Experimental analysis of the dielectrophoretic forces influence on height of rise of fluid in a capillary system for boiling control in micro-channel

Flow control in microchannels is one of the key issues in many areas of modern technology, such as medicine, bio-engineering, chemistry and, in recent years, also in problems of thermodynamic processes control. This paper presents the results of experimental studies on the dynamics of liquid movement between the walls of a microchannel, which is the effect of the electric field applied to the walls (the dielectrophoresis phenomenon). The presented results fill a gap in the literature, being also an important material for the determination of the device key parameters, such as the height of the microchannel electrodes, frequency and amplitude of applied voltage, the selection of periods with and without voltage, all of which affect the operation of the device.

Full text (pdf)

1. Hamraoui A., Nylander T.: Analytical approach for the Lucas-Washburn equation, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 250 (2002) 415-421.
2. Hong S.J., Hong J., Seo H.W., Lee S.J., Chung S.K.: Fast electrically driven capillary rise using overdrive voltage, Langmuir, 31(2015) 13718-13724.
3. Lackowski M.: Device for adjusting flow control rate of liquid, Patent PL 223329.
4. Lackowski M.: Dielectrophoresis flow control of volatile fluids in microchannels,
   J. Thermal Sci., 24 (2015) 1-5.
5. Lackowski M., Krupa A., Butrymowicz D.: Dielectrophoresis flow control in microchannels, J. Electrostatics, 71(2013) 921-925.
6. Lackowski M., Nowakowska H.: Numerical modelling of dielecrophoresis effect in microchannel flow controller - comparison of calculation methods, Przegląd
   Elektrotechniczny, 8 (2016) 95-99.
7. Pethig R.: Review article - dielectrophoresis: status of the theory, technology, and applications, Biomicrofluidics, 4 (2010) 022811.
8. Prins M.W.J., Welters W.J.J., Weekamp J.W.: Fluid control in multichan-nel structures by electrocapillary pressure, Science, 291 (2001) 277-280.
9. Waghmare P.R., Mitra S.K.: A comprehensive theoretical model of capillary transport in rectangular microchannels, Microfluidics Nanofluidics, 12 (2012)
   53-63.
10. Washburn E.W.: The dynamics of capillary flow, Physical Review, 17 (1921) 273.
11. Wu P., Zhang H., Nikolov A., Wasan D.: Rise of the main meniscus in rectangular capillaries: experiments and modeling, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 461 (2016)
    195-202.
12. Xiao Y., Yang F., Pitchumani R.: A generalized analysis of capillary flows in channels, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 298 (2006) 880-888.