Efficiency of Pumping and Power Generation in Ultrafine Electrokinetic Systems

In this paper, some of the practical implications of the theory of electrokinetic flow in ultrafine capillaries are examined. It is found that electroosmotic pumping efficiency can exceed mechanical pumping efficiency when the width of capillary elements become small. Computations show that electric power generation with an efficiency of approximately 17 percent may be obtained by pumping water through fine capillary media.