Theoretical model and experiments for TWEO pumping microflow

To explore Traveling Wave Electroosmotic (TWEO) pumping microflow, a TWEO pumping model is established in a closed microchannel, and simulation and experiments are presented. Based on the TWEO driving mechanism, the mathematic models of an electric field and a flow field in the closed microchannel are established respectively to solve the electric field and flow field problems. From the flow field simulation results, the measuring velocity on 2/3 of the microchannel height in experiments is proved to be reasonable. The experiment and simulation are undertaken to determine the capacitance impedance coefficients. The results show that for KCl solution with conductivities of 1.5 mS/m, 7.7 mS/m and 16.9 S/m, its capacitance impedance coefficients are 0.05, 0.035 and 0.025, respectively, and conductivities of the solution are proportional to the capacitance impedance coefficients linearly. The results can offer a theoretical and experimental base for further research and applications of the TWEO.