Method for driving liquid, and method and apparatus for mixing and agitation employing the method

A method for driving an ionic conductive liquid, comprising feeding the ionic conductive liquid to a gap between a pair of electrodes, and applying a low voltage insufficient to cause electrolysis of the liquid or anodic oxidation of the electrodes between the pair of electrodes, said voltage generating both an electric field and a magnetic field around at least one of the pair of electrodes so that a strong electromagnetic force from the magnetic field sufficient to drive the ionic conductive liquid is exerted on the liquid, wherein at least one of the pair of electrodes is a needle-shaped electrode, thereby driving the ionic conductive liquid substantially parallel to a surface of said needle-shaped electrode.

A method for mixing and agitating a medium, comprising feeding the medium to an ionic conductive liquid, placing a pair of electrodes in the ionic conductive liquid, and applying a low voltage insufficient to cause electrolysis of the liquid or anodic oxidation of the electrodes between the pair of electrodes, said voltage generating both an electric field and a magnetic field around at least one of the pair of electrodes so that a strong electromagnetic force from the magnetic field sufficient to drive the ionic conductive liquid is exerted on the liquid to drive the liquid and to mix and agitate the medium, wherein at least one of the pair of electrodes is a needle-shaped electrode, thereby driving the ionic conductive liquid substantially parallel to a surface of said needle-shaped electrode.

A method for mixing and agitating a medium, comprising feeding an ionic conductive liquid and a medium to a gap between a pair of electrodes, and applying a low voltage insufficient to cause electrolysis of the liquid or anodic oxidation of the electrodes between the pair of electrodes, said voltage generating both an electric field and a magnetic field around at least one pair of electrodes so that a strong electromagnetic force from the magnetic field sufficient to drive the ionic conductive liquid is exerted on the liquid to drive the liquid and to mix and agitate the medium, wherein at least one of the pair of electrodes is a needle-shaped electrode, thereby driving the ionic conductive liquid substantially parallel to a surface of said needle-shaped electrode.

A method for driving an ionic conductive liquid, comprising placing a pair of electrodes in the ionic conductive liquid, and applying a voltage at a gap between the pair of electrodes, said voltage generating both an electric field and a magnetic field around at least one of the pair of electrodes so that a strong electromagnetic force from the magnetic field sufficient to drive the ionic conductive liquid is exerted on the liquid, wherein (i) at least one of the pair of electrodes is a needle-shaped electrode, thereby driving the ionic conductive liquid substantially parallel to a surface of said needle-shaped electrode, (ii) the voltage is an AC voltage selected such that an electric field strength of 10.sup.4 to 10.sup.6 V/m is obtained at the gap, and (iii) a liquid is used having an electric conductivity of not less than 10.sup.-5 S/cm.