Fluid Valve Membrane Control Using Pneumatic-Hydraulic Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The permeability of deformable membranes used in microfluidic valves to gases leads to the formation of air bubbles when maintaining the membrane in a state by pneumatic effect, which can inject bubbles into the microfluidic network, especially during prolonged pressure applications.
Innovation Solution
A process for controlling a fluidic valve using a deformable membrane, which incorporates a hydraulic circuit and a pneumatic circuit connected via a liaison channel. The process involves filling the hydraulic circuit with an actuation liquid, applying pressure in the pneumatic circuit to push the liquid through the hydraulic circuit, and using a buffer tank and specific fluidic resistances to manage the liquid flow and prevent bubble formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pneumatic means are used to actuate the membrane, then the membrane can be deformed between positions, but air bubbles are introduced into the microfluidic network due to gas permeability
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid intermediary substance is introduced into the control channel to act as a mediator between the pneumatic actuation system and the membrane. This liquid layer prevents direct gas contact with the membrane, blocking the permeation pathway that causes bubble formation while still allowing pneumatic pressure to be transmitted through the liquid to actuate the membrane.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from direct pneumatic actuation to a hybrid pneumatic-hydraulic system. Pneumatic pressure is applied to a liquid (hydraulic medium) in the control channel, which then transmits the pressure to actuate the membrane. This conversion prevents gas contact with the membrane while maintaining effective actuation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If hydraulic control means are used to actuate the membrane, then air bubble formation is prevented, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control channel serves multiple functions: it acts as both the pneumatic control pathway and the hydraulic actuation medium container. The same channel structure that guides pneumatic pressure also holds the liquid intermediary, eliminating the need for separate hydraulic channels and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the pneumatic control function and hydraulic actuation function into a single integrated control channel structure. The pneumatic circuit and liquid intermediary share the same physical pathway, combining what could be separate systems into one unified component, thereby minimizing added complexity.
3Reliability
If high pressure is applied to maintain the membrane in position, then the membrane remains stable, but the risk of bubble injection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid intermediary in the control channel serves as a protective barrier between the high-pressure pneumatic source and the membrane. Even when high pressure is applied to maintain membrane stability, the liquid prevents gas from penetrating through the membrane, thereby maintaining position stability without increasing bubble injection risk.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents the introduction of air bubbles into the microfluidic network by using a hydraulic circuit to actuate the membrane, while the pneumatic circuit ensures efficient membrane movement, thus maintaining fluidic integrity during prolonged operations.
Implementation Method 1
Applying pressure in the pneumatic circuit inside the control channel to push the actuating liquid present in the priming channel into the actuating channel
Implementation Method 2
a membrane arranged between the inlet fluidic channel and the outlet fluidic channel, deformable between two distinct positions
Implementation Method 3
Filling the priming channel of the hydraulic circuit via its inlet using an actuating liquid
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3A~3C
Figure 4~5B
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a fluidic valve (V) of a fluidic system, the fluidic valve (V) comprising an inlet fluidic channel (11) and an outlet fluidic channel (12), and a diaphragm (13) arranged between the inlet fluidic channel and the outlet fluidic channel, deformable between two distinct positions, the fluidic system comprising a device for actuation of the diaphragm (13) between its two distinct positions, the actuation device comprising a hydraulic circuit and a pneumatic circuit, said pneumatic circuit being connected to the hydraulic circuit.