Author(s)

V. Tesař

Abstract

Dangerous fluids must be kept within a containment. This may be a problem in emergency situations which almost inevitably happen from time to time in mechanical pumps and flow control valves due to material fatigue, seizing, or screws getting loose. During maintenance and repair the fluid may be exposed. A solution is offered by no-moving-parts maintenance-free fluidics. Three classes of devices are discussed: A) passive flow controllers, B) valves controlled by an external signal, C) fluidic pumps driven by alternating flow. Keywords: hazardous fluids, fluidics, fluidic pumps, fluidic valves. 1 Introduction: handling dangerous fluids The essential rule of handling dangerous liquids and gases – hot, poisonous, chemically aggressive, explosive, radioactive, or biologically pathogenic [1] – is keeping them inside a protective enclosure. Not always considered is the permanence of the containment in exceptional situations, such as during maintenance or repair, which is almost inevitable with classical mechanical pumps and flow control devices, operating either by motion or by deformation of their components. They are prone to failures due to material fatigue, worn seals, seizure damage, or bolts or screws becoming loose. 2 Fluidic devices A solution offers no-moving-part fluidics, a technique of generating and controlling fluid flows by phenomena taking place inside cavities with solid walls. There is nothing that may seize, be worn, or break. As a result, fluidic pumps and valves need no maintenance and are extremely reliable for long time.

Keywords

hazardous fluids, fluidics, fluidic pumps, fluidic valves