Methods and apparatus for evaporation based liquid transport
AssigneeVirginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
InventorsJiangtao CHENG, Xukun HE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure provides an apparatus, including a first plate having a first transport surface and a second plate having a second transport surface. The second plate is positioned at an acute angle with respect to the first plate such that a first transport surface of the first plate faces the second transport surface of the second plate. The first transport surface and the second transport surface are hydrophobic. The apparatus also includes one or more liquid droplets positioned between and in contact with the first transport surface and the second transport surface. During evaporation, the liquid droplet will automatically move towards the cusp of the first plate and the second plate.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first plate having a first transport surface;
- a second plate having a second transport surface, the second plate positioned at an acute angle with respect to the first plate such that a first transport surface of the first plate faces the second transport surface of the second plate, wherein the first transport surface and the second transport surface are hydrophobic;
- and
- one or more liquid droplets positioned between and in contact with the first transport surface and the second transport surface.
A method for evaporation-based transport of fluid, comprising:
- positioning a liquid droplet at a first end of a transport apparatus, the transport apparatus comprising:
- a first plate extending between the first end and a second end of the transport apparatus, and
- a second plate positioned at an angle with the first plate, the second plate extending between the first end and the second end of the transport apparatus, the liquid droplet positioned between the first plate and the second plate nearer to the first end of the transport apparatus;
- and
- providing conditions for inducing evaporation in the liquid droplet, causing the liquid droplet to move from the first end towards the second end of the transport apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.