electrodes influence a flow of a fluid in the channel upon the electrodes being energized. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein: the first electrode and the second electrode are at least partially encapsulated by a first dielectric; and the third electrode and the fourth electrode are at least partially encapsulated by a second dielectric. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein a port is formed in the first side, and wherein the electrodes further influence an additional flow of the fluid through the port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein a first electric potential at the first electrode and the third electrode is higher than a second electric potential at the second electrode and the fourth electrode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein a first electric potential at the first electrode and the third electrode is lower than a second electric potential at the second electrode and the fourth electrode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein a first electric potential at the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode is higher than a second electric potential at the fifth electrode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein a first electric potential at the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode is lower than a second electric potential at the fifth electrode.