High response speed microfluidic ice valves with enhanced thermal conductivity and a movable refrigeration source

Open access
Date
2017-01-13Type
- Journal Article
Abstract
Due to their ease of fabrication, facile use and low cost, ice valves have great potential for use in microfluidic platforms. For this to be possible, a rapid response speed is key and hence there is still much scope for improvement in current ice valve technology. Therefore, in this study, an ice valve with enhanced thermal conductivity and a movable refrigeration source has been developed. An embedded aluminium cylinder is used to dramatically enhance the heat conduction performance of the microfluidic platform and a movable thermoelectric unit eliminates the thermal inertia, resulting in a faster cooling process. The proposed ice valve achieves very short closing times (0.37 s at 10 μL/min) and also operates at high flow rates (1150 μL/min). Furthermore, the response time of the valve decreased by a factor of 8 when compared to current state of the art technology. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000128113Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Scientific ReportsVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
NatureSubject
Structural biology; Chemical engineeringMore
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