The Effects of Joule Heating on Electric-Driven Microfluidic Flow

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Engineering

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Xiangchun Xuan, Clemson University

Oral Presentation Award

4th Place

Written Paper Award

1st Place

Abstract

This study sought out to more clearly understand the relationship between Joule Heating and fluid flow in microfluidic environments, and more specifically, under what circumstances would the fluid flow in the device possibly hinder an experiment being run on it. It had been previous theorised that an electric field may produce turbulence and even vortices within the fluid, which this study attempted to reproduce. Several variables were tested, namely insulating and conducting fluids, higher and lower AC voltages, Newtonian vs. non-Newtonian fluids, and higher and lower DC voltages. A correlation between these variables and turbulent flow was found, with more conductive fluids, higher AC voltages, non-Newtonian fluids, and higher DC voltages more prone to fluid turbulence.

Location

Wall 223

Start Date

3-25-2017 1:30 PM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 1:30 PM

The Effects of Joule Heating on Electric-Driven Microfluidic Flow

Wall 223

This study sought out to more clearly understand the relationship between Joule Heating and fluid flow in microfluidic environments, and more specifically, under what circumstances would the fluid flow in the device possibly hinder an experiment being run on it. It had been previous theorised that an electric field may produce turbulence and even vortices within the fluid, which this study attempted to reproduce. Several variables were tested, namely insulating and conducting fluids, higher and lower AC voltages, Newtonian vs. non-Newtonian fluids, and higher and lower DC voltages. A correlation between these variables and turbulent flow was found, with more conductive fluids, higher AC voltages, non-Newtonian fluids, and higher DC voltages more prone to fluid turbulence.