Mixing in a microfluidic device is a major challenge due to creeping flow, which is a significant roadblock for development of lab-on-a-chip device. In this study, an analytical model is presented to study the fluid flow behavior in a microfluidic mixer using time-periodic electro-osmotic flow. To facilitate mixing through microvortices, nonuniform surface charge condition is considered. A generalized analytical solution is obtained for the time-periodic electro-osmotic flow using a stream function technique. The electro-osmotic body force term is accounted as a slip boundary condition on the channel wall, which is a function of time and space. To demonstrate the applicability of the analytical model, two different surface conditions are considered: sinusoidal and step change in zeta potential along the channel surface. Depending on the zeta potential distribution, we obtained diverse flow patterns and vortices. The flow circulation and its structures depend on channel size, charge distribution, and the applied electric field frequency. Our results indicate that the sinusoidal zeta potential distribution provides elliptical shaped vortices, whereas the step change zeta potential provides rectangular shaped vortices. This analytical model is expected to aid in the effective micromixer design.
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August 2019
Research-Article
Time-Periodic Electro-Osmotic Flow With Nonuniform Surface Charges
Hyunsung Kim,
Hyunsung Kim
School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: hyunsung.kim@wsu.edu
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: hyunsung.kim@wsu.edu
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Aminul Islam Khan,
Aminul Islam Khan
School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: aminulislam.khan@wsu.edu
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: aminulislam.khan@wsu.edu
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Prashanta Dutta
Prashanta Dutta
School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: prashanta@wsu.edu
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: prashanta@wsu.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Hyunsung Kim
School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: hyunsung.kim@wsu.edu
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: hyunsung.kim@wsu.edu
Aminul Islam Khan
School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: aminulislam.khan@wsu.edu
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: aminulislam.khan@wsu.edu
Prashanta Dutta
School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: prashanta@wsu.edu
Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-2920
e-mail: prashanta@wsu.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Fluids Engineering Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF FLUIDS ENGINEERING. Manuscript received September 5, 2018; final manuscript received January 2, 2019; published online January 30, 2019. Assoc. Editor: Shizhi Qian.
J. Fluids Eng. Aug 2019, 141(8): 081201 (10 pages)
Published Online: January 30, 2019
Article history
Received:
September 5, 2018
Revised:
January 2, 2019
Citation
Kim, H., Khan, A. I., and Dutta, P. (January 30, 2019). "Time-Periodic Electro-Osmotic Flow With Nonuniform Surface Charges." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. August 2019; 141(8): 081201. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4042469
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