A dielectrophoretic separator has a separator vessel having a fluid ingress at a first side and a fluid egress at a second side, an electrode electrically connected to a power source and contained within the vessel, along the central axis, a plurality of high permittivity dielectric rods within the vessel positioned around and parallel to the electrode, wherein the electrode has a first polarity and the vessel has a second polarity such that an electromagnetic field is generated between the electrode and the vessel. A method of performing a separation cycle has the steps of: i) powering up an electrode within a vessel such that the electrode and vessel have an opposite polarity, wherein a plurality of high permittivity dielectric rods are contained within the vessel, ii) the fluid passing through channels between the rods, iii) the solid particles within the fluid being retained against the rods by electrical field(s).

Electro-kinetic separation processes for removing solid particles from hydrocracker process streams are provided herein.

A method and system for determining a concentration of one or more analytes in whole blood is provided. In one aspect of the invention, the system includes a channel configured to carry whole blood. The system further includes a light source configured to emit light on the channel. Additionally, the system includes an actuation module associable with the channel, wherein the actuation module is configured to generate a cell-free plasma layer in the channel. Furthermore, the system includes an optical module associable with the channel.

Insulated metal beads forming a bead bed are used in an electric separator to separate solid particles from a liquid. The electric separator has a separator vessel having a fluid ingress at a first side and a fluid egress at a second side, an electrode electrically connected to a power source and contained within the vessel, along a central axis, and a plurality of high permittivity beads arranged as a bead bed within the vessel positioned around the electrode. The electrode has a first polarity and the vessel has a second polarity such that an electromagnetic field is generated by either DC or AC voltages between the electrode and the vessel. A separation cycle for separating the solid particles from the liquid can be accomplished by 1) powering up an electrode within the vessel such that the electrode and the vessel have an opposite polarity, the liquid and the beads forming a medium having a high permittivity and 2) passing the fluid through channels between the beads, the solid particles within the fluid being retained against the beads as a consequence of the electric force induced by the electrical field(s).

Apparatuses and processes for use in electrostatic filtration are provided. The apparatuses and processes provided herein promote effective and efficient removal of solid matters even in feeds containing a relatively substantial amount of water through the use of a water spreading resistant coating.

Embodiments of the invention include a microfluidic device, which comprises a substrate with a channel defined therein, on an upper surface of the substrate, wherein a bottom wall of the channel comprises several contiguous steps having an asymmetric profile along a main direction of the channel, so as to form a ratchet topography. The device further comprises a lid, opposite to and at a distance from the upper surface of the substrate, so as to face the bottom wall of the channel. The bottom wall and the lid are designed to allow like sign charges to accumulate thereat, in presence of a polar liquid confined in the channel between the bottom wall and the lid, so as to allow displacement of nanoscale particles in the polar liquid, along said main direction of the channel, under application of an alternating force to said nanoscale particles, in operation of the device.

Embodiments of the invention include a microfluidic device, which comprises a substrate with a channel defined therein, on an upper surface of the substrate, wherein a bottom wall of the channel comprises several contiguous steps having an asymmetric profile along a main direction of the channel, so as to form a ratchet topography. The device further comprises a lid, opposite to and at a distance from the upper surface of the substrate, so as to face the bottom wall of the channel. The bottom wall and the lid are designed to allow like sign charges to accumulate thereat, in presence of a polar liquid confined in the channel between the bottom wall and the lid, so as to allow displacement of nanoscale particles in the polar liquid, along said main direction of the channel, under application of an alternating force to said nanoscale particles, in operation of the device.

A light induced dielectrophoresis (LIDEP) device is configured to perform a sorting process on a liquid including plural first micro-particles and plural second micro-particles. The LIDEP device includes a LIDEP chip and an opaque cartridge. The LIDEP chip includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, a semiconductor layer, and a flow channel layer. The flow channel layer defines a first channel, a second channel and a third channel intersected at a confluence. The first channel is configured to guide the liquid. The flow channel layer further defines a projection region including the confluence. A patterned light source is projected on the projection region, thereby guiding the first micro-particles and the second micro-particles located within the confluence to move toward the second channel and the third channel, respectively. The opaque cartridge covers the LIDEP chip and has an opening. The vertical projection of the opening overlaps the projection region.

A dielectrophoretic separator has a separator vessel having a fluid ingress at a first side and a fluid egress at a second side, an electrode electrically connected to a power source and contained within the vessel, along the central axis, a plurality of high permittivity dielectric rods within the vessel positioned around and parallel to the electrode, wherein the electrode has a first polarity and the vessel has a second polarity such that an electromagnetic field is generated between the electrode and the vessel.

A method of performing a separation cycle has the steps of: i) powering up an electrode within a vessel such that the electrode and vessel have an opposite polarity, wherein a plurality of high permittivity dielectric rods are contained within the vessel, ii) the fluid passing through channels between the rods, iii) the solid particles within the fluid being retained against the rods by electrical field(s).

A flushing system comprises: an oil tank for storing oil; a pipe system connected to the oil tank by means of a pipe to circulate the oil by means of the operation of a main pump; a microbubble generator connected to at least any one of the oil tank and the pipe system to generate the microbubbles in the pipe along which the oil flows and in the oil tank and thus to inject the microbubbles into the pipe; a water remover connected to the oil tank to remove the microbubbles and water from the oil; and a particle remover connected to the oil tank to remove microbubbles and foreign substances from the oil by means of electric precipitation.