Electrical Energy Generation in Fluidic Channels and Membranes Using Spontaneous Capillary Flow
AssigneeUniversity of Wyoming
InventorDebashis DUTTA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are systems and methods for the generation of electric current and/or electric potential utilizing micro- or nano-channels and capillary flow, including fluidic or microfluidic batteries and electrochemical cells. The provided systems and methods use capillary force to promote fluid flow through micro- and nano-fluidic channels by evaporating fluid at one terminus of the channel, and the resulting fluid flow generates electric potential and or current. Advantageously, the described systems and methods remove the need for pressurized vessels or external pumps, increasing net energy generation and decreasing complexity and size of potential fluidic batteries.
Claims30
A microfluidic electrochemical system comprising:
- a fluid inlet for introduction of an aqueous solvent;
- a microfluidic channel in fluid communication with said fluid inlet;
- wherein said microfluidic channel has charged walls;
- and
- wherein said microfluidic channel has an average length of greater than or equal to 1 μm and an effective cross sectional diameter of less than or equal to 10 μm;
- and
- an evaporation chamber in fluid communication with said microfluidic channel;
- wherein evaporation of said solvent in said evaporation chamber drives flow of said solvent through said microfluidic channel due to capillary force thereby generating an electrical current flowing through said solvent in the direction of said microfluidic channel.
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7-9. (canceled)
15-16. (canceled)
21-22. (canceled)
A microfluidic electrochemical system comprising:
- a microfluidic channel array comprising:
- a plurality of fluid inlets for introduction of an aqueous solvent;
- a plurality of microfluidic channels each in fluid communication with one of said fluid inlets;
- wherein each of said microfluidic channels has charged walls;
- and
- wherein each of said microfluidic channels has an average length of greater than or equal to 1 μm and an effective cross sectional diameter of less than or equal to 10 μm;
- an evaporation chamber in fluid communication with said microfluidic channels;
- a first electrode proximate to said fluid inlets and in electrical communication with said microfluidic channels;
- and
- a second electrode proximate to said evaporation chamber and in electrical communication with said microfluidic channels;
- wherein evaporation of said solvent in said evaporation chamber drives flow of said solvent through said microfluidic channels due to capillary force thereby generating an electrical current flowing through said solvent in the direction of said microfluidic channel.
27-28. (canceled)
A microfluidic electrochemical system comprising:
- a fluid inlet for introduction of an aqueous solvent;
- a microfluidic channel array comprising:
- a plurality of fluid inlets for introduction of an aqueous solvent;
- a plurality of microfluidic channels each in fluid communication with said fluid inlet;
- wherein each of said microfluidic channels has charged walls;
- and
- wherein each of said microfluidic channels has an average length of greater than or equal to 1 μm and an effective cross sectional diameter of less than or equal to 10 μm;
- wherein said microfluidic channel array is configured to provide a gradient along an axial length of said plurality of microfluidic channels;
- a charged membrane in fluid communication with said microfluidic channel array;
- an evaporation chamber in fluid communication with said microfluidic channel;
- wherein evaporation of said solvent in said evaporation chamber drives flow of said solvent through said microfluidic channel due to capillary force thereby generating an electrical current flowing through said solvent in the direction of said microfluidic channel.
A microfluidic electrochemical system comprising:
- a fluid inlet for introduction of an aqueous solvent;
- a charged membrane supported by a substrate and in fluid communication with said fluid inlet;
- wherein said substrate is configured to provide a gradient along a flow path of said charged membrane;
- an evaporation chamber in fluid communication with said charged membrane;
- wherein evaporation of said solvent in said evaporation chamber drives flow of said solvent charged membrane along said flow path due to capillary force thereby generating an electrical current flowing through said solvent in the direction of said flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.