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Simulation of flow and mass transport in a meander micro‐channel subject to electroosmotic driving
Author(s) -
Barz Dominik P.J.,
Ehrhard Peter
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pamm
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1617-7061
DOI - 10.1002/pamm.200310446
Subject(s) - spark plug , meander (mathematics) , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , channel (broadcasting) , electro osmosis , finite element method , dispersion (optics) , computer simulation , work (physics) , open channel flow , pressure gradient , plug flow , materials science , physics , electrophoresis , chemistry , optics , engineering , geometry , electrical engineering , thermodynamics , mathematics , chromatography
Abstract The aim of this work is the investigation of the flow and mass transport in a meander micro‐channel caused by pressure and electroosmotic forces. Two‐dimensional, time dependent Finite Element simulations are employed to obtain information about the suitability of the structure for electrophoretic separation. Analytical solutions valid within the electrical double layers are asymptotically matched to the numerical solution of the core flow. The electroosmotic flow is realized for two idealized and two realistic electrical fields and the results are compared with the pressure‐driven case. The different driving methods lead to different velocity profiles and thus to different concentration profiles of a sample plug. We find that for the most of the electroosmotically‐driven cases complex flow fields with recirculation regions are present. These recirculation regions increase dispersion of the sample plug. According to the simulation results, we conclude that an improvement of the channel geometry for this electroosmotically‐driven device is needed.