Effects of surface roughness and electrokinetic heterogeneity on electroosmotic flow in microchannel

Masilamani K, Ganguly S, Feichtinger C, Bartuschat D, Rüde U (2015)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2015

Journal

Publisher: Institute of Physics

Book Volume: 47

Pages Range: 1-19

Article Number: 035505

Journal Issue: 035505

URI: http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0169-5983/47/3/035505/pdf

DOI: 10.1088/0169-5983/47/3/035505

Open Access Link: http://iopscience.iop.org/1873-7005/47/3/035505/pdf/1873-7005_47_3_035505.pdf

Abstract

In this paper, a hybrid lattice-Boltzmann and finite-difference (LB-FD) model is applied to simulate the effects of three-dimensional surface roughness and electrokinetic heterogeneity on electroosmotic flow (EOF) in a microchannel. The lattice-Boltzmann (LB) method has been employed to obtain the flow field and a finite-difference (FD) method is used to solve the Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation for the electrostatic potential distribution. Numerical simulation of flow through a square cross-section microchannel with designed roughness is conducted and the results are critically analysed. The effects of surface heterogeneity on the electroosmotic transport are investigated for different roughness height, width, roughness interval spacing, and roughness surface potential. Numerical simulations reveal that the presence of surface roughness changes the nature of electroosmotic transport through the microchannel. It is found that the electroosmotic velocity decreases with the increase in roughness height and the velocity profile becomes asymmetric. For the same height of the roughness elements, the EOF velocity rises with the increase in roughness width. For the heterogeneously charged rough channel, the velocity profile shows a distinct deviation from the conventional plug-like flow pattern. The simulation results also indicate locally induced flow vortices which can be utilized to enhance the flow and mixing within the microchannel. The present study has important implications towards electrokinetic flow control in the microchannel, and can provide an efficient way to design a microfluidic system of practical interest.

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How to cite

APA:

Masilamani, K., Ganguly, S., Feichtinger, C., Bartuschat, D., & Rüde, U. (2015). Effects of surface roughness and electrokinetic heterogeneity on electroosmotic flow in microchannel. Fluid Dynamics Research, 47(035505), 1-19. https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0169-5983/47/3/035505

MLA:

Masilamani, Kannan, et al. "Effects of surface roughness and electrokinetic heterogeneity on electroosmotic flow in microchannel." Fluid Dynamics Research 47.035505 (2015): 1-19.

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