Kauffmann P., Loire S., Mezic I.
UCSB, US
Keywords: blinking vortices, electrokinetics, electrothermal flows, mixing
At microscale, an efficient mixing is a keystep which dramatically accelerates bio-reactions. This paper presents an experimental and theoretical study of electrothermal chaotic mixing. To do so, asymmetric vortices are blinked to perform time dependant velocity flows. Successive horizontal plans of velocity are measured at different heights by micro particle image velocimetry microPIV. Electrothermal flows are modeled with 2D finite element method using COMSOL multiphysics software. The velocity profile experimentally reconstructed shows a dramatic asymmetry between the two vortices, in good agreement with the FEM model. The mixing of two fluids are studied. The blinking vortices method dramatically increase mixing efficiency.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Nanotechnology 2012: Electronics, Devices, Fabrication, MEMS, Fluidics and Computational (Volume 2)
Published: June 18, 2012
Pages: 325 - 328
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topic: Micro & Bio Fluidics, Lab-on-Chip
ISBN: 978-1-4665-6275-2