Electrofluidic Converter Without Mechanical Moving Parts

A novel electrofluidic device resulted from the investigation of an electrostatic field on the motion of charged dielectric fluid for converting fluidic signals to electrical and vice versa has been developed. A linear static mathematical model has been worked out from the first principles. It is shown that the mathematical model developed is capable of predicting the behavior of the electrofluidic converter to a certain degree of approximation and helps in the design process. Theoretical and experimental results are presented and discussed. In electrofluidic mode of operation it was possible to convert fluidic signal of 10-4 M3/Sec to electrical signal of 10-7 A.