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On controlling the flow behavior driven by induction electrohydrodynamics in microfluidic channels
Author(s) -
Li Yanbo,
Ren Yukun,
Liu Weiyu,
Chen Xiaoming,
Tao Ye,
Jiang Hongyuan
Publication year - 2017
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.201600500
Subject(s) - electrohydrodynamics , electrokinetic phenomena , microfluidics , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , materials science , voltage , fluid dynamics , volumetric flow rate , electrode , nanotechnology , electrical engineering , engineering , chemistry , physics
In this study, we develop a nondimensional physical model to demonstrate fluid flow at the micrometer dimension driven by traveling‐wave induction electrohydrodynamics (EHD) through direct numerical simulation. In order to realize an enhancement in the pump flow rate as well as a flexible adjustment of anisotropy of flow behavior generated by induction EHD in microchannels, while not adding the risk of causing dielectric breakdown of working solution and material for insulation, a pair of synchronized traveling‐wave voltage signals are imposed on double‐sided electrode arrays that are mounted on the top and bottom insulating substrate, respectively. Accordingly, we present a model evidence, that not only the pump performance is improved evidently, but a variety of flow profiles, including the symmetrical and parabolic curve, plug‐like shape and even biased flow behavior of quite high anisotropy are produced by the device design of “ mix‐type ”, “ superimposition‐type ” and “ adjustable‐type ” proposed herein as well, with the resulting controllable fluid motion being able to greatly facilitate an on‐demand transportation mode of on‐chip bio‐microfluidic samples. Besides, automatic conversion in the direction of pump flow is achievable by switching on and off a second voltage wave. Our results provide utilitarian guidelines for constructing flexible electrokinetic framework useful in controllable transportation of particle and fluid samples in modern microfluidic systems.