TJ349 : Induced-charge electrokinetic motion of conductive deformable lixnk
Thesis > Central Library of Shahrood University > Mechanical Engineering > MSc > 2015
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Abstarct: This dissertation studies the motion of conductive deformable lixnk that has been affected by DC electric field and investigates numerically and represents some microfluidic applications whose performance is associated characteristics of the conductive lixnk motion.
In this dissertation, 2D transient motion of the conductive deformable lixnk has been investigated in horizontal, vertical and oblique positions. For the first time, the concept of stagnation point has been used in order to explain the conductive lixnk motion. Stagnation point is a place on the conductive lixnk where the induced zeta potential is zero, so the flow velocity at this point becomes zero and consequently the pressure will be maximum. The results of investigations show that the direction of conductive lixnk motion depends on the position of stagnation point on the lixnk surface. For example, it was shown that the conductive lixnk moves in the opposite direction of the electric field with an obtuse angle, it’s because that the stagnation point is located on the surface of the lixnk which is back to the electric field. In this research, the effect of channel wall on the motion of adjacent horizontal lixnk is investigated. The results show that the channel wall repels the adjacent horizontal lixnk.
Another study carried out in this dissertation is about the interactions between two vertical conductive lixnks. The results of this study show that if both of the conductive lixnks are fixed on a same channel wall, two vortices with opposite spin direction are created between them. These vortices create a vacuum zone through which the two lixnks attract one another. But when each lixnk is fixed on different channel walls, the two vortices with same spin direction are created between them. These vortices join together and create a high pressure zone through which two lixnks repel one another.
This dissertation has introduced a new micro-mixer, this micro-mixer consists of straight microchannel and one conductive deformable lixnk. One end of the lixnk is fixed on the upper channel wall and the other end can move freely inside the channel, by applying a time-varying DC electric field, the lixnk starts a reciprocating motion and improves mixing by acting like a stirrer. In addition to reciprocating motion, the vortices arising from induced charge electro-kinetic flow around the conductive lixnk is also another factors which helps micro-mixers to improve a better mix.
Another method is presented in this research for improving the mixing of two streams which used several conductive lixnks, but this time, constant electric field is applied to the system. The results of simulations show that the angle of conductive lixnks plays an important role on improving the mixing of two streams, because the adverse pressure gradient in the system is affected by the angle of conductive lixnk. By comparing the results, it can be concluded that the mixing efficiency of mixer with conductive vertical lixnk is maximum, because the vertical conductive lixnk creates greater adverse pressure gradient compare to the other lixnks.
Micro-valve is another application of conductive lixnk that is introduced in this dissertation. Structure of presented micro-valve is very simple and consists of a straight microchannel which two symmetrical conductive lixnks is placed on its walls and constant electric field is applied to the system. The simulation demonstrated that flow regulating effect can be obtained by adjusting the electric field strength. This flow regulating effect can be used to achieve different flow rates in different direction and the closed-valve state (zero flow rate). This micro-valve suggests a simple method for flow regulating without changing the direction of electric field.
Keywords:
#Induced-charge electrokinetic #Vortex #Deformable materials #Micro-mixer #Micro-valve
Keeping place: Central Library of Shahrood University
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Keeping place: Central Library of Shahrood University
Visitor: