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Traveling wave electroosmosis: The influence of electrode array geometry
Author(s) -
Hrdlička Jiří,
Patel Niketan S.,
Šnita Dalimil
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
electrophoresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1522-2683
pISSN - 0173-0835
DOI - 10.1002/elps.201300614
Subject(s) - multiphysics , mechanics , electro osmosis , work (physics) , parametric statistics , discretization , pressure gradient , miniaturization , physics , materials science , finite element method , chemistry , thermodynamics , nanotechnology , mathematics , mathematical analysis , statistics , chromatography , electrophoresis
We used a mathematical model describing traveling‐wave electroosmotic micropumps to explain their rather poor ability to work against pressure loads. The mathematical model is based upon the Poisson–Nernst–Planck–Navier–Stokes approach, that is, a direct numerical simulation, which allows a detail study of the energy transformations and the charging dynamics of the electric double layers. Using Matlab and COMSOL Multiphysics, we performed a set of extensive parametric studies to determine the dependence of generated electroosmotic flow on the geometric arrangement of the pump. The results suggest that the performance of AC electroosmotic pumps should improve with miniaturization. The AC electroosmosis is likely to be suitable only at submicrometer scale, as the pump's ability to work against pressure load diminishes rapidly when increasing the channel diameter.