Additional projects / Fluids & cooling
Electromagnetic fluid pumps and valves
Electromagnets used to squeeze flexible fluid chambers and pinch thin channels closed.
Open the numbered review →Flexible-pouch pumps
Photos 406–408
Experimental microfluidic hardware using electromagnets and thin laminated sheets. I believe this arrangement explored using magnetic motion to open or close a small fluid passage, although I no longer recall its exact configuration.
Electromagnetic pump prototypes built around a flexible pouch between laminated sheets. The idea was similar to squeezing and releasing a drink pouch: magnetic attraction compressed the chamber, while repulsion helped it reopen. This provided a way to explore pumping small amounts of fluid.
Another view of the electromagnetic components used with the laminated fluid chambers. These experiments explored how magnetic force could repeatedly compress and reopen a small flexible pouch.
Laminate-channel valve
Photos 417–418
An electrically controlled valve for thin, flat channels made from laminated sheets. An electromagnet pulls a steel bar against the channel, pinching it closed to stop fluid flow.
A rear view of the electromagnetic valve shown in Photo 417, revealing more of the actuator and supporting structure.