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ARTICLE
A Numerical Investigation into the Influence of Electrode-Related Parameters on Electroosmotic Mixing and Related Mechanisms
Chunsheng Wang*, Dongxing Shang
College of Vehicles and Energy, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066000, China
* Corresponding Author: Chunsheng Wang. Email:
Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2020, 16(3), 465-473. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2020.08828
Received 15 October 2019; Accepted 08 March 2020; Issue published 25 May 2020
Abstract
Electroosmosis is an effective method for liquid mixing. It is associated
with the motion of a liquid in a microchannel induced by an applied electric field.
In this manuscript, a numerical model is elaborated and implemented for the case
of a straight channel with a single electrode pair. In particular, the Navier-Stokes
equation combined with the Convection-diffusion and Helmholtz-Smoluchowski
equation are used to simulate the resulting flow field. The influence of various
electrode parameters on the mixing efficiency and the related mechanisms are
investigated. The numerical results show that a pair of eddies are produced alternately by the changing electric field. The two liquids are mixed by the interaction
of this pair of eddies. The length of the electrode affects the distance between
these eddies, while the amplitude and frequency of electrode voltage determine
the intensity and frequency of the eddy current, respectively. It is shown that
by tuning properly the electrode parameters, the mixing efficiency can reach
97.5%. The optimization process implemented in the present work may lead in
the future to a new approach to obtain controllable electroosmotic flow in micro-
fluidic platforms.
Keywords
Cite This Article
Wang, C., Shang, D. (2020). A Numerical Investigation into the Influence of Electrode-Related Parameters on Electroosmotic Mixing and Related Mechanisms.
FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, 16(3), 465–473. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2020.08828