Abstract: A submersible pump assembly may be radially oriented for pumping well fluid in a deviated or horizontal well. The submersible pump assembly has an instrument housing having a longitudinal axis and incorporated onto the pump assembly. An electrical contact is mounted within the housing and an electrical contact probe, moveable relative to the housing and biased upwards toward an upper side of the housing when the pump assembly is inclined, is provided. The housing and the electrical contact are rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the electrical contact probe, such that an electrical circuit is completed when the electrical contact is rotated into engagement with the electrical contact probe, generating a signal from the completed electrical circuit. The electrical contact is at a known circumferential position relative to the fixed reference point, which may be the intake port of the pump.

Abstract: An ion pump having emissions containment. The ion pump includes an anode constructed from a plurality of tubes and a cathode constructed from plates positioned on opposite sides of the anode and positioned apart from the anode. The anode and cathode are positioned within a gastight housing having a gas inlet. A blocking shield assembly is provided within the line of sight between the gas inlet and the cathode. The blocking shield assembly is also provided within the line of sight between the gas inlet and any surface within the ion pump that itself is within the line of sight of the cathode. The blocking shield assembly prevents photons and neutral particles from being emitted from the ion pump.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an ion pump system etc. having a high air-exhausting capacity and vacuum-maintaining capacity and capable of adjusting drive modes suitable for the uses thereof The subject problem is solved by an ion pump system (7) comprising a casing (1), a first electrode group (2a,2b) provided in the casing (1), a second electrode group (3a,3b) provided on the outer periphery of the first electrode group (2a,2b), and outer magnets (4) for providing a magnetic field in the casing, wherein the first electrode group (2a,2b) and the second electrode group (3a,3b) are constituted as a plurality of layers alternately disposed around the center axis (11) of the casing (1).

Abstract: A method and device are provided for manipulating high-speed flows without moving aerodynamic structures. More particularly, a flow control actuator device is provided that is capable of producing a pulsating synthetic jet with high exhaust velocities for manipulating high-speed flows without moving aerodynamic structures. The high exhaust velocities of the actuator device may reach sonic levels of Mach 1 or greater. In one embodiment, the device may be constructed as an array of devices. In such an embodiment, each individual device is preferably reduced to a very small size. In such an embodiment, each individual device can then be fired in temporal patterns to create high-speed synthetic jets of air extending above the surface of the each device.

Abstract: A sputter ion pump includes one vacuum chamber, two parallel anode poles and one cold cathode electron emitter. The vacuum chamber includes at least one aperture located in an outer wall thereof. The two parallel anode poles are positioned in the vacuum chamber and arranged in a symmetrical configuration about a center axis of the vacuum chamber. The cold cathode electron emission device is located on or proximate the outer wall of the vacuum chamber and faces a corresponding aperture. The cold cathode electron emission device is thus configured for injecting electrons through the corresponding aperture and into the vacuum chamber. The sputter ion pump produces a saddle-shaped electrostatic field and is free of a magnetic field. The sputter ion pump has a simplified structure and a low power consumption.

Abstract: A micropump including one or more microchannels for receiving a fluid and a plurality of electrodes arranged on a diaphragm and energized in a manner to provide an enhanced electrohydrodynamic flow of fluid through the one or more microchannels. The micropump may be used for pumping a working fluid for removing heat from a heat-generating electronic component or for delivery of a drug, medicine, or other treatment agent as or in a fluid to a patient.

Abstract: Water flooding at the cathode of a fuel cell is a common problem in fuel cells. By integrating an electroosmotic (EO) pump to remove product water from the cathode area, fuel cell power can be increased. Integration of EO pumps transforms the designs of air channel and air breathing cathodes, reducing air pumping power loads and increasing oxidant transport. Hydration of gas streams, management of liquid reactants, and oxidant delivery can also be accomplished with integrated electroosmotic pumps. Electroosmotic pumps have no moving parts, can be integrated as a layer of the fuel cell, and scale with centimeter to micron scale fuel cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charged particle beam system which can perform evacuation on an electron gun chamber or an ion-gun chamber having a non-evaporable getter pump in a short time and can maintain the ultra-high vacuum for a long time, and a technology of evacuation therefor.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method may include installing a first seal around a motor shaft. The method may also include installing a second seal around the motor shaft, wherein the second seal and the first seal may form a hydrodynamic seal when the motor shaft rotates. The method may further include installing a spacer in-between the second seal and the first seal.

Abstract: Devices with lateral flow elements and integral fluidics are disclosed. The integral fluidics consist of injector pumps comprised of fluidic elements under instrument control. The fluidic element of an injector pump is fluidically connected to lateral flow elements and can be used to control fluid entry into containment chambers referred to as micro-reactors. The lateral flow elements comprise conductor elements that can be used for sample application and transport of analyte contained in the sample to the micro-reactor. Fluidic transport through the fluidic element of the injector pump is under instrument-control. Both the lateral flow element and the fluidic element may contain chemical entities incorporated along their length. The chemical reactions that can be used for analyte detection using the devices are described. Also described are methods of manufacture of these devices.

Abstract: An electroosmotic (EO) pump is provided that includes a housing having a pump cavity, a porous core medium and electrodes. The porous core medium is positioned within the pump cavity to form an exterior reservoir that extends at least partially about an exterior surface of the porous core medium. The porous core medium has an open inner chamber provided therein. The inner chamber represents an interior reservoir. The electrodes are positioned in the inner chamber and are positioned proximate the exterior surface. The electrodes induce flow of a fluid through the porous core medium between the interior and exterior reservoirs, wherein a gas is generated when the electrodes induce flow of the fluid. The housing has a fluid inlet to convey the fluid to one of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a fluid outlet to discharge the fluid from another of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a gas removal device to remove the gas from the pump cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for pumping a gas. The method includes the steps of ionizing the gas, separating the ionized gas into groups of positive and negative ions using positive and negative electric fields and separately pulling the groups of positive and negative ions along a channel using the negative and positive electric fields.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cooling systems, and in particular to cooling systems providing forced convective gaseous flow for dissipating heat off of light-emitting diodes (LED). According to one aspect, a cooling system employs a heat sink in combination with an EHD pumping mechanism such as corona wind or micro-scale corona wind or by a temporally controlled ion-generation technique. For LEDs a channel-array structure can be employed to embody the heat sink. The EHD pumps are located at the inlet or outlet of the heat sink channels. Many advantages are achieved by the cooling system of the invention, including that the entire system can have similar or better performance than a conventional heat sink and fan system but with one-tenth the volume and weight and can operate silently. The present invention also relates to a method of fabricating a micro-channel heat sink employing EHD gas flow for use in LED cooling.

Abstract: An electrohydrodynamic micropump having at least one pumping passage for pumping a liquid, wherein there is at least one electrode device for generating an electrical alternating field and at least one device for producing a temperature gradient in the liquid to be pumped, which is arranged in and/or on the at least one pumping passage.

Abstract: A refrigeration system defines a closed loop that contains a working fluid, at least part of the working fluid being circulated through the closed loop. The refrigeration system includes a first heat transfer device that transfers heat from the first heat reservoir to the working fluid, a second heat transfer device that transfers heat from the working fluid to the second heat reservoir, and an electrochemical compressor between the first and second heat transfer devices. The electrochemical compressor includes one or more electrochemical cells electrically connected to each other through a power supply, each electrochemical cell including a gas pervious anode, a gas pervious cathode, and an electrolytic membrane disposed between and in intimate electrical contact with the cathode and the anode.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for rapidly producing an emulsion and microcapsules in a simple manner, a dispersion phase is ejected from a dispersion phase-feeding port toward a continuous phase flowing in a microchannel in such a manner that flows of the dispersion phase and the continuous phase cross each other, thereby obtaining microdroplets, formed by a shear force of the continuous phase, having a size smaller than the width of the channel for feeding the dispersion phase.

Abstract: A vacuum pump stand (1) for generating and regulating the vacuum intended for a rotary vaporizer, including a control device having a control connection to a control unit (4) having at least one control element (3, 6). In the pump stand (1), the control unit (4) is designed as a remote control unit having a wireless control connection to the control device of the pump stand. Laboratory personnel can thus observe the rotary evaporator and the associated pump stand (1) through the divider of a fume cupboard, in order to be able to modify and readjust the process parameters at the remote control panel as needed. Because the remote control unit (4) has a wireless control connection to the control device of the pump stand (1), the fume cupboard no longer needs to be opened, even momentarily.

Abstract: There are described dispensers (10; 20; 30; 40; 50; 60) of alkali or alkaline-earth metals, comprising deposits of getter materials (13; 23; 33; 43; 53; 63) and alkali or alkaline-earth metal sources (12, 22; 32; 42; 53; 63), in which the sources of alkali or alkaline-earth metal are protected from environmental gases by said deposits of getter materials.

Abstract: An actuator including a first and second conductor on a dielectric, wherein application of a voltage to the first conductor creates a plasma, thereby modifying a fluid flow in communication with the actuator. Related systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing an electrokinetic element is provided and generally includes providing a porous membrane adapted for use in an electrokinetic pump and encapsulating the porous membrane within a polymer substrate to yield an electrokinetic element base member having the porous membrane encapsulated by the polymer. In one embodiment, the method can include laminating the porous membrane between opposed sheets of a polymer before the step of encapsulating. The method can also include cutting the electrokinetic element base member into a plurality of slices and assembling an electrokinetic infusion pump by inserting a slice into a chamber of the pump.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the elimination of changes of the chemical composition of a pumped liquid caused by introduction of strange components or by modification of original components. Another object of the invention is to provide the possibility of use of electrodes of the first order in order to increase productivity and decrease size and cost of the micropump. For this purpose, the electrokinetic micropump comprises a multichannel structure 810 made of non-conducting material, for example, a piece of a polycapillary column. The inlet and outlet end of this structure are adjacent to electrode sections 803, 804 having openings 821, 822 for inlet and outlet of the pumped liquid. These sections are divided by ion-exchange membranes 811, 812 into chambers 813, 814 for flow of the pumped liquid, communicating with the ends 841, 842 of the multichannel structure, and chambers 815, 816 filled with an auxiliary medium for transfer of electric charges. In the latter electrodes 817, 818 are located.

Abstract: A hydrogel-driven micropump, comprising: two fluid chambers; a fluid channel, connecting the two fluid chambers; a first substrate plate and a second substrate plate, which are glass wafers produced by micromechanical working, each having accommodation chambers which are filled in hydrogel which are placed next to the two fluid chambers and connected by inward extending bridges, with electric terminals leading to the accommodation chambers; a middle substrate, sandwiched between the first and second substrate plates and made by a bulk micromachining process, having separated accommodation chambers close to ends thereof. A separating block is placed between the accommodation chambers. The middle substrate between the first and second substrate plates forms a micropump body. All of the substrates are separated by membranes. The accommodation chambers for electrophoretic fluid are located between the membranes and the first and second substrate plates, respectively, and insulating material.

Abstract: An image display apparatus is provided with a vacuum chamber consisting of an electron source substrate and an image display substrate, and an ion pump which is attached to an electron-emitting substrate or the image display substrate and exhausts air from the vacuum chamber by the action of a magnet, wherein the magnet is attached and fixed to the substrate to which the ion pump has been attached. Thereby, the image display apparatus prevents the magnet from applying an excessive force to the ion pump by its weight, and acquires a stable structure without causing a vacuum leak.

Abstract: The invention provides electrochemically-based methods and devices for producing fluid flow and/or changes in fluid pressure. In the methods and devices of the invention, current passes through a divided electrochemical cell. Adjacent compartments of the cell are divided by an ionically conducting separator. Each compartment includes an electrode and an electrolyte solution or ionic liquid. The electrolyte solution(s) or ionic liquid(s) and the ionically conducting separator are selected to obtain the desired relationship between the current through the cell and the fluid flowrate and/or change in fluid pressure.

Abstract: A fuel pump includes a case member defining a fuel passage and a discharge-side cover connected to the case member and defining an outlet port. A pump section has an inlet port and is connected to the case member. A motor section is housed in the case member for driving the pump section. A positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal are supported by an insulative terminal support member fixed to the discharge-side cover. Base portions of the positive and negative electrode terminals are covered by insulative portions. The insulative portions are fitted in fitting holes of the discharge-side cover. The discharge-side cover has guide portions on its inner surface. The terminal support member has engagement projections on opposite side walls thereof. The engagement projections are guided by the guide portions to restrict the discharge-side cover from rotating with respect to the terminal support member.

Abstract: There is provided a compact charged particle beam apparatus with a non-evaporable getter pump which maintains high vacuum even during emission of an electron beam without generating foreign particles. The apparatus comprises: a charged particle source; a charged particle optics which focuses a charged particle beam emitted from the charged particle source on a sample and performs scanning; and means of vacuum pumping which evacuates the charged particle optics. The means of vacuum pumping has a differential pumping structure with two or more vacuum chambers connected through an opening in series. A pump made of non-evaporable getter alloy is placed in an upstream vacuum chamber with a high degree of vacuum, and a gas absorbing surface of the non-evaporable getter alloy is fixed without contact with another part.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of confining a liquid metal alloy within a closed-loop system; distributing a first portion of the liquid metal alloy in a cavity within the closed-loop system; turning on an electromagnet to generate a magnetic field to permeate flexible sidewalls of the cavity; attracting the liquid metal alloy in the cavity towards the electromagnet to expand the flexible sidewalls; inducing a second portion of the liquid metal alloy to enter the cavity from an inlet end of a pipe within the closed-loop system; turning off the electromagnet; repelling the liquid metal alloy in the cavity away from the electromagnet to contract the flexible sidewalls; and inducing a third portion of the liquid metal alloy to exit the cavity to an outlet end of the pipe.

Abstract: An improved fluid recycling apparatus and a fuel cell system comprising the same effectively recycle moisture contained in fluid circulating in a fuel cell system and operate independent of orientation. The fluid recycling apparatus includes an electric penetration pump and a gas/liquid separation unit. The electric penetration pump has first and second electrodes and an electric penetration layer interposed between the first and second electrodes. The electric penetration pump directs a liquefied fluid through an electric fluid passage formed in the electric penetration layer by applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode. The gas/liquid separation unit is disposed upstream of the electric fluid passage, contacting the electric penetration pump, and comprises a porous material that can absorb the liquefied fluid.

Abstract: A dielectric element barrier discharge pump for accelerating a fluid flow. In one embodiment the pump has a first dielectric layer having a first electrode embedded therein and a second dielectric layer having a second electrode embedded therein. The first and second dielectric layers are further supported apart from one another to form an air gap therebetween. A third electrode is disposed at least partially in the air gap upstream of the first and second electrodes, relative to a direction of flow of the fluid flow. A high voltage supplies a high voltage signal to the third electrode. The electrodes cooperate to generate opposing asymmetric plasma fields in the gap that create an induced air flow within the gap. The induced air flow operates to accelerate the fluid flow as the fluid flow moves through the gap.

Abstract: A heat transfer system comprising a primary heat exchanger for receiving heat from a heat source; a secondary heat exchanger for exhausting heat to a heat sink; a conduit connecting the primary heat exchanger and the secondary heat exchanger; and an electrokinetic pump for pumping a heat exchange fluid between the primary heat exchanger and the secondary heat exchanger through the conduit.

Abstract: In general, the present invention relates to methods and apparatuses that achieve high gas flow rates through the use of an electrostatic pump. According to some aspects, the present invention relates to additional, auxiliary electrodes that generate increased ion current at lower voltages, which leads to greater pumping power than a corona wind discharge. According to further aspects, the invention provides for a directional emission of the ions. This eliminates the back flow of ions and improves the electro-fluid power conversion efficiency and pumping performance. According to yet further aspects, the invention enables the electrodes to be fabricated directly on a dielectric substrate, making the system mechanically rugged and easily fabricated.

Abstract: An electrokinetic pump and fluid delivery system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the fluid delivery system is that it can deliver a fixed volume of fluid with each stroke of the electrokinetic pump. Another feature of the fluid delivery system is that it can accurately deliver fluid at a target flow rate over time. Methods associated with use of the electrokinetic pump and fluid delivery system are also covered.

Abstract: Less hazardous methods for generating thermal energy for heating water, medical supplies or comestible products using improved flameless chemical heaters/flameless ration heaters by novel chemical or electrochemical means, each capable of suppressing the generation of hydrogen gas. Remote unit self-heating meals may be more rapidly heated by forming a reaction mixture comprising magnesium or a magnesium-containing alloy, and a hydrogen eliminator or suppressor, and introducing water to react the reaction mixture and generate a more rapid release of thermal energy sufficient to effectuate a more accelerated temperature rise and more rapid heating of medical supplies, water, rations or other comestible substances while simultaneously suppressing or eliminating the generation of potentially hazardous hydrogen.

Abstract: A technique has been developed to fabricate micro- or nanopumps based on porous alumina thin films. The main body of the nanopump consists of a porous alumina thin film (containing nano-sized channels of about 40-300 nm in diameter) with conductive surfaces (e.g. Au coating layers) on both sides of the film. Through the fabrication of nanochannels in (the alumina films) and the subsequent annealing and surface activation processes, high-efficiency micro- or nanopumps can be made. The nanofluidic flow through the nanochannels of the alumina thin films is driven by an electric field with no moving parts. The flow rate (up to 50 millilitres/(min·cm2)) of water through the alumina thin film can be continuously tuned through the intensity of the electric field, i.e., the DC electric potential applied across the nanochannels.

Abstract: In an electroosmosis pump, a bubble separation member is provided at an exit side chamber so as to be separated from an exit side electrode, a gas vent member is provided at that side section of a pump container which is near the exit side electrode, and a gas vent member is provided at that side section of the pump container which is near an entrance side electrode. A self-filling mechanism is placed in an entrance side chamber, and the self-filling mechanism is composed of a liquid drawing member in contact with an electroosmosis material via the entrance side electrode, and of an air vent path formed between a member surrounding a side section of the liquid drawing member and the inner wall of the pump container.

Abstract: An osmotic pump comprises a first chamber (8) comprising an osmotically active substance (18), a second chamber (15) arranged to be filled with a solvent (17), and a semi-permeable barrier (14) separating the first chamber (8) from the second chamber (15). The semi-permeable barrier (14) is impermeable to the osmotic active substance and permeable to the solvent (17). The osmotic pump further comprises a pressure device (60) in fluid communication with the second chamber (15), wherein the pressure device (60) is arranged for pressurizing the solvent in the second chamber.

Abstract: An electroosmotic flow pump is filled with a driving liquid exhibiting electroosmotic phenomenon, and a transport liquid capable of noncontact movement through a valve as the driving liquid moves. Since only the driving liquid can pass through an electroosmotic material, even a transport liquid not exhibiting electroosmotic phenomenon can be transported by utilizing the electroosmotic flow pump. Consequently, the electroosmotic flow pump can transport any transport liquid stably so long as the driving liquid exhibits electroosmotic phenomenon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling multi-fluid flow in a micro channel is disclosed. The apparatus has a first inlet for a first fluid; a second inlet for a second fluid; a first outlet; and a second outlet. The micro channel is operatively and fluidically connected to the first inlet, the second inlet, the first outlet and the second outlet. The micro channel is for receiving the first fluid and the second fluid under pressure-driven flow; there being an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid when in the micro channel. The apparatus also includes a pair of electrodes for having a first electric field applied thereto for a controlling the fluid flow velocity of the first fluid along the micro channel.

Abstract: A method of pumping fluid including the steps of providing an electrokinetic pump comprising a pair of double-layer capacitive electrodes having a capacitance of at least 10?2 Farads/cm2 and being connectable to a power source, a porous dielectric material disposed between the electrodes and a reservoir containing pump fluid; connecting the electrodes to a power source; and moving pump fluid out of the reservoir substantially without the occurrence of Faradaic processes in the pump. The invention also includes an electrokinetic pump system having a pair of double-layer capacitive electrodes having a capacitance of at least 10?2 Farads/cm2; a porous dielectric material disposed between the electrodes; a reservoir containing pump fluid; and a power source connected to the electrodes; the electrodes, dielectric material and power source being adapted to move the pump fluid out of the reservoir substantially without the occurrence of Faradaic processes in the pump.

Abstract: A device including a substrate, a getter structure coupled to the substrate, and a photomask disposed over the getter structure. The photomask has a substantially transmissive and a substantially non-transmissive region. The substantially transmissive region substantially aligns with the getter structure.

Abstract: An ion pump having conductive electrodes on both sides of an insulator which may form a number of channels. These electrodes may provide electrical discharges which have a corona or cold cathode emission for ionization. The electrodes and the insulator may be layers having openings that form the channels. The openings in one electrode layer may have a sharp-like configuration and the openings in the other electrode layer may have a non-sharp-like configuration. Ions may be predominately in-situ generated proximate to the sharp-like openings and have the polarity of these openings. These ions may induce a fluid flow through the channels of neutral molecules as a result of a force and viscous drag of the ions. The sharp-like openings may have nanotube whiskers or a thin film structure for facilitating an electrical discharge.

Abstract: Rapid microchip LC analysis with integrated electrolysis-based pumping is achieved with a monolithic microfluidic chip. A pressure-balanced sample injection approach allows introduction of pL-range sample volumes without valves or other components that are difficult to integrate in microdevices. The approach also eliminates dead volume between injection and separation. On-chip LC separation of amino acids with elution times of <40 s and good efficiency (3350 theoretical plates) is provided.

Abstract: An electric comb driven micropump system includes a piston, a comb actuator comb and a real-time monitoring device. The comb actuator may generate an electrostatic force after receiving a voltage, so as to actuate the piston to make a first displacement, which causes a fluid to enter into a cavity, wherein the voltage has a voltage value for determining the volume of the fluid entering into the cavity, and wherein as the voltage value of the voltage gradually decreases, the electrostatic forces also decreases, allowing the piston to gradually make a second displacement in a direction opposite to the first displacement driven by a spring, thus outputting the fluid from the cavity. The real-time monitoring device provides real-time information of the comb actuator.

Abstract: Microfluidic channels utilizing magnetohydrodynamics are used to pump very small volumes of solution. The channels have electrodes along the walls and a current carrying species within a solution carries current through the solution. The combination of the electric and magnetic fields causes the solution to flow through the channel.

Abstract: A pumping medium for an electro-osmotic pump made of porous silicon. The porous silicon may result in a lower required pumping voltage and a smaller form factor for an equivalent flow rate and pressure generation as compared to conventional glass frits. The porous silicon may also provide a better thermodynamic efficiency over conventional glass frits for use in electro-osmotic pumps. The increased efficiency of the porous silicon may provide an low-power, high flow rate, high pressure, small form factor, vibration-free pump for cooling microelectronic devices, such as integrated circuit chips.

Abstract: A projection is formed on a pump body of an electroosmotic flow pump so as to face a communication hole of a micro fluid chip. When the projection and the communication hole are fitted together, a first flow path of the pump and a second flow path of the micro fluid chip are communicated and the pump is fixed to the micro fluid chip. At the same time, the connection between the first flow path and the second flow path is sealed to prevent leakage of liquid gas, etc. to the outside.

Abstract: A vacuum micropump for use in a sealed package includes at least one pumping cell and a magnetic field proximate to the pumping cell. The pumping cell has at least one anode, at least one dielectric in contact with the at least one anode, at least one titanium cathode in contact with the dielectric and an electric field between the at least one anode and the at least one cathode. The dielectric defines a space between the at least one anode and the at least one cathode. The vacuum micropump may be used to gauge pressure within the sealed package. An appropriate method of use is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention achieves high gas flow rates through an electrostatic pump having sharp and blunt electrodes with a corona discharge taking place in the gas gap in between the electrodes. According to certain aspects, the invention comprises a specially shaped blunt electrode that is contoured to maintain a constant or approximately constant distance between the sharp (corona) electrode and the neutralizing surface of the blunt electrode. The contour provides maximum electric field enhancement at the corona electrode and minimizes the electric field at the blunt electrode. This maximizes the non-arcing operating voltage and increases the maximum power output of the corona discharge. The contour also isolates neighboring corona electrodes, preventing their electric fields from interfering with one another and making it possible to increase the density of electrodes which further increases the pumping power of the device.

Abstract: An electrokinetic pump achieves high and low flow rates without producing significant gaseous byproducts and without significant evolution of the pump fluid. A first feature of the pump is that the electrodes in the pump are capacitive with a capacitance of at least 10?4 Farads cm2. A second feature of the pump is that it is configured to maximize the potential across the porous dielectric material. The pump can have either or both features.

Abstract: A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material includes the steps of: providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge; inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce drops of the polar material to take a first dimensional aspect; and inducing a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce the drops of the polar material to take a second dimensional aspect. With this method, surfaces such as the head window of a periscope can be cleaned/cleared of contaminants without requiring a manual cleaning and without the use of problematic coatings.