Pumps are provided, more particularly piston type pumps having increased energy efficiency, systems incorporating such piston type pumps, and methods of operating piston type pumps. The pumps are suitable for pumping of oil from an oil well or for pumping other liquids such as ground water, subterranean liquids, brackish water, sea water, waste water, cooling water, gas, coolants, and the like.

Microfluidic pumps are provided that use electrowetting to manipulate the location of one or more droplets of a working fluid (e.g., water) in order to pump tears, blood, laboratory samples, carrier fluid, or some other payload fluid. The working fluid is separated from the payload fluid by one or more droplets of an isolating fluid that is immiscible with the working fluid. The working fluid is manipulated via electrowetting, by applying voltages to two or more electrodes, to repeatedly move back and forth. Forces, pressures, and/or fluid flows exerted by the working fluid are coupled to the payload fluid via the droplet(s) of isolation fluid and reed valves, diffuser nozzles, or other varieties of valve can act as flow-rectifying elements to convert the coupled forces into a net flow of the payload fluid through the pump.

An electro-osmosis pump system includes an inlet line through which a fluid is introduced, an outlet line through which the fluid is discharged, a first pump disposed between the inlet line and the outlet line and including a first housing in which a first operation fluid is disposed, a second pump disposed in parallel to the first pump between the inlet line and the outlet line and including a second housing in which a second operation fluid disposed, and a power supply configured to supply voltages to the first pump and the second pump. The first pump includes a first membrane, a 1A-th electrode, and a 2A-th electrode, the second pump includes a second membrane, a 1B-th electrode, and a 2B-th electrode, and the power supply supplies the voltage to the 1A-th electrode and the 2A-th electrode, and supplies the voltage to the 1B-th electrode and the 2B-th electrode.

An electro-osmosis pump system includes an inlet line through which a fluid is introduced, an outlet line through which the fluid is discharged, a first pump disposed between the inlet line and the outlet line and including a first housing in which a first operation fluid is disposed, a second pump disposed in parallel to the first pump between the inlet line and the outlet line and including a second housing in which a second operation fluid disposed, and a power supply configured to supply voltages to the first pump and the second pump. The first pump includes a first membrane, a 1A-th electrode, and a 2A-th electrode, the second pump includes a second membrane, a 1B-th electrode, and a 2B-th electrode, and the power supply supplies the voltage to the 1A-th electrode and the 2A-th electrode, and supplies the voltage to the 1B-th electrode and the 2B-th electrode.

Provided are an electroosmotic pump, including: a membrane; a first electrode which is provided on one surface of the membrane, including a porous support including an insulator and an electrochemical reaction material formed on the porous support; and a second electrode which is provided on the other surface of the membrane, including a porous support including an insulator and an electrochemical reaction material formed on the porous support, and a fluid-pumping system including the electroosmotic pump.

Provided are an electroosmotic pump, including: a membrane; a first electrode which is provided on one surface of the membrane, including a porous support including an insulator and an electrochemical reaction material formed on the porous support; and a second electrode which is provided on the other surface of the membrane, including a porous support including an insulator and an electrochemical reaction material formed on the porous support, and a fluid-pumping system including the electroosmotic pump.

Provided are a membrane-electrode assembly for an electroosmotic pump, the membrane-electrode assembly including a first electrode having a porous structure, containing a first electrochemical reactant, and having applied thereto a (+) or (−) voltage; a first membrane provided on one surface of the first electrode, having a porous structure, and having a (+) or (−) zeta potential; a second electrode provided on one surface of the first membrane opposite to a side of the first electrode, having a porous structure, containing a second electrochemical reactant, and having applied thereto a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the voltage applied to the first electrode; a second membrane provided on one surface of the second electrode opposite to a side of the first membrane, having a porous structure, and having a zeta potential opposite to that of the zeta potential of the first membrane; and a third electrode provided on one surface of the second membrane opposite to a side of the second electrode, having a porous structure, containing a third electrochemical reactant, and having applied thereto a voltage having a polarity same as that of the voltage applied to the first electrode and a fluid pumping system including the electroosmotic pump.

Disclosed is a bi-directional exhalation valve useful for many applications such as in CPAP devices. The exhalation valve includes a valve body having a center chamber, side chambers, and bidirectional ports coupled to the center chamber via passages and a mechanism that provides fluid ingress into the bi-directional valve in a first mode of operation or fluid egress from the bi-directional valve in a second mode of operation. Unidirectional ports are coupled to the plurality of bidirectional ports to provide providing fluid egress from the valve in the second mode of operation, and a unidirectional port provides fluid ingress into the bi-directional valve in the first mode of operation. A mechanism including a center paddle, side paddles, and a shaft are arranged in an elongated compartment of the valve body, such that the shaft is pivots and the central and side paddles open and close corresponding ones of the input and output ports.

Provided are an electroosmotic pump including a membrane; a first electrode disposed on a surface of the membrane and including a first porous support including a first conductor and a first precious metal and a first conductive polymer positioned in or on at least some of pores and surfaces of the first porous support; and a second electrode disposed on another surface of the membrane and including a second porous support including a second conductor and a second precious metal and a second conductive polymer positioned in or on at least some of pores and surfaces of the second porous support, a method of manufacturing the electroosmotic pump, and a fluid pumping system including the electroosmotic pump.

A linear motor compressor including a compressor housing and a cylinder housing having a plurality of opposing compression chambers. A piston freely reciprocates within the cylinder housing using a linear electric motor. A piston position feedback control system provides adaptive current output as a function of position feedback and/or velocity feedback from the piston and/or the electric motor, to directly power and control the electric motor, wherein the piston reciprocates without assistance from a mechanical spring or other equivalent centering force.